The Lightning Thief Language and Communication

What examples of eavesdropping do we see in this story? Do you blame Percy for eavesdropping in this moment? Sometimes the only way Percy can get any information is if he acts a bit sneakily.

Percy's not "abnormal," he's super-human! After doubting himself for so long and hating the way his brain struggles to read or pay attention, Percy learns that he's in fact a superstar. Education and school in the mortal world is considered to be the means to opportunity, and if Percy's not good at it, then he understands that he won't have opportunity. But how frustrating is that? Just because his brain is wired differently, he's considered a dummy in the mortal world. Can you imagine the relief he must feel transitioning from being considered "bad" at school to a kick-butt demi-god? And it all happens so fast.

We see examples of non-verbal means of communication throughout this story, and this moment is one of them. Percy communicates with the water somehow; it has to do with the "tug" in the pit of his stomach. We begin to see that communication is not just reserved for humans, demi-gods, and gods. Nature and animals communicate too.

Percy has a series of dreams throughout the story that seem to grow more and more violent and visceral. This is the first vivid dream that we hear about, and we can interpret it as Zeus and Poseidon fighting. Zeus's symbol is the eagle. Poseidon's symbol is the horse. They are fighting in Percy's dream perhaps because they are fighting up on Mount Olympus. This tells us that Percy is incredibly powerful – even before he knows that he is a half-blood or what that even means, he's dreaming about the gods. Gradually, his dreams become used to communicate or spy on something in the Underworld.

The Greek gods are big on knowing their fate and on knowing how things are going to turn out, but getting that information can be tricky, and even dangerous. The Oracle speaks in riddles, and these riddles really stump Percy and put him on his guard. Solving the riddles can help someone understand a situation, but misinterpreting the Oracle's words can really mess them up. Misinterpreting the Oracle is what leads to Percy's scorpion bite.

Hold the phone. So, you seek out the Oracle's advice to help you understand what's about to happen, but "the truth is not always clear until events come to pass." Why should someone seek out the Oracle's advice? Is the Oracle helpful in this story? If so, how is the Oracle helpful? Why is it a good idea to hear what the Oracle has to say?

The gods and monsters understand and interact with one another and with demi-gods on a non-verbal level. They use their senses to detect and understanding things around them. When monsters are able to smell Percy, what exactly are they smelling? What does this smell tell them?

Grover is perhaps the best communicator of all the characters. He can not only talk to animals, but he also seems to be able to communicate with nature itself. He may not be strong and burly and really good at sword-fighting, but his ability to talk to all kinds of things helps Percy in big ways on his quest.

What?! Percy not only can talk to water and things in the water, but he can talk to horses and animals that are related to horses. Poseidon created horses out of waves. The way in which this horse calls Percy "lord" makes Percy sound almost like a ruler or like someone who is very powerful.