The jungle boy TARZAN – Twice

The jungle boy ( TARZAN)

                       

 

Introducing Tarzan

 

Tarzan is the main protagonist in Edgar Rice Burroughs’s classic series of novels about the legendary “ape man” who was raised by apes in the jungles of Africa. Tarzan’s origins begin when his parents, John and Alice Clayton, are marooned on the coast of uncharted Africa. His parents build a sturdy treehouse to live in, but a short time later they are killed by a vicious ape named Kerchak. Fortunately, a tribe of gorillas named the Mangani find Tarzan as an infant and adopt him as one of their own

 

The Mangani apes name the human baby Tarzan, which means “white skin” in their language. Tarzan grows up among the apes, becoming incredibly strong, agile, and attuned to jungle life. He lives by the law of the jungle and survives by his own wits from a young age, learning to swing through the trees, communicate with animals, and outsmart predators. As Tarzan reaches adulthood, he rules over the apes as their leader while also exploring the deepest parts of the African jungle. His upbringing has made him utterly fearless and fully adapted to surviving the dangers of the wild

 

 Tarzan’s Parents 

 

John Clayton, Lord of Greystoke, and his wife Alice were marooned on the coast of Africa after a mutiny aboard their ship. They built a small cabin in the jungle and eventually had a son, John Clayton Jr, who would come to be known as Tarzan

 

Tragically, both of John and Alice died while Tarzan was still a young boy. His mother was killed by a great ape named Kala, who felt remorse after and decided to raise the human baby as her own. Tarzan thus grew up among the apes, believing himself to be one of them. He was given the ape name Tarzan, which means “white skin” in their language

 

Though Tarzan never knew his true parents, their influence marked his early life. If not for their unfortunate shipwreck and demise in the jungle, Tarzan would likely have grown up in aristocratic England instead. Yet fate led him to be raised by apes and become lord of the jungle – a much different upbringing indeed

 

 Raised by Apes

 

After his parents died, the baby who would become known as Tarzan was found and adopted by a female gorilla named Kala. She brought him back to her troop and raised him as her own

 

Tarzan quickly adapted to life in the jungle among the apes. He learned to swing through the trees, forage for food, and communicate through grunts and calls Tarzan became very close with his ape family, especially his gorilla mother Kala and his childhood friend Terk, an ape who originally ridiculed Tarzan but grew to accept him

 

Living among the apes, Tarzan developed exceptional physical strength, stamina, and agility. He moved with the athleticism and speed of an ape, and honed his survival skills in the harsh jungle environment. Tarzan embraced his new jungle home and was more comfortable roaming the wilds than he ever was around other humans

 

 Meeting Jane

 

One day while swinging through the trees, Tarzan caught a glimpse of something he had never seen before in the jungle – a human girl! She was beautiful, with long blonde hair and soft pale skin. Tarzan watched curiously as Jane Porter set up camp with her father and their guides

 

That night, Tarzan couldn’t resist getting a closer look. As Jane slept by the fire, he crept near and examined her belongings. The noise woke Jane and she saw Tarzan’s face in the firelight. She screamed in fright, alerting the camp. Tarzan fled into the night

 

The next day, Tarzan followed Jane as she wandered the jungle collecting specimens. When Jane was threatened by a snarling baboon, Tarzan swooped in to protect her. At first Jane was still afraid of the wild man, but she soon realized he meant her no harm. From then on, they became friends. Tarzan was fascinated by the human girl and she was equally intrigued by Tarzan’s incredible jungle life He taught her to swing through the vines and she taught him some English words. It was the beginning of a unique friendship that would soon blossom into love

 

 Adventures with Jane

 

Growing up in the jungle, Tarzan had never met another human before Jane Porter arrived. At first they struggled to communicate, but soon formed a close bond. Together Tarzan and Jane explored the deepest parts of the jungle and embarked on many adventures

 

One particularly perilous adventure occurred when Jane was kidnapped by a tribe of monkeys. The monkeys took Jane to an ancient temple deep in the jungle that no human had ever entered. Tarzan tracked the monkeys and fought his way through dangerous traps and obstacles to reach the temple. After defeating the monkey king in an epic battle, Tarzan was able to rescue Jane and escape the temple as it collapsed around them

 

On another occasion, Tarzan and Jane were captured by a vicious leopard while out on a walk. The leopard trapped them in a ravine and stalked them, waiting for its chance to attack. Using vines and rocks, Tarzan engineered clever traps and diversions to keep the leopard at bay. After an intense standoff that lasted all night, Tarzan found an opening to strike and scare off the leopard for good

 

Through all their adventures together, Tarzan showed incredible courage, quick thinking and gymnastic skill to protect Jane from the many dangers of the jungle Jane admired Tarzan’s strength and bravery, and Tarzan was inspired by Jane’s kindness and intelligence. Their adventures only strengthened their bond and love for each other

 

 Fighting Enemies

 

Tarzan faces many villains and enemies in the jungle. His main adversaries include

 

 Sabor – A fierce leopard who killed Tarzan’s parents and threatened the jungle Tarzan defeated Sabor in an epic battle as a youth, establishing himself as protector of the apes

 

 Clayton – A treacherous hunter sent with Jane and her father to Africa. Clayton captures apes and wants to cage Tarzan. After Clayton takes Jane hostage, Tarzan outsmarts him, and Clayton meets his demise in the jungle

 

Rom – A jealous ape leader who resents Tarzan’s leadership. Rom leads an ape rebellion, but Tarzan rallies the colony and exiles Rom, retaining his role as head of the apes

 

– Colonel Staquait – A ruthless hunter determined to capture Tarzan to win a bet. Tarzan thwarts Staquait’s traps and snares, saves Jane, and turns Staquait’s own weapons against him, forcing him to retreat from the jungle in defeat

 

Tarzan’s strength, agility, and cunning enable him to defeat those who threaten his jungle home. His loyalty to the apes and his love for Jane also drive him to overcome ruthless adversaries through brave and selfless acts. Though dangerous, facing enemies only deepens Tarzan’s connection to the jungle and its inhabitants

 

 Saving the Jungle

 

Tarzan was fiercely protective of his jungle home and the animals that lived there. As humans began encroaching on the jungle, threatening the delicate balance of nature, Tarzan sprang into action

 

Poachers and illegal loggers posed the greatest risk, seeking to harvest ivory and rare hardwoods for profit. When Tarzan discovered these interlopers, he would swiftly intervene, using his athleticism and intimate knowledge of the jungle to evade capture while sabotaging their efforts. He destroyed poachers’ traps and scared off logging crews to prevent further ecological damage

 

Mining companies also eyed Tarzan’s lands greedily, hoping to extract rare minerals and metals from the earth. But Tarzan cleverly led explorers in circles until they became hopelessly lost in the dense jungle foliage. He camouflaged mineral deposits and staged elaborate distractions to protect the jungle’s natural resources

 

Tarzan even had to fend off invading armies on occasion. He masterfully set traps and unleashed the fury of the jungle’s inhabitants, from elephants to lions, driving the invading forces into panicked retreat. Through his heroic actions and steadfast defense of his home, Tarzan succeeded in protecting the jungle from those who sought to exploit and destroy it

 

 Life in the Jungle

 

Tarzan’s life in the jungle was one of constant adventure and survival. Every day brought new challenges and experiences as he navigated the dense rainforests and interacted with its animal inhabitants

 

Tarzan had honed his survival skills over the years to thrive in the harsh jungle environment. He was incredibly agile and could swiftly climb trees, swing from vines, run along branches, and jump across the forest canopy. This allowed Tarzan to evade predators and access food and water sources

 

Hunting and foraging were a regular part of Tarzan’s daily routine. With his bare hands, feet, and teeth, Tarzan could take down animals for food. He also gathered edible plants, fruits, nuts, and honey. Tarzan knew which resources were safe to consume versus poisonous. He could track animals, follow scent trails, and fish in the rivers. These skills were crucial for surviving in the jungle

 

Shelter was another essential element for Tarzan. He often slept in the trees for protection, making nests out of interwoven branches. During storms, he would take refuge in caves and rock overhangs. Tarzan’s knowledge of the jungle terrain allowed him to always find or create suitable places to sleep and take cover

 

Though the jungle was fraught with hazards, it was also Tarzan’s home. He found joy in swinging through the trees, communicating with the animals, and discovering new areas of the dense rainforest. The jungle shaped Tarzan into the fierce, capable, and resourceful man he became. His daily life prepared him for any challenge the jungle could throw his way

 

 Leaving for London

 

After living in the jungle for so many years, Tarzan received word that he was the heir to the Greystoke estate in London. Though the jungle life was all he knew, Tarzan decided to travel to London and discover his roots

 

The civilized world of London was entirely foreign to Tarzan. He struggled to adjust to wearing clothes, living indoors, and interacting with people. Simple things that came naturally to city dwellers, like using silverware, opening doors, and speaking properly confounded Tarzan initially

 

Having lived in the wild among animals, Tarzan found London to be too loud, crowded, and chaotic. He missed the peace of the jungle and the sounds of birds and wildlife. At first, Tarzan had trouble sleeping through the night with all the unfamiliar noises of the city

 

Over time, Tarzan gradually adapted to life in London. Though the jungle still called to him, he took comfort in reconnecting with his lineage and learning more about his parents’ life in England. Tarzan remained torn between two worlds, not fully at home in either the jungle or civilized society. His time in London made him appreciate his upbringing in the wild

 

 Return to the Jungle

 

Despite living comfortably in London with Jane, Tarzan felt a longing for his old jungle home. The civilized world of man didn’t feel right for someone raised among apes. He missed swinging through the trees, hunting and foraging, and the sense of freedom the African jungle provided

 

One day, Tarzan decided it was time to go back. He booked passage on a ship bound for Africa, leaving Jane behind in London. She wanted to join him, but Tarzan felt this was a journey he must take alone

 

Upon reaching the jungle shore, memories and instincts came flooding back. Tarzan stripped off his shoes and suit, donning only a loincloth. He was home. The sights and sounds of the jungle were music to his ears—the screeching of tropical birds, the trumpeting of distant elephants, the chattering of monkeys in the treetops

 

Tarzan reached his old jungle lair and was relieved to find it untouched. He was hesitant at first, but soon his old talents returned. Tarzan began flying through the jungle once more, swinging from vines and riding elephants across the rivers he used to cross. Hunting came naturally, and he dined on fresh kills under the familiar jungle moon

 

For Tarzan, the jungle wasn’t just a place, it was a part of his heart and soul. This feral domain shaped who he was, and for a time, the comforts of civilization couldn’t compare to the primal call of the wild within him. But Tarzan wondered how long the solace of the jungle would satisfy him before he found himself longing once more for Jane and the life they shared