Eragon
I am eagerly awaiting the movie, Eragon. It is based on a novel of the same name written by Christopher Paolini, who wrote Eragon in 1998 when he was 15 years old. It is the first book of the Inheritance trilogy. The sequel is Eldest, which came out in 2005. The third book has not yet been named.
Eragon is set in the fantastical land of Alagaesia. The main character is a 15 year old boy, Eragon, who lives with his uncle on a farm. While hunting in the mountains, Eragon finds a polished blue stone. He witnesses a baby dragon hatch from the “stone” which in reality is a dragon’s egg. He questions the elderly town storyteller, a man named Brom, about the ways of the Dragon Riders. After this talk, Eragon names the dragon Saphira. Two Ra’zac, sent by the evil king, Galbatorix, come looking for the egg. Eragon and Saphira manage to escape, but Eragon’s uncle is killed by the Ra’zac and the farm destroyed.
Eragon becomes a Dragon Rider through his bond with Saphira. Saphira grants Eragon the “Gedwey Ignasia” that proclaims him a rider. This shining silver mark is created when the person destined to be a dragon’s rider touches the dragon. The Gedwey Ignasia forms a supernatural bond between the two.
The book and movie appear to draw heavily on Star Wars and the Lord of the Rings in their use of Norse/Celtic language and myths – the quest, the involvement of supernatural beings, the struggle between good and evil, and the marking of the hero. For Luke Skywalker (Star Wars), the loss of his hand; Frodo (Lord of the Rings) the shoulder wound from a Ringwraith blade; and for Eragon the burning pain and transformation of his palm when the Gedwey Ignasia appeared.
The sacred quest appears in so much religious literature and stories with spiritual underpinnings–the Grail legends, Beowulf, Odin’s finding of the runes, Gilgamesh, even Jesus’ ministry and 40 days in the desert. What a great story to enjoy at Christmastime!
