At the school The Characteristic of Percy Jackson as Dyslexic

Unlike other students in his class, Percy has difficulties in listening and reading to his teachers. Percy cannot concentrate easily when he has to read book or read his teacher’s explanation on the board. He has to listen to his teacher’s explanation directly, so that he can catch the material better. His friends like to bully him because of his different learning style. Therefore, Percy is emotional, he gets angry easily and start to fights with his friends. I was trying to listen to what he had to say, because it was kind of interesting, but everybody around me was talking, and every time I told them to shut up Riordan, 2005: 4. The next afternoon, as I was leaving the three-hour Latin exam, my eyes swimming with all the Greek and Roman names Id misspelled, Mr. Brunner called me back inside Riordan, 2005: 21. According to the theory of dyslexia Living with Dyslexia by Hughes 2009: 24, it is said that dyslexic can understand something more easily when they are listening rather than when they are reading. From the quotation from Hughes, it can be concluded that the people with dyslexia must have a high concentration, but in different way. Even though Percy always gets bad score in his study but he likes one lesson that is Latin. He also gets under pressure from his school and his teacher. The pressure that Percy experiences is that Percy must have a good score in his academic. If Percy cannot get a good score in academic, Percy can be dropped out from his school. What you learn from me, he said, is vitally important. I expect you to treat it as such. I will accept only the best from you, Percy Jackson. I wanted to get angry, this guy pushed me so hard. But Mr. Brunner expected me to be as good as everybody else Riordan, 2005: 7. Based on the quotation above, Percy gets pressure from his school. Mr. Burner as his teacher expects that Percy can be as good as his friends or better than his friends. Most of dyslexic has low concentration level, so does Percy. Based on the quotation above, it shows that Percy is stressed because of the pressure from his teacher who expects more from him. It makes Percy to be pessimistic. Percy knows that he never gets a good score in academic because his difficulty in concentrating. This kind of characteristic is commonly suffered by most of dyslexic. In the story, Percy is told as a dyslexic who has same characteristic as common dyslexic, which is an absent-minded person or has low concentration level. Therefore, it made Percy becomes pessimistic person. The writer’ opinion is also supported by theory of dyslexia Living with Dyslexia by Hughes that the dyslexic has difficulty to get a good score. Percy feels that he is different from other students because he cannot get average score in his school like his friends. His friends and teachers also see him as a “freak” or weird student because of his difference and his “foolishness”. Grover and I sat on the edge of the fountain, away from the others. We thought that maybe if we did that, everybody wouldnt know we were from that school-the school for loser freaks who couldnt make it elsewhere Riordan, 2005: 8 Based on the quotation above, Percy is seen as a loser by his friends. Thus, it makes Percy and his friend, Grover does not like to play or gather together with their friends. Percy realizes that he is different from his friends PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI because of his “foolishness”. Besides that, he feels that if he gathers together with his friends, he maybe can make some troubles with them. According to the theory of dyslexia Living with Dyslexia by Hughes 2009: 24, the dyslexic has difficulty in their academic and their studies. Percy as a dyslexic also experiences this kind of difficulty. Based on the quotation above, it shows Percy’s disinterest on doing his writing and reading books. Therefore, Percy always tries to get shortcut to do his work in his school. Percy realizes that he cannot read t he full version of the novel, “Tom Sawyer”. People with the dyslexia syndrome commonly have this kind of difficulty. I started feeling cranky and irritable most of the time. My grades slipped from Ds to Fs. I got into more fights with Nancy Bobofit and her friends. I was sent out into the hallway in almost every class Riordan, 2005: 17 Based on the quotation above, it shows that Percy often gets bad score in his study. Besides that, because he is a short-tempered person, his academic problem can be the reason why his emotion raises up. He often involves into trouble, either with his friends or his teachers. As the result of his inability to get the good score and to control his emotion, he has to get punishment in his school. Id miss Latin class, too-Mr. Brunners crazy tournament days and his faith that I could do well. As exam week got closer, Latin was the only test I studied for Riordan, 2005: 18. The quotation above shows how low Percy’s motivation is to study. It is because Percy actually only likes one subject above all subjects in his PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI school. He does not like other subjects in his school such as math, reading, writing, etc. Percy only likes studying Latin language. According to the theory of dyslexia Living with Dyslexia 2009: 24 by Hughes, the people who suffered from dyslexia only liked one or two subjects that they liked in school. Since Percy never gets a good score in his school, Percy always does some trick to do his work in his school, so that he can finish his tasks. Percy knows that he c annot not read full of the novel of “Tom Sawyer”. This is the main problem of people with the dyslexia syndrome. According to the theory of dyslexia “Living with Dyslexia” 2009: 24 by Hughes said there are many indicators of dyslexia, which one of them is having difficulties in reading, such as having difficulty with reading unfamiliar material and having slow pace of reading. If they are ordered to read many books, they should read them slowly because of their limitation in reading. Commonly, they tend to read books with few words. It means that they should be given a book with many pictures. Unfortunately, at school they tend to be given books that have no pictures or sketch on it. Thus, it makes them feel bored to read books. Fourth, Percy is described as a stubborn person. According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, stubborn is defined as a quality of a person who want to do what he or she wants and refuses to do anything else. 2001: 1434. This issue then recurs frequently. Even though his teachers have already warned him, Percy still cannot change the bad habit. He still likes to do things that he wants, which he thinks as revenge to his friends. Thus, it makes him to be seen as a stubborn person, because he cannot take others warning and suggestions. Finally, when our teacher, Mr. Nicoll, asked me for the million time why I was too lazy to study for spelling tests, I snapped. I called him an old sot. Riordan, 2005: 17 Based on the quotation above , Percy’s reaction towards what Mr. Nicoll says show us that he is a stubborn person. He does not care about what his teacher says though. It has been the million time and still does whatever he likes. From the characteristic of Percy in his school, it shows that Percy is clumsy careless, emotional or short tempered easily angry, absent-minded less able to concentrate on a few things or lesson, and stubborn. According to the theory of dyslexia How Dyslexia Teenagers Cope by Passe and Academic Therapy by Hartley, the people with dyslexia syndrome have short- tempered, clumsy, absent-minded and stubborn characteristics in their nature. If they are pressed, they can rebel. For example, at school, the teachers order the students to do all their homework or they are demanded by the teachers to become a clever person. Nevertheless, some of them can do it and some of them cannot do it, because they had a different ability to do that. Percy gets bullying in his school because of his difference. His characteristics which are commonly found in dyslexics then make him get pressure, different treatment, and bullying.

2. In the family

In this part, the writer discusses about Percy character as dyslexia in his family. After Percy does all his activity in his school, he goes home. In his home, it shows us that the characteristic of Percy is emotional. It can be seen through the quotation below, Your report card came, brain boy he shouted after me. I wouldnt act so snooty I slammed the door to my room, which really wasnt my room Riordan, 2005: 32. Based on the quotation above, the reaction that Percy has when he is asked by his step-father shows that he is a short-tempered person. Percy becomes emotional because he is stressed after what he has got in his school. Percy shows his anger through his step-father Gabe. Then, Percy also shows his anger to his mother. It can be seen through this quotation, from the other room, Gabe yelled, “Hey, Sally-how about some bean dip, huh? I gritted my teeth ” Riordan, 2005: 33. Based on the quotation above, Percy shows his anger by gritted his teeth through his mother, because he does not like his step-father. Percy does not like his step- father because Gabe is jobless. Percy’s step-father always plays card with his friends at home. From that situation, Percy does not want to greet and have relation with his step-father. Percy becomes easily angry because at his home, he does not like his step-father and even his mother for always obeying his step-father. Percy does not have affection towards his step-father. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI Although Percy is always angry with his step-father. Percy always feels being protected and comfortable with his mother. In the novel page 32, when Percy’s mother calls Percy, he does not feel afraid. According to the theory of dyslexia “Living with Dyslexia” 2009: 24 by Hughes, he said the people who suffered dyslexia syndrome have close family members with dyslexia. It means that not every teenager wants to have a step-father which treats them badly. Even though, we have a disease or syndrome. However, in Percy’s case, Percy has dyslexia syndrome and furthermore he does not like his step-father because Percy always treated badly by his step-father at home.

3. At the camp

In this part, the writer discusses about Percy character as a dyslexic in his camp. In general, camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers. This is not to be confused with summer school, which is usually a required academic curriculum for a student to make up work not accomplished during the academic year, whereas summer camps can include academic work, but is not a requirement for graduation. However, it is a little different with camp in the novel, which is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the months for the special children like Percy. Percy has different characteristics when he goes to camp. He does not become easily angry, absent-minded, clumsy and stubborn. He becomes like “normal teenage” who wants to learn something. He also can control his emotions and seems to be calm. First characteristic that is different with the characteristics when he is at school and home is that he becomes a self-controlled person. According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, self-controlled is defined as able to control feelings or actions 2001: 1292. This camp situation is different from the situations at his school and family. It is different because before Percy goes to the camp, he never wants to study. Nevertheless, Percy enjoys and wants to learn many things in this camp. Usually the common people like to go to the camp for holiday because they can release their stress, depression, anger, and meet new people. This also happened to Percy. In the novel, Percy likes to go to camp because he can release his anger, depression, stress and meet new people. Then, Percy experiences the change in himself. He becomes calmer and good to control his emotions, especially anger. Because he can control his emotions, he can let himself receive any lessons or experiences he gets in camp. According to the theory of dyslexia “Living with Dyslexia” by Hughes, it is said that the dyslexics have close bond or such as soul relation with people who also have dyslexic syndrome 2009: 24. It also happens to Percy. In the novel, the visitors or the residents in the camp commonly have similarity with Percy which is dyslexia syndrome. This situation then makes Percy to feel comfortable and be able to control everything that he cannot control previously. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI Moreover, Percy likes camp because he can learn new lesson like outdoor activity. Besides Percy can learn new lesson in camp, Percy also can study his favorite language Latin with his new friends in camp. Then, Percy also does not look shy and feel strange to learn anything in camp. It shows us that Percy has different characteristics than in other places. He becomes curious about something. According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, curious is defined as having a desire to learn or know more about something 2001: 332. Each morning I took Ancient Greek from Annabeth, and we talked about the gods and goddesses in the present tense, which was kind of weird. I discovered Annabeth was right about my dyslexia: Ancient Greek wasnt that hard for me to read. At least, no harder than English. After a couple of mornings, I could stumble through a few lines of Homer without too much headache Riordan, 2005: 107. Based on the quotation above, Percy basically and naturally has willingness to learn and study Ancient Greek or Latin. Unlike when he is studying other subjects, whenever he is studying Latin, he seems not to have difficulties. Because of the unique bond that dyslexics have, they can understand each other. Percy sees his friend who has the similarity with him learn Ancient Greek. Percy who has natural interest in learning Ancient Greek has eagerness to learn more about it. He becomes curious on learning language, especially Ancient Greek. Percy’s curiosity does not end to only learning Ancient Greek. He also does not refuse to learn new things on his camp. The rest of the day, Id rotate through outdoor activities, looking for something I was good at. Chiron tried to teach me archery, but we found out pretty quick I wasnt any good with a bow and arrow. Foot PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI racing? No good either. The wood-nymph instructors left me in the dust. And wrestling? Forget it. Every time I got on the mat, Clarisse would pulverize me Riordan, 2005: 107-108. Based on the quotation above, it shows that Percy has curiosity to learn new things. Even though he wants to learn every new thing in camp, he still cannot do all of them because he does not have the skills. For example, Percy cannot do archery, wrestling and even running. According to the theory of dyslexia “Living with Dyslexia” by Hughes, the dyslexic has difficulties with unfamiliar material. The materials that Percy cannot do are archery, wrestling, and running. Even though Percy cannot not do those all activity, but he never gives up to try another activity that he can do until he finds what activity that is suitable for him . It can be seen through the story when Percy’s teacher Chiron tries to teach Percy archery. Percy at first tries archery, but Percy cannot do it. Then Percy tries another skill that is wrestling. In fact, Percy also cannot do it. He always loses when he tries to beat his friend, Clarisse. Finally Percy can find what he can do, which is canoeing. Based on the characteristics of Percy in the camp, it can be concluded that Percy can be “normal” teenage and enjoy his time when he is in camp rather than in his school or in his family. Percy becomes a better teenager who is self-controlled and curious in learning new and good things. First, Percy wants to try and learn Latin or Ancient Greek and other skill like canoeing, wrestling, etc. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI