The Morphology Study About Frank Baum’s Series Of OZ

The series of Oz are Frank Baum’s representative works, which are laid his status in children’s literature in the United States. Based on the morphology theory which is established by Vladimir Propp, the representative figure of Russian folklore and formalism, there are 23 kinds of functions in the 14 works of the series of OZ. Each story of OZ builds upon these 23 kinds of functions, some as many as 18 kinds, some only 7. The difference between the 14 works is the arrangement of the functions, such as opposition, repetition, deletion, assimilation and polysemy.Except the function, Propp also presented another important concept, personage. There are seven kinds of personages in the series of OZ, such as master, friend, helper, giver, opponent, object and seniority. Seven personages have seven act’s circles. Hundreds of people have complicated relations with these act’s circles. Equally, one-to-many or many-for-one.Functions and personages are the basic elements of each story. Except the stable elements, some variable elements make the stories more interesting. Different reasons for triggering adventure, changeful pathways passed message and hundreds of people are all belong to the variable elements. Together with the plots twists which is due to the rounds, stories are more attractive.Extends from the structure to the deep cultural connotation contained in the structure, conclude the independent spirit, contradictory points about the nature and heroism deep in the works.