Rick Riordan’s Intention in Writing Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and the Reception of the Readers

Abstract

This research studies Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. The objectives are to describe the Greek mythology presented in the novel, the intention of Rick Riordan, and the reception of the readers. The methodology is hermeneutic referring to Recoeur’s theory. It was found that, first, the Greek mythology presented in the novel is blended with American real life; second, the main character is a son of a Greek mythology god and a real American woman and, third, the setting is a blend of places in Greek mythology and real American cities. The intention of Riordan is to open up American culture that is lived through by Americans, that a part of American culture is Greek mythology. The readers accept that the novel fulfils the readers’ horizon of expectation of aesthetic enjoyment and of the incorporation of Greek mythology into real American life.

Keywords

• Riordan; Percy Jackson; Greek mythology; hermeneutic; American life