Characterization/Setting

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

by Frank L. Baum

(an except)

Dorothy leaned her chin upon her hand and gazed thoughtfully at the scarecrow. Its head was a small sack stuffed with straw, with eyes, nose, and a mouth painted on it. An old, pointed blue hat was perched on his head. The rest of the figure was a blue suit of clothes, worn and faded, and stuffed with straw. On the feet were some old boots with blue tops. A pole raised him above the stalks of corn.

As Dorothy was looking into the painted face of the scarecrow, she was surprised to see one of the eyes slowly wink at her. She thought she must have been mistaken at first, for none of the scarecrows in Kansas ever wink. Soon the figure nodded its head to her in a friendly way. She climbed down from the fence and walked up to it, while Toto ran around the pole and barked.

"Good day," said the scarecrow, in a rather husky voice. "How do you do?"

"I'm pretty well, thank you," replied Dorothy politely. "How do you do?"

"I'm not feeling well" said the scarecrow, with a smile, "for it is very tedious being perched up here night and day to scare away crows."

"Can't you get down?" asked Dorothy.

"No, for this pole is stuck up my back. If you will please take away the pole I shall be greatly obliged to you."

Dorothey reached up both arms and lifted the figure off the pole, for, being stuffed with straw it was quite light.

"Thank you very much," said the scarecrow, when he had been set down on the ground, "I feel like a new man."