Species in The Oz Series
Dunkiton Donkeys
Also known as the beasts, gentlemen-donkeys, lady-donkeys, the grey donkey, the brown donkey.
Talking donkeys of many colors who stand upright on their hind legs, wear scalloped collars, pointed caps (males) or ear-holed sunbonnets (females), and gold/silver bangles, and pride themselves on cleverness and elaborate speech.
Appears in 2 chapters, first in chapter 95, last in chapter 96.
This encyclopedia covers chapters 1 to 100 of the story and shows the world as it stands at chapter 100, so it contains spoilers up to that point. To read it spoiler free, one chapter at a time, open the interactive codex.
What the story establishes
| Cultural norms | Value formal etiquette (expecting visiting cards from guests) and revere their king; assign the whitewashing of walls to young donkeys as a chore, done with their tails as brushes, to keep them out of mischief; hold that all donkeys are 'born wise' and so scorn books and formal schooling, trusting only the 'school of experience'; and treat the king's jeweled Magic Staff as a one-way power that can bestow gifts or transformations (even unwanted ones) but can never undo them. (as of ch. 96) |
| Habitat | Dunkiton, a high-walled, whitewashed city, where metal sheets are hung inside for the donkeys to kick as an alarm. (as of ch. 95) |
| Innate traits | Lack fingers or hands, making them clumsy, but compensate with surprising dexterity using their stiff, heavy hoofs; can stand and sit upright on their hind legs, using front legs as arms. (as of ch. 95) |
Relationships
- located in → Dunkiton ch. 95The donkeys live inside the whitewashed walled city of Dunkiton, where they were found kicking suspended metal sheets to make a scaring noise.
- leader of ← King Kik-a-bray ch. 95King Kik-a-bray is the ruling monarch of the Dunkiton donkeys: he holds court in his house, is served by a favorite brown donkey attendant who brings him his gold crown and jeweled staff, and personally exercises royal power over visitors and subjects, using his magic staff to transform the shaggy man's head and to conjure food and lodging for guests.
- owns → Encyclopedia Donkaniara ch. 95The Dunkiton donkeys have their own reference work, the Encyclopedia Donkaniara, which the grey donkey cites as the authoritative source proving that 'donkey' means 'clever.'
- confronts ← the Shaggy Man (ended) ch. 95The shaggy man confronts the noisy donkeys, switching them into silence and sternly demanding to know why they are making such a racket.
- persuades ← the Shaggy Man (ended) ch. 95The shaggy man persuades the donkeys to treat the party courteously by declaring them important, distinguished travelers deserving proper consideration, which delights and wins over the donkeys.
- communicates with → Dorothy (ended) ch. 96The grey donkey guide converses with Dorothy while leading her group through Dunkiton, explaining the donkeys' haphazard streets, the 'hoofist' sign, and other customs of the city.
- provides service → road_to_oz_traveling_party (ended) ch. 95–96The grey donkey offers to personally guide and lead Dorothy's traveling party before King Kik-a-bray, acting as their escort within Dunkiton.
- shows respect → the Shaggy Man (ended) ch. 95Delighted by the shaggy man's grand words about being distinguished travelers, the donkeys bow to him with great respect.
- fears → Button-Bright (ended) ch. 95Mistaking Button-Bright, who wears a fox head, for an attacking fox, the donkeys made their scaring racket and eyed the strangers with fear and trembling until the shaggy man clarified he was not really a fox.
From the text
The word 'donkey' means 'clever,' you know.Chapter 95
They made a queer picture, indeed; for they wore wide, white collars around their necks and the collars had many scallops and points.Chapter 95
See Dunkiton Donkeys chapter by chapter in the interactive codex →