62 pages • 2 hours read
Rick RiordanThe Last Olympian
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2009A 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.
Essay Topics
The Last Olympian contains many characters from Greek mythology. Research one to two characters and analyze how Riordan’s depiction of them compare to the original myths.
Riordan draws upon the trope of the hero’s journey. Analyze the ways in which Percy’s journey both adheres and challenges this concept.
Magical creatures figure heavily in The Last Olympian. Pick two to three of these creatures and analyze their role in moving the battle efforts forward.
Riordan sets up several dichotomies in the novel (mortals vs. gods, interconnectivity vs. Otherness, etc.). Pick one or two of these dichotomies and analyze the ways in which it moves the story forward.
Consider the treatment of gender in this novel. Does the story challenge or reinforce classic gender roles, or does it do both?
What is the effect of the first-person point of view? Does it allow you to better understand the inner workings of this world or does it make it more confusing? Consider how this story would unfold using a different point of view.
Analyze the concept of hero versus antihero. How does the novel problematize these two distinct categories?
Consider the love triangle among Percy, Rachel, and Annabeth. Analyze the ways in which this dynamic functions in the plot to create tension, develop character, etc.
The novel mixes familiar, contemporary settings with magical ones. Analyze this juxtaposition and describe the way it affects your reception of the story.
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