What aspect of the contemporary novel "The Lightning Thief" best illustrates the impact of mythic literature on modern literature?

The contemporary novel "The Lightning Thief," written by Rick Riordan, is part of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and is an excellent example of the impact of mythic literature on modern literature. The aspect that best illustrates this is its use of Greek mythology as a foundational element within a contemporary setting. The protagonist, Percy Jackson, discovers that he is a demigod—the son of a human woman and the Greek god Poseidon. This revelation leads him into a world where gods, monsters, and heroes straight from ancient Greek myths exist and interact with the modern world.

Throughout the novel, Riordan reimagines classical mythological figures and tales, placing them in contemporary America. For example, Mount Olympus is located on the 600th floor of the Empire State Building, and the Underworld is underneath Los Angeles. By doing this, Riordan creates a bridge between the ancient and the modern, showing that the themes from mythic literature are timeless and continue to resonate in modern storytelling. Percy's journey mirrors the hero's journey—a theme common in ancient mythologies—where he faces numerous challenges and grows both in strength and character.

The use of Greek mythology in "The Lightning Thief" not only appeals to readers' fascination with ancient myths but also makes those narratives accessible and relatable by setting them in the modern age. This reflection of mythic elements in the novel showcases how ancient stories can be interpreted in new ways to explore contemporary issues and themes, making "The Lightning Thief" a clear example of mythic literature's ongoing impact on modern literature.