Casablanca has it all: touching love story; awesome art; and captivating characters. It is a classic movie that millions watch over and over again. However, did you know that Casablanca was also an example of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey? Here’s how to turn the movie into a useful tool for teaching the hero’s journey.

Casablanca’s hero embarks on a quest for personal growth and development. Rick has lost his way, consumed by bitterness and longing. When he discovers that he can have what he’s wanted for so long, he gives up everything for a cause and, in doing so, finds his way again. However, when the story is viewed from the point of view of the hero’s journey, first identified by Joseph Campbell, it clearly contains each of the twelve stages of the Monomyth.

Learning about the Hero’s Journey is no easy task, and breaking up classes and reading in the classroom can have a profound impact on how students internalize and understand the lesson. Before introducing students to Casablanca, describe the concept of the hero’s journey to them. Provide them with a worksheet that they can complete during scheduled movie breaks.

When discussing the hero’s journey with your class, simply move through the twelve stages of the concept, keeping in mind that sometimes, like in Casablanca, the steps can seem haphazard. The first thing to establish is a brief summary of the hero’s journey shown in the movie. Who is the hero? What happened to him or her? One answer is that Rick goes from being a self-centered cynic to a caring individual, willing to sacrifice a life with the woman he loves for the greater good of opposing fascism.

Working individually, in pairs, or as a class, describe actions in the film that can manifest the twelve stages of the hero’s journey. Remember, some characters, like Laszlo, can have more than one role in the story, and one or more of the stages or archetypes (like the Trickster) can be skipped or combined. Make lists of characters to identify the hero’s journey archetypes that appear in the film and, for each, describe the role they play in telling the film’s story.

Casablanca is a special movie that, with a little planning, can be used to teach students about the hero’s journey. Giving students the ability to recognize this archetype and empowering them to apply it in different circumstances is a solid lesson they will use for years to come.