John and Alice Rutherford Clayton II are abandoned on the West Coast of Africa, with their infant son John. John’s mother dies and his father is killed by Kerchak, the king ape. John is then taken in by Kala, his ape mother. She raises him as her son and renames him Tarzan.
Growing up, Tarzan finds it difficult to be the same as his animal peers, as they are from two different species. He always sees his human differences as being a limitation to being fully accepted. When he comes across his parent's cabin he realizes that there are more people that exist elsewhere and learns of them through the books left behind. However, he cannot speak English.
Tarzan's skill as a hunter becomes apparent when he is attacked by an ape and he manages to kill it in defense. Afterwards, a new tribe of Africans move into the territory and kill Kala. Tarzan becomes angry and gets revenge on them by stealing their weapons. Kerchak becomes jealous of Tarzan’s notoriety and challenges him. Tarzan manages to kill him and becomes crowned king of the jungle.
When Tarzan is 20 years old, Jane Porter and her group of people are stranded on the same island. Tarzan is excited at seeing a white woman, as he has never before seen someone like her. When Jane falls in danger, Tarzan manages to save her. Tarzan also makes friends with D'Arnot, a naval officer, who teaches him to behave like a normal man and also teaches him how to speak French and later English.
Tarzan then begins to miss Jane so he travels to the USA to find her, where he learns that she has become engaged to his cousin by birth, William Clayton. However, for the sake of Jane’s happiness, Tarzan decides to leave them be and not claim his heritage.
