“To my wonderful readers: sorry about that last cliff hanger. Well, no, not really. HAHAHAHA. But seriously, I love you guys. (House of Hades).” *Spoiler* This is what Rick Riordan said in his dedication of The House of Hades after he threw Percy and Annabeth into Tartarus, and then waited an entire year to publish another book. Rick Riordan is not only diabolical man who survives off the tears of his fans, he is also an amazing author with many amazing books, that not only have great plots, but many of the social issues teens face. One issue that Riordan talks about is discovering one’s sexuallity and where one fits in the world. Rick Riordan’s stories are ones that have complex plots and characters, and will be remembered through the ages. …show more content…
There is not a lot of information on Riordan’s childhood, but information about resurfaces when he went to college. Rick Riordan attended North Texas State, but graduated from the University of Austin. Riordan did not get a degree to be a writer, but got a degree for teaching English (“Rick Riordan.” Contemporary Authors Online). After he got his degree, he moved to San Francisco. He taught for eight years before returning home to San Antonio. Riordan got married (the exact date is unknown) to a women now called Becky Riordan,and had two sons called Patrick and Haley (“Rick Riordan.” Contemporary Authors Online). The genre that Rick Riordan is best known for now is young adult fiction, but he actually started out writing mystery novels. His best known mystery novels are the Navarre Series (Rick Riordan). The books in the Navarre Series include Big Red Tequila, The Widower’s Two-Step, The Last King of Texas, Southtown, Mission Road, and Rebel Island. The series basic plot is centered around an unofficial private investigator who solves crimes. Riordan’s young adult novels include many books, all of which are centered around some type of mythology from around the world. Riordan decided to write the Percy Jackson series because his oldest son had been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia (Riordan, Rick. Demigods and Monsters). His son loved Greek mythology so Riordan decided …show more content…
Demigods and Monsters). His first young adult fiction series was Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Rick Riordan). Percy Jackson and the Olympians is based on Greek mythology and includes many of the monsters and legends of the old myths. This story follows around the young protagonist Percy Jackson as he learns he is a demigod. This book series included The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, The Titan’s Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth, and The Last Olympian. The next book series he wrote was The Heroes of Olympus. This books series is what happens after Percy Jackson, and involves many of the same characters. This too is also centered around Greek mythology, but is also heavily influenced by Roman mythology. The events of this book are centered around seven demigods who are prophesied to save the world. The novels in this series are The Lost Hero, The Son of Neptune, The Mark of Athena, The House of Hades, and The Blood of Olympus. The next book series by Rick Riordan is The Kane Chronicles. The Kane Chronicles do not follow the Greek and
Percy Percy provides the novel with the perfect parallel to Dunstan. He does, however, contrast in many ways to Dunstan. They are best friends, but Percy rivalry results in the formation of the main setting of the novel. Percy also feels more of an attachment to material goods than Dunstan does. He thinks only of himself and is in constant pursuit of total and utter control. Percy was low moral standards in comparison to Dunstan and in some ways, feels he is of a higher stature than other human beings. This awkward relationship between him and Dunstan forms the basis of the novel.
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.
Once he was back in Santa Monica he fought Ares and found out he stole both the magic items. He got help from someone at the camp but, Percy did not know who it was yet. Percy won the battle and gave back the gods what matter most to them. When he goes to his mother’s house he finds out that his mother was still alive because Hades had been happy with the crown. Percy makes it back to camp and finds out that the one who betrayed him was Luke. Luke had stolen the items and had given them to his father to hide from everyone. Furthermore, the reason Luke did this was because the king of Titians had told him that he could he free and on his own if Luke was part of his army. Then out of nowhere a scorpion that almost kills him is out on Percy by Luke. Percy had to decide if he wanted to train to fight Luke for revenge or to spend time with his mother in the summer. Even though Percy needs to train he decides to be with his mother and work extra hard the time he is at the camp. Percy could not be
...th head towards the underworld were Percy’s mother is held in a cave. The reader is able to obverse that Percy as walking in to the most unsafe place and this could potentially be the most danger they have ever encountered. As they enter the secrete path to Hades layer Percy and his allies come across a guard with a boat man who does not allow any living people into the underworld. A problem is created as the man blocks the entrance to the underworld on the other hand Percy explains that nothing will stop him from get his mother back as he is will to do anything to obtain his mothers love. However Annabeth come up with an idea to gives him money. Her plan is successful as the man agrees to give them a ride over the underworld. The next step is get his mother back and return Zeus’s lightning bolt but in order to do that he must meet the god of the underworld hades.
Within this novel, the main character, Percy Jackson, is depicted to fit the universal archetype of a hero on a quest. Furthermore, Poseidon, Percy's father, shows the archetype of Magi with the guidance he provides Percy without him ever meeting him. On his quest to retrieve Zeus’ lightning bolt, the character of Luke also serves as a Hermes archetype and one of joker. He shows up right when the hero is about to make a breakthrough. Clearly, the characters demonstrate an archetypal prevalence that serves to develop the novel in the mythological type. With relation to modern life, Percy Jackson serves as an archetypal character that symbolizes goodness. He is a typical quiet young teenager with the additional issues of dyslexia and ADHD. He is an only child who lives in New York with his mother and step father. As the plot unravels, we learn that Percy, in his goodness, would do anything to protect his mother from
I like the way the author, Rick Riordan, made mythology come to life in “The Blood of Olympus”. The book brings an interesting spin on Greek and Roman mythology. Besides the mythology, I really like the character Percy, who used to be the main character in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. I also personally enjoyed how well written the book was. Altogether, I liked the mythology, Percy, and the well written story that the author Rick has created.
Percy Jackson is a true hero. Imagine if you had the chance to save your mother, but put your own life at risk. When Percy was given this chance, he never even thought about his own life. When he saved the world, he didn't care if he put his own life in immense trouble. When he met his half brother, he stood up for him, not caring if no one liked him after. It is clear that there is no way that Percy Jackson can be thought of anything but a hero, which is what he truly
The Odyssey is an example of Greek history portrayed in literature. As in all Greek literature, the epic hero Odysseus answers a call to action, suffers through great confrontation, and returns with a better understanding of life. Greek stories such as, The Odyssey set the stage for today's modern action movies with epic heroes such as Indiana Jones, Frodo from the Lord of the Rings, and Western cowboys like Roy Rogers and The Lone Ranger.
Overall, Riordan uses different mythological characters, to create a modern adaptation of the story of Perseus. Riordan does so in a way that a younger audience can 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.
John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California on February 27th, 1902. His mother, Olive Steinbeck, was a teacher and also was a major influence on John's writing. His father, John Steinbeck Sr., was a county treasurer. When Steinbeck was a child, during his summers off from school, he worked on a farm, which was a good experience for later writing. In the beginning of 1919, Steinbeck was accepted to the University of Stanford. Later, in 1925, he left without a degree. He wrote lots of short stories and articles for the College's newspaper. Steinbeck moved to New York to write, but had to support himself by being a construction worker. He started writing for the New York American, but didn't make enough, so had to keep his construction job. In 1929, Steinbeck returned to Salinas to write Cup of Gold. He had to work as a caretaker for a summer home in Lake Tahoe. In 1930, he meets Edward Ricketts, who gets him interested in marine biology. Steinbeck also married his first wife, Carol Henning. He publishes more novels such as the Pastures of Heaven, and To a God Unknown; but of all those, Tortilla Flat was his first selling novel. This was published in 1935. In 1936, he also published In Dubious Battle and in 1937, Of Mice and Men. Then, possibly one of Steinbeck's best selling/ greatest works, the Grapes of Wrath, was published. This publication won a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book award in 1939. He told stories of families that were poor during the depression and of their powerless efforts against the government and society that has put them down. Steinbeck then traveled to Mexico to shoot the film Forgotten Village (documentary). When he returned to the United States, he became a war correspondent and wrote about the Second World War. He moved back to New York City and married Gywn Conger, in 1943. Then they had two sons, Tom, in 1944 and another son in 1946, named John IV. By 1948, Steinbeck divorced his wife, went to Russia three times, and lost his good friend, Edward Ricketts in a car crash. Then he quickly married Elaine Anderson Scott in 1950. By 1959, Steinbeck published several screenplays and served as a correspondent for the Vietnam War. In 1960, he toured the US with his poodle and recorded his travels and titling it Travels With Charlie.
In the genre of classic tales, The Odyssey by Homer stands as a well-known adventure-filled story that follows the journey of Odysseus as he attempts to return home after the Trojan War. On the other hand, Rick Riordan's young-adult fantasy series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, introduces us to Percy Jackson, a demigod navigating the challenges of a modern world blended with ancient mythology. Both narratives draw upon the hero's journey, a narrative framework that charts the protagonist's growth and transformation through various stages. While each stage plays a crucial role in shaping the hero, the most pivotal stage is arguably the meeting of the mentor figure. This stage serves as the pillar in the hero’s journey, propelling the hero toward self-realization and
At the center of this photograph is the protagonist, Percy, who is emphasized by the focus of light upon him, rather than on the other two characters in this scene. As he is standing in front of the characters who are at his side, it can be determined of that he is leading them through the area in this scene, before the hydra appears to attack all three characters. To his left is the deuteragonist, Annabeth, and to the right of Percy is Grover, his sidekick. As Grover is supposed to be Percy’s “protector” in both narratives, he is meant to be watching over and protecting Percy. I feel that this is accomplished by his decision to accompany Percy on his journey. In the film, a rivalry between Percy and Annabeth is formed shortly after Percy arrived at Camp Half-Blood, which is eventually resolved before the quest is given. During this journey, Percy and Annabeth begin to bond over their similar circumstances as being demi-gods, talking about the rivalry between their parents, and expressing their wishes of being able to meet their Olympian parents, who were forbidden by Zeus from contacting their demigod children. As they begin to bond Percy and Annabeth grow close and soon develop a relationship. When Percy goes to return the Lightning Bolt to Zeus at Olympus, he decides to bring Annabeth with him, so that they both can meet their godly parents, while in the
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...
Each character is thoughtfully written with their own unique strengths, flaws, and depth, adding substance to the plot. Percy takes on his quest to retrieve Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt with his friends Grover, the satyr, and Annabeth, daughter of Athenea, to avoid a war amongst the gods. Riordan’s writing locks in the reader with suspense, humor, and lots of action. O’Neal 1 Roger Ebert compliments Riordan’s ability to “weave a captivating narrative that seamlessly merges Greek mythology with contemporary adventure.” He praises the novel for its “engaging character, brisk pacing, and clever dialogue,” and claims that it “transports readers to a world where gods and monsters walk among mortals.”
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.