# II explained — Tarzan and the Ant Men > Chapter companion for Tarzan and the Ant Men by Edgar Rice Burroughs. ## What happens Tarzan takes his first solo flight, ignoring his family's concerns, and flies far from home, discovering a mysterious basin region. Meanwhile, a woman of a primitive race finds Tarzan unconscious after his plane crashes, carries him to her cave, and defends her claim to him against other women, killing one in combat. A male of the same species attempts to escape but is pursued. ## Themes in this chapter ### Survival and Adaptation The primitive women fight fiercely over resources and defend their claims, highlighting raw survival instincts. ### Power and Hierarchy The women establish dominance through combat, with The Third Woman asserting her power over the others. ### Scale and Perspective Tarzan's flight gives him a bird's-eye view of the jungle, contrasting with the ground-level struggles of the primitive race. ## Character check-ins ### Tarzan Takes his first solo flight, crashes, and is found unconscious by a primitive woman. ### Korak Expresses concern about Tarzan's solo flight and later watches him depart. ### Meriem Worries about Tarzan's safety and speaks with Korak after his departure. ### The First Woman Attacks The Third Woman over the spoils but is killed with a blow to the head. ### The Third Woman Brings two prizes into the amphitheater, kills The First Woman, and chases an escaping male. ### The Second Woman Joins The First Woman in attacking The Third Woman but flees after The First Woman is killed. ## Key lines > She stopped now, her ears bent forward, her nostrils, expanded, sniffing the air. The woman paused, her ears pricked and nostrils flared, as she sniffed the air for any sign of prey or danger. _Describes the woman's heightened senses as she searches for quarry._ > With the quickness of a cat the woman dropped her burden, turned upon the temerarious one, and swinging her bludgeon with lightninglike celerity felled her with a heavy blow to the head. The woman swiftly dropped Tarzan, spun around, and struck her attacker with a fast, powerful blow to the head, knocking her unconscious. _Illustrates the woman's fierce defense of her prize._ > Tarzan shrugged. 'If you and mother had your way my nerves and muscles would have atrophied long since. They were given me to use and I intend using them⁠—with discretion.' Tarzan dismissed their concerns, saying that if he listened to them, his strength and reflexes would waste away, and he meant to keep using them wisely. _Tarzan defends his desire to fly alone despite his family's worries._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_and_the_ant_men_se/chapters/ii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_and_the_ant_men_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_and_the_ant_men_se/chapters