Percy Jackson: The Titan's Curse

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Titan’s Curse

By Rick Riordan

About the book:

When Percy Jackson gets an urgent distress call from his friend Grover, he immediately prepares for battle. He knows he will need his powerful demigod allies, Annabeth and Thalia, at his side, his trusty bronze sword Riptide, and . . . a ride from his mom.
The demigods rush to the rescue to find that Grover has made an important discovery: two powerful half-bloods whose parentage is unknown. But that's not all that awaits them. The titan lord Kronos has devised his most treacherous plot yet, and the young heroes have just fallen prey.
They're not the only ones in danger. An ancient monster has arisen -- one rumored to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus -- and Artemis, the only goddess who might know how to track it, is missing. Now Percy and his friends, along with the Hunters of Artemis, have only a week to find the kidnapped goddess and solve the mystery of the monster she was hunting.
Along the way, they must face their most dangerous challenge yet: the chilling prophecy of The Titan's Curse.

About the guide:

This guide includes discussion questions and projects intended to extend the use of the novel into classrooms, book clubs, and literature circles. It should promote discussion on the themes of the novel including friendship, adventure, choices, fate, sacrifice, revenge, and hope.

About the author:

Rick Riordan is the multi-award-winning author of the Tres Navarre mystery series for adults and the national bestselling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series for children.

For fifteen years, Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. In 2002, Saint Mary’s Hall honored him with the school’s first Master Teacher Award.

Discussion Guide:

1. Explain how the heroes of the story all come together at Grover Military Academy. What is the result of this episode and how does it set up Percy’s quest for the whole novel? Which goddess is involved in the battle?
2. Why does Bianca make the choice to become a huntress of Artemis? Do you know anyone who would be willing to make this choice? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this decision?
3. Who is in charge of Camp Half-Blood? Why was he sent there as punishment? Describe the location and purpose of the camp.
4. Why are Percy’s nightmares an important aspect of the story? What two things do they reveal? Would you like to receive information this way or would you be able to trust its meaning?
5. Explain in your own words the prophecy of the Oracle. Make predictions about who you think will succumb to the threats listed there. Do you think the heroes completely understand the prophecy or not?
6. How does Percy join the quest? Is he originally supposed to be on it? Why not? What promise does Nico exact from Percy before he leaves on the quest?
7. What trap does Artemis fall into because of her weakness? What flaw or weakness would someone be able to exploit in you? Are all people fatally flawed?
8. Describe the major events in Washington, D.C. With whom and where do they battle? What is Luke’s goal? How does in conflict with Percy’s? What reward does Percy take away from this battle?
9. Which monsters in the novel are your favorites? Which one would frighten you most? Why? What types of transportation do the heroes use in this novel? Which one would be your favorite way to get around?
10. What happens in the junkyard? Would you be willing to sacrifice your own life to save a friend? How did she make this decision? What brave thing did she do?
11. While the Olympians offer guidance and occasionally a cool weapon they do not get directly involved in the quests of mere mortals. Why?  What would happen if the gods and goddesses were always involved in these battles?
12. How was Thalia tempted by power? Do you think most people could resist ultimate power or not? Why?
13. Which heroes in the Greek Myths never gave credit to the women who helped them? Do you think Percy would do something similar or not? What act proves that he is different than the demigods that came before him?
14. Who is The General? To whom is he related? How does this prove fateful for one of the quest’s heroes? What is The General’s burden? What two people carry it for a time?
15. In the end, what happens on the Mountain of Despair? What results from this battle? Who must Percy disappoint? How does he take the news? Does this set up conflict for the next book? How?

Projects:

Music:

Create an I-pod playlist for Percy and his hero friends that will inspire them  throughout the book. In a short journal explain why you chose particular songs to represent specific scenes or battles in the story.

Social Studies:

Read at least two different versions of a single Greek Myth (Persephone and Demeter for example). Then, create a venn diagram to compare the details of the two stories.

Or-

Using a map of the United States trace the timeline of the book and mark major events from the plot of The Titan’s Curse.

Science:

Dr. Chase, Annabeth’s mortal father, reconfigured celestial bronze into bullets. Research the properties of one element off the periodic table of the elements and then design a weapon for Percy, Thalia, Annabeth, or Grover. What qualities of the element would be best exploited for its use? Would it have any weaknesses?

Or-

Many of the Greek Myth monsters are combinations of real animals and mythical ones. These combined creatures make ferocious opponents! Design your own Greek Myth monster by combining an actual animal with qualities of a mythical beast. Be sure to turn in both your description and an illustration of your beast.

Art:

Choose your favorite Olympian and then design the perfect home for them. What qualities would be necessary to insure your god or goddesses ultimate comfort? What requirements would be necessary to meet their massive appetite for wine, say, or their knack for starting trouble. You can use whatever materials you like to bring this project to life but be as detailed as possible.

This guide was created by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer, a reading specialist and author of Reaching for Sun from Bloomsbury. Visit her website to find hundreds of guides to children’s literature.

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Language Arts:

Fill out the following prediction guide chart as you read The Titan’s Curse. Each prediction should be based on facts gleaned from the story, your knowledge of story structure, and your understanding of the Greek Myths.

Chapter	Major Events	Predictions
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3
4
5
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8
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20

On the back write a prediction for the next book in the Percy Jackson series.