Hammer-Head Mountain
Hammer-Head Mountain is a steep hill in the Land of Oz, covered from top to bottom with great pieces of rock, that forms a critical barrier on the road to the Quadling Country. Its inhabitants, the Hammer-Heads, are strange, armless creatures with large, flat-topped heads supported by thick, wrinkled necks, who use their heads as projectiles to violently prevent anyone from crossing. This location represents one of the final physical obstacles Dorothy and her companions must overcome before reaching Glinda the Good Witch, and its unique defense mechanism forces the travelers to rely on their last resort: the Winged Monkeys.
Geography and Inhabitants
The mountain presents a steep, rocky face that appears as a formidable natural obstacle. When the travelers emerge from the great forest, they see before them a hill covered with large pieces of rock from top to bottom. The Scarecrow leads the way, but they are immediately challenged by a rough voice commanding them to keep back. The hill is claimed by the Hammer-Heads, who do not allow anyone to cross it. These creatures are short and stout, with big heads that are flat at the top and supported by thick, wrinkled necks. They have no arms at all, but their heads can shoot forward with lightning speed, their necks stretching out until the flat top strikes an intruder in the middle and sends them tumbling down the hill. Dorothy sees hundreds of these armless Hammer-Heads upon the hillside, one behind every rock, and their laughter is boisterous and mocking.
The Barrier to the South
The Hammer-Head Mountain serves as a deliberate and effective barrier to the southern lands. The Scarecrow, walking boldly forward, is struck by a Hammer-Head's head and sent rolling down the hill. The Cowardly Lion, angered by the laughter, charges up the hill with a loud roar, but a head shoots out and sends him rolling down as if struck by a cannon ball. The Lion admits it is useless to fight people with shooting heads, as no one can withstand them. The Tin Woodman then suggests calling the Winged Monkeys, as Dorothy still has the right to command them once more. This is the only way they can pass, as the Hammer-Heads' unique defense makes physical assault impossible.
Narrative Significance
The Hammer-Head Mountain is the final obstacle that forces Dorothy to use the last of the three commands of the Golden Cap. After the Winged Monkeys carry the travelers over the hill, the Hammer-Heads yell with vexation and shoot their heads high in the air, but they cannot reach the flying monkeys. The mountain is later mentioned by the Scarecrow when he speaks with Glinda, as he worries about how to return to the Emerald City after Dorothy leaves. Glinda promises to use the Golden Cap to command the Winged Monkeys to carry him to the gates of the Emerald City, solving the problem of crossing the hill. The Hammer-Head Mountain thus represents a point where brute force and courage fail, and only magical intervention can succeed, marking a transition from the travelers' own efforts to the final, magical resolution of their journey.
