Intro to Psychology
Mr. Cole
Name _______________________
Lion King Archetypes Essay
Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud differed in their interpretation of the unconscious mind.
Where Freud believed we each had a personal unconscious where we stored thoughts,
beliefs, and attitudes, Jung thought of a more collective, global unconscious. Jung
theorized that people of all different cultures held particular thoughts or attitudes in
common with one another, i.e. beliefs of good vs evil. Where Freud thought we could
place items that caused us anxiety into our unconscious, Jung differed in saying all
humans could experience anxiety from particular beliefs and thus we all put them into
our unconscious.
The Lion King, like other forms of storytelling and media, conveys the story not only with
the plot and actions of the characters, but also with the behaviors, attitudes, and body
language of the characters.
Task:
1. Watch the movie and take notes on the actions of at least four characters. Be
careful to note when and in what circumstances the character illustrates
behaviors defined as archetypes. An archetype is what Jung would describe as a
collective personality trait often held in our collective unconscious mind.
2. Submit an essay, four-paragraph form, typed, double-spaced.
a. Introduction: (1) state your thesis, (2) define archetypes, (3) discuss the
difference between Freud and Jung as it relates to the unconscious mind.
b. Body 1: How does Character 1 illustrate the presence of two different
archetypes.
c. Body 2: How does Character 2 illustrate the presence of two different
archetypes.
d. Conclusion: What other archetype is illustrated through the scenery,
environment, musical score of the movie?
Characters:
1. Mufasa
2. Simba
3. Nala
4. Sarabi
5. Scar
6. Rafiki
7. Hyenas
8. Timon/Pumbaa
9. Zazu
10. Pride Rock
***Use the outline on the next page to help organize your writing.***
1
Intro to Psychology
Mr. Cole
Name _______________________
Lion King Essay Outline
Directions: Fill in the appropriate information to make writing the essay easier. 10 pts.
Introduction
Why did we watch the movie, The Lion King?
How does Carl Jung differ from Freud regarding the “unconscious?”
Define archetypes. Provide general examples.
Body Paragraph 1 – Character ________________________ (explain two different
archetypes)
Archetype 1 ______________________
Circumstances surrounding the archetype in the movie
Archetype 2 ______________________
Circumstances surrounding the archetype in the movie
2
Intro to Psychology
Mr. Cole
Name _______________________
Body Paragraph 2 – Character ________________________ (explain two different
archetypes)
Archetype 1 ______________________
Circumstances surrounding the archetype in the movie
Archetype 2 ______________________
Circumstances surrounding the archetype in the movie
Conclusion
What archetypes were present in the surrounding environment in the movie, i.e.
weather, land, etc?
3
Intro to Psychology
Mr. Cole
Criteria
Chart/Organizer
Name _______________________
Basis for Criteria
Points/Available Points
-Each archetype is filled in
_____/5
-Evidence is provided for
each archetype
-All sections are answered
Paper Outline/Organizer
(due Friday with
Rough Draft)
Rough Draft (due Friday)
-Answers are factually
accurate based on the
movie
-Utilizes information from
outline & chart
_____/10
-Follows outline format
_____/15
-Evidence of peer revision
(in class on Friday)
-Minimal number of writing
/spelling/grammatical
errors
Final Draft
(due Monday)
-Follows outline format
_____/30
-Follows instructions on
first page
-Overall Effort
Total:_____/60
Comments:
4