Talking animal in The Oz Series
Queen of the Field Mice
Also known as the little Queen, her Majesty, Queen of all the Field Mice, the little gray field mouse, the dignified little Mouse, the Queen of the Mice, the Queen of the Field Mice, your Majesty, the little grey Queen.
A little gray field mouse who is Queen of all the Field Mice; saved from a pursuing Wildcat by the Tin Woodman, the dignified, grateful little sovereign commands her thousands of mice to serve him and to rescue the sleeping Cowardly Lion, then pledges the party her people's future aid.
Appears in 3 chapters, first in chapter 9, last in chapter 38.
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
| Affiliation | Sovereign and ruler of the whole people of the Field Mice. (as of ch. 9) |
| Animal kind | Field mouse — a little gray field mouse. |
| Appearance | A little gray field mouse, small enough to hide under a clump of grass. (as of ch. 9) |
| Being nature | A naturally-born, speaking and reasoning field mouse of the fairy country. |
| Body conditions | A tiny field-mouse body, so small that the truck her people draw is a thousand times bigger than any of them. |
| Conflict | Her wish to help her old friends is briefly checked by concern for her subjects' safety — she asks doubtfully whether the mice will be injured before agreeing to lend them. (as of ch. 38) |
| Current goal | To aid her old friends — lending the Scarecrow a dozen mice and guiding the party safely past the enemy's magical obstacles to the Emerald City. (as of ch. 38) |
| Dialogue style | Speaks in a squeaky little voice, at once regal and easily indignant; stands on her royal dignity, thanks effusively, and gives crisp commands to her subjects. (as of ch. 9) |
| Equipment | Wears a tiny golden crown upon her head, the emblem of her royal station. (as of ch. 38) |
| Gender identity | woman (as of ch. 9) |
| Health condition | Unharmed and well: saved from the Wildcat's jaws at the last moment, she suffers no injury and remains active throughout the rescue she commands. (as of ch. 9) |
| Is alive | yes (as of ch. 9) |
| Motive | To repay the Tin Woodman for saving her life and to keep her mice safe while doing so. (as of ch. 9) |
| Personality | Dignified and proud of her royal station, quick to take offense at being belittled, yet grateful, fair, and mindful of her people's safety; timid in the face of the Lion until reassured. (as of ch. 9) |
| Quirks | Indignantly corrects anyone who takes her for 'only a mouse'; when timid, sticks just her head out from under a clump of grass to parley. (as of ch. 9) |
| Referential profile | feminine (as of ch. 9) |
| Sex profile | female (as of ch. 9) |
| Skills | Royal command: with a word she musters thousands of subject mice from every direction and directs their coordinated labor, each bringing a piece of string as ordered. (as of ch. 9) |
| Social status | Reigning Queen and absolute sovereign of the Field Mice, to whom thousands bow and defer. (as of ch. 9) |
| Special capabilities | Can summon thousands of obedient field mice to her aid at a word, mustering her whole people in short order. |
| Status | Answering the Tin Woodman's whistle, she greets her old friends, lends a dozen of her subjects to hide in the Scarecrow's straw, and then runs ahead as an unerring guide, leading the party safely through Mombi's illusions to the gates of the Emerald City before darting home. (as of ch. 38) |
Relationships
- provides service → Scarecrow ch. 38The Queen of the Field Mice runs ahead as an unerring guide, leading the Scarecrow and his comrades safely through Mombi's illusory obstacles all the way to the gates of the Emerald City.
- leader of → Field Mice ch. 9The Queen rules all the Field Mice — thousands of them — who obey her orders and bow low before her.
- species of → Field Mice ch. 9The Queen is herself a field mouse, the sovereign of her own kind.
- indebted to → Tin Woodman ch. 9Having had her life saved by the Tin Woodman, the Queen of the Field Mice owes him a life-debt and holds all her mice at his service; this chapter she honors it again, coming fearlessly at his whistle, lending a dozen mice, and guiding the party to the Emerald City (fulfillment_status: pending, repaid in recurring service).
- reveals secret to → Dorothy (ended) ch. 14The Queen of the Field Mice reveals to Dorothy that her Golden Cap carries a charm — written inside the Cap — that can summon the Winged Monkeys, who must obey the wearer and will carry the party to the Emerald City in under an hour.
- persuades ← Scarecrow (ended) ch. 38The Scarecrow entreats the Queen to lend him a dozen of her subjects to hide in his straw and help him regain his throne, and she agrees to call twelve of her most intelligent mice.
- rescues ← Tin Woodman (ended) ch. 9By beheading the pursuing Wildcat, the Tin Woodman saves the little field mouse's life; she proves to be the Queen of all the Field Mice.
- communicates with ← Dorothy (ended) ch. 14Lost in the fields, Dorothy blows the whistle to summon the Queen of the Field Mice and asks her the way to the Emerald City; the Queen answers that the City lies far behind them and advises using the Golden Cap's charm.
- persuades ← Scarecrow (ended) ch. 9The Scarecrow persuades the wary Queen to help rescue the sleeping Lion, promising the cowardly beast will treat her mice with kindness, until she agrees to trust him.
- communicates with ← Tin Woodman (ended) ch. 38The Tin Woodman politely greets his old friend the Queen of the Field Mice and asks her to run ahead and guide the party to the Emerald City past the enemy's obstacles.
- communicates with → Dorothy (ended) ch. 14Answering Dorothy's whistle, the Queen of the Field Mice greets her friends, tells them the Emerald City lies far behind them, advises using the Cap's charm, and bids a hasty good-bye before the Monkeys come.
- commands → Field Mice (ended) ch. 9The Queen orders her mice to fetch all her people with strings, and later commands them to start hauling the truck out of the poppies before they too fall asleep.
- commands → Field Mice (ended) ch. 38With a little piping call in the mouse language, the Queen summons a dozen field mice and orders them to hide in the Scarecrow's straw, which they obey without hesitation.
- shows trust → Tin Woodman (ended) ch. 38Because the Tin Woodman once saved her life, the Queen comes fearlessly at his whistle and readily agrees to help him and guide the party.
- threatens ← Wildcat (ended) ch. 9The great Wildcat chases the little field mouse — the Queen of the Field Mice — mouth open and bent on killing her, until the Tin Woodman intervenes.
- communicates with ← Dorothy (ended) ch. 9Introduced to the Queen by the Scarecrow, Dorothy nods gravely as the Queen curtsies, and the two become friendly.
- protects ← Dorothy (ended) ch. 9As the Queen departs, Dorothy holds Toto tightly so that he will not run after her and frighten her.
- shows trust → Scarecrow (ended) ch. 9The Queen decides to trust the Scarecrow's promise that the Cowardly Lion is harmless and agrees to help rescue him.
From the text
“If ever you need us again,” she said, “come out into the field and call, and we shall hear you and come to your assistance.”Chapter 9
“Only a mouse!” cried the little animal, indignantly. “Why, I am a Queen—the Queen of all the Field Mice!”Chapter 9
“I am always pleased to be of service to my friends,” answered the Queen.Chapter 38
See Queen of the Field Mice chapter by chapter in the interactive codex →