Lion King Hero’s journey

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Lion King Heros journey

• By Kevin Thomann

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The Ordinary World
Simba is at home when he is at Pride Rock

• is the hero's home environment where his friends
  and family are located

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Call to Adventure
Simbas call to adventure is when he and nala go
to the forbidden place and have to deal with the
hyenas.

• There is an awakening of the "self to an
  unknown, unexpected world. The hero becomes aware
  of a new, unusual, exciting, forbidden, and/or
  foreign world.

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Refusal of the Call

• Often the hero feels that he/she has it "too
  good" and refuses to give up all that they
  currently have (often resulting in the hero being
  forced to move on)

There is no refusal of the call in Lion King
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Supernatural Aid
Simbas supernatural aid is his father after he
is dead and in the water and sky. Also the monkey
gives him advice and Timon and Pumpa.

• This can come in the form of a protective
  figure, usually an elder (old crone or old man.)

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Crossing the Threshold

• The hero ventures into an unknown world which
  breaks tradition, and the hero meets some
  dangerous presence.

Simba crosses the threshold after his father dies
and he is kicked out of the Pride Land.
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In the Belly of the Whale
Simba goes into the belly of the whale when he
finds Timon and Pumpa by the forest

• Once the hero has crossed the threshold, his old
  world is destroyed (literally or figuratively).
  He/she moves into a world of darkness (the belly
  of the whale) and will not come out until he/she
  is ready to return (so the hero stays in the
  belly of the whale through all of initiation).
  Often times there will be a "deepest part" to the
  belly.

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The Road of Trials
Simbas road of trials is when he is with Timon
and Pumpa in the forest and he learns akunamatata
and also when Nala finds him and he learns he has
to confront his uncle.

• Hero experiences miraculous tests or ordeals on
  the road of trials. There are usually several
  incidents that affect the hero at this point. The
  hero will appear weak and vulnerable, but he/she
  will also begin to show growth.

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The Meeting with the Goddess
Simbas godess is Nala and she tells him how
things are going at Pride Rock and that he needs
to come back to save them.

• The hero meets a "goddess" that shows him/her
  what perfection is truly like. The hero witnesses
  all that can be accomplished and often times,
  his/her mission becomes much clearer. The goddess
  encourages the hero to continue

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The Woman as the Temptress
Simbas temptress is living with Timon and Pumpa
and taking the easy way out and living without
worries and ditching his family at Pride Rock

• The hero meets a presence that attempts to
  destroy the hero's mission. Often the temptress
  is sent by the evil forces working against the
  hero in order to try to stop the hero.

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Atonement with the Father
Simbas atonement with the father is when he
realizes he must go back to Pride Rock and free
his family from his uncle.

• Father symbolizes judgment the hero overcomes
  fear, judgment, and mental blocks that may have
  been holding him/her back.

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Apotheosis

• The hero is in a divine, god-like state
  (ecstasy). The hero goes beyond the last terrors
  of ignorance.

Simbas apotheosis is when he is talking to his
father in the pool of water and he tells him he
must go back and save his family
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The Ultimate Boon
Simbas ultimate boon is overcoming his uncle and
becoming the rightful king of Pride Rock

• The hero receives the prize that he/she has
  been after

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Refusal of the Return
Simba wants to stay with Timon and Pumpa and is
too scared to face his uncle

• The hero should bring their wisdom back to their
  kingdom of humanity. The hero often wishes to
  remain in isolation with his boon.

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Magic in Flight (The Chase)
Simba goes back to Pride Rock to face his uncle
and goes across the grass night and day

• The hero has his reward, now he must return to
  safety. There may be forces still working against
  him/her (possibly trying to get the treasure back
  that the hero has taken). A "chase" ensues.

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Rescue from Without
Simba cant overcome his uncle alone so Timon,
Pumba, and Nala help him with his goal.

• The world may have to come to retrieve the hero.
  Attaining the boon has drained the hero and
  he/she needs assistance in returning

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Crossing the Return Threshold
Simba and his friends go back to the Pride Land
and it is all barren and destroyed. He now truly
knows that he must destroy his uncle

• There is a difficulty in the hero's return
  the world has changed and so has the hero. The
  hero may not be accepted back to his old world.
  He may feel awkward in his immediate return.

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Master of Two Worlds
Simba defeats his uncle and makes him confess to
killing his father and becomes the true and
rightful king of the Pride Lands

• Hero has attained wisdom in both the spiritual
  and material world (conscious world).

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Freedom to Live
Simba needs to rebuild his kingdom after the
destruction of his uncle and restore things back
to normal

• The hero learns never to be afraid of the next
  moment (destruction or change), he has learned
  "to be" (exist).