Question

In The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson says, “What was so great about me? A dyslexic, hyperactive boy with a D+ report card, kicked out of school for the sixth time in six years.” With that line in mind, contrast how Percy views himself with how the author of “Heroes Every Child Should Know: Perseus” presents his hero. This story was adapted from a text written during the Romantic period, so how does that time period influence the way that the author developed his main character? Use evidence from “Heroes Every Child Should Know: Perseus” to support your response

Answer 1

In The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson seems to view himself as a misfit and someone who does not fit the typical image of a hero. He describes himself as dyslexic, hyperactive, and a poor student who has been kicked out of school multiple times. Percy's self-image contrasts sharply with the presentation of the hero Perseus in "Heroes Every Child Should Know: Perseus," which was adapted from a text written during the Romantic period.

In "Heroes Every Child Should Know: Perseus," Perseus is presented as a hero who is born with divine parentage and has extraordinary abilities from birth. He is said to have "the courage of a god" and "the strength of a giant." Perseus is presented as a hero who is destined for greatness and who rises to the challenge of facing dangerous monsters and completing impossible tasks.

The Romantic period was known for its focus on individualism, emotion, and imagination. This is reflected in the way that Perseus is presented in "Heroes Every Child Should Know: Perseus." The author emphasizes Perseus's innate qualities and portrays him as a larger-than-life figure who overcomes incredible challenges through his own strength and courage. This portrayal of Perseus is in line with the Romantic focus on the power of the individual to achieve greatness.

In contrast, Percy Jackson's self-image reflects the more modern focus on the struggles and imperfections of the individual. Percy is presented as someone who is not a natural hero and who must overcome his own limitations and flaws to succeed. This portrayal of Percy reflects the more contemporary focus on the challenges and obstacles that individuals face in their lives.

Overall, the different presentations of Perseus and Percy reflect the different values and perspectives of their respective time periods. The Romantic focus on individualism and the power of the individual to achieve greatness is reflected in the portrayal of Perseus, while the modern focus on the struggles and imperfections of the individual is reflected in Percy's self-image.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

In The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson has a negative view of himself, while Perseus is portrayed as a heroic figure in 'Heroes Every Child Should Know: Perseus'. The Romantic period influenced the way the author developed Perseus as a brave and resourceful hero.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Percy Jackson's quote from The Lightning Thief, he expresses a negative view of himself, emphasizing his dyslexia, hyperactivity, low academic performance, and history of being kicked out of school. This contrasts with how the author of 'Heroes Every Child Should Know: Perseus' presents Perseus, a hero from Greek mythology. In that story, Perseus is portrayed as a brave and resourceful hero, chosen by the gods to complete difficult tasks and rescue Andromeda.

The time period of the Romantic period, during which 'Heroes Every Child Should Know: Perseus' was adapted, likely influenced the way the author developed the main character. Romantic literature often focused on individualism, heroism, and the power of the human spirit. This may explain why Perseus is depicted as a heroic figure with extraordinary abilities and a sense of purpose.