Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Wizard of Oz. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: In the book, Dorothy clicks the heels of her Silver Shoes and returns to Kansas. The shoes are lost on the way. She hugs Aunt Em and says there is no place like home.
Quick facts
– Book: Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
– First published: 1900
– Type: A children's classic
– Tone of the ending: Warm
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Dorothy is swept to Oz by a cyclone. She follows the Yellow Brick Road to find the Wizard, who can send her home.
What Happens at the End of Wizard of Oz
The Wizard leaves in a balloon. Dorothy asks Glinda for help. Glinda tells her the Silver Shoes can take her home. Dorothy clicks her heels. She lands in Kansas. Her friends return to their new roles.
The Ending in Five Quick Points
- The Wizard leaves in a balloon.
- Dorothy asks Glinda for help.
- Glinda tells her the Silver Shoes can take her home.
- Dorothy clicks her heels.
- She lands in Kansas.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Dorothy Gale | Returns to Kansas |
| The Scarecrow | Rules the Emerald City |
| The Tin Woodman | Rules the Winkies |
| The Cowardly Lion | Rules the forest |
What the Ending Means
The ending is about home. Dorothy learns that she always had the power to return.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Some readers prefer the film's dream ending.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Home. The final pages are where this idea lands hardest, and rereading the last chapters with home in mind changes how the ending reads.
Courage. L. Frank Baum uses the closing events to show what courage costs or achieves, rather than simply stating it.
Friendship. The ending gives friendship a final shape, which is why readers often point to it when they explain what the book is really about.
Self-reliance. Even in the last scenes, self-reliance keeps shaping the choices the characters make.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Wizard of Oz as Warm. That reaction usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected L. Frank Baum to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 1939 film changes the shoes and says it was a dream.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Wizard of Oz with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about home, and do you agree with L. Frank Baum's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- After finishing, would you describe the book as warm, or would you choose a different word?
Discussion Prompts by Theme
- Home: Which moment in the last chapters made home feel most real to you, and did it change how you saw earlier scenes?
- Courage: How does L. Frank Baum use the closing events to say something about courage, and do you agree with that view?
- Friendship: If you could ask a character about friendship at the very end, who would you ask, and what would you say?
- Self-reliance: Does the ending leave self-reliance resolved, or is it something that stays unsettled after the last page?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces home and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what L. Frank Baum leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in Wizard of Oz often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Wizard of Oz earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
- Would you recommend Wizard of Oz to a friend who dislikes spoilers, or to one who loves a discussion?
Check price of Wizard of Oz on Amazon
Books to Read After Wizard of Oz
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
Related: 15 Books Like Wizard of Oz You’ll Love · Wizard of Oz Book Club Discussion Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Wizard of Oz?
In the book, Dorothy clicks the heels of her Silver Shoes and returns to Kansas. The shoes are lost on the way. She hugs Aunt Em and says there is no place like home.
Is the ending of Wizard of Oz happy or sad?
Most readers call it Warm.
What does the ending of Wizard of Oz mean?
The ending is about home.
Is the ending of Wizard of Oz the same in the adaptation?
The 1939 film changes the shoes and says it was a dream.
Who should read Wizard of Oz before reading the ending explained?
Anyone who plans to read the book, because this post gives away the whole ending.
Can I find Wizard of Oz as an ebook or audiobook?
Most editions of Wizard of Oz can be found in print and as an ebook, and many are also available as audiobooks. Public libraries often lend all three formats, so you can revisit the final chapters in whichever way suits you best.
What should I do after reading this guide to the ending of Wizard of Oz?
If the ending stayed with you, reread the last few chapters with this guide in mind and look for the clues you missed the first time. You can also try one of the books suggested above, or talk the ending over with a friend or book club.