The Last Olympian

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. One of the novel’s central themes is The Hero’s Journey. What is the “Hero’s Journey,” and where have you encountered it in other stories? What themes do you associate with this literary technique?

Teaching Suggestion: This short answer prompt introduces the theme of The Hero’s Journey. The concept of the hero’s journey is an important one in the study of mythology, best known from the scholarship of Joseph Campbell. Consider discussing Campbell’s idea of the hero’s journey or “monomyth” (especially as outlined in his book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces) and the pattern that characterizes the hero’s journey in many cultures.

• This Crash Course video provides a short introduction to the idea of the hero and Campbell’s “monomyth.”
• This study guide from SuperSummary contains a detailed summary and analysis of Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces.

2. The novel explores the interplay of Predestination Versus Free Will. What do these two concepts mean, and how do they conflict with one another? Can predestination and free will coexist? Why or why not?

Teaching Suggestion: This short answer prompt introduces the theme of Predestination Versus Free Will. Defining the terms “predestination” and “free will” might be a useful way to approach this prompt. You might encourage students to try defining these terms on their own before settling on a working definition for the class. Students may have different ideas about what these terms mean that may be conditioned by their cultural and/or religious backgrounds (and possibly by their own familiarity with mythology).

• This Crash Course video considers the relationship between free will and determinism from a philosophical perspective.
• This article from The Collector breaks down the myth of Oedipus, one of the most famous myths that illustrate the conflict between free will and predestination.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

The importance of connection, teamwork, and love is strongly emphasized throughout the novel. What role does interconnectivity play in your life? Why is efficient communication, interaction, and cooperation among others so important? Consider your relationships with your family, friends, and/or community in your response.

Teaching Suggestion: This personal connection prompt introduces the theme of Otherness Versus Interconnectivity. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle famously defined man as a political and social animal, suggesting that we as humans cannot live without interconnectivity. In responding to this prompt, students can draw on their personal experiences but may also think about the role of interconnectivity in the world at large or in current events (e.g., in diplomatic and trade relationships between nations and international communities).