The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Chapter 16 Summary

The Magic Art of the Great Humbug

  • It's morning and the Scarecrow is beside himself as he waits to go collect his new brain.
  • Finally, it's time. Oz removes his head and stuffs it with bran, pins, and needles. Sounds like a breakfast cereal for robots, but guess what? Instant intelligence. The Scarecrow is thrilled.
  • Time for the tin man to collect his heart. Oz cuts a whole in his chest and puts in a silk heart that's stuffed with sawdust.
  • Next is the Lion. Oz gives him a dish filled with "courage" to drink. The Lion instantly feels very brave.
  • After everyone has left the throne room, Oz wonders how on earth he's going to help Dorothy. He didn't do anything to actually help the rest of the gang; they just thought he did. Their belief was enough to make the trick work.