Who stole the lightning bolt in percy jackson book

There’s one common fact about studying alternatives for an English class: It doesn’t matter what guide you choose, someone will object. Because of this, it’s a good suggestion to have a rationale ready for any novel that may trigger controversy. In the event you select to make use of Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, here’s a rationale you’re welcome to share with dad and mom, principals, curriculum gurus, and many others. Be at liberty to switch it to suit your wants.A Rationale for Rick Riordan’s The Lightning ThiefReading: Who stole the lightning bolt in percy jackson bookGrade Stage and ViewersThe Lightning Thief is a light-hearted fantasy a couple of trendy 12-year-old boy who learns that his true father is Poseidon, the Greek god of the ocean. Percy units out to turn into a hero by endeavor a quest throughout the USA to seek out the doorway to the Underworld and cease a battle between the gods. The novel gives a high-interest, humorous introduction to the Greek myths. It really works effectively if taught along side mythology, which is a core element of most English state curriculum frameworks. The novel can be taught at any time after the introduction of Greek mythology, to attract on college students’ prior expertise as per customary three of the Requirements for English Language Arts of the Nationwide Council of Lecturers of English.Rick Riordan, the creator, has fifteen years expertise as an English/language arts trainer on the center faculty stage. He designed The Lightning Thief to be acceptable studying for ages 9 by fourteen.The novel presents a great opportunity for college kids to discover the Classical heritage of Greece because it applies to trendy civilization; to research the weather of the hero’s quest rendered in a modern-day story with a first-person narrator to whom college students can simply relate; and to debate such related points as studying disabilities, the character of household, and themes of loyalty, friendship and religion.Plot AbstractSpoiler warning! Don’t learn this when you don’t wish to know the ending of the guide!Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson has been labeled a troubled youth. Recognized with ADHD (consideration deficit hyperactivity dysfunction) and dyslexia, Percy is attending Yancy Academy, a boarding faculty for downside teenagers in upstate New York. That is Percy’s “sixth school in six years.” Wherever he goes, he appears to get in hassle unintentionally. Unusual, generally harmful issues occur to him.Because the novel opens, Percy begins to suspect that his life will not be what it appears. Throughout a area journey to the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork, his math trainer transforms right into a Fury and assaults him. Percy’s Latin trainer involves the rescue, throwing Percy a ballpoint pen which turns right into a bronze sword. Percy’s sword stroke causes the monster to disintegrate, however afterwards the incident appears to have been a hallucination. Everybody, together with Percy’s Latin trainer, claims that the mathematics trainer who attacked him by no means existed.On the finish of the college 12 months, Percy’s finest good friend Grover insists on escorting him residence, however Grover’s nervousness and cryptic feedback about Percy being in peril make Percy uneasy, so he slips away from Grover on the first alternative and goes residence by himself.Percy’s residence life is way from excellent. His mom Sally Jackson is a form lady, however by no means had any luck in life. She desires of being a author, however works at a sweet store to make ends meet and is married to “Smelly” Gabe Ugliano, Percy’s abusive stepfather who expects Percy to offer him with poker-playing cash in change for room and board throughout the summer time. Their small Higher East Facet condominium is a cheerless place. Percy struggles to know why his mom, who clearly loves him, takes such pains to ship him away yearly to a unique boarding faculty.When Percy and his mom go for a weekend retreat to the seaside, their time collectively is interrupted by a storm and a horrible wailing in the course of the night time, as if a monster is attempting to find them. Percy’s good friend Grover seems at their door and divulges himself as a satyr. He has been maintaining a tally of Percy till Percy is sufficiently old to attend Camp Half Blood, a summer time camp for coaching demigods. Grover tells Percy that monstrous forces are actually after him in earnest, they usually haven’t any selection however to flee to Camp Half Blood.On the way in which to camp, they’re attacked by the Minotaur. Percy manages to defeat the monster, however solely after it knocks out Grover and squeezes Percy’s mom till she disappears in a bathe of gold. Heartbroken, assuming his mom is lifeless, Percy pulls Grover to security over the property line of Camp Half Blood.Read more: Pictures of people who don’t existAs soon as at camp, Percy is reunited along with his Latin trainer, who in his true type is Chiron, the immortal centaur and coach of heroes. Percy learns that the Greek gods are alive and effectively – an integral a part of the collective consciousness known as Western Civilization. Olympus, the house of the gods, strikes with the center of the civilization, and now hovers invisibly over the Empire State Constructing, since America is at the moment the good energy of the West. Percy learns that the gods nonetheless have youngsters with mortals, and that monsters naturally hunt down these younger demigods. Camp Half Blood serves as a secure haven the place these highly effective, endangered younger heroes can prepare to defend themselves. For the previous sixty years, the “big three” (Zeus, Poseidon and Hades) have saved an oath to not have mortal youngsters as a result of their highly effective nature could cause nice hassle on the planet, however the different Olympians nonetheless have sufficient youngsters to fill the camp. Percy meets Annabeth, a daughter of Athena, and Luke, a son of Hermes. He additionally makes a brand new enemy in Clarisse, a daughter of Ares. Percy’s personal parentage stays undetermined till a swirling trident seems above him throughout a Greek-battle-style recreation of seize the flag. To the astonishment of the opposite campers, Percy is acknowledged as a son of Poseidon – the primary in three generations.Quickly after this revelation, Percy learns that there’s hassle in Olympus. Zeus’ grasp bolt – the weapon upon which all different lightning bolts are modeled – has been stolen, and Zeus has accused Poseidon of instigating the theft. The Lord of the Sky believes that Poseidon used Percy, a human hero, to steal the bolt in a plot to overthrow Zeus. Zeus has given Poseidon till summer time solstice – solely ten days – to return the weapon. Poseidon is offended, however he additionally dreads the considered battle with Zeus. He wants Percy’s assist to seek out out what actually occurred to the bolt. Chiron believes that Hades, Lord of the Underworld, stole the bolt to set his two brothers at one another’s throats. Chiron tells Percy that he should journey to the doorway of the Underworld in Los Angeles (by land, since Zeus would blast him out of the sky if he tried to fly), confront Hades, and return the grasp bolt to Olympus earlier than the solstice passes in an effort to stop a battle between the gods.As is customary, Percy consults the Oracle earlier than leaving. He’s warned that he’ll fail to avoid wasting what issues most ultimately, and can be betrayed by a good friend. Deeply troubled, however believing that the search to the Underworld is the one solution to see his mom once more, Percy units out with two companions, Annabeth and Grover.Alongside the way in which, the three pals be taught to belief each other. Annabeth, whose mom Athena is an outdated rival of Poseidon, should overcome her doubts about Percy. Grover the satyr should overcome his concern of monsters and underground locations. Solely by exhibiting braveness can he persuade the Council of Cloven Elders to grant him his life-long purpose of a “searcher’s license,” giving him the fitting to quest for the lacking god of the wilderness, Pan. Percy involves phrases along with his anger for his father, who has out of the blue declared himself after ignoring Percy for twelve years. In his travels west, Percy encounters Medusa, the Chimera, Procrustes the Stretcher, and the Lotus Lodge and On line casino (the Land of the Lotus Eaters). He additionally meets the battle god Ares, who offers Percy a mysterious backpack in change for doing the god a favor, and a Nereid, who offers Percy three magic pearls from Poseidon – every of which can return one particular person to the ocean from wherever they could be, even the land of the lifeless.The buddies lastly arrive within the Underworld solely to find that they’ve been tricked. The offender will not be Hades, however the defeated titan Kronos, who’s trapped within the depths of Tartarus however continues to be in a position to manipulate the desires of gods and males. Hoping to begin a three-way battle amongst his Olympian sons, Kronos brought on the grasp bolt and likewise Hades’ helm of darkness to be stolen by a human hero whose identification Percy doesn’t but know. Kronos’ human thief was unexpectedly captured by Ares. The battle god meant to maintain the magic objects for himself, however Kronos bent his will, and brought on the god to present the grasp bolt to Percy, hidden throughout the magic backpack, in order that the younger hero may convey it to the Underworld for Kronos.Hades is bound Percy is the thief who stole the bolt and his helm. The god of the lifeless is holding Percy’s mom — who is barely frozen in a bathe of gold, not lifeless – and calls for Percy surrender the magic helm earlier than she is launched. As armies of the lifeless encompass him, Percy brings out his magic pearls. With solely three, he realizes he should select between the lives of his two pals and saving his mom. In the long run, he can’t abandon his pals. Promising his mom that he’ll return for her, Percy and his pals escape to the floor, the place Percy battles the god Ares for possession of the bolt and the helm. Percy wins, offers the helm to the Furies to return to the Underworld, and travels again to New York with the bolt in time to stop a battle.At Olympus, Percy meets his father head to head. Poseidon appears distant and unhappy, however says he’s happy with his son. He says he fears Percy has been born for a hero’s tragic destiny. Poseidon tells Percy that his mom is again – returned as a peace providing by Hades – and that when Percy returns residence, he must make an essential selection. Percy rushes again to his household’s condominium, the place he finds Medusa’s head ready for him, a trophy he had forgotten mailing residence earlier in his quest. He realizes he has the possibility to petrify his stepfather and save his mom from a depressing marriage. His mom implores him to not do it, nonetheless. She should break free from Gabe herself. Percy respects her needs, and thus breaks the mildew of what the tragic hero might need achieved. The prophecy thus comes true in an sudden method: Percy fails to avoid wasting what issues most by permitting his mom to avoid wasting herself.Upon returning to Camp Half Blood, Percy is betrayed by his good friend Luke, son of Hermes, who seems to be the human hero whom Kronos used for the theft. Luke poisons Percy, and tells him earlier than leaving that Kronos will rise and destroy the age of the gods. Western Civilization is unraveling.Percy recovers from the poison with Chiron’s assist, and realizes his adventures are usually not but over. He’s a hero now, and should combat the rise of the titans.The novel is in the end about Percy coming of age, studying to belief his pals and his personal skills, accepting his dad and mom for who they’re, and selecting love and loyalty over resentment and despair.Theoretical Assist and Redeeming ValuesWhereas informed in a humorous tone and forged as a fantasy journey, The Lightning Thief explores severe points which can be extremely related to the younger reader. Percy is a younger man whose studying disabilities and household issues have given him a unfavorable self-image. He’s self-conscious and wishes acceptance. On the similar time, he’s fiercely loyal to his pals and his mom, and has a powerful sense of justice and truthful play. When he finds out his father’s true identification, Percy should redefine who he’s. He should resolve whether or not to take Luke’s path of bitterness and disillusionment, or put aside his resentment of his absent father Poseidon and attempt to settle for his heritage. On this wrestle, his new good friend Annabeth acts as his foil. Rejected by her mortal father, who has married a “normal” spouse and desires a standard life with their two new youngsters, Annabeth has lived like an orphan at Camp Half Blood since she was seven. As Percy sees how sad Annabeth is, he reevaluates his personal anger towards Poseidon and helps Annabeth discover methods to reconnect along with her father.Grover the satyr, who can learn feelings, acts as Percy’s conscience, placing phrases to the emotions that Percy, as an adolescent boy, has hassle expressing. Grover additionally serves because the ethical heart of the guide. He speaks up towards the imprisoned animals on the truck to Las Vegas. He’s the primary to supply his life to assist rescue Percy’s mom. He rails towards mankind for polluting the earth, however retains an unshakeable optimism that the Nice God Pan can nonetheless be discovered – a metaphor for restoring concord between man and the atmosphere. Grover believes he would be the first satyr in two-thousand years to efficiently discover the god.Among the many essential questions posed by the novel:

What can one particular person do to learn a complete civilization?

What’s “Western Civilization” and have its central precepts modified since its origins in Classical Greece?

What’s the nature of a household, and what are the duties and duties of a dad or mum and a baby?

What’s the definition of a hero?

Is one’s future preordained, or can one overcome atmosphere and heritage?

What qualities make a real good friend?

Does Classical mythology nonetheless have a task to serve in trendy society?

Havighurst’s Developmental Duties for Pre-Adolescence And Adolescence delineate the next points that are paramount for ages 12-18:

Reaching new & extra mature relations with age-mates of each sexes
Accepting one’s physique and utilizing the physique successfully
Reaching emotional independence of oldsters and different adults
Choosing and getting ready for an occupation
Creating mental abilities and ideas vital for civic competence
Needing & reaching socially accountable habits
Buying a set of values and an moral system as a information to habits

Read more: Who would win goku or gojoPercy and Annabeth clearly personify the wrestle to attain these duties in methods younger readers can establish with. Percy and Annabeth vacillate between gender distrust and mutual fascination so frequent in girls and boys in early adolescence, finally forging a extra mature friendship based mostly on shared expertise. When Percy finds out his heritage, he should wrestle to grasp the bodily abilities wanted to defend himself, but additionally should uncover what it means intellectually, morally, and ethically to be a hero. He evolves, over the course of the guide, from an unsure awkward boy who resents his personal variations, to an assertive younger man who has begun to consider the ethical implications of his newfound powers and understands the worth of counting on others. The necessity for emotional independence from dad and mom, balanced with the necessity to preserve an emotional connection, is central to Percy and Annabeth’s motivation in pursuing their quest to the Underworld.Piaget (1962) theorizes that youngsters of Percy and Annabeth’s age group assemble theories and make logical deductions about their penalties with none earlier direct expertise with a given topic. They’ll take care of abstractions and mentally discover similarities and variations, considering their method by new issues and bearing in mind as many or as few qualities as appear related from previous experiences. Percy and Annabeth clearly embody this expertise in The Lightning Thief, as they need to evaluate their very own completely different and but strikingly related backgrounds to know their position within the Underworld quest, and extra typically on the planet of mortals. They have to additionally consistently evaluate and distinction the archetypes and story parts of Greek mythology to their very own modern-day quest in an effort to perceive methods to overcome the obstacles of their method – each the exterior menace of monsters, and the inner threats of selfishness, suspicion, concern and insecurity.Percy and Annabeth additionally exemplify Erickson’s phases of psychosocial growth (1968), making them mirrors for younger readers to discover the problems and considerations which can be most related to them. At age twelve, youngsters are shifting from business vs. inferiority to identification vs. position confusion. They’re solidifying the abilities wanted to attain a way of competency, particularly at college, in an effort to keep away from a sense of inadequacy. On the similar time, they’re starting to check limits and break ties of dependency, attempting to make clear their very own identification and life objectives. Percy, and to a lesser diploma Annabeth, nonetheless wrestle to develop a way of business after being stigmatized in a college atmosphere due to their studying disabilities. The revelation that Percy is a demigod brings him a complete new sense of competence and business, whereas on the similar time opening a world of questions on who he’s and what he’ll turn into as a hero. Being forcibly faraway from his mom, then rediscovering each her and his father and the top of a rite-of-passage quest, Percy personifies the testing and redefining of parent-child ties which all youngsters should expertise.Targets, Instructing Strategies and AssignmentsAdvised Instructing Targets:

To hint the modifications in Percy’s angle towards his mom, father, and stepfather.

To review the event of Percy and Annabeth’s friendship.

To match and distinction the Greek myths with the way in which these myths are referenced, modernized, and reinterpreted within the novel.

To distinction Luke’s angle towards his quest with Percy’s.

To look at Grover’s maturation by the course of the search.

To look at each constructive and unfavorable parts of “Western Civilization” as depicted within the novel and personified by the Greek gods.

To match Annabeth’s evolving angle towards her household with Percy’s angle.

To research the weather of the hero’s quest throughout the novel.

Advised Scholar Actions & Essay Questions:The hooked up trainer’s information gives an array of potential actions and essay questions.Doable ObjectionsYounger grownup novels didn’t exist earlier than 1950. Lately, they’ve been focused steadily by censors, both as a result of these novels deal actually with reasonable points going through youngsters, or as a result of they take care of fantastical topics equivalent to magic or mythology that some construe as being at variance with strongly held non secular beliefs. Some the reason why a censor may object to The Lightning Thief are:

Paganism/polytheism
Fantastical parts equivalent to monsters and magic
Violence
Unconventional households/single dad and mom

Why The Lightning Thief Ought to Not Be BannedThe uneasy mixture of Classical Greek and Roman heritage and Judeo-Christian values is the oldest battle in Western Civilization. Understanding each strands, which blended to type our trendy tradition, is important to changing into an knowledgeable member of society. The Lightning Thief explores Greek mythology in a contemporary setting, nevertheless it does in order a humorous work of fantasy, and makes no try to subvert or contradict Judeo-Christian teachings. Early within the guide, the character Chiron attracts a transparent distinction between God, capital-G, the creator of the universe, and the Greek gods (lower-case g). Chiron says he doesn’t want to delve into the metaphysical problem of God, however he has no qualms about discussing the Olympians as a result of they’re a “much smaller matter.” The gods of Olympus are depicted as highly effective beings who work together with their youngsters and demand respect. They’re archetypal forces deeply embedded in and inseparable from Western thought. Nevertheless there isn’t any suggestion throughout the guide that pagan god worship be revived, or that it exchange trendy faith. Slightly, the entire of Western tradition is seen as a tribute to the enduring legacy of Olympus.Equally, the fantastical parts within the novel are drawn straight from Greek mythology, and thus function at a deeply symbolic stage. As with all tales based mostly on the hero’s quest, The Lightning Thiefpresents monsters as exterior manifestations of the inner conflicts Percy should win to attain his coming of age. The combat with Medusa is symbolic of the stress between Percy and Annabeth. The gorgon is the age-old grudge between their dad and mom which the 2 youngsters should put behind them. Dealing with the Chimera within the St. Louis Arch is absolutely about Percy going through his personal fears of inadequacy. The journey to the Underworld is central to Percy’s altering world view. When he returns to his household, he realizes he can not merely petrify his step-father, as a lot as they detest one another, as a result of Percy now understands one thing about mortality and the duties that go along with his energy. He appreciates the results of taking a life. Regardless of the trimmings of fantasy, Percy isn’t any magician. He should depend on his sword abilities, his power, and most of all his wits to assume his method out of issues.Violence in The Lightning Thief is neither graphic nor gratuitous. Percy disintegrates monsters along with his sword, however even these are usually not really lifeless, in response to the fantastical guidelines that function on the planet of the novel. Annabeth and Chiron say that monsters are forces that may solely be quickly dispelled. No people die, aside from the implied petrifaction of Gabe Ugliano which occurs off-stage on the finish of the guide. Percy is wounded a number of instances, however even this in not graphically described, nor are the scenes of preventing any extra intense than can be wanted to create a plausible sense of hazard in any younger grownup journey.As for the difficulty of unwed dad and mom, one of the crucial related themes of The Lightning Thief is the way in which that the well-known affairs between Greek gods and mortals turns into a delicate metaphor for the way trendy youngsters take care of a damaged household. Each Percy and Annabeth should come to phrases with distant, seemingly unapproachable dad and mom who they concurrently resent and admire. They have to attempt to perceive how their moms and dads present their love, and why their dad and mom’ relationships had been, ultimately, irreconcilable. In doing so, Percy and Annabeth undertake a wrestle that resonates with an unlimited variety of younger readers, and encourages dialogue concerning the nature of the household by providing an unthreatening metaphor couched in fantasy.Censoring any guide on grounds equivalent to these mentioned above does a disservice to younger readers who’re studying to turn into important thinkers. As Henry Reichman argues (Censorship and Choice, 1988), “by suppressing materials containing ideas and themes with which they do not agree, censors produce a sterile conformity and a lack of intellectual and emotional growth in students.” And as acknowledged within the Nationwide Council of Lecturers of English’s The College students’ Proper to Learn (1982): “Censorship leaves students with an inadequate or distorted picture of the ideals, values and problems of their culture.”Read more: who is peter bergman married to | Top Q&A