Archetypal Numbers in Rick Riordan Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2005)
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The problem lies in the lack of research that tackles archetypal numbers in literature in general and in English novels in particular. Therefore, the aim of this research is to shed light on archetypal numbers, concentrating on number three, decoding its symbolism, and analyzing how it is used as both a literary element and a literary device. The researchers select Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2005) as it draws upon a wide range of Greek myths, and number three encapsulated Greek belief systems, culture, and philosophical ideologies. Decoding its symbolism will enable readers as well as critics to fully understand the importance of number three. After identifying the main occurrences of number three in the novel, the researchers concentrate on its function as a representative of archetypal number. The study concludes that understanding an archetypal number in the novel gives extra layers of meaning to the novel as well as enriched the reading experience with a wide range of philosophical, social, and cultural beliefs unique to Greek mythology. Thus, number symbolism functions as a narrative framework linking mythic order with modern identity
Institution: University of Tikrit
Language: English
Subfield: Literature and Literary Theory
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7225749651
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