# XI: King of the Apes explained — Tarzan of the Apes

> Chapter companion for Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

## What happens

Tarzan returns to the tribe, boasting of his adventures and spoils, but Kerchak is jealous. He practices archery and discovers his father's diary and photograph in a metal box, though he cannot read the French script. He returns to the black village to steal arrows, witnesses the brutal torture of a captive, and throws a skull to frighten the villagers. Later, he encounters Sabor the lioness and shoots her with an arrow.

## Themes in this chapter

### Savagery and Brutality

The black villagers torture a captive to death, and Tarzan reflects on the cruelty of humans compared to jungle animals.

### Identity and Belonging

Tarzan discovers his father's photograph and diary, deepening his quest to understand his origins and his place between the human and ape worlds.

### Survival and Strength

Tarzan practices archery, hunts, and faces Sabor the lioness, demonstrating his growing skills and determination to survive.

## Character check-ins

### Tarzan

Returns to the tribe, practices archery, discovers his father's diary and photograph, steals arrows from the black village, frightens the villagers with a skull, and shoots Sabor with an arrow.

### Kerchak

Jealous of Tarzan's success and seeks an excuse to harm him.

### Kala

Mentioned as part of the tribe; Tarzan returns to the tribe of Kerchak.

### Sabor

Encountered by Tarzan on the trail; Tarzan shoots her with an arrow.

### Mbonga

The village chief; the captive is tied before his hut.

### John Clayton

Tarzan finds his photograph and diary, though he cannot read the French script.

## Key lines

> Tarzan of the Apes, young and savage beast of the jungle, wondered at the cruel brutality of his own kind.

Tarzan, though raised as a wild creature, is shocked by the inhumanity of the human villagers.

_Highlights Tarzan's moral confusion and the theme of savagery._

> Little did he know that this book held between its covers the key to his origin—the answer to the strange riddle of his strange life.

Tarzan is unaware that the diary contains the secret of his true identity.

_Foreshadows Tarzan's discovery of his heritage._

> It was a grinning human skull which looked up at them from the ground.

The skull Tarzan threw landed among the villagers, terrifying them.

_Illustrates Tarzan's cunning use of superstition to intimidate the villagers._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xi-king-of-the-apes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters