Name: Reading: English: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan Literary Analysis Unit Thesis Claim: The way Percy changes in the book is emphasized by theme and figurative language. 1
What is significant of the title? Title How does the main character change? How is the change brought about? How What emotions did you feel at the end? Emotions What was the mood of the story? Mood What message from the story applies to life? Enduring God/Goddess Sphere of Control Animal/Symbol Your Class Partner 1 Zeus 2Hera 3 Poseidon 4 Demeter 5 Hephaestus 6 Athena 7 Aphrodite 8 Ares 9 Apollo 10 Artemis 11 Hermes 12 Dionysus 13 Hestia 14 Hades 2
Plan a road trip from New York City to Los Angeles. Use a map of the highways used and at least five cities you would stop in. Write a narrative giving driving instructions. Calculate how long it would take them to reach their destination driving 60 miles an hour for eight hours a day. 3
Symbolism, Imagery, and Allegory in Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief Symbol Quote from the Novel Page In my own words this means # Names Games Symbols of Power Western Civilization Dreams The Senses 4
5
The Hero s Journey 1. THE ORDINARY WORLD. The hero, uneasy, uncomfortable or unaware, is introduced sympathetically so the audience can identify with the situation or dilemma. The hero is shown against a background of environment, heredity, and personal history. Some kind of polarity in the hero s life is pulling in different directions and causing stress. 2. INITIATION. The hero crosses some kind of a threshold and steps into a new world where he/she must learn many new things. Often during the initiation the hero will meet his/her sage teacher and his/her special weapon will be revealed, if not to the character then to the reader. The weapon can be an object or an ability The hero is not yet very good at using it. Usually during the initiation the hero is also introduced to or learns about the villain. The villain can be a person (human or otherwise), an illness, or some kind of inner struggle (I know I m different but I don t want to tell anyone else about it.). 3. ROAD OF TRIALS. The Road of Trials takes up the majority of the book. On this road the hero faces many obstacles and has to overcome each one. As he/she overcomes an obstacle, he/she learns something new and moves closer to coming into his/her full hero s power. Often the hero is accompanied on his/her road of trials by his/her companion/sidekicks. 4. INNERMOST CAVE. This is the hero s lowest point although the cave represents the hero s darkened mood, an author will put the character in an actual dark place like a basement or a forest. Inside the Innermost Cave, the hero must struggle with his greatest fear or weakness and overcome it. When the hero has overcome his/her greatest struggle, he/she is ready to emerge from the Innermost Cave. At this point, he/she is in his/her full hero s power and is capable of wielding the special weapon with mastery. He/she will quickly move to the climax of the story where he/she will face the villain. 5. RETURN and REINTEGRATION - The hero has overcome the final obstacle during the climax and the final confrontation with the villain. He now returns to his life, sometimes the old life, sometimes a new one, but is living it as a changed person and in his full hero s power. 6
How has Percy Changed throughout the story? Use SPECFIC text examples WITH page numbers Before After 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. 4. 4. 5. 5. 6. 6. 7. 7. 7
Theme Common Themes in Literature: Community/Isolation, Power over Others/Power over Self, Curiosity/Denial, Inner Truth, Coming of Age, Power of Love Choose TWO of these themes and discuss how they apply to The Lightning Thief. Chosen Theme 1 Example 1 with Page # Example 2 with Page # How does your example show how Percy has changed throughout the novel? 8
Chosen Theme 2 Example 1 with Page # Example 2 with Page # How does your example show how Percy has changed throughout the novel? 9
Figurative Language/ Literary Devices Example Figurative Language: Hyperbole On page 118 My shield was the size of an NBA backboard with a big caduceus in the middle. It weighed about a million pounds. I could have snowboarded on it fine, but I hoped nobody seriously expected me to run fast. This shows that Percy is still on the brink of change, but not there yet. The emotion that is conveyed is one of feeling overwhelmed and anxious. He feels so small and unprepared for battle, even though it s just a game. We can see that even though he sounds sarcastic, underneath he s scared about fitting in, and still has no confidence in himself or his abilities. Foreshadowing Before Change Example 1 Page # Emotion? After Change Example 2 Page # Emotion? Discuss how Foreshadowing shows Percy s change: 10
Hyperbole Before Change Example 1 Page # Emotion? After Change Example 2 Page # Emotion? Discuss how Hyperbole shows Percy s change: 11
Metaphor/Simile Before Change Example 1 Page # Emotion? After Change Example 2 Page # Emotion? Discuss how Metaphor/Simile shows Percy s change: 12
Personification Before Change Example 1 Page # Emotion? After Change Example 2 Page # Emotion? Discuss how Personification shows Percy s change: 13
Imagery Before Change Example 1 Page # Emotion? After Change Example 2 Page # Emotion? Discuss how Imagery shows Percy s change: 14
Writing Your Literary Analysis Essay Analysis Thesis Claim: The way Percy changes in the book is emphasized by theme and figurative language. The Introduction The introduction to your literary analysis essay should try to capture your reader s interest. To bring immediate focus to your subject, you may want to use a quotation, a provocative question, a brief anecdote, a startling statement, or a combination of these. You may also want to include background information relevant to your thesis and necessary for the reader to understand the position you are taking. In addition, you need to include the title of the work of literature and name of the author. Essay Hook and Leader: Relates to the topic, but often more indirectly, in a literary essay the lead can give the reader an overview of the story, should not be too short that it feels abrupt, should not be too long that it seems to take forever to get to the point. A good lead in a literary essay should: Give the name and author of the book Give the basics of the story- setting, etc. Broadly outline the main conflict of the story Mention the main character and possibly one or two others Give the reader enough information to understand the analysis that will follow (without having read the book) but don t give too much away (no spoilers) Thesis Statement: In The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson, the protagonist transforms from a troubled kid into a confident hero and this change can be seen in the book s theme and figurative language. Introduction Checklist Hook Author Title Main Characters A Short Summary Thesis Statement Body Paragraphs The Sandwich Strategy: This will be used in your body paragraphs. You introduce the example, give the example, and explain the example. For Example: Before: The theme of Coming of Age shows how Percy changes. One example of this is when Percy fights Aunty Em. This shows that Percy hasn t changed yet. After: The theme of Coming of Age shows how Percy changes. At the beginning of the book, Percy is less mature and is not in his full hero s power. An example of this is when Percy fights Aunty Em. 1 This scene shows that Percy hasn t changed yet because he fails to see her trap and then needs the help of Annabeth and Grover to get out of it. 2 Percy s immaturity causes him to ignore the red flags and Grover s worry and to concentrate only on the food. 3 He is not yet wise enough to see the obvious danger he is in, and he is therefore too slow to react. 15
A Good Analysis The analysis piece in an essay is the most important part because it ties your examples to the thesis. This part of the essay is the bottom bread of the sandwich the part where you explain your example. A good analysis has these qualities: Ties the example to the thesis by explaining why Is specific rather than general Shows insight Examples: Not So Good: One example is when Percy fights Crusty. This scene shows that he has changed. Better: One example is when Percy fights Crusty. This scene shows that he has changed because he has become a better and more confident fighter. Even Better: We can see how far Percy has come on his journey as a hero when he fights Crusty. He handles this monster with confidence, using a combination of fighting skills and cleverness to stay in control at all times. When compared to the fight with Aunty Em, in which he was confused and inept, the reader can see how much of a hero Percy has truly become. This battle is the outcome of all the practice he has had fighting other monsters and it is clear that he has learned a great deal. 3 Point Analysis This ties your example to your topic statement and to your thesis. In order to analyze your example in depth you need to use at least 3 points of analysis. Prompts to consider using in the analysis section: 1. When compared to 2. In contrast to 3. If then 4. This is the outcome of 5. Other possible outcomes of might have been 6. occurred because 7. An explanation of is 8. The way in which occurs or is accomplished is 9. is like because We can see how far Percy has come on his journey as a hero when he fights Crusty.. 8 He handles Crusty with confidence, using a combination of fighting skills and cleverness to stay in control at all times. 1 When compared to the fight with Aunty Em, in which he was confused and inept, the reader can see how much of a hero Percy has truly become. 4 This battle is the outcome of all the practice he has had fighting other monsters and it is clear that he has learned a great deal. Body Paragraph 1 Checklist Transition Topic Sentence Context for the quote- Which character said it? Context for the quote- What s happening in the text when they say it? Quote from the text- cited appropriately Analysis of the Quote Context for the quote- Which character said it? Context for the quote- What s happening in the text when they say it? Quote from the text- cited appropriately Analysis of the Quote Closing Sentence- wrap up the paragraph effectively to transition to the next paragraph 16
Body Paragraph 2 Checklist Transition Topic Sentence Context for the quote- Which character said it? Context for the quote- What s happening in the text when they say it? Quote from the text- cited appropriately Analysis of the Quote Context for the quote- Which character said it? Context for the quote- What s happening in the text when they say it? Quote from the text- cited appropriately Analysis of the Quote Closing Sentence- wrap up the paragraph effectively to transition to the next paragraph Body Paragraph 3 Checklist Transition Topic Sentence Context for the quote- Which character said it? Context for the quote- What s happening in the text when they say it? Quote from the text- cited appropriately Analysis of the Quote Context for the quote- Which character said it? Context for the quote- What s happening in the text when they say it? Quote from the text- cited appropriately Analysis of the Quote Closing Sentence- wrap up the paragraph effectively to transition to the next paragraph Transition Restated Thesis Statement Summarize your argument Leave your reader with a thought Conclusion Checklist 17
18