Ozma of Oz · Chapter
The Nome King explained
Ozma, Dorothy, and their companions confront the Nome King in his underground kingdom to demand the release of the Queen of Ev and her ten children.
What happens
Ozma, Dorothy, and their companions confront the Nome King in his underground kingdom to demand the release of the Queen of Ev and her ten children. The Nome King explains that he purchased them as slaves from the King of Ev and transformed them into ornaments. He offers Ozma a chance to free them by guessing which objects are the transformed royals, with the risk of herself being enchanted if she fails.
Themes in this chapter
Leadership and Responsibility
Ozma demonstrates leadership by taking charge of the rescue mission and accepting the Nome King's risky challenge to free the royal family of Ev.
Courage and Adventure
The group ventures into the Nome King's underground kingdom, facing magical dangers and the possibility of enchantment.
Good Versus Evil
Ozma and her friends confront the Nome King, who holds innocent people as slaves, highlighting the struggle between justice and tyranny.
Resourcefulness and Cleverness
The Scarecrow and others propose using persuasion and clever negotiation rather than force to achieve their goal.
Characters to notice
- Ozma
Leads the delegation and negotiates with the Nome King, accepting the challenge to free the Queen of Ev and her children.
- Dorothy Gale
Volunteers to plead with the Nome King and supports Ozma during the confrontation.
- Nome King
The ruler of the Underground World who holds the Queen of Ev and her children as transformed ornaments; he proposes a guessing game to Ozma.
- Tik-Tok
Advises Ozma to use entreaty and assures the group that the Nome King is honest and good-natured.
- Scarecrow
Suggests wheedling the Nome King rather than fighting, as the king is too powerful to oppose directly.
- Tin Woodman
Questions whether the Nome King's invitation to enter is a trick, showing caution.
- Cowardly Lion
Attempts to pounce on the Nome King but is magically prevented from approaching the throne.
- Hungry Tiger
Makes a humorous comment about eating Dorothy if the Nome King harms her, and later asks about the kitchen due to hunger.
Key passages
“I request the Nome King to appear to us.”
Ozma commands the Nome King to show himself.
Ozma asserts her authority by summoning the Nome King.
“I'm only a little girl from Kansas, and we've got more dignity at home than we know what to do with.”
Dorothy humbly offers to plead with the Nome King, saying she has plenty of dignity to spare.
Dorothy's modesty contrasts with Ozma's pride.
“Why, he looks just like Santa Claus—only he isn't the same color!”
Dorothy remarks that the Nome King resembles Santa Claus but has a different complexion.
Dorothy's observation lightens the mood upon first seeing the Nome King.
“It is folly to threaten me, but I'm so kindhearted that I cannot stand coaxing or wheedling.”
The Nome King says threats are useless, but he is susceptible to gentle persuasion.
The Nome King reveals his preference for coaxing over confrontation.
“If none of the eleven objects you touch proves to be the transformation of any of the royal family of Ev, then, instead of freeing them, you will yourself become enchanted, and transformed into an article of bric-a-brac or an ornament.”
The Nome King warns Ozma that if she fails to identify any of the transformed royals, she will be turned into an ornament herself.
The high stakes of the guessing game are established.
