The Lion King is probably one of Disney's best animated movies of all time. It is also one of the darkest Disney animated films dealing with murder, conspiracy, oppression, and a son trying to come to terms with his father's death. Animation already softens the horror of real life, but combine it with the personification of animals, and you get a family friendly movie that deals with real emotions that any adult or teenager can be impacted by.
1. How did Mufasa respond when Simba deliberately disobeyed him by going to the elephant graveyard? Was he firm and strict? Or was he understanding? Was he a good father? Answer: He was both firm and understanding. The fear of the moment was a punishment in itself; it's own natural consequence.
2. What does Scar promise the hyena's to turn them into his minions? What deadly sin did Scar appeal to? How did that turn out for the hyenas at the end of the movie? Did they get everything they wanted? Answer: He promised them unlimited food and access to fresh kills instead of the scraps. He appealed to their envy of the lions.
3. Early in the movie, Mufasa revealed to Simba what his purpose in life would be and the rules Simba would need to live by with the responsibility of King. When did God reveal to us his purpose for ourselves? When did he reveal to us the rules we need to live by? Did Simba fulfill those obligations when he ran away to the oasis?
4. Are lions meant to eat bugs, or are they designed for another purpose? Why was it wrong that Simba was just eating bugs? Do we sometimes settle for things that are beneath our design just because it is easier? What things do we settle for? What are we designed for? How can we avoid being tempted by bugs and cheap slogans (hakuna matata)?
Answer: That was not what he was created to be. He was avoiding his responsibility by living off of bugs instead of the feast of gazelle he was meant to have. He taught himself (wrongly) to settle for something less that what he was created to do.
5. What deadly sin is Simba guilty of? Were Timon and Pumba good virtuous friends? How does Simba overcome his sin and who helped him realize it? What fear was causing Simba to fall into sin? Who else suffered because of his refusal to do his duty?
Answer: Sloth. Timon and Pumba led him to sloth. Rafiki, Nala, and his own conscious (the apparition with Mufasa) all helped him overcome his sin of sloth. They helped him overcome his fear of failure, rejection, and duty.
6. If your children are old enough, here would be a great time to bring up how Men desire to make themselves better so they may be worthy of a woman. At the same time, it is women's expectations of men that push them to become better individuals. Therefore, it is important to teach our daughters to have high expectations of men and to not settle. And it is important to teach our sons to master themselves in order to prepare themselves for marriage. This observation is a small part of Theology of the Body.
7. Reflect on the following Bible verses and how they relate to the movie:
Ecclesiastes 10:18 "Through slothfulness the roof deteriorates, and a house leaks because of idleness."
2 Thessalonians 3:6-10:
"In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”