The Lion King as the Hero’s The Lion King as the Hero’s JourneyJourney

Shannon LusterShannon Luster

1212thth AP English AP English

The Ordinary WorldThe Ordinary World

Simba’s Ordinary World Simba’s Ordinary World is the world that exists is the world that exists at the time of his birth.at the time of his birth.

The family is together The family is together and happy.and happy.

He assumes he will He assumes he will always have his father.always have his father.

He also assumes he He also assumes he can do whatever he can do whatever he wants to do.wants to do.

Call To ActionCall To Action

Simba’s call to action Simba’s call to action occurs when his occurs when his father has to rescue father has to rescue him from the hyenas.him from the hyenas.

His father gives the His father gives the call to action of call to action of growing up/accepting growing up/accepting responsibility for responsibility for other’s lives.other’s lives.

Refusal of the Call to ActionRefusal of the Call to Action

Simba disobeys his father’s advice by Simba disobeys his father’s advice by going to find Scar. He follows Scar’s going to find Scar. He follows Scar’s advice to go into the valley to wait for his advice to go into the valley to wait for his father.father.

Meeting the MentorMeeting the Mentor

It is important that you It is important that you understand the understand the audience may not see audience may not see the mentor as a the mentor as a “good” person.“good” person.

What is important is What is important is how the character how the character views the mentor.views the mentor.

Crossing the ThresholdCrossing the Threshold

Simba crosses the threshold when he Simba crosses the threshold when he leaves his homeland at the insistence of leaves his homeland at the insistence of his mentor.his mentor.

He feels that there is no choice at this He feels that there is no choice at this point because he feels responsible for his point because he feels responsible for his father’s death.father’s death.

He has to enter a special world where he He has to enter a special world where he must learn to “grow up” and “take must learn to “grow up” and “take responsibility for his own actions.”responsibility for his own actions.”

Tests, Allies, EnemiesTests, Allies, Enemies Simba finds his allies, Simba finds his allies,

Timon and Pumba, in the Timon and Pumba, in the Special World. These Special World. These guys help him survive. guys help him survive. They teach him how to They teach him how to survive on his own.survive on his own.

His true, “good” mentor, His true, “good” mentor, Nala, appears in this Nala, appears in this special world as well. It is special world as well. It is she who gives him the she who gives him the courage to face his in-courage to face his in-most cave.most cave.

Approach to the In-most caveApproach to the In-most cave

In In The Lion KingThe Lion King, this occurs when Nala , this occurs when Nala tells Simba of his mother’s problems and tells Simba of his mother’s problems and of the destruction of the Ordinary World of the destruction of the Ordinary World due to Scar’s rule.due to Scar’s rule.

The OrdealThe Ordeal

RewardReward

Once Simba faces his in-most Once Simba faces his in-most cave(learning to accept the death of his cave(learning to accept the death of his father and learning that his father’s death father and learning that his father’s death was not his fault), he receives a reward.was not his fault), he receives a reward.

He is allowed to speak to and to see his He is allowed to speak to and to see his father once more. This allows him to have father once more. This allows him to have closure on his inner turmoil.closure on his inner turmoil.

The Road BackThe Road Back

In order for a Hero to In order for a Hero to be called a Hero, he be called a Hero, he must return to the must return to the Ordinary World to Ordinary World to apply the knowledge apply the knowledge he has learned.he has learned.

The allies will be with The allies will be with him, and sometimes him, and sometimes the mentor goes with the mentor goes with him too.him too.

The ResurrectionThe Resurrection

In the resurrection, In the resurrection, the Hero must face the Hero must face his toughest battle his toughest battle yet.yet.

This battle will make This battle will make the Hero pure; it will the Hero pure; it will be a battle that is for be a battle that is for much more than the much more than the Hero’s own life.Hero’s own life.

Returns With The ElixirReturns With The Elixir

Remember that the Remember that the elixir does not have to elixir does not have to be a potion.be a potion.

He has reconciled He has reconciled what he has learned what he has learned in the Special World in the Special World with his life in the with his life in the Ordinary World.Ordinary World.

He has become the He has become the true Hero.true Hero.