Eragon

Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Original ISBN 978-0-375-92668-6
Alfred A. Knopf, 2003
509 pages.

Plot Summary: Fifteen-year old Eragon lives in the land of Alagaësia. One day, he discovers a blue stone which ends up

providing his destiny. The stone is actually the very last dragon egg from which Saphira emerges. It is soon revealed that Eragon is the last of the Dragon Riders. King Galbatorix has waited many years for the last dragon rider to be revealed because he wants all of the dragon’s power for himself. Eragon and Saphira are on a quest to find the killers of Eragon’s uncle, while trying to stay one step ahead of Galbatorix’s men.

Critical Evaluation: Eragon is the first of four books in the “Inheritance Cycle.” What Paolini has done is create a fantastical world of dwarves, monsters, and dragons; a world where secret powers abound. Each species has its own language, again invented by the author. This particular series puts Paolini in a class with Tolkien and Rowland.

Paolini uses archetypal fantasy elements throughout the novel. However, he has been criticized for having similar plots to that of Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings.

Reader’s Annotation: The last dragon has found her destined rider. What do their destinies hold for them?

Author Information: American Christopher Paolini (born 1983) began writing Eragon at the tender age of 15…the year he graduated high school. He grew up in a scenic town in Montana, a location Paolini said inspired the fantastical world of Alagaësia. The book was first self-published, but was immediately picked up by publisher Alfred A. Knopf.

Paolini earned the 2006 Quill Book Award for Young Adult Literature and the 2006 Rebecca Caudill Young Reader Book Award. In 2011, Paolini earned a Guinness World Record for becoming the youngest author to sell the most books.

His website can found at http://www.alagaesia.com/

Genre: Fantasy

Curriculum Ties: English Language Arts discussion on epics and archetypes

Booktalking Ideas: I would show a trailer from the film. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZRHO0d9Nao

I would also read excerpts from one of the two essays written by Paolini http://www.bookbrowse.com/author_interviews/full/index.cfm/author_number/934/christopher-paolini

Reading Level / Interest Age: Grades 5 and up

Lexile: 710

Challenge Issues: There could be an issue with sorcery and violence described in the book.

Reason for Item’s Inclusion: Paolini has devised an entire world that parallels that of Lord of the Rings. The “Inheritance Cycle” is truly an epic piece of writing.

Resources:

Christopher Paolini. (2012, December 31). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Paolini

Dave. (2006, October 10). Philip Pullman, Tamora Pierce, and Christopher Paolini talk about fantasy fiction (web log). Retrieved from
http://www.powells.com/blog/interviews/philip-pullman-tamora-pierce-and-christopher-paolini-talk-fantasy-fiction-3-by-dave/

Macauley, M. (2011, May 27). Christopher Paolini awarded Guinness World Record: Our coverage of the event. Retrieved from
http://shurtugal.com/2011/05/27/christopher-paolini-wins-guinness-world-record-our-coverage-of-the-event/