Central Idea - The Lightning Thief is all about identity and about discovering identity. At the beginning of our narrator's tale, Percy Jackson doesn't yet know who his father is or that he has any special powers of any kind. ... Over the course of the story, however, he learns things about himself that he never thought possible.
Theme - Percy spends much of this novel trying to come to terms with his identity. He has never felt like he fit in with others around him, and this only escalates when he discovers that he is a half-blood, a person who legitimately has two different identities as mortal and god. It is difficult for him to find a place in either world until he realizes that as a demigod, he has an identity all his own, and a place—Camp Half-Blood—where he can truly be himself.
Imagery - “The landscape was dotted with buildings that looked like ancient Greek architecture—an open air pavilion, an amphitheater, a circular arena—except that they all looked brand new, their white marble columns sparkling in the sun. In a nearby sandpit, a dozen high-school aged kids and satyrs played volleyball. Canoes glided across a small lake. Kids in bright orange T-shirts like Grover’s were chasing each other around a cluster of cabins nestled in the woods” (Chapter 5, pg. 67)
Percy takes in everything during his first glimpse of Camp Half-Blood, trying to understand what he is seeing. This is his first exposure to the world of gods and monsters, so it is naturally a lot for him to process. He speaks not only of the Greek architecture and satyrs, but also of the various things that make the camp like any other summer camp—canoeing, sports, and cabins, among other things.
Figurative Language- “Just as it hit me, as I stumbled backward and felt its razor-sharp claws ripping through my armor, there was a cascade of thwacking sounds, like forty pieces of paper being ripped one after the other” (Chapter 8, pg. 130) (Simile)
This simile emphasizes the strength of the hound that was summoned into Camp Half-Blood to attack Percy following the game of capture the flag. This monster is able to tear apart his armor as if it were merely paper, and it is a worthy introduction to all of the monsters that Percy will soon be up against on his quest.
Tone - The overriding tone is cynical, yet the high-energy scenes, endearing characters and direct ties to Greek mythology also support its upbeat and suspenseful tone.
Mood- It's about 12-year-old demigod Percy Jackson and his quests to defeat the evil powers that oppose him. The overriding tone is cynical, yet the high-energy scenes, endearing characters and direct ties to Greek mythology also support its upbeat and suspenseful tone.