The Marvelous Land of Oz · Chapter
The Astonishing Flight of the Gump explained
The adventurers gather an odd assortment of items on the palace roof—a Gump's head, two sofas, a broom, ropes, and palm leaves—and the Tin Woodman assembles them into a flying machine.
What happens
The adventurers gather an odd assortment of items on the palace roof—a Gump's head, two sofas, a broom, ropes, and palm leaves—and the Tin Woodman assembles them into a flying machine. Tip uses the remaining magic powder to bring the contraption to life, and after a chaotic first flight, the Gump obeys his command to return.
Themes in this chapter
Creation and Artificial Life
Tip brings an inanimate assemblage of furniture and a Gump's head to life, echoing the earlier creation of the Sawhorse and Pumpkinhead.
Friendship and Loyalty
The group works together to build the flying machine, each contributing what they can, and they support each other during the perilous first flight.
Characters to notice
- Tip
Leads the magic animation of the flying Gump, using the last of the powder and his knowledge of Mombi's charm.
- Scarecrow
Advises on the importance of a head and a tail for the flying machine; nearly blown off the roof during the first flight.
- Tin Woodman
Assembles the flying Gump from the collected materials and fastens the palm-leaf wings.
- Jack Pumpkinhead
Contributes a broom for a tail and insists on its necessity for steering.
- Mr. H. M. Woggle-Bug
Brings the Gump's head from the hallway and admires the completed Thing.
- Sawhorse
Helps Tip haul the heavy sofas to the roof; topples over during the first flight.
Key passages
““They are as strong as anything we can get,” answered the Woodman; “and although they are not in proportion to the Thing’s body, we are not in a position to be very particular.””
The Tin Woodman admits the palm leaves are not ideal but says they must make do with what they have.
Highlights the improvisational nature of the flying machine's construction.
““Put most on the wings,” said Nick Chopper; “for they must be made as strong as possible.””
Nick advises Tip to concentrate the magic powder on the wings to ensure they are sturdy.
Shows the Tin Woodman's practical thinking about the machine's flight capability.
“It was now that the wisdom of the Scarecrow, in bringing the head of the Thing to life instead of the legs, was proved beyond a doubt.”
The Scarecrow's earlier advice to animate the head rather than the legs turns out to be correct when the Gump obeys Tip's commands.
Demonstrates the Scarecrow's cleverness and the importance of the head for control.