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Rick RiordanA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Percy Jackson is the titular character of the novel. He is a 15-year-old demigod and son of Poseidon and a mortal woman, Sally. When the novel begins, he is set to turn 16 in one week and is supposed to carry out the Great Prophecy:“I’d been hearing about the “Great Prophecy” for years, but nobody would tell me the whole thing. All I know was that I was supposed to make a decision that would decide the fate of the world—but no pressure” (41).
Thinking he is the one to carry out the Prophecy, Percy accepts the mission and embarks on his journey to save Mount Olympus from the Titan army. In many ways, Percy’s journey closely mirrors that of the traditional hero’s journey, a central theme of the novel. He accepts his quest, gains knowledge and tools, and battles his enemy. However, when fighting Kronos, the author reveals that it is Luke who will ultimately overthrow Kronos, and in this way the author problematizes the traditional hero’s journey by allowing it to move in a different direction.
Throughout his journey, Percy contends with the idea of predestination versus free will, another central theme of the novel. He accepts what he perceives to be his fate but also challenges it.
By Rick Riordan
Daughter of the Deep
Daughter of the Deep
Rick Riordan
The Battle of the Labyrinth
The Battle of the Labyrinth
Rick Riordan
The Blood of Olympus
The Blood of Olympus
Rick Riordan
The Burning Maze
The Burning Maze
Rick Riordan
The Chalice of the Gods
The Chalice of the Gods
Rick Riordan
The Dark Prophecy
The Dark Prophecy
Rick Riordan
The Hammer of Thor
The Hammer of Thor
Rick Riordan
The Hidden Oracle
The Hidden Oracle
Rick Riordan
The House of Hades
The House of Hades
Rick Riordan
The Lightning Thief
The Lightning Thief
Rick Riordan
The Lost Hero
The Lost Hero
Rick Riordan
The Mark Of Athena
The Mark Of Athena
Rick Riordan
The Maze of Bones
The Maze of Bones
Rick Riordan
The Red Pyramid
The Red Pyramid
Rick Riordan
The Sea of Monsters
The Sea of Monsters
Rick Riordan
The Son of Neptune
The Son of Neptune
Rick Riordan
The Sun and the Star
The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure
Rick Riordan, Mark Oshiro
The Sword of Summer
The Sword of Summer
Rick Riordan
The Throne of Fire
The Throne of Fire
Rick Riordan
The Titan's Curse
The Titan's Curse
Rick Riordan