The basis of this book is Greek Mythology and Roman Mythology Combined. However, the series is not entirely accurate as Riordan had to develop drama points.
Important Characters:
There are 7 main characters, Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, Leo Valdez, Nico Di Angelo, Jason Grace, Piper McLean and Hazel Levesque. The series takes the perspective of a different character at the end of each chapter making this a unique reading experience. It also makes the reader more involved with the characters in the books. Each of these people have their own personality and they get along together really well.
-Percy is the person that "leads" them with some witty comments here and there, but he is also serious and can be a good leader. "I don't run when my friends need me," (271).
-Annabeth is the smarts of the group and always seems to know what to do. This is demonstrated throughout the book and is heavily emphasized all through the series (including the early books).
-Leo provides comic relief in the books he appears in and has a sense of humor even in the toughest and most adrenaline pumping sections of the book. However, he is the only single person in the group and kind of feels left out. "He thought about the warning from Nemesis, the revenge goddess: You will not find a place among your brethren. You will always be the seventh wheel." (91)
-Nico is a goth kind of kid throughout the books and his personality takes a turn in the House of Hades where Cupid, the god of love, tells him that he has a crush on Percy. He openly tells himself that this is not true but deep down he knows that it is. This creates some tension between him and Percy and he doesn't want to be around him.
-Jason is another team leader and likes to be in charge. He is the classic team leader with the instincts to know what to do and how to do it. "I can't die, he told himself. My friends are depending on me." (42)
-Piper is really good at talking to people and resolving problems between the characters. She is the unannounced psychologist of the group and does a really good job of staying positive. "'Whatever happens,' she told Annabeth, 'I'm your friend. Just… remember that, okay?'" (194)
-Hazel is the friendly one of the group and no one has any grudges with her. She is good in the aspect that she can be friendly and brings the group together really well.
Main Themes in the Book:
The book is centered around friendship and sticking together to the end. This is demonstrated throughout the book and is never failing to show through even in the toughest of times. "Coach Hedge snorted, 'You're a part of the team idiot. We're not going to leave you behind'"(303). This quote shows just how important friendship is to the team and how they will stick together until the end. It makes the reader feel like he/she can always count on their friends no matter what happens. The world is a cruel place and that shows through in the extreme in this book. It makes the stresses of life seems like small matters and it is a good distraction when the reader in involved in the book.
Another theme is perseverance, the characters have to stop the earth goddess from waking up by a certain deadline or else the world will be destroyed. They also have to fight gods and goddesses that are much stronger than they are and will readily kill them. "The giant chuckled. 'Don't worry, son of Jupiter. Your friend will take a long time to die. After all the trouble he's caused me, I wouldn't dream of killing him quickly,'" (264). This is a quote from when Percy and Jason are fighting the giant Polybotes and he poisons Percy and catches him in a net. Jason is then left alone to kill the giant and save Percy. He doesn't give up and eventually kills him with the help of a goddess. She then helps them onto the next part of their quest.
Important Characters:
There are 7 main characters, Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, Leo Valdez, Nico Di Angelo, Jason Grace, Piper McLean and Hazel Levesque. The series takes the perspective of a different character at the end of each chapter making this a unique reading experience. It also makes the reader more involved with the characters in the books. Each of these people have their own personality and they get along together really well.
-Percy is the person that "leads" them with some witty comments here and there, but he is also serious and can be a good leader. "I don't run when my friends need me," (271).
-Annabeth is the smarts of the group and always seems to know what to do. This is demonstrated throughout the book and is heavily emphasized all through the series (including the early books).
-Leo provides comic relief in the books he appears in and has a sense of humor even in the toughest and most adrenaline pumping sections of the book. However, he is the only single person in the group and kind of feels left out. "He thought about the warning from Nemesis, the revenge goddess: You will not find a place among your brethren. You will always be the seventh wheel." (91)
-Nico is a goth kind of kid throughout the books and his personality takes a turn in the House of Hades where Cupid, the god of love, tells him that he has a crush on Percy. He openly tells himself that this is not true but deep down he knows that it is. This creates some tension between him and Percy and he doesn't want to be around him.
-Jason is another team leader and likes to be in charge. He is the classic team leader with the instincts to know what to do and how to do it. "I can't die, he told himself. My friends are depending on me." (42)
-Piper is really good at talking to people and resolving problems between the characters. She is the unannounced psychologist of the group and does a really good job of staying positive. "'Whatever happens,' she told Annabeth, 'I'm your friend. Just… remember that, okay?'" (194)
-Hazel is the friendly one of the group and no one has any grudges with her. She is good in the aspect that she can be friendly and brings the group together really well.
Main Themes in the Book:
The book is centered around friendship and sticking together to the end. This is demonstrated throughout the book and is never failing to show through even in the toughest of times. "Coach Hedge snorted, 'You're a part of the team idiot. We're not going to leave you behind'"(303). This quote shows just how important friendship is to the team and how they will stick together until the end. It makes the reader feel like he/she can always count on their friends no matter what happens. The world is a cruel place and that shows through in the extreme in this book. It makes the stresses of life seems like small matters and it is a good distraction when the reader in involved in the book.
Another theme is perseverance, the characters have to stop the earth goddess from waking up by a certain deadline or else the world will be destroyed. They also have to fight gods and goddesses that are much stronger than they are and will readily kill them. "The giant chuckled. 'Don't worry, son of Jupiter. Your friend will take a long time to die. After all the trouble he's caused me, I wouldn't dream of killing him quickly,'" (264). This is a quote from when Percy and Jason are fighting the giant Polybotes and he poisons Percy and catches him in a net. Jason is then left alone to kill the giant and save Percy. He doesn't give up and eventually kills him with the help of a goddess. She then helps them onto the next part of their quest.