# When the Lion Fed explained — Tarzan the Untamed

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

## What happens

Tarzan awakens, hunts and kills six wild boars, skins them, and is approached by a lioness. He captures a lion alive by using pigskin bags to cover its head and paws, then tames it and leads it through the jungle. He evades a German patrol and returns to Colonel Capell's camp, where he explains the nature of the Mangani (great apes) and their unsuitability as sentinels.

## Themes in this chapter

### Survival and Adaptation

Tarzan demonstrates mastery of jungle survival: hunting, skinning, capturing a lion, and using its strength to navigate dangerous territory.

### Savagery vs. Civilization

Tarzan's methods are primal and brutal, yet he outwits both wild beasts and human military patrols, blurring the line between savage and civilized.

### Madness and Rationality

Tarzan's calm, calculated approach to taming a lion contrasts with the lion's frenzied rage, highlighting rationality over brute force.

## Character check-ins

### Tarzan

Hunts and skins six boars, captures and tames a lion, leads it through the jungle, and returns to the British camp.

### Numa

The lion that Tarzan captures, bags, and tames; later led through the jungle and used to intimidate other lions.

### Sabor

A lioness that approaches Tarzan's kill and later appears with four male lions, causing a confrontation.

### Colonel Capell

British officer at whose headquarters Tarzan appears after evading sentinels; discusses the Mangani.

### Horta

The boar that Tarzan hunts and kills, along with five others.

## Key lines

> Tarzan possessed the ability to concentrate each of his five senses upon its particular business.

Tarzan could focus each sense independently, allowing him to skin pigs while monitoring the forest with his ears and nose.

_Highlights Tarzan's unique jungle-trained sensory discipline._

> He had no idea of relinquishing his lion without a battle; but knowing lions as he did, he knew that there was no assurance as to just what the newcomers would do.

Tarzan was determined to keep the lion he had captured, but he understood that the behavior of the approaching lions was unpredictable.

_Shows Tarzan's resolve and deep knowledge of lion behavior._

> They have the minds of little children—that is why

The great apes have the attention spans and focus of young children, making them unreliable for sentry duty.

_Tarzan explains why the Mangani cannot serve as soldiers._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/chapters/iv-when-the-lion-fed
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_the_untamed_se/chapters