About the Book
When Thalia's tree is mysteriously poisoned, the borders of Camp Half-Blood begin to fail. Percy and his friends have just days to find the only magic item powerful to save the camp before it's overrun by monsters. To find it, they must sail into the "sea of monsters." Along the way, Percy must rescue his old friend and learn a terrible secret about his own family, which makes him question whether being Poseidon's son is an honor or a curse.
Activities
- Archery practice
- Quest comparison
- Book discussion
- Monster masks
Monster Masks
Design your papier-mache masks to bring out your inner monster. Use paint, foam pieces, feathers—whatever you can imagine.
Questions for Discussion
- Why does Percy have to change schools each year?
- Describe some of the monsters encountered in the book. Any favorites? Which would you least like to meet?
- Why is Clarisse given a quest instead of Percy?
- What do you think of Tyson? Would you be embarrassed to have a brother or sister like Tyson?
- What does Annabeth find out about herself from the Sirens?
- Which of the tools described would you most like to have and why?
What Is a Quest?
From "The Lord of the Rings" to "Star Wars" to Percy Jackson, modern stories replay the hero’s quest in many variations. As mapped out by mythologist Joseph Campbell in "The Hero With a Thousand Faces," the hero’s quest has three main stages: the departure, the initiation, and the return. Each stage is further broken down into additional steps (much condensed below).
We can look at the Percy Jackson books a new way by seeing how many the steps of the "classic" quest Percy and his friends do in each book.
Stage 1: The Departure
- The call to adventure: Something is happening and the hero must act.
- Refusal of the call: The hero may be afraid and decide not to go on the quest. But something more happens to propel him or her regardless.
- Supernatural aid: The hero meets others along the way who are there to help.
- The crossing of the first threshold: The hero travels into a new world.
- The belly of the whale: The hero is reborn.
Stage 2: Initiation
- The road of trials: The hero undergoes various tests.
- The meeting with the goddess: The hero, if male, meets with a mother-like figure to help him along. Female heroes may meet with a father-like figure.
- Woman as the temptress: Another obstacle is encountered—this time it is callings of the flesh.
- Atonement with the father: By understanding his father (or mother, if the hero is female), the hero gains a greater understanding of himself.
- Apotheosis: A transformation of some sort happens.
- The ultimate boon: A gift, perhaps, or some other sign that the hero is ready to complete the quest.
Stage 3: Return
- Refusal of the return: The hero may not want to go back to her old world.
- The magic flight: The hero may have more obstacles to cross before she can return home.
- Rescue from without: This rescue comes from someone from her home, helping to convince the hero to return.
- Crossing the return threshold: The hero returns home.
- Master of the two worlds: The hero knows much more about life and herself than she did before.
- Freedom to live: The hero’s quest benefits everyone.