1. Tarzan's Parents Killed: The story begins with John and Alice Clayton arriving at the African jungle for exploration and are accompanied by their infant son.
2. Baby Tarzan Disappears: A gorilla named Kala finds the infant Tarzan after John and Alice Clayton are killed by the rogue gorilla Kerchak.
3. Tarzan Raised by Apes: Kala takes Tarzan and raises him as her own along with her son Akut.
4. Tarzan Learns to Survive in the Jungle: Tarzan grows up in the gorilla tribe, learning to climb, swing on trees, and communicate with the animals.
5. Meeting with Jane Porter: As an adult, Tarzan first encounters humans again when American scientist Jane Porter and her father arrive in the jungle.
6. Tarzan and Jane's Bond: Jane and Tarzan develop a close bond as he teaches her about the jungle. Tarzan falls in love with Jane and wants to leave the jungle to be with her.
7. Conflict with Kerchak: Kerchak, the leader of the gorilla tribe, opposes Tarzan's desire to leave and views Jane and her party as a threat to their way of life.
8. Clash Between Tribes: Tarzan's relationship with Jane causes tension and conflict with the gorilla tribe, leading to an ultimate confrontation between them.
9. Tarzan's Leadership Challenged: Tarzan's connection to Jane and the human world puts his position within the gorilla tribe at risk.
10. Tarzan's Journey to Civilization: Jane and her father return to civilization, leaving Tarzan conflicted. He decides to go with them to learn more about the human world and explore the life with Jane.
These rising action events escalate towards the climax of Tarzan of the Apes, where Tarzan must navigate his dual identity between the gorilla tribe and the human world while his loyalty and true home are tested.