Eragon

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Consider how the novel deals with the concept that power comes with a price.

• How do the characters experience the price of wielding power? (topic sentence)
• Find 3 different examples where characters gain or use power and face significant consequences as a result. Discuss how these consequences reflect the cost of power.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain what the characters’ Pursuit of Power suggests about the potential dangers of unchecked ambition.

2. Reflect on Eragon and Murtagh’s attitudes and actions towards shaping their own futures.

• How do Eragon and Murtagh each approach the idea of controlling their own destiny? (topic sentence)
• Choose 2-3 instances where the characters interact with or react to their destinies. For each example, analyze how the characters’ decisions or actions reflect their view of their own fate.
• In your concluding sentences, state what Eragon and Murtagh’s approaches to destiny and Self-Determination show about the power of choice in shaping one’s fate.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Trace the evolution of Eragon’s understanding of sacrifice from the beginning to the end of the novel. Consider the sacrifices he witnesses, makes, or is forced to make throughout The Hero’s Journey, and how they shape his perception of his responsibility to the greater good. In your essay, discuss the impact of Eragon’s changing understanding of sacrifice on his decision-making, relationships, and personal growth. How do these experiences challenge his initial beliefs and values? Cite at least 3 moments or scenes that exemplify Eragon’s shifting understanding of sacrifice, and examine the motivations, consequences, and lessons learned from each instance.

2. Eragon develops a telepathic link with Saphira, as well as some other characters, throughout the novel. Examine the benefits and drawbacks of this unique form of communication, considering its impact on Eragon’s character development, his Self-Determination, and his relationships. How does this way of communicating influence his understanding of empathy, connection, and responsibility? How does it create vulnerabilities and expose him to danger? Cite specific quotes to support your analysis.