Tyler

Tyler Tarsi //Eragon // by Christopher Paolini

__About the Book __  //Eragon// is a novel by young author Christopher Paolini. It was published in 2003 and has attracted many readers since then. The reader is not told of when the book takes place, but he or she can assume that it is long before modern times, because they fight with swords and live in a relatively undeveloped society. It takes place on a continent called Alagaesia, which is full of mythical creatures like elves, dwarves, and dragons. The book starts when the protagonist, Eragon, who is hunting in the mountains, finds a rock which eventually hatches into a dragon. Eragon soon leaves his small village, realizing that he is now one of the dragon riders who he has only heard about in legends. Eragon and the village storyteller, Brom, set off to retake the land of Alagaesia from the hands of the evil king, Galbatorix.

__About the Author __  Christopher Paolini is a young author who began writing //Eragon// at age 15. He was inspired to write //Eragon// and the //Inheritance Cycle// by the mountains he lives next to (a main part of the book is centered in mountains). Paolini has written three other books, all of them are part of the //Inheritance Cycle.// //Eldest// was published in 2005, //Brisingr// was published in 2008, and //Inheritance// was published in 2011. Paolini is known for his love of science fiction and fantasy, and his reputation portrays this. Paolini’s novels have many similar elements to that of J.R.R. Tolkien’s //Lord of the Rings// series. They have similarities in diction, syntax, and many other elements of style. It has won many awards including the Nene Award, the Quill Book Award, and the Rhode Island Teen Book Award.

__Characters and Conflict __ The protagonist in this novel is Eragon, a young boy who becomes a dragon rider. With the help of his trainer and mentor, Brom, Eragon goes up against the evil and tyrannical King Galbatorix. Eragon must learn magic and improve his sword-fighting skills in order to fight the powerful king. As he travels, he meets a new character, Murtagh, who saves Eragon’s life. Murtagh travels with Brom and Eragon, and they face new dangers every day in their quest to restore peace to Alagaesia.

__Theme __ Through the character development of Eragon in //Eragon,// Paolini portrays the theme of how a human's perspective on life changes and that one loses his or her innocence as one comes of age.

__Book Review __ //Eragon, // by Christopher Paolini, is a fantasy novel with many similarities to J.R.R. Tolkien’s //Lord of the Rings// series. The story follows Eragon, his dragon Saphira, and a storyteller named Brom, as they set out to bring peace to the kingdom of Alagaesia. Although the plot seems a bit trite, Paolini keeps the book very interesting with a fast pace of action. It has been praised by many critics, and has won many awards due to Paolini’s exciting and suspenseful style. Although //Eragon// is 500+ pages, it is a very quick read because it is so exciting, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy novels.

__Analysis of Style __ By setting the story of //Eragon// in a magical land with mythical creatures, Paolini is able to incorporate an expansive diction to describe these interesting places, people, and events. In addition, the pace of the book is quick and suspenseful because it is filled with action. In //Eragon,// Christopher Paolini creates a unique sense of style by including an expansive vocabulary and speaking with an intense and quick pace.

In //Eragon//, Paolini uses and a long-winded and elaborate vocabulary to describe new places and objects.
 * "Several miles east, a mountain of bare rock speared the sky with spires and columns, a tenebrous nightmare ship. Near-vertical sides rose out of the ground like a jagged piece of the earth's bone." (Paolini 247)
 * "The book's saving grace for me is Paolini's remarkable facility with language. The evocative title exemplifies Paolini's flair with words. Most of the places and creatures in this book are quite familiar to fantasy readers, but the author finds new ways to describe them." (Hughes)
 * "At times Paolini tries too hard, forcing his characters to say something like, 'wisdom flies from his mouth,' instead of just, 'he's right.' " (Hughes)

In contrast, the pace of Paolini's //Eragon// is very action-based and is quick and suspenseful throughout the book.
 * "Harsh shouts shattered the air as dark shapes boiled upward in the tunnel's opening. At a command, the cauldrons of pitch were tilted on their sides, pouring the scalding liquid into the tunnel's hungry throat." (Paolini 479)
 * "The novel's pace is quick and exciting throughout most of the book. Packed with action and magic, //Eragon// is a fun and suspenseful read."

Eragon- Movie Trailer media type="youtube" key="dZRHO0d9Nao" height="315" width="560" align="center"

__Works Consulted __ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Eragon.” Rev. of //Eragon,// by Christopher Paolini. //Kirkus Reviews.// Kirkus Reviews, 15 July, 2012. Web. 17 May 2012. <http://bcs.bedfordstmartins .com/easywriter3e/docsource/ 1d.asp#36>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Hughes, Aaron. “//Eragon// by Christopher Paolini.” Rev. of //Eragon,// by Christopher Paolini. //Fantastic Reviews.// Fantastic Reviews, 14 August, 2010. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Web. 17 May 2012. <http://fantasticreviews.com/eragon_paolini.htm>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Lawrence, Chris. “Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1).” Rev. of //Eragon//, by Christopher Paolini. //Contemporary Literature//. The New York Times, March <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">2003. Web. 17 May 2012. <http://contemporarylit.about.com/cs/currentreviews/fr/era gon.htm>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Paolini, Christopher. //Eragon.// New York: Knopf, 2003. Print.