Compare and Contrast Essay

Name: Priscilla Kim

Date: May 14th, 2025

Class: EF Block

How does the experience of reading an excerpt from The Last Fallen Star compare to watching a similar scene from the movie Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief? Consider what you see and hear when you read the text and watch the film clip.

The Last Battle

Word Count: 585

Word Count Limit: 500 - 600 words

What would you do if you found out you’re someone holding unpredictable powers, and the only way to save your loved ones from danger is by going on a risky adventure? The movie, Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, and the book, The Last Fallen Star, is both about how ordinary teenagers find out about their true selves and how they grow in a dangerous but magical adventure. In both of these stories, one of the most impactful scenes is the last battle. In The Lightning Thief, Percy has to fight Luke in order to return the lightning bolt to Zeus and to stop a war. For The Last Fallen Star, Riley needs to kill the Cave Bear Goddess to save her sister, Hattie. These two scenes are shown in different ways, but it shares a common theme of courage, bravery, love, and finding out who they really are. However, the way these battles are held, how the main characters find out about their powers, and their feelings after the battle has ended are different. 

Firstly, a similarity between the characters is that they both accept themselves for who they are at the end. Percy accepts the fact that he is a demigod and uses his powers to defeat Luke with water. (Columbus) Riley finds out that she is The Last Fallen Star during the battle and kills the Cave Bear Goddess. (Kim 301) By looking at this scene through the Hero’s Journey, we can see it fits into the “Finally Changes” or the “Returned Changed” category. Percy gets accepted as a true hero, and Riley finally feels as if she belongs. Another similarity is that the two fight for their loved ones. Percy fights for his friends and his mother (Columbus), while Riley risks everything for her dying sister. (Kim 288) Both of them strengthen thought, love, and sacrifice, and show courage while risking their lives to fight for their loved ones.

However, the way these battles are held and how the characters use their powers are different. Percy is the only one who fights with Luke (Columbus) and he already knows about his powers. (Columbus) On the other hand, Riley gets help from her teammates to attack the Goddess, (Kim 296) and she learns about her powers during the battle. (Kim 300) Riley’s friends work together and show the power of teamwork. While Percy’s battle allows him to prove himself, Riley’s battle allows her to find who she really is in her group. Also Their feelings after the last battle differentiates as well. Percy’s victory is clear, and the movie ends on a positive note. (Columbus) However, Riley’s victory is emotionally very complicated and “anti-climatic”. (Kim 303) Even though Hattie and her friends remember her, her parents still have no idea who she is. At the end, Riley believes even if the people she loves the most don't remember her, it was worth saving her sister. The difference shows that all heroes are different, and there isn’t a set rule a person has to follow to become a true hero.

At the end of the day, Percy and Riley were able to protect the people they love the most, and go on an adventure that allowed them to find out their true identity. One of the adventures was quick, active, and heroic, while the other was deep and inclusive. But overall, these two stories convey the theme of growth, bravery, love, and finding oneself, leaving an impactful impression on the viewers.

Sources:

Chris M. Columbus - Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Graci Kim - The Last Fallen Star: (A Gifted Clans Novel)