Tarzan the Terrible · Chapter
In the Kor-ul-gryf explained
Tarzan, having been captured by the Kor-ul-lul, escapes by killing his guard In-tan and taking his head as a trophy.
What happens
Tarzan, having been captured by the Kor-ul-lul, escapes by killing his guard In-tan and taking his head as a trophy. He then tracks Pan-at-lee's scent, discovering she survived her leap into a pool. Meanwhile, Pan-at-lee hides from the Kor-ul-lul and witnesses her father and brothers fleeing from them. The chapter also introduces a mysterious armed man approaching Pal-ul-don.
Themes in this chapter
Survival and Adaptation
Tarzan uses his jungle instincts to escape captivity and track Pan-at-lee, while Pan-at-lee hides and forages for food to survive.
Identity and Belonging
Tarzan's dual nature as both a civilized man and a wild beast is highlighted, as he adopts savage tactics yet thinks strategically.
Characters to notice
- Tarzan
Escapes captivity, kills In-tan, and tracks Pan-at-lee's trail.
- Pan-at-lee
Survives her leap into a pool, hides from the Kor-ul-lul, and sees her father and brothers fleeing.
- In-tan
Killed by Tarzan during his escape.
- Om-at
Mentioned as Tarzan's friend and the reason for tracking Pan-at-lee.
Key passages
“Horrible? But you are judging a wild beast by the standards of civilization. You may teach a lion tricks, but he is still a lion. Tarzan looked well in a Tuxedo, but he was still a Tarmangani and beneath his pleated shirt beat a wild and savage heart.”
The narrator defends Tarzan's brutal actions by arguing that his true nature is that of a wild creature, not a civilized man.
This passage underscores the theme of identity and the tension between civilization and primal instincts.