Wrath of the Triple Goddess

Rick Riordan incorporates foreshadowing across the novel to invite readers to predict the direction the story is taking. How does he both fulfill and subvert genre conventions with regard to the plot development?

What makes ancient Greek heroes tragic is that they participate in their own destruction, which in the modern world has been called having a “fatal flaw.” What is each main character’s fatal flaw? How do their strengths compensate for one another’s limitations?

Discuss Riordan’s use of humor in the novel. How does he balance the serious issues he tackles with moments of humor, and what is the effect?

Riordan puts mythological twists on modern phenomena, such as Percy needing to get a college recommendation letter from a god and Grover threatening to leave a bad review in Cloven Elders Monthly. Using three specific examples of this from the novel, discuss how they develop Riordan’s theme of The Relevance of Greek Mythology in the Modern World.

Twice in the novel, Percy becomes angry at Grover: first when he discovers that Grover drank the forbidden milkshake and second when Grover almost disappears into the earth. How does Percy handle his anger? What is the effect on his relationship with Grover?

Across Riordan’s series, Annabeth is typically the demigod everyone counts on to create a plan and execute it with precision and discipline. What does it cost Annabeth to admit that she made a mistake believing that she could hold up Hecate’s torches? Discuss her growth arc across the novel.

Percy ultimately realizes that Hecate’s relationship with Gale was more complex and caring than he initially believed. How does Hecate’s treatment of demigods compare with other gods’ in the series? Select two other gods to compare and contrast with Hecate.

After Hecate returns, Percy follows through on his promise to Hecuba and Gale to advocate to Hecate on their behalf, telling the goddess, “I’m trying to show you the best path” (267). How is his approach to crossroads different from Hecate’s, based on what is told about the latter? What makes Percy’s approach persuasive?