Article #106-2 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from Jungle Tales of Tarzan, by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Coiled about his shoulders was Tarzan’s long grass rope, in his hand
was the hunting knife of the long-dead father he had never known. In
Taug’s little brain lay a great respect for the shiny bit of sharp
metal which the ape-boy knew so well how to use. With it had he slain
Tublat, his fierce foster father, and Bolgani, the gorilla. Taug knew
these things, and so he came warily, circling about Tarzan in search of
an opening. The latter, made cautious because of his lesser bulk and
the inferiority of his natural armament, followed similar tactics.

For a time it seemed that the altercation would follow the way of the
majority of such differences between members of the tribe and that one
of them would finally lose interest and wander off to prosecute some
other line of endeavor. Such might have been the end of it had the
CASUS BELLI been other than it was; but Teeka was flattered at the
attention that was being drawn to her and by the fact that these two
young bulls were contemplating battle on her account. Such a thing
never before had occurred in Teeka’s brief life. She had seen other
bulls battling for other and older shes, and in the depth of her wild
little heart she had longed for the day when the jungle grasses would
be reddened with the blood of mortal combat for her fair sake.

So now she squatted upon her haunches and insulted both her admirers
impartially. She hurled taunts at them for their cowardice, and called
them vile names, such as Histah, the snake, and Dango, the hyena. She
threatened to call Mumga to chastise them with a stick—Mumga, who was
so old that she could no longer climb and so toothless that she was
forced to confine her diet almost exclusively to bananas and
grubworms.

Explanation

**Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Jungle Tales of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs**

1. Context of the Source

Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Jungle Tales of Tarzan (1919) is a collection of short stories that expand on the early life of Tarzan, the famed "ape-man" raised in the African jungle by a tribe of great apes. This particular excerpt comes from a story that explores Tarzan’s interactions with his ape kin, particularly his rivalry with Taug, a fellow young male ape, over the affections of Teeka, a female ape.

The Tarzan series is a cornerstone of early 20th-century adventure fiction and pulp literature, blending elements of survivalism, primal masculinity, and exoticism. Burroughs’ work reflects colonial-era attitudes toward nature, civilization, and "savagery," often romanticizing the "noble savage" archetype while reinforcing hierarchical views of race and species.

2. Breakdown of the Excerpt

A. The Standoff Between Tarzan and Taug

"Coiled about his shoulders was Tarzan’s long grass rope, in his hand was the hunting knife of the long-dead father he had never known. In Taug’s little brain lay a great respect for the shiny bit of sharp metal which the ape-boy knew so well how to use. With it had he slain Tublat, his fierce foster father, and Bolgani, the gorilla. Taug knew these things, and so he came warily, circling about Tarzan in search of an opening."

Characterization & Power Dynamics
- Tarzan is portrayed as a hybrid figure—physically an ape but armed with human tools (the rope and knife). The knife, inherited from his dead father, symbolizes his human legacy and superiority in intelligence and technology over the apes.
- Taug, a full-blooded ape, relies on raw strength and instinct. His "little brain" suggests limited cognitive ability compared to Tarzan, reinforcing the human vs. animal hierarchy that Burroughs often employs.
- The mention of Tarzan’s past victories (killing Tublat, his abusive foster father, and Bolgani, the gorilla) establishes his reputation as a formidable fighter, making Taug cautious.
Literary Devices
- Foreshadowing: The knife’s past uses hint at future violence.
- Contrast: Tarzan’s human ingenuity (rope, knife) vs. Taug’s animalistic strength.
- Symbolism: The knife represents civilization’s encroachment on nature, a recurring theme in Tarzan stories.

"The latter, made cautious because of his lesser bulk and the inferiority of his natural armament, followed similar tactics."

Tarzan’s Vulnerability: Despite his intelligence, Tarzan is physically weaker than Taug, forcing him to rely on strategy rather than brute force. This underscores Burroughs’ theme that human cunning triumphs over raw animal power.

B. The Role of Teeka and the Casus Belli

"For a time it seemed that the altercation would follow the way of the majority of such differences between members of the tribe and that one of them would finally lose interest and wander off to prosecute some other line of endeavor. Such might have been the end of it had the CASUS BELLI been other than it was..."

Casus Belli (Latin for "cause of war"): The phrase is used ironically here—Burroughs applies a human political term to an animalistic mating dispute, elevating the apes’ behavior to a quasi-human level while also mocking the triviality of their conflict.
Natural vs. Civilized Conflict: Most ape disputes are short-lived and non-lethal, but this one escalates because of Teeka’s vanity, mirroring how human conflicts often arise from pride and ego.

"...but Teeka was flattered at the attention that was being drawn to her and by the fact that these two young bulls were contemplating battle on her account. Such a thing never before had occurred in Teeka’s brief life. She had seen other bulls battling for other and older shes, and in the depth of her wild little heart she had longed for the day when the jungle grasses would be reddened with the blood of mortal combat for her fair sake."

Teeka’s Vanity & Feminine Power
- Teeka is not a passive figure—she enjoys the attention and actively provokes the fight, revealing that female choice drives male competition in the ape hierarchy.
- Her desire for bloodshed in her name is a darkly humorous twist on romantic idealism, parodying human notions of chivalry and courtly love (where men fight for a woman’s honor).
- The phrase "reddened with the blood of mortal combat for her fair sake" is mock-epic, framing a primal ape fight in grand, almost Shakespearean terms.
Literary Devices
- Anthropomorphism: Teeka is given human-like emotions (vanity, longing) to make her relatable.
- Irony: The triviality of the conflict (a mating dispute) contrasts with the seriousness of the language ("mortal combat").
- Foreshadowing: Her excitement about violence suggests the fight will be more brutal than usual.

C. Teeka’s Provocation

"So now she squatted upon her haunches and insulted both her admirers impartially. She hurled taunts at them for their cowardice, and called them vile names, such as Histah, the snake, and Dango, the hyena. She threatened to call Mumga to chastise them with a stick—Mumga, who was so old that she could no longer climb and so toothless that she was forced to confine her diet almost exclusively to bananas and grubworms."

Teeka’s Manipulation
- She insults both males equally, ensuring the fight continues. Her taunts ("Histah, the snake", "Dango, the hyena") are deeply offensive in ape culture—snakes and hyenas are cowardly, treacherous creatures in the jungle hierarchy.
- Her threat to summon Mumga (an elderly, weak female) is absurd and humiliating, implying that neither male is strong enough to face a real challenge.
Humor & Satire
- The image of Mumga, a toothless old ape, wielding a stick is comically pathetic, undercutting the macho posturing of Tarzan and Taug.
- Burroughs uses exaggeration to highlight the absurdity of male ego—two strong apes being scolded by a frail elder is a satirical jab at male pride.
Themes
- Gender Dynamics in the Wild: Teeka controls the narrative, showing that female apes (like human women in some societies) can manipulate male behavior.
- The Illusion of Civilization: The apes’ behavior mirrors human social structures (mating rituals, insults, hierarchy), blurring the line between "savage" and "civilized".

3. Significance of the Passage

Tarzan as a Mediator Between Worlds
- The excerpt reinforces Tarzan’s dual identity—he is both ape and human, using instinct and intelligence to navigate the jungle’s social order.
- His knife symbolizes human dominance over nature, a recurring theme in colonial-era adventure stories.
Primal vs. Civilized Behavior
- The apes’ mating dispute is a microcosm of human conflicts, suggesting that violence, ego, and social hierarchy are universal, not just human traits.
- Burroughs romanticizes the "noble savage" (Tarzan) while also mocking primal instincts (Teeka’s vanity, the males’ posturing).
Humor and Satire
- The over-the-top insults and Mumga’s threat add comic relief, preventing the scene from being too serious or brutal.
- The mock-epic tone (treating an ape fight like a grand battle) highlights the absurdity of male competition in both animal and human worlds.
Colonial & Gender Undertones
- The story reflects early 20th-century gender roles—Teeka is manipulative but ultimately passive in the fight, while the males do the actual battling.
- The human vs. ape dynamic can be read as a metaphor for colonialism, where European (Tarzan) intelligence dominates African (ape) strength.

4. Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters

This excerpt is a masterful blend of action, humor, and social commentary. Burroughs uses vivid descriptions, anthropomorphism, and irony to:

Elevate an animal conflict to near-human drama.
Critique male ego and female manipulation in a way that feels both primitive and timeless.
Reinforce Tarzan’s unique position as a bridge between civilization and wilderness.

While modern readers may critique Burroughs for racial and gender stereotypes, the passage remains a clever, entertaining exploration of power, pride, and the thin line between human and animal nature.

Would you like a deeper analysis of any specific aspect (e.g., colonial themes, Tarzan’s character arc, or Burroughs’ writing style)?

Questions

Question 1

The passage’s depiction of Teeka’s taunts—calling Tarzan and Taug "Histah, the snake" and "Dango, the hyena"—serves primarily to:

A. underscore the ritualistic and performative nature of dominance disputes in primate social structures, where symbolic degradation precedes physical conflict.
B. illustrate the limited vocabulary of apes, reducing their communication to basic, instinctual insults devoid of strategic intent.
C. highlight Teeka’s intellectual inferiority by showing her reliance on crude, nonsensical comparisons rather than reasoned provocation.
D. establish a moral hierarchy in which snakes and hyenas are objectively "evil" within the jungle’s ethical framework, thus justifying the impending violence.
E. provide comic relief by introducing absurd, anthropomorphic insults that undermine the seriousness of the standoff.

Question 2

The phrase "the CASUS BELLI" is deployed in the passage with an effect most analogous to:

A. a surgeon’s use of a scalpel to dissect a trivial abscess with the precision of a major operation, elevating the mundane through ironic grandeur.
B. a politician’s invocation of Latin to obfuscate a simple policy dispute, masking banality with pretentious erudition.
C. a historian’s annotation of a minor skirmish with the terminology of epic warfare, inadvertently exaggerating its historical significance.
D. a satirist’s labeling of a barroom brawl as a "crusade," exposing the absurdity of inflating petty conflicts to mythic proportions.
E. a lawyer’s citation of precedent in a frivolous lawsuit, imposing legal gravitas on a dispute that lacks substantive merit.

Question 3

The passage’s portrayal of Mumga—"so old that she could no longer climb and so toothless that she was forced to confine her diet almost exclusively to bananas and grubworms"—functions as:

A. a tragic counterpoint to the vitality of youth, emphasizing the inevitability of decline in the jungle’s merciless hierarchy.
B. a deflationary device that undercuts the masculinity of Tarzan and Taug by threatening them with the specter of feeble, geriatric authority.
C. an allegorical representation of colonial-era stereotypes about the "uselessness" of the elderly in pre-modern societies.
D. a naturalistic detail that grounds the scene in ecological reality, reminding the reader of the harsh physical demands of ape life.
E. a narrative red herring, distracting from the central conflict by introducing an irrelevant character whose role is purely comedic.

Question 4

Tarzan’s "inferiority of his natural armament" is framed in the passage as:

A. a strategic disadvantage that paradoxically forces him to rely on human ingenuity, thereby reinforcing the theme of civilization’s triumph over brute nature.
B. a temporary setback that will be overcome by his superior physical agility, a trait the narrative suggests is inherent to his hybrid ape-human physiology.
C. an ironic inversion of the jungle’s power dynamics, where weakness in one domain (strength) compensates for strength in another (intellect).
D. a narrative device to heighten suspense, as the reader is led to question whether Tarzan’s intelligence alone can compensate for his physical limitations.
E. a critique of Darwinian survivalism, implying that natural selection favors cooperation and tool-use over raw physical dominance.

Question 5

The passage’s closing image—Teeka squatting on her haunches and hurling insults—is most thematically resonant with which of the following literary traditions?

A. The pastoral elegy, where nature’s harmony is disrupted by the intrusions of human-like discord and vanity.
B. The comedy of manners, in which social pretensions and verbal sparring expose the absurdity of hierarchical struggles.
C. The epic battle scene, where divine or supernatural intervention (here, Teeka’s provocation) determines the fate of warriors.
D. The tragicomedy, blending the seriousness of primal conflict with the farcical posturing of the combatants.
E. The picaresque, where the focus on marginal or liminal figures (Teeka as an outsider) drives the narrative’s momentum.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: A

Why A is most correct: The passage emphasizes that Teeka’s insults are not merely random outbursts but ritualized degradations that escalate tension before physical conflict. The comparisons to "Histah" and "Dango" are symbolically loaded within the ape social structure, serving as provocations with calculated effect. This aligns with primatological observations of dominance displays in which verbal or gestural humiliation precedes violence, reinforcing hierarchy. The insults are performative, designed to goad the males into action while asserting Teeka’s role as an active agent in the dispute.