The Battle of the Labyrinth

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. The title of the novel is a reference to the Greek myth of the Labyrinth. What do you know about this myth? What is the Labyrinth, and what purpose does it serve? What lessons or themes does this myth convey?

Teaching Suggestion: In the ancient Greek myth of the Labyrinth, the Athenian hero Theseus had to pass through a huge maze-prison called the Labyrinth to kill the monster known as the Minotaur. It may help to introduce this myth to the class early, highlighting the main figures who feature in it: Theseus, the Minotaur, Daedalus (the designer of the Labyrinth), and Ariadne (Theseus’ love interest and helper). Acquiring a basic understanding of the myth and its interpretations will help students engage more deeply with the themes of Riordan’s novel.

• This National Geographic article discusses sources and origins of the myth of the Labyrinth.
• This article from The Guardian explores the ways in which the myth of the Labyrinth has continued to fascinate writers and artists for millennia.