# Hungry Tiger — Ozma of Oz character guide

> Hungry Tiger in Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Tiger, VIII The Hungry Tiger, the Tiger, The Tiger, The Hungry Tiger

**First appearance:** 0010-viii-the-hungry-tiger

## Snapshot

A tiger with an appetite for fat babies and a conscience that will not let him eat them, forever hungry and proud of being a disgracefully bad tiger.

## Who they are

Introduced by the Cowardly Lion as a new friend, the Hungry Tiger yawns wide enough to startle anyone and explains, with real regret, that he was born hungry and will die hungry rather than commit a cruel deed. He considers himself a failure at tigerhood precisely because he refuses to act like one, and he has left the forest rather than live with that contradiction alone. His comic self-awareness and genuine gentleness make him one of the party's most oddly reassuring companions as the journey turns serious.

## Relationships

### [Dorothy Gale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters/dorothy_gale)

_friendship_

The Hungry Tiger, despite his appetite, is a gentle friend to Dorothy and part of her traveling group.

### [Dorothy Gale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters/dorothy_gale)

_friendship_

The Hungry Tiger, despite his appetite, is a gentle friend to Dorothy and part of her traveling group.

### [Dorothy Gale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters/dorothy_gale)

_friendship_

The Hungry Tiger, despite his appetite, is a gentle friend to Dorothy and part of her traveling group.

## In the story

### [Author's Note](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/author-s-note)

Introduced as a new character described as 'real Ozzy'.

### [VII: Ozma of Oz to the Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/vii-ozma-of-oz-to-the-rescue)

The other beast drawing Ozma's chariot, alongside the Cowardly Lion.

### [VIII: The Hungry Tiger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/viii-the-hungry-tiger)

Describes his constant hunger and moral struggle; introduced as a new friend.

### [The Royal Family of Ev](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/ix-the-royal-family-of-ev)

Accompanies the Cowardly Lion, jokes about his enormous appetite, and frightens the maid Nanda.

### [The Giant with the Hammer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/x-the-giant-with-the-hammer)

Carries Dorothy under the hammer; helps rescue the officers despite being tired.

### [The Nome King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/xi-the-nome-king)

Makes a humorous comment about eating Dorothy if the Nome King harms her, and later asks about the kitchen due to hunger.

### [XIV: Dorothy Tries to Be Brave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/xiv-dorothy-tries-to-be-brave)

Complains of hunger and wishes to become an ornament to forget his hunger; the King refuses.

### [The Scarecrow Wins the Fight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/xvii-the-scarecrow-wins-the-fight)

Crouches beside Dorothy, snarling to protect her from the Nome warriors.

### [The Fate of the Tin Woodman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/xviii-the-fate-of-the-tin-woodman)

Carries the Queen of Ev during the journey out of the cavern.

### [The Emerald City](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/xx-the-emerald-city)

Attends the feast on a golden platter; eats all the food and then loses his appetite.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters/hungry_tiger
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters