Resourcefulness and Cleverness

Where it surfaces

• Ozma of Oz

  Billina's clever guessing and Dorothy's problem-solving are key to overcoming the Nome King's challenges.

• The Girl in the Chicken-Coop

  Dorothy uses the chicken-coop as a raft and decides to sleep to restore her strength, showing her ability to adapt to a dire situation.

• The Yellow Hen

  Billina uses her beak to find food and uncovers the golden key, showing cleverness in survival.

• Letters in the Sand

  Dorothy uses her wits to read the warning in the sand and later climbs a rocky hill to escape the Wheelers, demonstrating quick thinking in a dangerous situation.

• IV: Tiktok the Machine Man

  Dorothy and Billina use observation and the golden key to discover and unlock the hidden chamber, demonstrating clever problem-solving.

• Dorothy Opens the Dinner-Pail

  Dorothy demonstrates resourcefulness by rewinding Tiktok, finding the lost key, and using her dinner-pail as a source of sustenance and information.

• The Heads of Langwidere

  Billina uses wit and boldness to gain entry, and Tiktok fights creatively despite his mechanical limitations.

• The Giant with the Hammer

  The Scarecrow devises the plan to time the hammer's rise, and the group works together to cross safely.

• The Nome King

  The Scarecrow and others propose using persuasion and clever negotiation rather than force to achieve their goal.

• XIV: Dorothy Tries to Be Brave

  Billina cleverly overhears the King's secret about the purple ornaments, which may aid the group later.

• XV: Billina Frightens the Nome King

  Billina uses her egg-laying to negotiate a chance to guess the enchantments, showing quick thinking.

• Purple, Green, and Gold

  Billina's sharp observation and memory of the Nome King's secret allow her to reverse the enchantments and free the captives.

• The Scarecrow Wins the Fight

  Billina's guessing and the Scarecrow's use of eggs demonstrate clever problem-solving.

• The Fate of the Tin Woodman

  Dorothy quickly learns to wield the magic belt, Billina advises against returning it, and the Scarecrow devises the goose-egg threat to force the King's cooperation.

• Dorothy's Magic Belt

  Dorothy cleverly gives the belt to Ozma to avoid losing its magic, ensuring she can return to Uncle Henry while preserving the belt's power.