At the beginning of the novel, Apollo states, “My name is Apollo. I used to be a god” (1). By opening the novel this way, what does Riordan help the reader understand? Using your research, describe what may have caused Apollo to lose his godly status.

Apollo thinks, “Zeus needed someone to blame, so of course he’d picked the handsomest, most talented, most popular god in the pantheon: me” (2). In what ways does this statement reflect Apollo’s sense of self at the novel’s beginning? Does mortal experience challenge and transform Apollo’s sense of self? If so, can you think of ways Apollo’s mortal reality contradicts his initial notion of himself?

Using background research, describe the two other instances in which Apollo was exiled by Zeus. How is Apollo’s third and current exile different from his previous experiences?