Eragon

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What is The Hero’s Journey? What examples can you find of The Hero’s Journey in other stories? Using a book or movie that you are familiar with, break down the events in the story into steps in the journey.

Teaching Suggestion: If students are unfamiliar with The Hero’s Journey concept, it may be useful to show them a diagram first and watch this video (also linked below). You might also consider using an example from a popular movie to explain each step of the process before asking them to create their own diagrams. It could be helpful to break students into groups to discuss a movie or book. If students have trouble thinking of stories that follow this path, you may want to brainstorm as a class or have students work in small groups.

• This diagram shows the different steps of The Hero’s Journey.
• This video is 3 minutes and goes through The Hero’s Journey. 
• This article breaks down the steps of The Hero’s Journey and provides examples from popular stories.
• This article has five examples of The Hero’s Journey in popular media.

2. Think about fantasy stories you have read. What elements often make fantasy stories different from reality? Why might an author choose to use a fantasy setting?

Teaching Suggestion: This question could move to a discussion of the different subgenres of fantasy. Students could find examples from each subgenre and compare and contrast them. This can help students later identify the characteristics that make Eragon a high fantasy novel. Discussing the reasons why an author might choose to use a fantasy setting will help students see the novel as more than a book about dragons and magic, but also as a coming-of-age story for young adults.

• This article provides an overview of the fantasy genre, explains the different subgenres, and gives examples of fantasy stories.
• This article from The Guardian discusses how the themes of fantasy can teach lessons about real-world issues.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

Think of a time when you felt truly understood by a friend. What made you feel this way? Have there been times when communication was difficult in your friendships? How have you handled these situations?

Teaching Suggestion: Eragon and Saphira communicate in a unique way, leading to a deep mutual understanding. This question will help students understand their bond by applying it to communication that they have shared with their friends. If students are struggling to think of how this applies to their own friendships, you can expand the question to difficulties that they have faced with people in general. You may want to provide concrete examples of communication difficulties such as language barriers or not understanding body language.