Tarzan (Literature)

Tarzan (birth name John Clayton III, Earl of Greystoke), is the son of a British noble family, John's parents were shipwrecked in Africa by mutineers. After the deaths of his parents, John was taken in by the Mangani, a tribe of apes unknown to science, and given the ape name "Tarzan", meaning "White Skin".

Raised by the Mangani, Tarzan grew to young adulthood when one day, he discovered the ruins of his family's old cabin. Discovering his origins, Tarzan taught himself to read and to speak English and French, only to return to his ape family to discover they were being attacked by native cannibals who had killed his foster mother, Kala. Battling and killing all the cannibals, Tarzan was ultimately challenged for supremacy by Kerchak, leader of the Mangani and murderer of his father. Tarzan killed Kerchak and was declared king by the other apes.

Over the years, Tarzan has fallen in love with American explorer Jane Porter, tamed many wild jungle beasts, battled Atlanteans, Russian counts, the German army during World War I, and even dinosaurs at the Earth's core. He speaks many different languages, including English, French, Dutch, German, Swahili, several Bantu dialects, Arabic, ancient Greek and Latin, Mayan, and the languages of the Ant People and the tribes of Pellucidar, as well as being able to communicate with many different animals.