Who Professor Archimedes Q. Porter is
Professor Archimedes Q. Porter is an absent-minded scholar who arrives on the coast with a party of castaways. A mutinous crew abandons them there, leaving the professor and his companions to settle in an old cabin. The cabin belongs to Tarzan's parents, linking the newcomers' situation with the earlier story of his family. Porter's thoughts absorb him even as danger gathers around him, giving his part in the adventure a comic quality.
Professor Archimedes Q. Porter and the others in the story
His daughter, Jane Porter, is brave, quick and kind, while he is easily distracted by his own thoughts. His assistant Samuel Philander also travels with the party, alongside Esmeralda and the young Englishman William Cecil Clayton. Tarzan watches the newcomers from the trees and helps them without revealing himself. The party receives game and protection from an unseen helper, while Tarzan's particular interest in Jane grows.
Questions
Who is Professor Archimedes Q. Porter?
He is a scholar from Baltimore and Jane Porter's absent-minded father.
How does Professor Porter reach the African coast?
He is abandoned there with Jane and their companions by a mutinous crew.
Is Professor Porter a comic character?
Yes, his absorption in his thoughts brings humour to the castaways' dangerous situation.
