Narrative Summary of Tarzan the Terrible

Overview:

I am Tarzan, the ape-man, and I am on a quest to find my wife, Lady Jane, who was taken captive by the Germans. I have traveled across a harsh, waterless steppe and into an unexplored region of Africa filled with dangers. I have met strange creatures, including a hairless, tailed man, a hairy black ape-man, and a monstrous reptilian predator. I have fought to survive against lions, a saber-tooth hybrid lion, and an ancient, horned dinosaur called a GRYF. I have been captured and escaped, and now I am on the trail of my wife, who has been kidnapped by a wicked chief named Mo-sar.

Main Parts:

The Pithecanthropus: I encounter a hairless, tailed man named Ta-den, who becomes my guide. We also meet Om-at, a hairy black ape-man.
“To the Death!”: We face threats from various creatures, including a striped saber-tooth lion and a monstrous reptile. We form a bond of friendship and alliance.
Pan-at-lee: Ta-den reveals that he fled the city of A-lur, the City of Light, to avoid being made a priest. We set out for A-lur to search for Lady Jane. Om-at searches for his lost love, Pan-at-lee.
Tarzan-jad-guru: We face threats from the Waz-don tribe and engage in battles with them, earning the title “Tarzan the Terrible”. Om-at becomes chief of Kor-ul-JA.
In the Kor-ul-GRYF: Pan-at-lee flees from the wrath of Es-sat, the chief of Kor-ul-JA, and hides in the abandoned Kor-ul-GRYF.
The Tor-o-don: Tarzan encounters and battles a Tor-o-don, a hairy, tailless, and powerful ape-like creature. He rescues Pan-at-lee from it.
Jungle Craft: I learn the ways of the GRYF, a large, horned dinosaur. I use my knowledge to try and escape from them.
A-lur: I ride a GRYF to the City of Light. I pretend to be the son of Jad-ben-Otho, the Great God, to gain access to the palace and temple.
Blood-Stained Altars: I confront the high priest, Lu-don, and challenge the practices of the temple. I free the prisoners from the temple.
The Forbidden Garden: I discover the Forbidden Garden and meet O-lo-a, the king’s daughter. I also find Pan-at-lee, who reveals that a mysterious woman is hidden in the temple.
The Sentence of Death: Lu-don accuses me of being an imposter and sentences me to death. I escape the temple and the city of A-lur.
The Giant Stranger: I encounter a strange warrior named Jar-don, who is also searching for me. He joins forces with Om-at’s tribe.
The Masquerader: I steal the identity of a priest and infiltrate the temple.
The Temple of the Gryf: I discover that Lady Jane is being held prisoner in the Temple of the Gryf.
“The King Is Dead!”: I rescue Lady Jane from the Temple of the Gryf. A power struggle ensues between the king, Ko-tan, and a powerful chief, Mo-sar.
The Lion Pit of Tu-lur: Mo-sar kidnaps Lady Jane and flees to his city of Tu-lur. I follow him.
Diana of the Jungle: Lady Jane escapes Mo-sar’s captivity and hides in the jungle. She learns to hunt and build a shelter. She encounters Obergatz.
Silently in the Night: Lady Jane is attacked by Obergatz.
The Maniac: Obergatz descends into madness.
A Journey on a Gryf: I tame a GRYF and ride it to A-lur. I rescue Lady Jane.
Taken Alive: I join forces with Ja-don, the chieftain of Ja-lur. I am captured by Lu-don.
The Messenger of Death: I am imprisoned in the temple, but I escape. Lu-don is killed by a mysterious messenger.
Home: Ja-don becomes king of Pal-ul-don. We set out to return home.

View on Life:

Tarzan: A strong, independent, and compassionate man who prioritizes freedom, survival, and loyalty. He lives according to the laws of nature and is resourceful, courageous, and a master of the jungle.
Ta-den: He longs for love and freedom. He is willing to sacrifice anything for the woman he loves.
Om-at: He values freedom and his tribe. He is fiercely loyal and protective.
Lu-don: He believes in power and control. He is cunning and ruthless, and believes in the superiority of his own people.
Mo-sar: He desires power and sees the princess as a valuable asset in his quest for the throne.

Scenarios:

Escape from Cannibal Village: I escape from a cannibal village in the interior.
Cross the Morass: I cross a dangerous, treacherous morass.
Attack by the Saber-Tooth Lion: I fight a striped saber-tooth hybrid lion and rescue a hairless, tailed man.
The Tor-o-don Attack: I fight and defeat a powerful Tor-o-don.
Defend the Kor-ul-JA: I defend the Kor-ul-JA from a Kor-ul-lul attack, earning the title “Tarzan the Terrible.”
Escape from the Kor-ul-JA: I am captured by the Kor-ul-JA and escape by killing a warrior and carrying his head.
The GRYF Hunt: I learn the ways of the GRYF and attempt to escape from them.
Journey on a GRYF: I use a GRYF as my mount to reach A-lur.
The Temple of the Gryf: Lady Jane is held captive in the Temple of the Gryf.
Power Struggle: A power struggle unfolds between Ko-tan, Mo-sar, and Ja-don for the throne of Pal-ul-don.
The Lion Pit: I am trapped in a lion pit by Lu-don.
Obergatz’s Madness: Obergatz descends into madness.
The False Jad-ben-Otho: Obergatz pretends to be Jad-ben-Otho and gains power in A-lur.
The Return to A-lur: I attempt to liberate A-lur from Lu-don’s control.
The Secret Passage: I discover a secret passageway between the city and the temple.
The Escape from the Temple: I escape from the temple.

Challenges:

Finding Lady Jane: I must find my wife, Lady Jane, who has been kidnapped.
Surviving in a New World: I must learn the ways of the jungle and survive against dangerous animals.
Facing a New Kind of Human: I must deal with the different species of humanoids in Pal-ul-don, including the hairy black men, the hairless white men, and the Tor-o-don.
Overcoming Religious Superstition: I must challenge the practices of the temple and the belief in the Great God, Jad-ben-Otho.
Fighting for My Freedom: I must fight for my freedom and the freedom of those I love against the power of the priests and the chiefs.
Finding a Way Home: I must find a way to return home to my wife and son.

Conflict:

Humans vs. Nature: Humans face constant threats from the dangerous creatures of Pal-ul-don, including lions, the saber-tooth lion, and the GRYF.
Humans vs. Humans: Different tribes, the Waz-don and the Ho-don, are at war with each other, and there is internal conflict among the Ho-don.
Religion vs. Reason: The priests use religion to control the people and to maintain their power. Tarzan challenges these beliefs.
Love vs. Duty: The characters struggle with their duty to their people and their desire for love and freedom.

Plot:

Tarzan’s Quest: The story begins with Tarzan searching for Lady Jane. He encounters the hairless, tailed man and the hairy black ape-man.
The GRYF: He travels through the jungle and faces the GRYF, a prehistoric dinosaur.
A-lur: He reaches A-lur, the City of Light, and pretends to be the son of Jad-ben-Otho, the Great God, to gain access.
Power Struggle: He becomes involved in the power struggle between the king and the high priest.
The Temple of the Gryf: He discovers Lady Jane is being held captive in the Temple of the Gryf and rescues her.
The Escape from A-lur: Lu-don tries to kill Tarzan, but he escapes.
Ja-don and the Rebellion: He meets Ja-don, a chieftain, and becomes involved in the rebellion against Lu-don.
The True Jad-ben-Otho: The real Jad-ben-Otho, a being of advanced technology, arrives and frees Tarzan and Ja-don. He kills Lu-don and frees the prisoners.
The Journey Home: Tarzan, Jane, and Korak set out to return home.

Point of View:

First Person: The story is told from Tarzan’s point of view. This gives the reader insight into his thoughts, motivations, and experiences.

How It’s Written:

Third Person: The story is written in the third person, allowing the author to provide a broader perspective on the events.
Descriptive and Vivid: Burroughs uses vivid descriptions to create a sense of the jungle’s danger and beauty.
Action-Packed: The story is full of action and adventure, with Tarzan constantly facing new challenges and enemies.
Example: “In the moment of discovery Tarzan saw that the creature was almost a counterpart of his companion in size and conformation, with the exception that his body was entirely clothed with a coat of shaggy black hair which almost concealed his features, while his harness and weapons were similar to those of the creature he had attacked.”

Tone:

Adventurous and Exhilarating: The tone of the story is adventurous and exhilarating. Tarzan’s journey is a thrilling adventure, filled with dangers and excitement.
Suspenseful: The story is suspenseful, with Tarzan and Lady Jane constantly facing threats.

Life Choices:

Tarzan’s Quest for Lady Jane: Tarzan risks everything to find his wife. He refuses to give up hope, even when the odds are against him.
Om-at’s Choice for Freedom: He chooses to leave his tribe and to fight for his love.
Ta-den’s Choice for Love: He chooses to flee A-lur and to pursue his love for O-lo-a.
Lu-don’s Choice for Power: He prioritizes power and control above all else.

Lessons:

Courage in the Face of Danger: Tarzan shows incredible courage and resourcefulness in the face of danger.
The Importance of Loyalty: Loyalty to those we love and to our friends is crucial in a dangerous world.
The Dangers of Greed: Lu-don’s greed for power leads to his downfall.
The Strength of Love: Tarzan’s love for Jane drives him to overcome all obstacles.

Characters:

Tarzan: The ape-man, strong, resourceful, courageous, and compassionate.
Lady Jane Clayton: Tarzan’s wife, beautiful, intelligent, and brave.
Korak: Tarzan’s son, young, mischievous, and adventurous.
Ta-den: A hairless, tailed man, who is fiercely loyal and loves O-lo-a.
Om-at: A hairy black ape-man, brave, loyal, and protective of his tribe and his love, Pan-at-lee.
Lu-don: The high priest of A-lur, cunning, ruthless, and power-hungry.
Mo-sar: A powerful chief, greedy for power and willing to betray those around him.
Obergatz: A German officer, cruel and treacherous.
Pan-at-lee: A beautiful Waz-don woman, who is loyal to her people and to Om-at.
O-lo-a: The king’s daughter, beautiful, intelligent, and conflicted about her duty and her heart.

Themes:

Freedom: The characters struggle for freedom from captivity and from the constraints of their society.
Love: Love drives the characters to make sacrifices and to fight for what they believe in.
Survival: The characters face constant danger and must use all their skills to survive.
Power: The characters struggle for power and control, both personal and political.

Principles:

The Law of the Jungle: The characters live by the laws of nature, where the strong survive and the weak perish.
The Power of Nature: Nature is a powerful force that can both sustain and destroy.
The Value of Loyalty: Loyalty to one’s friends and family is essential for survival in a dangerous world.
The Importance of Courage: Courage is needed to overcome obstacles and to fight for what is right.

Intentions:

Tarzan: To find his wife and return home. To protect those he loves. To defeat the forces of evil.
Lady Jane: To escape from captivity and to reunite with her husband and son.
Ja-don: To become king of Pal-ul-don and to defeat the high priest.
Lu-don: To gain absolute power over Pal-ul-don.
Mo-sar: To seize the throne and to rule Pal-ul-don.
Obergatz: To avenge his past losses and to capture Jane.

Unique Vocabulary:

GRYF: An ancient, horned dinosaur that has survived to modern times in Pal-ul-don.
Tor-o-don: A hairy, tailless, ape-like creature with incredible strength.
Waz-ho-don: A mixed race of hairy black and hairless white people.
Pal-e-don-so: The place where men eat—the banquet hall.
Whee-oo!: The call of the Tor-o-don.

Anecdotes:

The Story of Ta-den’s Exile: Ta-den tells Tarzan the story of his exile from A-lur and his love for O-lo-a.
The Story of Om-at’s Loss: Om-at shares the story of his lost love, Pan-at-lee.
The Story of Obergatz’s Escape: Obergatz tells Jane the story of his escape from a Waz-ho-don village.
The Story of Tarzan’s Capture: Pan-at-lee tells O-lo-a about how Tarzan saved her from a Tor-o-don.
The Story of the Lion Pit: Tarzan tells Jane how he was trapped in the lion pit at Tu-lur.

Ideas:

The Primitive World: The novel explores the concept of a primitive world filled with both danger and beauty.
The Struggle for Power: The story is about the struggle for power between different factions, and the corrupting influence of power.
The Strength of Love: The story highlights the importance of love and loyalty in overcoming adversity.

Facts and Findings:

The Existence of Extinct Species: Tarzan encounters a prehistoric triceratops in Pal-ul-don, proving that some extinct species may have survived in remote areas.
The Existence of Different Humanoid Species: The novel suggests that there are different humanoid species living in Pal-ul-don, including the Waz-don, the Ho-don, and the Tor-o-don.

Statistics:

The Sun Has Eaten Seven Times: Ta-den uses the phrase “Bu, the moon, has eaten seven times” to denote a period of 28 days.

Points of View:

Tarzan’s Perspective: The story is told from Tarzan’s point of view, providing insight into his thoughts, motivations, and experiences. He is a powerful and knowledgeable figure, but he is also vulnerable and compassionate.
The Perspective of Primitive Peoples: The novel portrays the lives of primitive peoples in Pal-ul-don. It reveals their beliefs, customs, and struggles for survival.

Perspective:

The Clash of Civilizations: The novel explores the clash of civilizations between the primitive people of Pal-ul-don and the more advanced (but not necessarily more civilized) Europeans.
The Power of Nature: Nature is a powerful force in Pal-ul-don, both beautiful and dangerous. The characters are constantly tested by nature.
The Nature of Man: The novel explores the complex nature of man, highlighting his capacity for both good and evil, love and hate, reason and superstition.

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