# II: “To the Death!” explained — Tarzan the Terrible

> Chapter companion for Tarzan the Terrible by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

## What happens

Tarzan battles a shaggy, tailed creature and then allies with it against a saber-tooth hybrid. He later joins Om-at and Ta-den on a perilous journey through the mountains, where they swear a pact of brotherhood. They arrive at the Valley of Jad-ben-Otho and see the city of A-lur. Tarzan learns the language of his companions and hears of Ta-den's love for O-lo-a and his exile by King Ko-tan.

## Themes in this chapter

### Survival and Adaptation

Tarzan adapts to the strange creatures and environment of Pal-ul-don, learning their language and forming alliances to survive.

### Love and Loyalty

Ta-den's love for O-lo-a drives his exile; the three warriors swear a pact of loyalty 'To the death!'

### Civilization vs. Primitivism

Contrast between the city-dwelling Ho-don and the free, cave-dwelling Waz-don; Tarzan observes written language and racial distinctions among the pithecanthropi.

## Character check-ins

### Tarzan

Fights and then allies with a shaggy pithecanthropus; swears a pact with Om-at and Ta-den; learns the local language; seeks news of Jane.

### Om-at

Waz-don warrior; leads Tarzan and Ta-den across the dangerous Pastar-ul-ved; swears the pact 'To the death!' and seeks to kill Es-sat.

### Ta-den

Ho-don exile; tutors Tarzan in the local language; in love with O-lo-a; exiled by King Ko-tan.

### Es-sat

Mentioned as the current chief of Kor-ul-ja whom Om-at seeks to kill.

### Ko-tan

King of Pal-ul-don; exiled Ta-den for loving his daughter O-lo-a.

### O-lo-a

Daughter of Ko-tan; beloved by Ta-den.

## Key lines

> The three as one! cried Tarzan of the Apes. To the death! and his blade flashed in the sunlight.

Tarzan, Om-at, and Ta-den swear an oath of brotherhood, vowing to fight together until death.

_The pact solidifies their alliance for the journey ahead._

> I brought you this way, replied the black, to learn if either lacked the courage to follow where Om-at led.

Om-at tested Tarzan and Ta-den by leading them across a dangerous mountain path to prove their bravery.

_The path, Pastar-ul-ved, is a traditional trial of courage for Waz-don warriors._

> Never had there been in their country a woman such as he described, nor any tailless man other than himself that they ever had seen.

Neither Ta-den nor Om-at had ever seen a woman like Jane or a tailless man like Tarzan in Pal-ul-don.

_Tarzan's search for Jane seems hopeless in this strange land._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/ii-to-the-death
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters