# The Astonishing Flight of the Gump explained — The Marvelous Land of Oz

> Chapter companion for The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> “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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_marvelous_land_of_oz_se/chapters/the-astonishing-flight-of-the-gump
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_marvelous_land_of_oz_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_marvelous_land_of_oz_se/chapters