59 pages 1 hour read

Edgar Rice Burroughs

Tarzan of the Apes

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1912

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Essay Topics

1.

What is the impact of the frame narrative at the beginning of the story? Why do you think the author chose to use a frame narrative?

2.

Analyze the construction of masculinity in Tarzan of the Apes. How is the masculinity of Tarzan different from characters like William Cecil Clayton or Professor Porter? How do race and species impact the portrayal of masculinity in characters like Kulonga or Terkoz?

3.

While Tarzan disdains the Black African villagers that he encounters in the jungle, he seems to find Esmerelda less objectionable. Why is Esmerelda framed as a sympathetic character while other Black characters are portrayed negatively or vilified? Consider the racial stereotypes common in the early 1900s, such as the “Mammy” caricature that also appears in novels such as Gone with the Wind.

Related Titles

By Edgar Rice Burroughs