Friday, 9 December 2011
4th Journal
The ending of the book I thought was an absolutely spectacular climax. At this point as expected I was the most intersted in the book. I thought the imagery involved in describing the Underworld was very well done. As well as the modern twist thrown in. As an example when they go to the entrance to the underworld, they were takin down by elevator. Then when it reached the Underworld it turned into a barge and floated down the river to the gates. Another example is how the security in Underworld was so modern. It's security consisted of metal detectors, magic detectors, as well as strip searches for those who were terribly bad when they were alive. One thing I didnt understand was how they got into the Underworld so easily. For one, all they did to get into the elevator was give Charon a few golden drachmas. Then once they got to the security, to get past Cerberus (The three headed guard dog of the underworld) all they did was throw a ball for him and then they got through. Then when they set off all the security alarms, they just hid in a corner, then casually walked through the Fields of Asphodel. As I mentioned before the imagery used in describing the Underworld was really spectacular. Especially in describing the different sections. For example, the Fields of Asphodel were described as standing in a wheat field in Kansas forever. Also the Fields of Elysium were described as beautiful houses from every time period, with siver and gold flowers blooming in every lawn. I think that just the fact of them being in the Underworld made it more intense and exciting. Then once they returned from the Underworld Percy's fight with Ares, I thought was very well sequenced. The way Percy conjured up the idea of using the waves to defeat Ares really surprised me. Then, Percy takes the Helm from Ares and returns it safely back to Hades. Then returns the Bolt to Mount Olympis, meeting hius father along the way. I think it would not have been a very good ending to the book without finally meeting his father. After reading nearly to the end I thought it would have been better just ending it right then and there to leave on a good note. Then I read the very end and understood why it was needed. It was needed because you find out who is the real traitor, who was Luke working for Kronos. I think this sets the base of the next to come very well and actualy got me interested in reading it. All in all, great book and I would reccomend it to anyone.
Thursday, 8 December 2011
finale journal
All of the things that I have talked about in my other journals has merely been a buildup to quite an amazing ending. In most books I have read, by the time that you get to the climax of the story, you can almost tell that the author is tired and fed up and just wants to finish the book and then you end up with the most predictable and ,sometimes, boring ending you can get. One thing that I really liked about how Riordan finished his book is that he created all these questions during the rising action, and he saved all the answers until the climax of the book. Questions like: is my mom still alive, does hades have the bolt, and what Percy fail to save that is most important to him. This all goes back to my last journal about how Riordan drops clues for you that are oh so subtle that you might not even notice and then drops the answers on you and leaves you shocked and satisfied. When I read up on Rick Riordan I learn that before he wrote the Lightning Thief he wrote many adult mystery novels. His experience with writing mystery novels really shows through in how he wrote the ending of this book. Everybody knows that any good mystery has a twist ending. Twist endings can sometimes be a bit tacky and too easy to see coming, really it’s all about how the author leads you to believe to believe the thing that is not true. The way that he almost had me convinced that it was Hades that stole the bolt was the perfect set up for the bomb that he dropped on me after. This book almost had two climaxes. The true climax of the book was when Percy and Hades met and then Percy had to make a decision of who to save. But Riordan didn’t let you down easy after that. He was still able to fit an intense fight scene in there. After the fight scene with Percy and Ares, you did really get the feeling that the book was coming to a close with a nice happy ending, but just then Riordan reminded me that this book is part of a series, by giving the last chapter an amazing hook that really shows you the bigger picture and truly gives an idea of what lies in store for Percy. All in all, I truly loved this book. Thumbs up to Rick Riordan for writing such an epic tale and I look for to reading on.
jamie collins
jamie collins
Setting Discussion Questions
1. Q) After reading the first quarter of the book we now know about Percy's situation and why he's a troubled kid, this being that he is a half-blood, now that we know this do you believe that his small apartment in the middle of New York is significant?
A) Yes i believe that it is significant because if he lived somewhere that is less populated and less busy monsters would be able to find him or catch his scent easier. Where as in the middle of New York there are so many people that his scent will be mixed in with so many other people that monsters will have a tough time finding him.
2. Q) At the start of the book Percy and his class are on a field trip to the museum, the author talks about them being in the ancient greek part of the tour. How does this foreshadow the events to come?
A) This foreshadows events to come because we find out later that Percy is a demi-god(half mortal, half god) which means that ancient greek is going to be very important in Percy's life.
3. Q) At the museum, just before Mrs.Dodds tells Percy to follow her into the museum, What happens to the weather that foreshadows what will happen inside the museum?
A) Just before Percy goes into the museum behind Mrs.Dodds the weather gets very stormy, this foreshadows that something very bad is going to happen. Which it did, Mrs.Dodds tries to kill Percy inside the museum.
4. Q) When Percy returns home at the end of the school year to his apartment, it is very smelly and dirty because of Gabe. Why is this trait of the apartment so important for Percy's safety?
A) This trait of the apartment is important because the smell of Gabe and the appartement stay on Percy, this smell overwhelms Percy half-blood scent which keeps him safe from monsters before he has been trained.
5. Q) When Percy and Grover are on the bus back to New York at the end of the school year, the bus breaks down in the middle of nowhere. How does this show that something significant is going to happen? What happens?
A) When the bus breaks down black smoke billows out from the dashboard,this symbolizes that something bad is going to happen. When Percy and grover get off the bus they see the three Fates, they look directly at Percy and cut a piece of yarn. If the Fates cut yarn it's like them cutting your "lifeline", it means that you are going to die.
6. Q) The night that Percy and his mother stay at the beach cabin at Montauk is described as one of the worst storms that New York has ever seen. This foreshadows that something bad is going to happen, What happens?
A) Percy and his mother are awoken by grover who is being chased by a monster from the underworld. The monster chases them all the way to Half-Blood Hill, we find out that the monster is the Minotaur and Percy later defeats him but loses his mother in the process.
7. Q) Half-Blood Hill is the only safe place for half-bloods. It is a stereotypical heart warming farm house in a valley surrounded by strawberry fields. Why do you think that the author would pick this as the safe place for half bloods?
A) I think that the author chose this as the safe place for half-bloods because i think that it is a very easy setting for readers to picture and relate to. I also think that he chose this because a lot of people would think about this as a sort of paradise that they can relate to as being a very safe place.
8. Q) This part of the story takes place i New York, New York does not have a very warm climate, not really ideal for growing strawberry's, what is revealed about how and why the strawberry fields are there?
A) We learn a little bit later in the story that the strawberry fields can grow there for two reasons. First because the climate at Half-Blood Hill is whatever the people there want it to be, therefore it is nice and mostly warm all year. Second, the camp director is Dionysus, the god of wine, which also means that he can make things grow very easily. The reason that the strawberry fields are there instead of grape fields(for the god of wine) is because he is not aloud to grow grapes or drink wine until his punishment from Zeus is over.
9. Q) When Percy is receiving his tour of the camp we learn that the number 1, 2, and 3 cabins are empty. If you were a demigod would you want to be a child of the big three?
A) No, i wouldn't want to be a child of the big three. Even though these half-bloods are the most powerful, they are also very dangerous and they are often in danger. Also i would not want to live alone in a cabin all summer, or possibly all year. I would much rather be a child of Athena or Ares where you are still powerful but also have people to live with, and i would not be in as much danger as a child of the big three.
10. Q) When Percy and his mother spend the night at Montauk Percy talks about all of his good experiences there and all of his fond memories and it is described as such a peaceful place. Did yo have any predictions about how their time spent their would play out? Were your predictions right?
A) Yes, i thought that because of the way that this place was described and the events leading up to it i thought that it would be spent peacefully and be a nice trip and there would be more conflict when their trip was over. My prediction was wrong! During the first night they are abruptly awaken and chased by the Minotaur all the way toHalf-Blood Hill.
A) Yes i believe that it is significant because if he lived somewhere that is less populated and less busy monsters would be able to find him or catch his scent easier. Where as in the middle of New York there are so many people that his scent will be mixed in with so many other people that monsters will have a tough time finding him.
2. Q) At the start of the book Percy and his class are on a field trip to the museum, the author talks about them being in the ancient greek part of the tour. How does this foreshadow the events to come?
A) This foreshadows events to come because we find out later that Percy is a demi-god(half mortal, half god) which means that ancient greek is going to be very important in Percy's life.
3. Q) At the museum, just before Mrs.Dodds tells Percy to follow her into the museum, What happens to the weather that foreshadows what will happen inside the museum?
A) Just before Percy goes into the museum behind Mrs.Dodds the weather gets very stormy, this foreshadows that something very bad is going to happen. Which it did, Mrs.Dodds tries to kill Percy inside the museum.
4. Q) When Percy returns home at the end of the school year to his apartment, it is very smelly and dirty because of Gabe. Why is this trait of the apartment so important for Percy's safety?
A) This trait of the apartment is important because the smell of Gabe and the appartement stay on Percy, this smell overwhelms Percy half-blood scent which keeps him safe from monsters before he has been trained.
5. Q) When Percy and Grover are on the bus back to New York at the end of the school year, the bus breaks down in the middle of nowhere. How does this show that something significant is going to happen? What happens?
A) When the bus breaks down black smoke billows out from the dashboard,this symbolizes that something bad is going to happen. When Percy and grover get off the bus they see the three Fates, they look directly at Percy and cut a piece of yarn. If the Fates cut yarn it's like them cutting your "lifeline", it means that you are going to die.
6. Q) The night that Percy and his mother stay at the beach cabin at Montauk is described as one of the worst storms that New York has ever seen. This foreshadows that something bad is going to happen, What happens?
A) Percy and his mother are awoken by grover who is being chased by a monster from the underworld. The monster chases them all the way to Half-Blood Hill, we find out that the monster is the Minotaur and Percy later defeats him but loses his mother in the process.
7. Q) Half-Blood Hill is the only safe place for half-bloods. It is a stereotypical heart warming farm house in a valley surrounded by strawberry fields. Why do you think that the author would pick this as the safe place for half bloods?
A) I think that the author chose this as the safe place for half-bloods because i think that it is a very easy setting for readers to picture and relate to. I also think that he chose this because a lot of people would think about this as a sort of paradise that they can relate to as being a very safe place.
8. Q) This part of the story takes place i New York, New York does not have a very warm climate, not really ideal for growing strawberry's, what is revealed about how and why the strawberry fields are there?
A) We learn a little bit later in the story that the strawberry fields can grow there for two reasons. First because the climate at Half-Blood Hill is whatever the people there want it to be, therefore it is nice and mostly warm all year. Second, the camp director is Dionysus, the god of wine, which also means that he can make things grow very easily. The reason that the strawberry fields are there instead of grape fields(for the god of wine) is because he is not aloud to grow grapes or drink wine until his punishment from Zeus is over.
9. Q) When Percy is receiving his tour of the camp we learn that the number 1, 2, and 3 cabins are empty. If you were a demigod would you want to be a child of the big three?
A) No, i wouldn't want to be a child of the big three. Even though these half-bloods are the most powerful, they are also very dangerous and they are often in danger. Also i would not want to live alone in a cabin all summer, or possibly all year. I would much rather be a child of Athena or Ares where you are still powerful but also have people to live with, and i would not be in as much danger as a child of the big three.
10. Q) When Percy and his mother spend the night at Montauk Percy talks about all of his good experiences there and all of his fond memories and it is described as such a peaceful place. Did yo have any predictions about how their time spent their would play out? Were your predictions right?
A) Yes, i thought that because of the way that this place was described and the events leading up to it i thought that it would be spent peacefully and be a nice trip and there would be more conflict when their trip was over. My prediction was wrong! During the first night they are abruptly awaken and chased by the Minotaur all the way toHalf-Blood Hill.
Journal #4
After reading the final portion of the book, the only thing that i can say is..wow! The ending of this book was so satisfying! A lot of predictions that i made while reading the book turned out to be right, for example Ares playing a large role in the end. I also really enjoyed the ending of the book because it ties up a lot of loose ends while still leaving some things unsolved which keeps you interested in the story. A couple of examples would be Medeusa's head, his mother's life, the real villain of the story. While still leaving things unsolved like, what Luke's role in the story will be, or how Kronos' plan to make the gods fall will continue. I really like that the book ended this way because it doesn't leave you wondering about too much, but about just enough to keep you very interested. Also i really enjoyed the ending of this book because it makes you feel like Percy's life has gotten a lot better, for example: Percy is no longer a criminal because of the mist that blocked the mortal's eyes, Percy's mother gets rid of Gabe meaning that Percy and his mother will be a lot happier. I think that because the story ended this way it really makes you feel good about the story because now you aren't thinking about problems with Percy's family but it also gives the story a lighter sort of comedy feel to it which most people enjoy. I think that because of this, most people who read Rick Riordan's "The Lightning Thief" will continue and read the entire series, I know that i will, can't wait to get started on the second book!
Journal Entry #4
In the last portion of the novel “Percy Jackson and the Olympians – The Lightning Thief” the scene becomes gloomy as they enter the threshold of hell (the underworld) and Percy, Annabeth and Grover end up playing fetch with Cereberus, the “hell hound” or guard dog for hell. This part of the novel really intrigued me because it seemed as if nobody had done anything like it before and that the author was breaking new ground when he included this part. I believe that Rick Riordan has one of the most creative and imaginative minds of our era. Another thing I found surprising was the ending. The book ends with Luke putting a scorpion on Percy’s lap which shocked me. Luke is helping Kronos to try and rise from Tararus. I was very shocked when I found out that Luke was the one trying to start a war of the gods because he was the one who seemed to be helping Percy the whole time on his quest. He deceived me and everyone else in the book which proves how entertaining and convincing an author Rick Riordan is. What else can I say but wow! Officially, this is the most interesting, intriguing, action packed fantasy book I have ever read! I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next one. Hats off to you, Rick Riordan, for writing the best novel I have ever read!
Nick Simpson
In the last portion of the novel “Percy Jackson and the Olympians – The Lightning Thief” the scene becomes gloomy as they enter the threshold of hell (the underworld) and Percy, Annabeth and Grover end up playing fetch with Cereberus, the “hell hound” or guard dog for hell. This part of the novel really intrigued me because it seemed as if nobody had done anything like it before and that the author was breaking new ground when he included this part. I believe that Rick Riordan has one of the most creative and imaginative minds of our era. Another thing I found surprising was the ending. The book ends with Luke putting a scorpion on Percy’s lap which shocked me. Luke is helping Kronos to try and rise from Tararus. I was very shocked when I found out that Luke was the one trying to start a war of the gods because he was the one who seemed to be helping Percy the whole time on his quest. He deceived me and everyone else in the book which proves how entertaining and convincing an author Rick Riordan is. What else can I say but wow! Officially, this is the most interesting, intriguing, action packed fantasy book I have ever read! I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next one. Hats off to you, Rick Riordan, for writing the best novel I have ever read!
Nick Simpson
Journal Entry #3
In the third portion of the novel “Percy Jackson and the Olympians – The Lightning Thief” there was even more relentless and intense action. The trio has just finished killing Medusa at “Auntie Em’s Garden Gnome Emporium”. I really like how the author, Rick Riordan, has woven countless Greek myths and stories into the novel including the story of Medusa. He incorporated Medusa into the story but with a modern twist which I found very entertaining and this twist to the myth kept me reading. In the novel he made Medusa the “Garden Gnome Emporium” owner which was interesting and would make sense because the novel is set in the modern world and therefore as times have evolved so have the myths. Most novels would probably make the story of Medusa boring but not Rick Riordan. It was very interesting how he incorporated it and continued it throughout the novel. The author does not do what is expected in a climactic scene either. For example when Percy had just leaped out of a hole in the Gateway Arch in St. Louis you would expect the author to ramble on about how Percy had a deep revelation and at the last second woke up out of the trance before he hit the water. Not so with Rick Riordan who purposely begins a new chapter. Percy in his thoughts is saying how he would love to tell us that he had a deep revelation on the way down, had come to terms with mortality and laughed in the face of death and then Percy says what really and truly happened. All he said was “Arrggghhh!” I enjoy how the author wrote this portion of the book as it is somewhat unexpected for an author to actually write what would have happened in real life. This makes the story interesting because as a reader I can relate even more to the life of Percy Jackson.
Nick Simpson
In the third portion of the novel “Percy Jackson and the Olympians – The Lightning Thief” there was even more relentless and intense action. The trio has just finished killing Medusa at “Auntie Em’s Garden Gnome Emporium”. I really like how the author, Rick Riordan, has woven countless Greek myths and stories into the novel including the story of Medusa. He incorporated Medusa into the story but with a modern twist which I found very entertaining and this twist to the myth kept me reading. In the novel he made Medusa the “Garden Gnome Emporium” owner which was interesting and would make sense because the novel is set in the modern world and therefore as times have evolved so have the myths. Most novels would probably make the story of Medusa boring but not Rick Riordan. It was very interesting how he incorporated it and continued it throughout the novel. The author does not do what is expected in a climactic scene either. For example when Percy had just leaped out of a hole in the Gateway Arch in St. Louis you would expect the author to ramble on about how Percy had a deep revelation and at the last second woke up out of the trance before he hit the water. Not so with Rick Riordan who purposely begins a new chapter. Percy in his thoughts is saying how he would love to tell us that he had a deep revelation on the way down, had come to terms with mortality and laughed in the face of death and then Percy says what really and truly happened. All he said was “Arrggghhh!” I enjoy how the author wrote this portion of the book as it is somewhat unexpected for an author to actually write what would have happened in real life. This makes the story interesting because as a reader I can relate even more to the life of Percy Jackson.
Nick Simpson
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