Archetypes: The Lightning Thief

Archetypes• A character, an event, or an

image/symbol that recurs in different works, in different cultures, and in different time periods.

Archetypes in The Lightning Thief

• The number 3:– 3 friends on a quest– 3 pearls to escape the Underworld– 3 challenges that must be met to get the pearls

• Father/Son conflict:– Cronus & Zeus/Poseidon/Hades– Hermes & Luke– Poseidon & Percy– Gabe & Percy

• Quest– Save Sally from the Underworld– Save the world from a war between the gods

• Haven vs. Wilderness– Time spent at camp before quest

• Heaven vs. Hell– Olympus vs. the Underworld

Archetypes in The Lightning Thief

• The color Black (worn by):– Medusa– Hydra-men– Lotus Casino workers– Hades

• Unfaithful wife– Persephone

• Damsel in Distress– Sally needs to be rescued from Hades

Archetypes in The Lightning Thief

Archetypes in The Lightning Thief

• Magic Weapon– Zeus’s Lightning Bolt– Percy’s pen/sword– Luke’s shield

• Supernatural Intervention– Poseidon speaks to Percy– Athena speaks to Annabeth– Water heals Percy

Archetypes in The Lightning Thief

• Cross– Luke spreads his arms to form a cross when

he calls his power and manipulates water in his battles

• Loyal Retainer– Grover is Percy’s side-kick

• Just End– Gabe is punished by being turned to stone at

the end

Archetypes in The Lightning Thief

• Feathers– Hermes’s shoes have feathered wings that

make them fly, symbolizing lightness and speed

• Mentor– Chiron is the mentor to Percy—he is an older,

father-like figure, and gives Percy gifts (pen) as well as guides and protects him

• Both midnight and the summer solstice are symbolic, especially as a deadline due to the changing of day to night and spring to summer, but they are not archetypes!