The Parable of Disney's The Lion King
In this class, students will learn how the story of The Lion King functions as a parable and engage in an open forum discussion about its plot, characters, and other elements of the film as literature.
Stephanie Carta, B.Sc.
Average rating:
4.6
Number of reviews:(46)
What's included
1 live meeting
1 in-class hoursClass Experience
Before our class meeting, students should see the new Disney film, The Lion King, in theaters as of July 19, 2019. Students are also free to compare the new version with the original animated film from 1994. The new film's style is mostly photo-realistic computer animation, not "live action" as some journalists have mistakenly written. In other words, the animals aren't real. Some of the backgrounds may be a collage of live footage and computer animation. Please find a description of the film at its official website: https://movies.disney.com/the-lion-king-2019 Firstly, students will understand what a parable is and the role of parables in literature and culture. Then, they'll question the ultimate message of The Lion King as a parable. What is the relationship between the health of the ecology and the legitimacy and ethics of its government and leaders? What is the definition of monarchy, and the legitimacy of kingship, as it relates to Mufasa, Simba, and Scar? In real life, did cultures in Africa (and Asia) truly believe that a bad government would lead to a poor ecological environment? Why did they believe this? In an open forum format, students will discuss the films as it relates to elements of literature and culture, including the construction of the characters and plot devices. They will also learn about how Shakespeare's Hamlet strongly influenced the plot. They will learn about the traditional plot pyramid and question if The Lion King follows it or does something new. We'll also examine Disney's assumptions of their audience and why they might have changed the characterization, especially of Scar and the hyenas who were originally parodies of political events and ideas. No background knowledge is required, and there is no homework other than viewing the film. I would recommend that students jot down any notes right after seeing the film and bring them to class. Focus on this one question in particular: What made the Simba the legitimate ruler of the Pride Lands?
Other Details
Parental Guidance
The film is rated PG. There are scenes of animals fighting which will look more realistic than the animated version. The course will follow where the film goes. In the animated film, Scar was gay, and students are free to discuss this.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined October, 2018
4.6
46reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I write about films, literature, and social science in both professional and academic environments. I teach core courses in both English literature and social science. The original film was actually my inspiration for reading Hamlet for the first time as a college student back in 1994. Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$20
per classMeets once
60 min
Completed by 6 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-13
3-8 learners per class
