Part #2: Annabeth Chase's CliftonStrengths Talent Analysis
(Artwork by: Viktoria Ridzel)
- Learner (Strategic Thinking)
A pretty identifiable talent theme of Annabeth is most definitely #learner, which is very much fitting for the daughter of Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom. Its definition says that “You love to learn. The subject matter that interests you most will be determined by your other themes and experiences, but whatever the subject, you will always be drawn to the process of learning.” Essentially, it suggests that you would always have a thirst for knowledge, and you enjoy learning about interesting information.
This talent theme first showed up in The Lightning Thief, when we saw Annabeth heading out with Percy on his quest, where he mentioned “She carried a book on famous classical architecture, written in Ancient Greek, to read when she got bored.” Later, as they got to The Gateway Arch, Annabeth was noted to be “reading about the construction equipment used to build the Arch.” Even when they were resting in the Lotus Casino hotel room, Annabeth was said to have “…cranked up on the National Geographic Channel” because “It’s interesting.” In essence, whenever possible during her journey, she is always on the ball to seek out new information. In Sea of Monsters, when Annabeth was shown around Circe’s Island, her eyes brightened when she saw the size of the library, which prompted her to comment, “Your library is amazing!” As the library is a wealthy source of knowledge, for Annabeth to be so intrigued about one showed her intensity and curiosity to learn more. Circe acknowledged that sentiment by sharing that she knew Annabeth loved seeking knowledge, just like her. In Titan’s Curse, Annabeth was again in all smiles when talking about the new school she enrolled in, where she got to “…take 3D design, and there’s this cool computer program…”.
Evidently, Annabeth loves gaining new knowledge regardless of the medium, be it through books, television programs, or computer software. For a #learner, the joy of learning never subsides.
- Context (Strategic Thinking)
For a series based on Greek mythology, it is no surprise that each character has a fair amount of knowledge regarding Greek history. However, none of the characters come close to the way Annabeth utilises historical knowledge to her advantage to navigate through difficult situations, which fits perfectly with the #context talent theme. #Context refers to how someone “understands the present by researching its history” and tends to “look back because that is where the answers lie. You look back to understand the present.”
Throughout the series, Annabeth has demonstrated a strong knowledge of the events that happened in the ancient Greek times. Compared to the rest of the demigods, she is able to skillfully reference the solutions used in these past events and apply them to their current predicaments. Her #context ability was exemplified multiple times throughout events that occurred in Sea of Monsters. Firstly, when the Stymphalian birds attacked them during the chariot race, she recalled that Heracles defeated the same birds using noise emitted from brass bells. This prompted them to chase the birds away with a boom box blasting loud music. Next, when Percy told her the situation of how Grover found the Golden Fleece, she immediately thought of the story where Jason and the Argonauts used it to revitalise the kingdom he found. She then suggested that they could make use of the Fleece to save the Camp’s dying tree in a similar fashion. She was also the one who pointed out how to get to the Sea of Monsters, based on the experiences of the past Greek heroes such as Odysseus, Jason, and Aeneas. When deciding a possible alternative route to access their destination, she also suggested one used by Jason in the past, called the Clashing Rocks. Finally, the tactic which Annabeth and Percy used to battle Polyphemus was also referenced from how Odysseus fought it in the past. Percy recalled “…Annabeth had explained to me that it was the name Odysseus had used to trick Polyphemus centuries ago, right before he poked the Cyclops’s eye out with a large hot stick. Annabeth had figured Polyphemus would still have a grudge about that name, and she was right.”
To be able to make use of past experiences and historical knowledge to solve current problems is a great example of how useful the #context talent theme can be. Based on the way Annabeth navigates through challenges, she is definitely a great embodiment of this talent theme.
- Input (Strategic Thinking)
Not to be confused with #context and #learner, #input is also a talent theme that gravitates to acquiring knowledge. However, instead of focusing on history-based and interesting information respectively, individuals with #input tend to archive all sorts of information and get excited to share it when a suitable moment arises. As such, “…you keep acquiring and compiling and filing stuff away. It's interesting. It keeps your mind fresh. And perhaps one day some of it will prove valuable.” In a way, you can think of someone with #input as a walking encyclopedia.
Starting from The Lightning Thief, Annabeth has demonstrated her vast knowledge of Greek stories, artefacts, heroes, and monsters. At Aunty Em’s Garden Gnome Emporium, Annabeth was the first person to pick up the identity of Medusa once she heard the keywords “two sisters” in the Gorgon’s story. Afterwards, when they travelled to The Gateway Arch, Percy commented on how Annabeth “…kept telling us interesting facts about how the Arch was built.” When faced with difficulties moving past Cerberus, the three-headed dog in the Underworld, Annabeth recalled her training from obedience school on how to train a dog, which she applied to Cerberus and helped them advance successfully. She was also able to explain to Percy about the Fields of Asphodel and the three judges of the Underworld Court despite having never visited the Underworld before. Her ability to recognise monsters is further proven in Sea of Monsters, where she was able to identify the Laistrygonians, Stymphalian birds, and Scythian Dracaenae to her teammates throughout their journey. Not only is she good at identifying them, but she is also well-versed in the ways to attack their weaknesses or to counteract their attacks. For example, when fighting against the Hydra, Annabeth specifically requested the use of fire, as she knew it was the only method to destroy it. At Siren’s Bay, she was certain that the Sirens would attempt to use their enchanted voices to lure them into the water and cause the victim to drown themselves, which led her to tell Percy “Don’t untie me, no matter what happens or how much I plead. I’ll want to go straight over the edge and drown myself.”
Her mental archive of valuable information is an absolute asset for the team as she is able to prepare their defenses that is otherwise impossible without pre-hand knowledge. Therefore, just like Annabeth, “Knowledge is Power” best describes individuals with the #input talent theme.
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