What is the Reward in the Wizard of Oz?

• A. Dorothy receives the broom after killing the Witch
• B. The Wizard grants them new powers
• C. They receive medals from the Wizard
• D. Dorothy meets Glinda the Good Witch

Answer: (A)

Rewards in a Hero’s Journey are the tangible boon that helps the hero complete the quest and transform. In The Wizard of Oz, the actual reward Dorothy gains is the ruby slippers. After the Witch of the East is defeated, Glinda explains that the slippers now belong to Dorothy and that she can use them to return home by tapping the heels together three times. These slippers symbolize both agency and the practical means to finish the journey—home. The idea of receiving a broom is not part of the story’s reward, and the Wizard’s role isn’t to grant the group new powers or to hand out medals. Meeting Glinda is a guiding moment, not the reward. So the best understanding is that Dorothy’s reward is the magical ruby slippers that enable her to go back to Kansas.