The Titan's Curse

The Titan’s Curse

• Genre: Fiction; young adult fantasy
• Originally Published: 2007
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 630L; ages 10 and up
• Structure/Length: Divided into chapters; approximately 312 pages; approximately 8 hours, 48 minutes on audiobook
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The novel is part of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and follows the adventures of Percy Jackson, a demigod and the son of Poseidon. In The Titan’s Curse, Percy and his friends embark on a quest to rescue the goddess Artemis, who has been captured by a mysterious enemy. Along the way, they encounter various mythological creatures and face new challenges. The central conflict revolves around their quest to prevent a powerful enemy from unleashing chaos on the world and the personal growth of the young heroes.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Mythological themes; action and fantasy violence

Rick Riordan, Author

• Bio: Born 1964; American author known for his popular young adult fantasy series, including the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series; Riordan has a background in teaching and draws inspiration from Greek and Roman mythology to create engaging stories that resonate with young readers; his books often explore themes of heroism, friendship, and self-discovery; Riordan's works have been adapted into successful film and television series.
• Other Works: The Lightning Thief (2005); The Sea of Monsters (2006); The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008); The Last Olympian (2009); The Heroes of Olympus series; The Kane Chronicles series; Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series; The Trials of Apollo series

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Tenuous Relationships Between The Children Of The Big Three
• Parents’ Involvement And Responsibilities In Their Children’s Lives
• The Danger Of Heroes
• The Importance Of Found Family

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Gain an understanding of the historical and literary contexts regarding Greek mythology that provide a background for Riordan’s use of Greek heroes, gods, and goddesses in the Percy Jackson series.
• Analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of the consequences of heroes’ actions, family, and parents.
• Discuss the novel’s themes and character dynamics that explore the tension that Riordan builds over the course of the novel by role-playing in a “Council of the Gods.”
• Analyze and evaluate the plot and character details to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding Percy’s impulsiveness, parents’ responsibility, and the effects of heroes’ decisions.