Tarzan: fictional jungle hero created by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Character and themes

Tarzan's story combines adventure, survival, and questions about nature versus civilization. Orphaned as an infant after his parents, members of the English aristocracy, die in the African wilderness, the child survives and is reared by a tribe of apes. As an adult he displays exceptional physical skills, a keen intelligence, and a dual identity that contrasts his animal upbringing with his human heritage.

Origins and publication

The character emerged in early 20th-century pulp fiction and expanded into novels and short stories. Burroughs developed a long-running series that explored Tarzan's origins, relationships, and travels. The original tale and subsequent books established recurring places, supporting characters, and motifs that later adaptations frequently reused.

Adaptations and media

Tarzan has appeared across many media formats. Notable forms include:

• feature films that reimagined the story for cinema audiences
• movie serials and early film chapters popular in the 1930s–1950s
• comic books and comic strips that serialized new adventures
• stage and radio presentations that brought the character to live performance
• television series and animated programs that introduced Tarzan to later generations

Other references and discussions of Tarzan can be found in literary studies, popular histories, and adaptations that examine colonial, environmental, and heroic themes; see additional resources at academic summaries and cultural commentaries. For modern licensing and official materials consult publisher pages and archives. A sampling of archives and fan resources is available through author bibliographies and general overviews at classic literature guides.