Book 1: Sea of Monsters - Use of Myths Overview

Riordan uses myths in a number of ways, including using them as the basis for his series. Percy is the son of the god Poseidon, the camp director is the god Dionysus, the camp is for the children of one god and one human, and the greater evil force is the titan Kronos. Essentially, what Riordan explains in the first book in the series is that the gods move with the center of western civilization, so that Olympus currently sits above the Empire State Building. As Percy learns above the many ways this affects his life as a half-blood, particular components of Greek mythology get explained, so the reader does not get too overwhelmed with the many details.
Beyond that, though, Riordan uses the hero cycle and archetypes to follow Percy’s journey. The components of the hero cycle in the novel can be seen below.
Call to Adventure Arrival of giants at school Supernatural Aid Annabeth and Tyson saving him and then escaping in the supernatural taxi Threshold Guardian(s) Fighting the monsters on the hill with Clarisse and the other campers Threshold Figuring out what the next step should be (with Annabeth, building a chariot) Acquires a helper Revelation of Tyson as half-brother Acquires a mentor Gifts from Hermes Experiences challenges and temptations Experiences on the cruise ship Meets another helper Joins Clarisse on her ship of Confederate soldiers Revelation at the abyss The Abyss is the island with the Cyclops; the revelation is that he cares deeply for Tyson and won’t let them all lose Transformation Transformation into a proud warrior and Tyson’s brother Atonement Fight with Luke Receives the gift of the Goddess Clarisse leaves with the Golden Fleece Returns Returns to the camp and Thalia reappears
There are also many archetypes present. First, Percy Jackson stands in as the hero. He answers the call to adventure, and also puts others ahead of himself. This includes putting his differences with Clarisse aside to work with her for their common goal, as well as risking his life for his other friends. Another archetype present is Kronos as the villain. Although the reader already knows who he is and that he is evil from the previous book, his exact place and role are unclear until the end when Thalia is resurrected. The mother figure in some respects is Annabeth, as she guides Percy even though he is the hero. Percy also fulfills the archetype of the underdog, as his troubles with ADHD and dyslexia constantly place him at disadvantage. These are only some of the archetypes evident in this book, and they also have a role in the series as a whole.