SynapTale

Constructed being in The Oz Series

Saw-Horse

Also known as a dead horse, made of wood, the wooden saw-horse, his steed, our horse, that wooden horse, the wooden steed, the impetuous charger, the quadruped, the odd-looking creature, that animal, an animated chunk of wood, the still vigorous Saw-Horse.

An old wooden saw-horse that a woodcutter left at the edge of a wood: its body a tree-trunk with a branch sticking up like a tail, two big knots for eyes, a chopped-away mouth, and four straight tree-limb legs spread wide to stand firmly. Once a dead tool for sawing logs, it is brought to life by Tip with the stolen Powder of Life so it can carry Jack Pumpkinhead.

Appears in 34 chapters, first in chapter 28, last in chapter 87.

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

AffiliationQueen Ozma's own cherished mount in the Emerald City, originally animated by Tip with the Powder of Life. (as of ch. 86)
AgeAlive for some time now — long past its first animation, having since served through the Army of Revolt's rebellion, Ozma's coronation, and now the expedition to rescue the royal family of Ev, during which it was struck by the Nome King's iron giant and fitted with replacement ears. (as of ch. 58)
Animating lackNewly alive, it lacks ears (and so cannot hear until Tip makes some), has no neck to turn and no knee-joints, and does not understand commands or danger.
AppearanceA wooden saw-horse shaped like a horse by chance — tree-trunk body, branch tail, knot eyes, chopped-out mouth, bark ears, and a back-post handhold — now with a mismatched new left leg made from Jack Pumpkinhead's amputated, whittled-down wooden leg. (as of ch. 37)
Being natureA living wooden construct: a former lifeless saw-horse of wood brought to life by the Powder of Life, now a self-moving being.
Body conditionsMade entirely of wood: a tree-trunk body with four tree-limb legs stuck fast into it, a branch for a tail, knot eyes, and a chopped-out mouth.
ConflictNo longer bolting uncontrollably, its friction is now social: it bridles at Jack's teasing, resents being insulted, and quarrels with the Pumpkinhead — vowing to have nothing more to do with him for losing his head too easily. (as of ch. 34)
Construction materialA wooden saw-horse: a tree-trunk body with a branch for a tail, two knots for eyes, a chopped-out mouth, four tree-limb legs, and bark ears added by Tip.
Creation accountIt was an old saw-horse a woodcutter left at the edge of a wood; Tip sprinkled it with the stolen Powder of Life and spoke the ritual words to bring it to life as a mount for Jack.
Current goalTo serve faithfully as Queen Ozma's personal mount, carrying her through the streets of the Emerald City. (as of ch. 48)
Dialogue styleSpeaks literally and matter-of-factly, in wondering questions and plain reasoning, but now also gruffly and testily — growling and snapping back when it feels mocked or insulted. (as of ch. 34)
EquipmentFitted with new ears made and attached by the Tin Woodman after the iron giant's mallet broke off its original pair; its cracked left knee was bound up with a string; shod with plates of gold on all four legs so its wooden legs would not wear out. (as of ch. 58)
Gender identityman (as of ch. 29)
Health conditionHad one of its legs and its left ear kicked off by Jim, then promptly repaired by the Tin Woodman, who cut a fresh limb and fashioned a new leg and ear that were securely fastened in place. (as of ch. 86)
Is aliveyes
Maintenance needsRequires added and repaired parts to function: bark ears bored into its head to let it hear, a replacement ear when one breaks, and a post fitted into its back as a handhold.
Material vulnerabilitiesBeing wood, its bark ears break off, its stiff jointless legs are awkward, and it can be jarred; its parts must be repaired by whittling.
Maturation stageNewly animated — a being alive only from this moment.
Modular partsAssembled from rough wooden parts: a tree-trunk body, four straight tree-limb legs stuck fast and spread wide, a projecting branch tail, two knot eyes, and a chopped-out mouth.
MotiveTo serve Ozma faithfully and do its best — here, to run the race as well as it can despite protesting the match is unfair. (as of ch. 86)
PersonalityStill literal-minded, obedient, and touchily proud, but capable of surprising flashes of plain practical cleverness: though reckoned the most stupid of the party, it alone cracks the impossible counting riddle by proposing to begin at one-half, earning the others' astonished respect. (as of ch. 43)
QuirksPaces with the legs on each side moving together, so its body rocks sidewise like a cradle; having no ability to sleep, it stays awake as a watch. (as of ch. 29)
Referential profilemasculine (as of ch. 29)
Sex profilenonbiological (as of ch. 28)
SkillsCan move and stand on its four wooden legs from the moment it is brought to life. Delivers a powerful kick with its wooden hind legs when threatened. Immune to the Nome King's magic belt/enchantment word because its body is made entirely of wood, which the King's magic cannot affect. (as of ch. 65)
Social statusProclaimed by Ozma the Prince of Horses and the real Champion of its race, with all other horses in Oz declared mere imitations; remains her cherished personal mount. (as of ch. 86)
Special capabilitiesFrom the instant of animation it can move on its own — stretching and moving its wooden legs and yawning with its chopped-out mouth — able to stand and be ridden.
StatusWon the race against Jim by a wide margin; had a leg and its left ear kicked off by the enraged Jim, then was repaired by the Tin Woodman; crowned Prince of Horses by Ozma and carried her back to the city at the head of the procession. (as of ch. 86)

Relationships

11 further relationships are in the interactive codex.

From the text

“I’ll do my best,” returned the Saw-Horse, cheerfully.Chapter 30
“Then it pleases me to be able to call you a fool, in return,” said the horse. “For I did not make the river, nor put it in our way; so only a term of reproach is fit for one who becomes angry with me for falling into the water.”Chapter 34
Immediately the saw-horse moved, stretched its legs, yawned with its chopped-out mouth, and shook a few grains of the powder off its back.Chapter 28
“Then I will do as you tell me,” replied the Saw-Horse, humbly.Chapter 29
“Well, I cannot claim any great experience in life,” the Saw-Horse answered for himself. “but I seem to learn very quickly, and often it occurs to me that I know more than any of those around me.”Chapter 35
“Not in the least,” returned the Saw-Horse; “but my pride is injured to find that my anatomy is so brittle.”Chapter 36

See Saw-Horse chapter by chapter in the interactive codex →

All entries in The Oz Series