Greek Mythology in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief Rick Riordan’s ‘Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief’ focuses on Greek mythology and interprets this into a children’s story. Throughout the story, there are many references and adaptations to mythological tales, and each one is portrayed in a different way. Riordan writes this story as though Hercules, Zeus and Poseidon were still around today, and this would be the effect they would have on people in this day and age. Percy Jackson is the main character in this story, who is a demi god, who mortals are after. His name is short for Perseus and his father is one the big three gods, Poseidon. He is suffering from dyslexia and ADHD, which could be deliberately added to the character by Riordan, to show he is meant to be a hero, and not to do well in school. This shows that school is not what he is good at, and he is destined to be a hero and save people. The character Grover, who plays Percy’s best friend, parallels a Satyr who is human from the waist up and goat from the waist down and is a companion of wine God, Dionysus, who we later learn, is the camp director for Half-Blood Camp. As a reader, Grover is portrayed as a very concerned friend throughout the beginning, however, we know he is more than this, and it is his job to protect Percy from whatever evil may come his way. Grover shows some signs of heroism himself, especially towards the end where he offers to sacrifice himself so as Percy can save his mother, (Riordan, 2005, p.316)‘He can torture me until I die, but he wont get me forever.’ and as a reader, Grover can come across a little bit dumb and clumsy, but this makes us look up to Grover, and force us to rethink our opinions of Grover. The main mythological ... ... middle of paper ... ...ou don’t realize until you analyse the text, and look at it. I believe Riordan does this, because these are the places where God’s and Heroes today, would be found. In big cities, where young children aspire to go which makes the story much more relatable to an audience who doesn’t know much about myth and can’t interpret the story, and also gives you a modern day prospective of mythology. Overall, Riordan uses different mythological characters, to create a modern adaptation on the story of Perseus. Riordan does so in a way that a younger audience could understand and even relate to in this day and age. The main point Riordan is trying to get across, is this idea of heroism, and using children’s imaginations to make this happen. However he doesn’t only use Percy to be portrayed as the hero, he also uses Grover, and also Annabeth who both help Percy along his quest.
Percy jackson who is a twelve year old boy from new york. He tends to get kicked out of school but One day he went on a fieldtrip to a museum, which an incident happen and a teacher pulls him over to talk about it but what really happen is that she turn into a greek mythology creature which tries to attack him. Before she tries to act percy's teacher Mr.brunner throws a penny which turns into a sword that ends up helping percey kill the creature. Soon enough it was the last day of school which his mom brings him to a beach house. That night their was a huge storm which end up making them leave but by them leaving they end up getting attacked by minotaur. His mom sally jackson ends up getting taken away from the minotaur which she disappears
Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief is about a young boy (around the age of twelve) who finds out that he is the son of the greek god Poseidon. Percy (short for Perseus) faces troubling situations that the reader can relate to and gain a deeper connection to the book. “How old was I?” I asked. “I mean. . . when he left”(Riordan 38). This quote gives some readers of the novel a personal connection through parental problems the world faces today. Riordan shows the hardship of being a single mother. This situation can connect to Jane Eyre by showing a want that both Percy and Jane want...love. With the connection to the reader as a foundation to the novels importance, it still does not exhibit value. Horn Book Magazine says “The novel is packed with humorous allusions to Greek Mythology...among with rip snorting action sequences, this book really shines” (Horn Book Magazine). With what Horn Book said about the novel it gives educational support that is taught in schools. “Rick Riordan’s (2005) popular Percy Jackson series for middle school readers provides a substantial link to greek mythology, utilizing Homer’s Odyssey and Lliad to create a window into classical texts” (Bright). By combining two complex and merit-able reads Riordan creates a novel that creates a stepping stone into harder literature to read and analyze. “Riordan
There are many other characters in the story the story, but there are a couple special one. Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena. So you can imagine she was one smart cookie. Percy’s father is Poseidon, god of the sea. Athena and Poseidon didn’t really get along. Annabeth and Percy have something in common: both have family issues and terrible step-parents. Her dad is a human, a professor at West Point who teaches American History. Annabeth is anger at his for rejecting her at a young
"The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan is the second book in the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series. In this book, Percy Jackson takes on a quest to save his beloved Camp Half Blood. This book is a tale of Good vs Evil as seen from the point of view of Percy. He must not only fight for the camp but the lives of those around him that he cares about. This book combines the current world with the world of the Greek mythological gods such as Zeus and Poseidon.
“Go on with what your heart tells you, or you will lose all”. This quote, spoken by Percy is a repetitive thought that he uses in his quest to persevere to the end. From movies, to stories, to plays, the hero undergoes a journey, that is universal in nearly all. This journey is referred to as the Hero’s Journey and consists of three stages with other elements within each stage, and was recognized by Joseph Campbell. The pattern of the journeys allows a universal audience that all, young and old, can relate to. A broad description of the monomyth includes the hero leaving their ordinary life, commencing the bulk of the journey, and returning home. In the movie The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, the protagonist Percy Jackson presents discernible
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Lightning Thief modernizes to Perseus, Danaus, and the Gorgon sisters throughout the hero’s Journey, hero archetype, and theme development.
"Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2013. .
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan is a fantasy- adventure novel that is based on Greek mythology. It's the second novel in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Percy Jackson has been having nightmares about his satry friend Grover Underwood. The first dream involving Grover running from an unknown force and hiding in wedding shop. At school a group of Laestrygoians attack Percy and his classmates in a game of dodgeball, but is saved by one of his friends Tyson and Annabeth Chase, one of his friends from camp. Annabeth takes Percy and Tyson to Camp Half Blood, the only safe place for demigods, which are kids who are children of humans and gods. All three of them take the
Every hero in Greek mythology produces some type of lesson for all of us to take heed to. each hero fell in and out of favor with the gods and was forced to do unthinkable tasks. But, without these heros, Greek mythology would not be what it is today. The heros of their time are what made the history of the Greeks come together. As shown by Hercules, Perseus, and Theseus a great deal of courage was required of them along with sacrifices. Their stories are what make Greek mythology one of the most interesting topics out there.
The first novel of the series, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief , is where Percy’s Hero’s Journey begins, encompassing the first five stages. The Ordinary World, the first stage, is the introduction of the main hero. “The hero, uneasy, uncomfortable or unaware, is introduced sympathetically so the audience can identify with the situation or dilemma” (Campbell). Percy Jackson, a twelve year old diagnosed with both dyslexia and ADHD living in New York with his loving, over-worked mother and abusive stepfather, begins his story attending a boarding school for “troubled youth” and having a less than spectacular time being the new kid. Despite his good intentions of protecting his only friend Grover from a bully, Percy gets in trouble at school and is pulled aside by one of his teachers, whom is revealed to be the Fury Alecto, one of Hades’s servants in disguise. It is at this point in the story in which the second stage, The Call to Adventure, comes into play. Percy defeats the Fury with the help of a centaur named Chiron, t...
The movie Percy Jackson : The Lightning Thief, can be considered an epic based on Percy's bravery,intelligence and honor. Percy Jackson, who has discovered himself to be a demigod which means he is partly human and Greek God. At just 12 years old his life was not the very best. His biological father abandoned him and his mother when he was a baby. He has a stepfather who treats him and his mother like they are worthless. Percy also does not do the best in school with his dyslexia and ADHD. Everything changes for him when demons and other mythical creatures falsely accuses him of stealing a lighting bolt from the Greek God Zeus. Anyone will do anything to get to get back Zeus lighting bolt more the fact that they would have control. But to prove that he didn't steal Zeus bolt Percy, Annabeth and Grover has to travel to
In the second installment of The Heroes of Olympus, The Son of Neptune is a thrilling adventure written by Rick Riordan. The book begins where The Lost Hero left off. Percy, also in Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, is wandering Southern California with no memory of where he came from or who he is except one name, Annabeth. Being chased by three gorgons, Percy stumbles upon, with the help of Hera/Juno, Camp Jupiter. In the Roman camp, Percy joins the 5th cohort, which are the misfits of the camp, and befriends Hazel the daughter of Pluto and Frank the son of Mars, who are the biggest misfits of all. Percy and his newfound friends are soon called on a quest. Their mission is to recover the missing standard of the entire legion. They board the Pax, a small rowboat which makes up the entire Roman navy, and embark on their journey.
Homer is credited for writing epics that generate source materials for the modern world. The Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer are captivating stories with fascinating heroic characters. The Homer stories share with classical mythology typical recurrent motifs. The two Homer epic poems focus on the Trojan War, and its result. The epic poems contain the Greek mythology featuring the Greek gods, goddesses, mythological creatures, and the Greek heroes, and heroines. In addition, the principal motifs typical of classical mythological hero stories are; the dominance of fate, evil fighting against the gods, and death. In both the classic mythology, and he modern fiction hero stories, the heroes always have a helper in their expedition, but ultimately, they have to stand alone, face the darkness, and conquer it in order to become victorious.
This man cares more about the wants and needs of the people around him then his own. Percy is brave in the toughest of situations, and stands up for what is right. Percy Jackson has even saved the world twice, by leading armies he organised on his own.
Percy, is the son of Poseidon; he is a charismatic leader and powerful, he can control water. Annabeth is a daughter of Athena and Percy’s girlfriend. She is extremely intelligent and strategic. Bob is titan. Most titans hate gods and demigods, and have been warring with them off and on for centuries. But Percy pushes Bob into the river Lethe, which swipes memories and Bob forgets everything. Percy then becomes friends with Bob. When he and Annabeth are being attacked in Tartarus, Percy calls Bob to rescue them. Jason also a protagonist, is the son of Jupiter. He is a good leader, and takes over the leadership of the group in the absence of Percy and Annabeth. Piper is Jason’s girlfriend, and also a demigod. She is daughter of Aphrodite and has the gift of charmspeak. Charmspeak is bestowed occasionally on Aphrodite’s children; it is the ability to persuade someone to do anything with your voice. Leo is another protagonist, and the son of Hephaestus. He has a very rare gift of being able to produce flames from his hands, and is impervious to fire. He often feels excluded and unappreciated. Hazel is one of the protagonists and the daughter of Pluto, god of the underworld, and therefore can sense tunnels...