Final answer:
Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz is an archetypal character because she embodies universally recognized characteristics, such as the quest for knowledge, courage, and belonging, which resonate with the human experience. Her journey also allegorically represents socio-political issues relevant to the author's time. Option number a is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dorothy Gale is often seen as an archetypal character because she embodies characteristics that are widely recognized and resonate with the human experience. Specifically, in L. Frank Baum's novel The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy represents the purity of the American people and the strength of Populism in the Great Plains. As one of the central figures, she navigates a journey that carries significant allegorical parallels to socio-political issues of Baum's time, such as the debate over the gold standard and the Populist movement. Furthermore, she showcases universal themes such as the quest for knowledge, courage, and a sense of belonging, all while overcoming numerous obstacles, akin to the journey home narrative archetype.
The details about Dorothy Gale's character and the broader social and political allegories embedded within The Wizard of Oz indicate that the correct answer to the student's question is A. Dorothy Gale embodies characteristics that are universally recognized and resonate with the human experience.