62 pages 2 hours read

Rick Riordan

The Last Olympian

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2009

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.

Themes

The Hero’s Journey

Riordan draws heavily upon the trope of the hero’s journey, and it becomes a central theme of the novel. The hero’s journey is a common trope in literature and often appears in Greek mythology. In narratology, Joseph Campbell examines the hero’s journey as a prototypical path the hero undertakes throughout a story. Although Campbell describes 17 individual stages, the hero generally goes on an adventure, wins a victory in a decisive crisis, and returns transformed.

Much of Percy’s character trajectory mimics this journey. At the beginning of the book is the call to adventure, when the Oracle reveals the Great Prophecy that Percy and everyone else assume applies to him. It ends with the promise: “A single choice shall end his days, Olympus to preserve” (55). Next there is the refusal of the call, in which Percy debates whether or not he wants to take on the duties of the Prophecy. Following that is the meeting with the mentor, and for Percy this is Chiron. His mentor gives him advice and guidance that will help him on his way.

Percy enters the next stage when he embarks on his adventure and is on the road of trials.

Related Titles

By Rick Riordan

Study Guide

logo

Daughter of the Deep

Rick Riordan

Daughter of the Deep

Rick Riordan

Study Guide

logo

The Blood of Olympus

Rick Riordan

The Blood of Olympus

Rick Riordan

Study Guide

logo

The Burning Maze

Rick Riordan

The Burning Maze

Rick Riordan

Study Guide

logo

The Chalice of the Gods

Rick Riordan

The Chalice of the Gods

Rick Riordan

Study Guide

logo

The Dark Prophecy

Rick Riordan

The Dark Prophecy

Rick Riordan

Study Guide

logo

The Hammer of Thor

Rick Riordan

The Hammer of Thor

Rick Riordan

Study Guide

logo

The House of Hades

Rick Riordan

The House of Hades

Rick Riordan

Study Guide

logo

The Lightning Thief

Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief

Rick Riordan

Study Guide

logo

The Mark Of Athena

Rick Riordan

The Mark Of Athena

Rick Riordan

Study Guide

logo

The Maze of Bones

Rick Riordan

The Maze of Bones

Rick Riordan

Study Guide

logo

The Son of Neptune

Rick Riordan

The Son of Neptune

Rick Riordan

Study Guide

logo

The Sun and the Star

Rick Riordan, Mark Oshiro

The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure

Rick Riordan, Mark Oshiro

Study Guide

logo

The Throne of Fire

Rick Riordan

The Throne of Fire

Rick Riordan