Tarzan of the Apes

Name: Tarzan of the Apes
Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs

The story revolves around John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, and his wife Alice, who are traveling on the ship Fuwalda. The crew of the ship is in an uproar due to the brutal treatment meted out by Captain Billings and his mates towards some of the sailors. An old sailor approaches John and warns him that there will be a mutiny on the high seas, and he should keep a still tongue in his head and stay below when he hears shooting. John is torn between his duty as an English lord to warn the captain about the impending mutiny and his desire to protect his wife from the potential dangers. Alice advises John to do his duty and warn the captain, but John is hesitant, feeling that it would be futile and might put them in greater danger. Despite Alice's advice, John decides not to warn the captain, fearing that if he does, they will be targeted by the mutineers. Instead, he tries to maintain a neutral position, hoping that the officers will be able to prevent the mutiny or that the mutineers will spare them if they are victorious. However, when John and Alice discover that their revolvers have been stolen, they realize that the situation is more serious than they thought. A crude message is left for them, warning them not to report the loss of the revolvers or repeat what the old sailor told them, on pain of death. The story sets the stage for a tense and potentially violent confrontation between the crew members and the officers, with John and Alice caught in the middle. The author's use of suspense and foreshadowing creates a sense of unease and anticipation, leaving the reader wondering what will happen next.

By Edgar Rice Burroughs · First published 1912 · Genre: Adventure, Fiction, Fantasy · 28 chapters · 98,621 words

First lines

I had this story from one who had no business to tell it to me, or to any other. I may credit the seductive influence of an old vintage upon the narrator for the beginning of it, and my own skeptical incredulity during the days that followed for the balance of the strange tale.

When my convivial host discovered that he had told me so much, and that I was prone to doubtfulness, his foolish pride assumed the task the old vintage had commenced, and so he unearthed written evidence in the form of musty manuscript, and dry official records of the British Colonial Office to support many of the salient features of his remarkable narrative.

What this Textopian page supports

Tarzan of the Apes is listed on Textopian as a novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, dated 1912 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs
Date: 1912 CE
Language: English
Genres: Adventure, Fiction, Fantasy, Action, Romance
Length: 98,621 words
Structure: 28 chapters, 2,603 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Work identity for Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Tarzan of the Apes?
How does this novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Adventure — Tarzan of the Apes is primarily an Adventure novel which involves thrilling, exciting experiences and events, including Tarzan's struggle for survival in the jungle.
Fiction — The novel is a work of Fiction where the characters, Tarzan and other humans, have fantastical interactions with apes, displaying the author's imagination.
Fantasy — Situations such as a man being raised and communing with apes suggest elements of the Fantasy genre.
Action — There are several elements of action present throughout the book, including chases, fights, and confrontations of physical strength, especially Tarzan's encounters in the jungle.