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Symbols
The disguised sword that Percy’s father, the Greek god Poseidon, leaves for him is a symbol for Percy himself. Like the sword—which is variably referred to by its Greek name, Anaklusmos; its English name, Riptide; and its disguise as a pen—Percy has several warring facets of his identity. Just as the sword can masquerade as a normal capped pen, Percy has gone through life for years believing that he’s a normal kid. And yet, just as the pen grows into the magnificent sword when uncapped, Percy, too, grows into a hero and begins to embody the connotations of his real name, Perseus, when he finally discovers who and what he is: a demigod. That the sword came from Poseidon also drives home Percy’s divine parentage and his potential for greatness, another aspect of Percy’s identity that he struggles to come terms with.
Anaklusmos/Riptide/The Pen Quotes in The Lightning Thief
The The Lightning Thief quotes below all refer to the symbol of Anaklusmos/Riptide/The Pen. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 20
Quotes
My senses were working overtime. I now understood what Annabeth had said about ADHD keeping you alive in battle. I was wide awake, noticing every little detail.
Related Characters:
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Explanation and Analysis:
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Anaklusmos/Riptide/The Pen Symbol Timeline in The Lightning Thief
The timeline below shows where the symbol Anaklusmos/Riptide/The Pen appears in The Lightning Thief. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
...hag with bat wings, fangs, and glowing eyes. Mr. Brunner appears and throws Percy a pen, which turns into a bronze sword. As Mrs. Dodds flies at Percy, he swings the...
(full context)
Chapter 4
...person, but a quick swerve makes them stop. Percy tries to make sense of what’s happening, but just as he thinks of the sword Mr. Brunner tossed him, the car swerves...
(full context)
Chapter 10
...Percy, Chiron laments that Percy needs more training, but then he excitedly offers Percy his pen. He explains that it’s a gift from Poseidon; he’s been keeping it safe. Percy uncaps...
(full context)
...and hails the Furies. Mrs. Dodds and her sisters crawl toward him, but Percy uncaps Riptide. Mrs. Dodds tries to pull Riptide out of Percy’s hand with her whip, but Percy...
(full context)
Chapter 11
...has to cut Medusa’s head off. She gives him another glass sphere, and Percy uncaps Riptide. In the sphere, Percy sees Medusa grab Grover’s stick, so he yells. Medusa lets him...
(full context)
Chapter 13
Percy, Annabeth, and Grover spend two days on the train, but nothing attacks them. The picture the tourist took in...
(full context)
...head, but the snake head tail bites Percy’s leg and pulls him off his feet. Riptide falls into the Mississippi River below. Percy knows he can’t just die—he has to protect...
(full context)
Chapter 14
...saving him. Percy wonders why Poseidon saved him when he’s such a poor hero, but Riptide appears in front of him. The woman’s voice then tells Percy to take the sword....
(full context)
Confused, Percy grabs Riptide, caps it, and swims for the surface. He passes a news anchor saying that it’s...
(full context)
Chapter 16
...the semi are paying. He leads Percy and Annabeth into the semi—it reeks. Percy uncaps Riptide to cast a light. The scene is sad: there’s a lion, a zebra, and an...
(full context)
...not the other animals as the zebra assures Percy he’ll be fine. Percy pulls out Riptide and slashes the lock. The zebra leaps over the truckers, who give chase. Percy frees...
(full context)
Chapter 17
...and at an alley, a gang of rich kids circles the trio. Percy instinctively uncaps Riptide and swings at the leader, but it passes through his body. Percy shouts for Annabeth...
(full context)
...to show him. Crusty falls for the trap—Percy ties him up and “shortens” him with Riptide. He discovers a flier and address for the DOA Recording Studios.
(full context)
Chapter 19
...from the pit. Annabeth, terrified, says that this is the entrance to Tartarus. Percy uncaps Riptide and begins to pick out ancient, magic words.
(full context)
...they’re both too scared to say what they think is in the tunnel. Percy caps Riptide and thinks that after the old, powerful, and evil thing in the chasm, he’s almost...
(full context)
Chapter 20
Ares pulls out a huge sword. Percy assures Annabeth and Grover that Ares is a coward. Annabeth ties her camp necklace...
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...tide. Percy leaps over Ares as a wave hits Ares in the face. He stabs Riptide into Ares’s heel. As Ares steps toward Percy, a cold and heavy presence drops over...
(full context)
Chapter 21
...realizes that Gabe has hit Mom; Percy feels his anger expand. Percy pulls out his pen, which just makes Gabe laugh. Gabe tells Percy to pack and leave, but Mom drags...
(full context)
Chapter 22
...and a scorpion crawls out of a hole in the ground. Percy reaches for his pen, but Luke warns him that pit scorpions can jump 15 feet and kill within a...
(full context)
...as the scorpion lunges. Percy smacks at it and then cuts it in half with Riptide, but then he sees that the scorpion stung his hand. He starts to feel foggy,...
(full context)
