Tarzan the Untamed · Chapter
XI: Finding the Airplane explained
Tarzan returns from a hunt with a deer, observing Lieutenant Smith-Oldwick and Bertha Kircher from the trees.
What happens
Tarzan returns from a hunt with a deer, observing Lieutenant Smith-Oldwick and Bertha Kircher from the trees. He reflects on his longing to return to his childhood home and the burden of escorting the two back to civilization. Tarzan detects a panther (Sheeta) stalking them, warns them, and engages the panther in a fierce battle to protect them. The chapter explores Tarzan's conflicted feelings toward Bertha, whom he believes to be a German spy, and Smith-Oldwick's struggle with his own feelings for her.
Themes in this chapter
Survival and Adaptation
Tarzan's jungle skills allow him to detect Sheeta and protect the others, highlighting the contrast between human helplessness and the ape-man's adaptation to the wild.
Loyalty and Betrayal
Tarzan's obligation to Bertha despite hating her as a spy, and Smith-Oldwick's internal conflict between duty and his feelings for her.
Gender and Heroism
Smith-Oldwick shields Bertha from the panther, and Bertha fetches a spear to aid Tarzan, challenging traditional gender roles in a crisis.
Characters to notice
- Tarzan
Returns from hunting, reflects on his longing for home, and battles Sheeta to protect Smith-Oldwick and Bertha.
- Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick
Discusses plans to return to the airplane with Bertha, struggles with his feelings for her despite Tarzan's accusations.
- Fräulein Bertha Kircher
Feels safer with Tarzan present, considers leaving to find the airplane, and fetches a spear to help Tarzan during the panther attack.
- Sheeta
The panther that stalks Smith-Oldwick and Bertha, then charges and is fought by Tarzan.
Key passages
“The ape-man shook his tousled head and sighed. His eyes wandered toward the west and his thoughts to the faraway cabin by the landlocked harbor of the great water that washed the beach of his boyhood home—to the cabin of his long-dead father to which the memories and treasures of a happy childhood lured him.”
Tarzan sighed and looked west, thinking of the distant cabin by the harbor where he grew up, a place filled with childhood memories and his father's belongings.
Reveals Tarzan's nostalgia and desire to return to his origins.
“What a puny thing, indeed, was man! How ill equipped to combat the savage forces of nature and of nature’s jungle.”
Tarzan reflects on how weak and unprepared humans are against the dangers of the jungle.
Highlights the theme of survival and the contrast between civilized humans and the wild.
“The ape-man cast a contemptuous look at his companion and arose. 'Tarzan goes again to hunt,' he said. 'You have enough food for two days. By that time he will return.'”
Tarzan gave Smith-Oldwick a scornful glance, stood up, and announced he was leaving to hunt, stating they had enough food for two days until his return.
Shows Tarzan's disdain and his role as provider.
“He saw the strong, brown arms encircling the body of the carnivore, the left arm in front of the beast’s left shoulder and the right arm behind his right foreleg, and with the impact the two together rolling over and over upon the turf.”
Smith-Oldwick watched Tarzan grapple the panther, wrapping his arms around it and rolling on the ground in a fierce struggle.
Describes the physical confrontation between Tarzan and Sheeta.