"The butcher sat slumped against the left-hand wall, both arms chained to an iron ring above his head.
His ragged clothes barely covered his pale, emaciated body; the corners of his bones stood out in sharp relief underneath his translucent skin. His blue veins were also prominent. Sores had formed on his wrists where the manacles chafed. The ulcers oozed a mixture of clear fluid and blood. What remained of his hair had turned gray or white and hung in lank, greasy ropes over his pockmarked face.
Roused by the clang of Roran's hammer, Sloan lifted his chin toward the light and, in a quavering voice, asked, 'Who is it? Who's there?' His hair parted and slid back, exposing his eye sockets, which had sunk deep into his skull. Where his eyelids should have been, there were now only a few scraps of tattered skin draped over the raw cavities underneath. The area around them was bruised and scabbed.
With a shock, Eragon realized that the Ra'zac had pecked out Sloan's eyes.
What he then should do, Eragon could not decide. The butcher had told the Ra'zac that Eragon had found Saphira's egg. Furthermore, Sloan had murdered the watchman, Byrd, and had betrayed Carvahall to the Empire. If he were brought before his fellow villagers, they would undoubtedly find Sloan guilty and condemn him to death by hanging.
It seemed only right, to Eragon, that the butcher should die for his crimes. That was not the source of his uncertainty. Rather, it arose from the fact that Roran loved Katrina, and Katrina, whatever Sloan had done, must still harbor a certain degree of affection for her father. Watching an arbitrator publicly denounce Sloan's offenses and then hang him would be no easy thing for her or, by extension, Roran. Such hardship might even created enough ill will between them to end their engagement. Either way, Eragon was convinced that taking Sloan back with them would sow discord between him, Roran, Katrina, and the other villagers, and might engender enough anger to distract them from their struggle against the Empire.
The easiest solution, thought Eragon, would be to kill him and say that I found him dead in the cell... His lips trembled, one of the death-words heavy upon his tongue.
'What do you want?' asked Sloan. He turned his head from side to side in an attempt to hear better. 'I already told you everything I know!'
Eragon cursed himself for hesitating. Sloan's guilt was not in dispute; he was a murderer and a traitor. Any lawgiver would sentence him to execution.
Notwithstanding the merit of those arguments, it was Sloan who was curled in front of him, a man Eragon had known his entire life. The butcher might be a despicable person, but the wealth of memories and experiences Eragon shared with him bred a sense of intimacy that troubled Eragon's conscience. To strike down Sloan would be like raising his hand against Horst or Loring or any of the elders of Carvahall.
Again Eragon prepared to utter a fatal word.
An image appeared in his mind's eye: Torkenbrand, the slaver he and Murtagh had encountered during their flight to the Varden, kneeling on the dusty ground and Murtagh striding up to him and beheading him. Eragon remembered how he had objected to Murtagh's deed and how it had troubled him for days afterward.
Have I changed so much, he asked himself, that I can do the same thing now? As Roran said, I have killed, but only in the heat of battle... never like this.
He glanced over his shoulder as Roran broke the last to Katrina's cell door. Dropping his hammer, Roran prepared to charge the door and knock it inward but then appeared to think better of it and tried to lift it free of its frame. The door rose a fraction of an inch, then halted and wobbled in his grip. 'Give me a hand here!' he shouted. 'I won't let it fall on her.'
Eragon looked back at the wretched butcher. He had no more time for mindless wanderings. He had to choose. One way or another, he had to choose...
'Eragon!'
I don't know what's right, realized Eragon. His own uncertainty told him that it would be wrong to kill Sloan or return him to the Varden. He had no idea what he should do instead, except to find a third path, one that was less obvious and less violent (Paolini 54-56)."
I think this passage is an indirect characterization of Eragon. Anytime he finds himself in a difficult situation that involves him having to use his brain power, he always finds a way out. In this passage he creates the "third path" when deciding what to do with Sloan. He ends up scrying the elf queen and asking her permission to set a compulsion on Sloan to send him to Ellesmera- which frees him from killing Sloan and/or taking Sloan back with them to the Varden. Interesting choice. This passage I think will also be important later- in this book and in the fourth book of this series. How it will be important or why, I don't know, but I do know that through this scene it shows that Eragon is still human despite his elvish appearance and the fact that he's a Dragon rider (which gives him a huge amount of responsibilities). It also shows that he has compassion for others which I think will somehow affect his battle against Galbatorix later on (Galbatorix has no compassion for others and so doesn't feel anything when he kills others- on the other hand, Eragon still has a conscience and so avoids this negativity that envelopes Galbatorix when it comes to how others think of him). Thing is, will Eragon being like this affect his battle with Galbatorix for better or for worse? In other words, will Eragon being compassionate towards others somehow hinder him from possibly killing Galbatorix if the chance should present itself? Would Galbatorix somehow use Eragon's compassion against him- thus making Eragon unwilling or incapable of killing anything or anyone else, aka Galbatorix or anyone else that Galbatorix values? It's obvious that Paolini stresses this passage, possibly to point out one of the main characteristics of Eragon- that he doesn't like to kill people or anything else for that matter. In fact, Eragon would rather eat bread, fruits and vegetables than eat meat. This is how devoted Eragon is to this idea! Question is, will Eragon having to lie to Roran and Katrina about Sloan (he told them that Sloan had died, when he was actually still alive) go against him in the long run? In other words- if Roran and Katrina find out about what Eragon did would it somehow affect their relationship with him- possibly turning them against him? Later on, Saphira accepts what he did, along with the humans at the Varden- but not the elves, particularly Arya and Queen Islanzadi. Will Eragon doing this somehow affect his relationship with Arya and Queen Islanzandi later on? Maybe somehow make them see him in a negative light? Both of them disapproved of what Eragon did when they found out mainly because both of them would have killed Sloan in a heart beat, especially after all the crimes he committed against the well-being of Carvahall- despite the connections he has with Eragon. This is the main conflict between Eragon and the elves- they have no trouble handing out punishment where it's due, while he has trouble killing others when it's not in the heat of battle. Will Eragon doing this affect his relationship with Arya? Possibly make her like him less? Or more? It's interesting what happens later between them- Arya comes to help get Eragon back to the Varden safely. On the way back they spend a night or so together. One night while out on the plains- they start talking about what Arya went through while under the captivity of the Durza and how she feels about killing. Eragon ends up making her a flower- she accepts it and puts it in the ground to grow. So I guess in the end, Eragon doing this to Sloan makes Arya more accepting of Eragon. Question is- what will happen between them next?
-katthegreat08
Saturday, November 22, 2008
7th post for Brisingr
"The opening to the cave was an irregular oval, perhaps fifty feet high and sixty feet wide. From there the chamber expanded to twice that size before ending in a good bowshot away in a pile of thick stone slabs that leaned against each other in a confusion of uncertain angles. A mat of scratches defaced the floor, evidence of the many times the Lethrblaka had taken off from, landed on, and walked about its surface. Like mysterious keyholes, five low tunnels pierced the sides of the cave, as did a lancet passageway large enough to accommodate Saphira. Eragon examined the tunnels carefully, but they were pitchblack and appeared vacant, a fact he confirmed with quick trusts of his mind. Strange, disjointed murmurs echoed from within Helgrind's innards, suggesting unknown things scurrying about in the dark, and endlessly dripping water. Adding to the chorus of whispers was the steady rise and fall of Saphira's breathing, which was overloud in the confines of the bare chamber.
The most distinctive feature of the cavern, however, was the mixture of odors that pervaded it. The smell of cold stone dominated, but underneath Eragon discerned whiffs of damp and mold and something far worse: the sickly sweet fetor of rotting meat (Paolini 40-41)."
I think this passage is definitely setting. Here Eragon, Roran and Saphira enter the cave of their enemies- the Ra'zac and their parents, the Lethrblaka. Horrible creatures- both of them. As Eragon, Roran and Saphira enter the cave, Paolini gives a quick description of the surroundings they find themselves in- thus giving a mental picture to the reader of where the "heroes" of the story find themselves in now. I am calling them "heroes" because they're on a rescue mission to save Katrina, Roran's fiancee/bride-to-be. Apparently doing this will also keep Galbatorix from gaining any sort of leverage against Eragon and Roran and therefore the Varden by using Katrina as some sort of hostage, making either Eragon or Roran do something that would undermine everything the Varden stands for. I think it's foolish of them to go into the den of their enemy aka- home turf, but wise also because they're trying to keep Galbatorix from winning this war. Wise but foolish- such a weird pairing for Paolini to make. I wonder why he decides to do this? Maybe to show that Eragon and Saphira are still young and inexperienced and therefore not ready to face Galbatorix, let alone Murtagh- Eragon's half brother? Or to show that they are maturing (by showing the wise side of their thinking when they go to rescue Katrina)? What is the point Paolini is trying to make when he has Eragon, Roran and Saphira go rescue Katrina?
-katthegreat08
The most distinctive feature of the cavern, however, was the mixture of odors that pervaded it. The smell of cold stone dominated, but underneath Eragon discerned whiffs of damp and mold and something far worse: the sickly sweet fetor of rotting meat (Paolini 40-41)."
I think this passage is definitely setting. Here Eragon, Roran and Saphira enter the cave of their enemies- the Ra'zac and their parents, the Lethrblaka. Horrible creatures- both of them. As Eragon, Roran and Saphira enter the cave, Paolini gives a quick description of the surroundings they find themselves in- thus giving a mental picture to the reader of where the "heroes" of the story find themselves in now. I am calling them "heroes" because they're on a rescue mission to save Katrina, Roran's fiancee/bride-to-be. Apparently doing this will also keep Galbatorix from gaining any sort of leverage against Eragon and Roran and therefore the Varden by using Katrina as some sort of hostage, making either Eragon or Roran do something that would undermine everything the Varden stands for. I think it's foolish of them to go into the den of their enemy aka- home turf, but wise also because they're trying to keep Galbatorix from winning this war. Wise but foolish- such a weird pairing for Paolini to make. I wonder why he decides to do this? Maybe to show that Eragon and Saphira are still young and inexperienced and therefore not ready to face Galbatorix, let alone Murtagh- Eragon's half brother? Or to show that they are maturing (by showing the wise side of their thinking when they go to rescue Katrina)? What is the point Paolini is trying to make when he has Eragon, Roran and Saphira go rescue Katrina?
-katthegreat08
Monday, November 17, 2008
6th post for Brisingr
"A piece of shale cracked under Saphira's weight as she settled into a low crouch and, in a single giddy bound, leaped up to the rim of the gulch, where she balanced for a moment before unfolding her massive wings. The thin membranes thrummed as Saphira raised them toward the sky. Vertical, they looked like two translucent blue sails.
'Not so tight,' grunted Eragon.
'Sorry,' said Roran. He loosened his embrace.
Further speech became impossible as Saphira jumped again. When she reached the pinnacle, she brought her wings down with a mighty whoosh, driving the three of them even higher. With each subsequent flap, they climbed closer to the flat, narrow clouds.
As Saphira angled toward Helgrind, Eragon glanced to his left and discovered that he could see a broad swath of Leona Lake some miles distant. A thick layer of mist, gray and ghostly in the predawn glow, emanated from the water, as if witchfire burned upon the surface of the liquid. Eragon tried, but even with his hawklike vision, he could not make out the far shore, nor the southern reaches of the Spine beyond, which he regretted. It had been too long since he had laid eyes upon the mountain range of his childhood.
To the north stood Dras-Leona, a huge, rambling mass that appeared as a blocky silhouette against the wall of mist that edged its western flank. The one building Eragon could identify was the cathedral where the Ra'zac had attacked him; its flanged spire loomed above the rest of the city, like a barbed spearhead.
And somewhere in the landscape that rushed past below, Eragon knew, were the remnants of the campsite where the Ra'zac had mortally wounded Brom. He allowed all of his anger and grief over the events of that day- as well as Garrow's murder and the destruction of their farm- to surge forth and give him the courage, nay, the desire, to face the Ra'zac in combat.
Eragon, said Saphira. Today we need not guard our minds and keep our thoughts secret from one another, do we?
Not unless another magician should appear.
A fan of golden light flared into existence as the top of the sun crested the horizon. In an instant, the full spectrum of colors enlivened the previously drab world: the mist glowed white, the water became a rich blue, the daubed-mud wall that encircled the center of Dras-Leona revealed its dingy yellow sides, the trees cloaked themselves in every shade of green, and the soil blushed red and orange. Helgrind, however, remained as it always was- black.
The mountain of stone rapidly grew larger as they approached. Even from the air, it was intimidating.
Diving toward the base of Helgrind, Saphira tilted so far to her left, Eragon and Roran would have fallen if they had not already strapped their legs to the saddle. Then she whipped around the apron of scree and over the altar where the priests of Helgrind observed their ceremonies. The lip of Eragon's helm caught the wind from her passage and produced a howl that almost deafened him.
'Well?' shouted Roran. He could not see in front of them.
'The slaves are gone!'
A great weight seemed to press Eragon into his seat as Saphira pulled out of her dive and spiraled up around Helgrind, searching for an entrance to the Ra'zac's hideout.
Not even a hole big enough for a woodrat, she declared. She slowed and hung in place before a ridge that connected the third lowest of the four peaks to the prominence above. The jagged buttress magnified the boom produced by each stroke of her wings until it was as loud as a thunderclap. Eragon's eyes watered as the air pulsed against his skin.
A web of white veins adorned the backside of the crags and pillars, where hoarfrost had collected in the cracks that furrowed the rock. Nothing else disturbed the gloom of Helgrind's inky, windswept ramparts. No trees grew among the slanting stones, nor shrubs, grass, or lichen, nor did eagles dare nest upon the tower's broken ledges. True to its name, Helgrind was a place of death, and stood cloaked in the razor-sharp, sawtooth folds of its scarps and clefts like a bony specter risen to haunt the earth (Paolini 37-39)."
If I had to decide where the spookiest/creepiest passage in Paolini's Brisingr is, I would probably say this is it. Either that or when Eragon faces off with the last of the Ra'zac by himself- you pick. I think this passage is definitely setting, at the same time Paolini is setting the mood for the scene to come. It's scary and terrifying what could happen to Eragon, Roran and Saphira but at the same time they have hope that they will succeed in rescuing Katrina from the depths of Helgrind. In this passage, Paolini is preparing the reader for the battle that's about to ensue between creatures of the day and creatures of the night- almost quite literally a battle between good and evil. The reader would hope that the hero/main character of the story would win the battle and survive, but then again who's to know until you've read the book. Personally, it's very real, very creepy the extent that Paolini takes to describe Helgrind and the surrounding area. I wonder why he uses so much description for this place? Why does he spend so much time describing Helgrind and the area around it? There must be some sort of intention... I also love this scene though, because unlike other sections of this book, Paolini describes more what Eragon sees as he's flying on Saphira and what that must feel like. Paolini's descriptions become very real and humanistic- "the soil blushed red and orange" or "the trees cloaked themselves in every shade of green". Why does Paolini make a connection with the earth being like a human (blushing, cloaking)? Is he trying to drive another point home to the reader?
-katthegreat08
'Not so tight,' grunted Eragon.
'Sorry,' said Roran. He loosened his embrace.
Further speech became impossible as Saphira jumped again. When she reached the pinnacle, she brought her wings down with a mighty whoosh, driving the three of them even higher. With each subsequent flap, they climbed closer to the flat, narrow clouds.
As Saphira angled toward Helgrind, Eragon glanced to his left and discovered that he could see a broad swath of Leona Lake some miles distant. A thick layer of mist, gray and ghostly in the predawn glow, emanated from the water, as if witchfire burned upon the surface of the liquid. Eragon tried, but even with his hawklike vision, he could not make out the far shore, nor the southern reaches of the Spine beyond, which he regretted. It had been too long since he had laid eyes upon the mountain range of his childhood.
To the north stood Dras-Leona, a huge, rambling mass that appeared as a blocky silhouette against the wall of mist that edged its western flank. The one building Eragon could identify was the cathedral where the Ra'zac had attacked him; its flanged spire loomed above the rest of the city, like a barbed spearhead.
And somewhere in the landscape that rushed past below, Eragon knew, were the remnants of the campsite where the Ra'zac had mortally wounded Brom. He allowed all of his anger and grief over the events of that day- as well as Garrow's murder and the destruction of their farm- to surge forth and give him the courage, nay, the desire, to face the Ra'zac in combat.
Eragon, said Saphira. Today we need not guard our minds and keep our thoughts secret from one another, do we?
Not unless another magician should appear.
A fan of golden light flared into existence as the top of the sun crested the horizon. In an instant, the full spectrum of colors enlivened the previously drab world: the mist glowed white, the water became a rich blue, the daubed-mud wall that encircled the center of Dras-Leona revealed its dingy yellow sides, the trees cloaked themselves in every shade of green, and the soil blushed red and orange. Helgrind, however, remained as it always was- black.
The mountain of stone rapidly grew larger as they approached. Even from the air, it was intimidating.
Diving toward the base of Helgrind, Saphira tilted so far to her left, Eragon and Roran would have fallen if they had not already strapped their legs to the saddle. Then she whipped around the apron of scree and over the altar where the priests of Helgrind observed their ceremonies. The lip of Eragon's helm caught the wind from her passage and produced a howl that almost deafened him.
'Well?' shouted Roran. He could not see in front of them.
'The slaves are gone!'
A great weight seemed to press Eragon into his seat as Saphira pulled out of her dive and spiraled up around Helgrind, searching for an entrance to the Ra'zac's hideout.
Not even a hole big enough for a woodrat, she declared. She slowed and hung in place before a ridge that connected the third lowest of the four peaks to the prominence above. The jagged buttress magnified the boom produced by each stroke of her wings until it was as loud as a thunderclap. Eragon's eyes watered as the air pulsed against his skin.
A web of white veins adorned the backside of the crags and pillars, where hoarfrost had collected in the cracks that furrowed the rock. Nothing else disturbed the gloom of Helgrind's inky, windswept ramparts. No trees grew among the slanting stones, nor shrubs, grass, or lichen, nor did eagles dare nest upon the tower's broken ledges. True to its name, Helgrind was a place of death, and stood cloaked in the razor-sharp, sawtooth folds of its scarps and clefts like a bony specter risen to haunt the earth (Paolini 37-39)."
If I had to decide where the spookiest/creepiest passage in Paolini's Brisingr is, I would probably say this is it. Either that or when Eragon faces off with the last of the Ra'zac by himself- you pick. I think this passage is definitely setting, at the same time Paolini is setting the mood for the scene to come. It's scary and terrifying what could happen to Eragon, Roran and Saphira but at the same time they have hope that they will succeed in rescuing Katrina from the depths of Helgrind. In this passage, Paolini is preparing the reader for the battle that's about to ensue between creatures of the day and creatures of the night- almost quite literally a battle between good and evil. The reader would hope that the hero/main character of the story would win the battle and survive, but then again who's to know until you've read the book. Personally, it's very real, very creepy the extent that Paolini takes to describe Helgrind and the surrounding area. I wonder why he uses so much description for this place? Why does he spend so much time describing Helgrind and the area around it? There must be some sort of intention... I also love this scene though, because unlike other sections of this book, Paolini describes more what Eragon sees as he's flying on Saphira and what that must feel like. Paolini's descriptions become very real and humanistic- "the soil blushed red and orange" or "the trees cloaked themselves in every shade of green". Why does Paolini make a connection with the earth being like a human (blushing, cloaking)? Is he trying to drive another point home to the reader?
-katthegreat08
5th post of Brisingr
"In a quiet voice, Eragon said, 'You really love her, don't you?' It was more a statement of truth and wonder than a question- the answer being self-evident- and one he felt uncertain making. Romance was not a topic Eragon had broached with his cousin before, notwithstanding the many hours they had devoted in years past to debating the relative merits of the young women in and around Carvahall. 'How did it happen?'
'I liked her. She liked me. What importance are the details?'
'Come now,' said Eragon. 'I was too angry to ask before you left for Therinsford, and we have not seen each other again until just four days ago. I'm curious.'
The skin around Roran's eyes pulled and wrinkled as he rubbed his temples. 'There's not much to tell. I've always been partial to her. It meant little before I was a man, but after my rites of passage, I began to wonder whom I would marry and whom I wanted to become the mother of my children. During one of our visits to Carvahall, I saw Katrina stop by the side of Loring's house to pick a moss rose growing in the shade of the eaves. She smiled as she looked at the flower... It was such a tender smile, and so happy, I decided right then that I wanted to make her smile like that again and again and that I wanted to look at that smile until the day I died.' Tears gleamed in Roran's eyes, but they did not fall, and a second later, he blinked and they vanished. 'I fear I have failed in that regard.'
After a respectful pause, Eragon said, 'You courted her, then? Aside from using me to ferry compliments to Katrina, how else did you proceed?'
'You ask like one who seeks instruction.'
'I did not. You're imagining-'
'Come now, yourself,' said Roran. 'I know when you're lying. You get that big foolish grin, and your ears turn red. The elves may have given you a new face, but that part of you hasn't changed. What exists between you and Arya?'
The strength of Roran's perception disturbed Eragon. 'Nothing! The moon has addled your brain.'
'Be honest. You dote upon her words as if each one were a diamond, and your gaze lingers upon her as if you were starving and she a grand feast arrayed an inch beyond your reach.'
A plume of dark gray smoke erupted from Saphira's nostrils as she made a choking-like noise.
Eragon ignored her suppressed merriment and said, 'Arya is an elf.'
'And very beautiful. Pointed ears and slanted eyes are small flaws when compared to her charms. You look like a cat yourself now.'
'Arya is over a hundred years old.'
That particular piece of information caught Roran by surprise; his eyebrows went up, and he said, 'I find that hard to believe! She's in the prime of her youth.'
'It's true.'
'Well, be that as it may, these are reasons you give me, Eragon, and the heart rarely listens to reason. Do you fancy her or not?'
If he fancied her any more, Saphira said to both Eragon and Roran, I'd be trying to kiss Arya myself.
Saphira! Mortified, Eragon swatted her leg.
Roran was prudent enough not to rib Eragon further. 'Then answer my original question and tell me how things stand between you and Arya. Have you spoken with her or her family about this? I have found it's unwise to let such matters fester.'
'Aye,' said Eragon, and stared at the length of polished hawthorn. 'I spoke with her.'
'To what end?' When Eragon did not immediately reply, Roran uttered a frustrated exclamation. 'Getting answers out of you is harder than dragging Birka through the mud.' Eragon chuckled at the mention of Birka, one of their draft horses. 'Saphira, will you solve this puzzle for me? Otherwise, I fear I'll never get a full explanation.'
'To no end. No end at all. She'll not have me.' Eragon spoke dispassionately, as if commenting on a stranger's misfortune, but within him raged a torrent of hurt so deep and wild, he felt Saphira withdraw somewhat from him.
'I'm sorry,' said Roran.
Eragon forced a swallow past the lump in his throat, past the bruise that was his heart, and down to the knotted skein of his stomach. 'It happens.'
'I know it may seem unlikely at the moment,' said Roran, 'but I'm sure you will meet another woman who will make you forget this Arya. There are countless maids- and more than a few married women, I'd wager- who would be delighted to catch the eye of a Rider. You'll have no trouble finding a wife among all the lovelies in Alagaesia.'
'And what would you have done if Katrina had rejected your suit?'
The question struck Roran dumb; it was obvious he could not imagine how he might have reacted.
Eragon continued. 'Contrary to what you, Arya, and everyone else seem to believe, I am aware that other eligible women exist in Alagaesia and that people have been known to fall in love more than once. No doubt, if I spent my days in the company of ladies from King Orrin's court, I might indeed decide that I fancy one. However, my path is not so easy as that. Regardless of whether I can shift my affections to another- and the heart, as you observed, is a notoriously fickle beast- the question remains: should I?'
'Your tongue has grown as twisted as the roots of a fir tree,' said Roran. 'Speak not in riddles.'
'Very well: what human woman can begin to understand who and what I am, or the extent of my powers? Who could share in my life? Few enough, and all of them magicians. And of that select group, or even of women in general, how many are immortal?'
Roran laughed, a rough, hearty bellow that rang loud in the gulch. 'You might as well ask for the sun in your pocket or-' He stopped and tensed as if he were about to spring forward and then became unnaturally still. 'You cannot be.'
'I am.'
Roran struggled to find words. 'Is it a result of your change in Ellesmera, or is it part of being a Rider?'
'Part of being a Rider.'
'That explains why Galbatorix hasn't died.'
'Aye.'
The branch Roran had added to the fire burst asunder with a muted pop as the coals underneath heated the gnarled length of wood to the point where a small cache of water or sap that had somehow evaded the rays of the sun for untold decades exploded into steam.
'The idea is so... vast, it's almost inconceivable,' said Roran. 'Death is part of who we are. It guides us. It shapes us. It drives us to madness. Can you still be human if you have no mortal end?'
'I'm not invincible,' Eragon pointed out. 'I can still be killed with a sword or an arrow. And I can still catch some incurable disease.'
'But if you avoid those dangers, you will live forever.'
'If I do, then yes. Saphira and I will endure.'
'It seems both a blessing and a curse.'
'Aye. I cannot in good conscience marry a woman who will age and die while I remain untouched by time; such an experience would be equally cruel for both of us. On top of that, I find the thought of taking one wife after another throughout the long centuries rather depressing.'
'Can you make someone immortal with magic?' asked Roran.
'You can darken white hair, you can smooth wrinkles and remove cataracts, and if you are willing to go to extraordinary lengths, you can give a sixty-year-old man the body he had at nineteen. However, the elves have never discovered a way to restore a person's mind without destroying his or her memories. And who wants to erase their identity every so many decades in exchange for immortality? It would be a stranger, then, who lived on. An old brain in a young body isn't the answer either, for even with the best of health, that which we humans are made of can only last for a century, perhaps a bit more. Nor can you just stop someone from aging. That causes a whole host of other problems... Oh, elves and men have tried a thousand and one different ways to foil death, but none have proved successful.'
'In other words,' said Roran, 'it's safer for you to love Arya than to leave your heart free for the taking by a human woman.'
'Who else can I marry but an elf? Especially considering how I look now.' Eragon quelled the desire to reach up and finger the curved tips of his ears, a habit he had fallen into. 'When I lived in Ellesmera, it was easy for me to accept how the dragons had changed my appearance. After all, they gave me many gifts besides. Also, the elves were friendlier toward me after the Agaeti Blodhren. It was only when I rejoined the Varden that I realized how different I've become... It bothers me too. I'm no longer just human, and I'm not quite elf. I'm something in between: a mix, a half-breed (Paolini 24-28).' "
There are many themes in this passage. I think the main ones are love, immortality, and the affects of death or war. It's a lot for one passage. One thing I've noticed- it could be because of the plot line or the nature of the characters he's writing about, but Paolini has mentioned a lot so far about the extent of war, love and immortality. Why does he keep mentioning these things over and over again? What is the point that he's trying to drive into the reader's mind? Certainly it's a thought to be able to live forever, or a relatively long time- for hundreds and hundreds of years. What would you do with yourself if you were that way? Eragon has his own thing- being a Dragon Rider and therefore the peace-keeper of all the races, but if we had his immortality and not the restrictions that are placed upon him- what we do with ourselves? Imagine, the effects of many people being immortal in a society such as this one. We would wreck such havoc upon ourselves that we would probably wipe ourselves off the face of this earth in a matter of a few years. Immortality would affect how we loved and how much we were willing to kill let alone wage war. But just how extensive would the effects be? I mean would people wait longer to get married let alone fall in love? Would people be less willing to kill since there might be less of us if we all waited a long time to have children? Or would that only make us more quarrelsome amongst ourselves (being immortal and having less children because of waiting till we were older to have children)? Eragon doesn't really say this outright- but I think there's also a theme or mortality. Being mortal. Eragon speaks somewhat of what it would be like if he took a regular human as a wife, that he would have to remarry many, many times 'throughout the centuries.' There's also a underlying theme of war and the affects it has on human lives- war and Eragon's duties as a Dragon Rider have kept Roran and Eragon apart a lot and only in this book are they able to rejoin and talk about things like family. Both of them are afraid of losing Katrina (the fiancee of Roran) in this war against Galbatorix. And later, Eragon seems afraid of losing Arya. In this battle of the future of humankind- Eragon and Roran seem to hold closer the things that are dear to them.
-katthegrat08
'I liked her. She liked me. What importance are the details?'
'Come now,' said Eragon. 'I was too angry to ask before you left for Therinsford, and we have not seen each other again until just four days ago. I'm curious.'
The skin around Roran's eyes pulled and wrinkled as he rubbed his temples. 'There's not much to tell. I've always been partial to her. It meant little before I was a man, but after my rites of passage, I began to wonder whom I would marry and whom I wanted to become the mother of my children. During one of our visits to Carvahall, I saw Katrina stop by the side of Loring's house to pick a moss rose growing in the shade of the eaves. She smiled as she looked at the flower... It was such a tender smile, and so happy, I decided right then that I wanted to make her smile like that again and again and that I wanted to look at that smile until the day I died.' Tears gleamed in Roran's eyes, but they did not fall, and a second later, he blinked and they vanished. 'I fear I have failed in that regard.'
After a respectful pause, Eragon said, 'You courted her, then? Aside from using me to ferry compliments to Katrina, how else did you proceed?'
'You ask like one who seeks instruction.'
'I did not. You're imagining-'
'Come now, yourself,' said Roran. 'I know when you're lying. You get that big foolish grin, and your ears turn red. The elves may have given you a new face, but that part of you hasn't changed. What exists between you and Arya?'
The strength of Roran's perception disturbed Eragon. 'Nothing! The moon has addled your brain.'
'Be honest. You dote upon her words as if each one were a diamond, and your gaze lingers upon her as if you were starving and she a grand feast arrayed an inch beyond your reach.'
A plume of dark gray smoke erupted from Saphira's nostrils as she made a choking-like noise.
Eragon ignored her suppressed merriment and said, 'Arya is an elf.'
'And very beautiful. Pointed ears and slanted eyes are small flaws when compared to her charms. You look like a cat yourself now.'
'Arya is over a hundred years old.'
That particular piece of information caught Roran by surprise; his eyebrows went up, and he said, 'I find that hard to believe! She's in the prime of her youth.'
'It's true.'
'Well, be that as it may, these are reasons you give me, Eragon, and the heart rarely listens to reason. Do you fancy her or not?'
If he fancied her any more, Saphira said to both Eragon and Roran, I'd be trying to kiss Arya myself.
Saphira! Mortified, Eragon swatted her leg.
Roran was prudent enough not to rib Eragon further. 'Then answer my original question and tell me how things stand between you and Arya. Have you spoken with her or her family about this? I have found it's unwise to let such matters fester.'
'Aye,' said Eragon, and stared at the length of polished hawthorn. 'I spoke with her.'
'To what end?' When Eragon did not immediately reply, Roran uttered a frustrated exclamation. 'Getting answers out of you is harder than dragging Birka through the mud.' Eragon chuckled at the mention of Birka, one of their draft horses. 'Saphira, will you solve this puzzle for me? Otherwise, I fear I'll never get a full explanation.'
'To no end. No end at all. She'll not have me.' Eragon spoke dispassionately, as if commenting on a stranger's misfortune, but within him raged a torrent of hurt so deep and wild, he felt Saphira withdraw somewhat from him.
'I'm sorry,' said Roran.
Eragon forced a swallow past the lump in his throat, past the bruise that was his heart, and down to the knotted skein of his stomach. 'It happens.'
'I know it may seem unlikely at the moment,' said Roran, 'but I'm sure you will meet another woman who will make you forget this Arya. There are countless maids- and more than a few married women, I'd wager- who would be delighted to catch the eye of a Rider. You'll have no trouble finding a wife among all the lovelies in Alagaesia.'
'And what would you have done if Katrina had rejected your suit?'
The question struck Roran dumb; it was obvious he could not imagine how he might have reacted.
Eragon continued. 'Contrary to what you, Arya, and everyone else seem to believe, I am aware that other eligible women exist in Alagaesia and that people have been known to fall in love more than once. No doubt, if I spent my days in the company of ladies from King Orrin's court, I might indeed decide that I fancy one. However, my path is not so easy as that. Regardless of whether I can shift my affections to another- and the heart, as you observed, is a notoriously fickle beast- the question remains: should I?'
'Your tongue has grown as twisted as the roots of a fir tree,' said Roran. 'Speak not in riddles.'
'Very well: what human woman can begin to understand who and what I am, or the extent of my powers? Who could share in my life? Few enough, and all of them magicians. And of that select group, or even of women in general, how many are immortal?'
Roran laughed, a rough, hearty bellow that rang loud in the gulch. 'You might as well ask for the sun in your pocket or-' He stopped and tensed as if he were about to spring forward and then became unnaturally still. 'You cannot be.'
'I am.'
Roran struggled to find words. 'Is it a result of your change in Ellesmera, or is it part of being a Rider?'
'Part of being a Rider.'
'That explains why Galbatorix hasn't died.'
'Aye.'
The branch Roran had added to the fire burst asunder with a muted pop as the coals underneath heated the gnarled length of wood to the point where a small cache of water or sap that had somehow evaded the rays of the sun for untold decades exploded into steam.
'The idea is so... vast, it's almost inconceivable,' said Roran. 'Death is part of who we are. It guides us. It shapes us. It drives us to madness. Can you still be human if you have no mortal end?'
'I'm not invincible,' Eragon pointed out. 'I can still be killed with a sword or an arrow. And I can still catch some incurable disease.'
'But if you avoid those dangers, you will live forever.'
'If I do, then yes. Saphira and I will endure.'
'It seems both a blessing and a curse.'
'Aye. I cannot in good conscience marry a woman who will age and die while I remain untouched by time; such an experience would be equally cruel for both of us. On top of that, I find the thought of taking one wife after another throughout the long centuries rather depressing.'
'Can you make someone immortal with magic?' asked Roran.
'You can darken white hair, you can smooth wrinkles and remove cataracts, and if you are willing to go to extraordinary lengths, you can give a sixty-year-old man the body he had at nineteen. However, the elves have never discovered a way to restore a person's mind without destroying his or her memories. And who wants to erase their identity every so many decades in exchange for immortality? It would be a stranger, then, who lived on. An old brain in a young body isn't the answer either, for even with the best of health, that which we humans are made of can only last for a century, perhaps a bit more. Nor can you just stop someone from aging. That causes a whole host of other problems... Oh, elves and men have tried a thousand and one different ways to foil death, but none have proved successful.'
'In other words,' said Roran, 'it's safer for you to love Arya than to leave your heart free for the taking by a human woman.'
'Who else can I marry but an elf? Especially considering how I look now.' Eragon quelled the desire to reach up and finger the curved tips of his ears, a habit he had fallen into. 'When I lived in Ellesmera, it was easy for me to accept how the dragons had changed my appearance. After all, they gave me many gifts besides. Also, the elves were friendlier toward me after the Agaeti Blodhren. It was only when I rejoined the Varden that I realized how different I've become... It bothers me too. I'm no longer just human, and I'm not quite elf. I'm something in between: a mix, a half-breed (Paolini 24-28).' "
There are many themes in this passage. I think the main ones are love, immortality, and the affects of death or war. It's a lot for one passage. One thing I've noticed- it could be because of the plot line or the nature of the characters he's writing about, but Paolini has mentioned a lot so far about the extent of war, love and immortality. Why does he keep mentioning these things over and over again? What is the point that he's trying to drive into the reader's mind? Certainly it's a thought to be able to live forever, or a relatively long time- for hundreds and hundreds of years. What would you do with yourself if you were that way? Eragon has his own thing- being a Dragon Rider and therefore the peace-keeper of all the races, but if we had his immortality and not the restrictions that are placed upon him- what we do with ourselves? Imagine, the effects of many people being immortal in a society such as this one. We would wreck such havoc upon ourselves that we would probably wipe ourselves off the face of this earth in a matter of a few years. Immortality would affect how we loved and how much we were willing to kill let alone wage war. But just how extensive would the effects be? I mean would people wait longer to get married let alone fall in love? Would people be less willing to kill since there might be less of us if we all waited a long time to have children? Or would that only make us more quarrelsome amongst ourselves (being immortal and having less children because of waiting till we were older to have children)? Eragon doesn't really say this outright- but I think there's also a theme or mortality. Being mortal. Eragon speaks somewhat of what it would be like if he took a regular human as a wife, that he would have to remarry many, many times 'throughout the centuries.' There's also a underlying theme of war and the affects it has on human lives- war and Eragon's duties as a Dragon Rider have kept Roran and Eragon apart a lot and only in this book are they able to rejoin and talk about things like family. Both of them are afraid of losing Katrina (the fiancee of Roran) in this war against Galbatorix. And later, Eragon seems afraid of losing Arya. In this battle of the future of humankind- Eragon and Roran seem to hold closer the things that are dear to them.
-katthegrat08
Sunday, November 9, 2008
4th blog of 2nd book
"As he walked back to Saphira, Eragon considered the speed with which they had reacted. His heart still contracted into a hard, painful know with each beat, his hands shook, and he felt like dashing into the wilderness and running several miles without stopping. We wouldn't have jumped like that before, he thought. The reason for their vigilance was no mystery: every one of their fights had chipped away their complacency, leaving behind nothing but raw nerves that twitched at the slightest touch.
Roran must have been entertaining similar thoughts, for he said, 'Do you see them?'
'Who?'
'The men you've killed. Do you see them in your dreams?'
'Sometimes.'
The pulsing glow from the coals lit Roran's face from below, forming thick shadows above his mouth and across his forehead and giving his heavy, half-lidded eyes a baleful aspect. He spoke slowly, as if he found the words difficult. 'I never wanted to be a warrior. I dreamed of blood and glory when I was younger, as every boy does, but the land was what was important to me. That and our family... And now I have killed... I have killed and killed, and you have killed even more.' His gaze focused on some distant place only he could see. 'There were these two men in Narda... Did I tell you this before?'
He had, but Eragon shook his head and remained silent.
'They were guards at the main gate... Two of them, you know, and the man on the right, he had pure white hair. I remember because he couldn't have been more than twenty-four, twenty-five. They wore Galbatorix's sigil but spoke as if they were from Narda. They weren't professional soldiers. They were probably just men who had to decided to help protect their homes from Urgals, pirates, and brigands... We weren't going to lift a finger against them. I swear to you, Eragon, that was never part of our plan. I had no choice, though. They recognized me. I stabbed the white-haired man underneath his chin... It was like when Father cut the throat of a pig. And then the other, I smashed open his skull. I can still feel his bones giving way... I remember every blow I've landed, from the soldiers in Carvahall to the ones on the Burning Plains... You know, when I close my eyes, sometimes I can't sleep because the light from the fire we set in the docks of Teirm is so bright in my mind. I think I'm going mad then.'
Eragon found his hands gripping his staff with such force, his knuckles were white and tendons ridged the insides of his wrists. 'Aye' he said. 'At first it was just Urgals, then it was men and Urgals, and now this last battle... I know what we do is right, but right doesn't mean easy. Because of who we are, the Varden expect Saphira and me to stand at the front of their army and to slaughter entire battalions of soldiers. We do. We have.' His voice caught, and he fell silent.
Turmoil accompanies every great change, said Saphira to both of them. And we have experienced more than our share, for we are agents of that very change. I am a dragon, and I do not regret the deaths of those who endanger us. Killing the guards in Narda may not be a deed worthy of celebration, but neither is it one to feel guilty about. You had to do it. When you must fight, Roran, does not the fierce joy of combat lend wings to your feet? Do you not know the pleasure of pitting yourself against a worthy opponent and the satisfaction of seeing the bodies of your enemies piled before you? Eragon, you have experienced this. Help me explain it to your cousin.
Eragon stared at the coals. She had stated a truth that he was reluctant to acknowledge, lest by agreeing that one could enjoy violence, he would become a man he would despise. So he was mute. Across from him, Roran appeared similarly affected (Paolini 17-18)."
I think this passage is about theme. Throughout the whole series (there's 3 books so far) Eragon struggles with his humanity and how although he doesn't want to kill, he has to, to survive. In this way the passage is also characterization because it's helping to define Eragon as a peace keeper/lover. Strangely, Eragon also struggles with any other sort of killing such killing animals for meat. But this passage is also a theme passage because in an indirect way, through his characters that is, Paolini is asking the human question- just how much are we willing to kill to survive let alone to keep the peace? When can we get away with killing? Is it ok to kill at all? This is obviously something both Eragon and Roran struggle with in this passage and throughout the series. Other races such as the elves, dragons and Urgals don't have so much trouble dealing with their feelings when it comes to killing others like humans. By comparing all of these different races- what is Paolini trying to accomplish or point out? Is he trying to mark the differences in how people feel today when it comes to killing others? Maybe he's comparing what other races would feel compared to humans (if there really are such races out there). Is Paolini indirectly questioning whether we are really the only beings on this planet that have such a thought process let alone in this galaxy or galaxies? What is Paolini's purpose in this passage? In other words- why did Paolini bother to put this passage in the book let alone describe how Eragon, Roran and Saphira feel about killing others (later in the book there's also passages about how the other races- Urgals, dwarfs and elves feel about killing)? Personally I think the author is questioning humanity and whether or not it is really ok to kill others despite the circumstances.
-katthegreat08
Roran must have been entertaining similar thoughts, for he said, 'Do you see them?'
'Who?'
'The men you've killed. Do you see them in your dreams?'
'Sometimes.'
The pulsing glow from the coals lit Roran's face from below, forming thick shadows above his mouth and across his forehead and giving his heavy, half-lidded eyes a baleful aspect. He spoke slowly, as if he found the words difficult. 'I never wanted to be a warrior. I dreamed of blood and glory when I was younger, as every boy does, but the land was what was important to me. That and our family... And now I have killed... I have killed and killed, and you have killed even more.' His gaze focused on some distant place only he could see. 'There were these two men in Narda... Did I tell you this before?'
He had, but Eragon shook his head and remained silent.
'They were guards at the main gate... Two of them, you know, and the man on the right, he had pure white hair. I remember because he couldn't have been more than twenty-four, twenty-five. They wore Galbatorix's sigil but spoke as if they were from Narda. They weren't professional soldiers. They were probably just men who had to decided to help protect their homes from Urgals, pirates, and brigands... We weren't going to lift a finger against them. I swear to you, Eragon, that was never part of our plan. I had no choice, though. They recognized me. I stabbed the white-haired man underneath his chin... It was like when Father cut the throat of a pig. And then the other, I smashed open his skull. I can still feel his bones giving way... I remember every blow I've landed, from the soldiers in Carvahall to the ones on the Burning Plains... You know, when I close my eyes, sometimes I can't sleep because the light from the fire we set in the docks of Teirm is so bright in my mind. I think I'm going mad then.'
Eragon found his hands gripping his staff with such force, his knuckles were white and tendons ridged the insides of his wrists. 'Aye' he said. 'At first it was just Urgals, then it was men and Urgals, and now this last battle... I know what we do is right, but right doesn't mean easy. Because of who we are, the Varden expect Saphira and me to stand at the front of their army and to slaughter entire battalions of soldiers. We do. We have.' His voice caught, and he fell silent.
Turmoil accompanies every great change, said Saphira to both of them. And we have experienced more than our share, for we are agents of that very change. I am a dragon, and I do not regret the deaths of those who endanger us. Killing the guards in Narda may not be a deed worthy of celebration, but neither is it one to feel guilty about. You had to do it. When you must fight, Roran, does not the fierce joy of combat lend wings to your feet? Do you not know the pleasure of pitting yourself against a worthy opponent and the satisfaction of seeing the bodies of your enemies piled before you? Eragon, you have experienced this. Help me explain it to your cousin.
Eragon stared at the coals. She had stated a truth that he was reluctant to acknowledge, lest by agreeing that one could enjoy violence, he would become a man he would despise. So he was mute. Across from him, Roran appeared similarly affected (Paolini 17-18)."
I think this passage is about theme. Throughout the whole series (there's 3 books so far) Eragon struggles with his humanity and how although he doesn't want to kill, he has to, to survive. In this way the passage is also characterization because it's helping to define Eragon as a peace keeper/lover. Strangely, Eragon also struggles with any other sort of killing such killing animals for meat. But this passage is also a theme passage because in an indirect way, through his characters that is, Paolini is asking the human question- just how much are we willing to kill to survive let alone to keep the peace? When can we get away with killing? Is it ok to kill at all? This is obviously something both Eragon and Roran struggle with in this passage and throughout the series. Other races such as the elves, dragons and Urgals don't have so much trouble dealing with their feelings when it comes to killing others like humans. By comparing all of these different races- what is Paolini trying to accomplish or point out? Is he trying to mark the differences in how people feel today when it comes to killing others? Maybe he's comparing what other races would feel compared to humans (if there really are such races out there). Is Paolini indirectly questioning whether we are really the only beings on this planet that have such a thought process let alone in this galaxy or galaxies? What is Paolini's purpose in this passage? In other words- why did Paolini bother to put this passage in the book let alone describe how Eragon, Roran and Saphira feel about killing others (later in the book there's also passages about how the other races- Urgals, dwarfs and elves feel about killing)? Personally I think the author is questioning humanity and whether or not it is really ok to kill others despite the circumstances.
-katthegreat08
3rd post of 2nd book- Brisingr
Hello all. I think for this blog I'll try to conquer theme or at least attempt it...
"The morning after the massive battle on the Burning Plains- when the Varden were busy regrouping and preparing to march after the Empire's army, which had retreated several leagues up the Jiet River- Eragon had gone to Nasuada and Arya, explained Roran's predicament, and sought their permission to help his cousin. He did not succeed. Both women vehemently opposed what Nasuada described as 'a harebrained scheme that will have catastrophic consequences for everyone in Alagaesia if it goes awry!'
The debate raged on for so long, at last Saphira had interrupted with a roar that shook the walls of the command tent. Then she said, I am sore and tired, and Eragon is doing a poor job of explaining himself. We have better things to do than stand around yammering like jackdaws, no? ... Good, now listen to me.
It was, reflected Eragon, difficult to argue with a dragon.
The details of Saphira's remarks were complex, but the underlying structure of her presentation was straightforward. Saphira supported Eragon because she understood how much the proposed mission meant to him, while Eragon supported Roran because of love and family, and because he knew Roran would pursue Katrina with or without him, and his cousin would never be able to defeat the Ra'zac by himself. Also, so long as the Empire held Katrina captive, Roran- and through him, Eragon- was vulnerable to manipulation by Galbatorix. If the usurper threatened to kill Katrina, Roran would have no choice but to submit to his demands.
It would be best, then, to patch this breach in their defenses before their enemies took advantage of it.
As for timing, it was perfect. Neither Galbatorix nor the Ra'zac would expect a raid in the center of the Empire when the Varden were busy fighting Galbatorix's troops near the border of Surda. Murtagh and Thorn had been seen flying toward Uru'baen- no doubt to be chastised in person- and Nasuada and Arya agreed with Eragon that those two would probably then continue northward to confront Queen Islanzandi and the army under her command once the elves made their first strike and revealed their presence. And if possible, it would be good to eliminate the Ra'zac before they started to terrorize and demoralize the Varden's warriors.
Saphira then pointed out, in the most diplomatic of terms, that if Nasuada asserted her authority as Eragon's liegelord and forbade him from participating in the sortie, it would poison their relationship with the sort of rancor and dissent that could undermine the Varden's cause. But, said Saphira, the choice is yours. Keep Eragon here if you want. However, his commitments are not mine, and I, for one, have decided to accompany Roran. It seems like a fine adventure.
A faint smile touched Eragon's lips as he recalled the scene.
The combined weight of Saphira's declaration and her impregnable logic had convinced Nasuada and Arya to grant their approval, albeit grudgingly.
Afterward, Nasuada had said, 'We are trusting your judgement in this, Eragon, Saphira. For your sake and ours, I hope this expedition goes well.' Her tone left Eragon uncertain whether her words represented a heartfelt wish or a subtle threat (Paolini 13-15)."
In this passage Eragon is remembering a day past where he's trying to go save his soon-to-be-sister-in-law. This passage reveals part of the complex situation Eragon finds himself in. Not only does he have his family to take care of- Roran, Katrina and Saphira; but he also has his promises to the Varden along with fighting his enemy, Galbatorix. The main theme I think of this passage though is family, love and defending those that you love. Eragon seems to kind of be playing the hero here- he wants to go off and rescue his soon-to-be-sister-in-law and help keep Roran from getting killed. I wonder why though Saphira decides to help Eragon convince Nasuada and Arya to let him go? Throughout the book- Saphira rarely speaks to others (besides Eragon of course), so why did she choose then to speak up for Eragon? Of course Eragon gets to go on this adventure- but I wonder what will happen as a result of his adventure?
Questions: How does Eragon deal with his life being so complex? Supposedly, the Dragon Rider is supposed to be a being that's entirely separate from all the races in a sense that he has no particularly close ties with any one particular race. He's a being that supposed to be able to travel among the different races as a sort of peace keeper. I wonder if anything will happen between Eragon and Arya?
-katthegreat08
**Note: certain names such as Alagaesia, Uru'baen, and Islanzandi don't have the exact markings that they do in the book.
"The morning after the massive battle on the Burning Plains- when the Varden were busy regrouping and preparing to march after the Empire's army, which had retreated several leagues up the Jiet River- Eragon had gone to Nasuada and Arya, explained Roran's predicament, and sought their permission to help his cousin. He did not succeed. Both women vehemently opposed what Nasuada described as 'a harebrained scheme that will have catastrophic consequences for everyone in Alagaesia if it goes awry!'
The debate raged on for so long, at last Saphira had interrupted with a roar that shook the walls of the command tent. Then she said, I am sore and tired, and Eragon is doing a poor job of explaining himself. We have better things to do than stand around yammering like jackdaws, no? ... Good, now listen to me.
It was, reflected Eragon, difficult to argue with a dragon.
The details of Saphira's remarks were complex, but the underlying structure of her presentation was straightforward. Saphira supported Eragon because she understood how much the proposed mission meant to him, while Eragon supported Roran because of love and family, and because he knew Roran would pursue Katrina with or without him, and his cousin would never be able to defeat the Ra'zac by himself. Also, so long as the Empire held Katrina captive, Roran- and through him, Eragon- was vulnerable to manipulation by Galbatorix. If the usurper threatened to kill Katrina, Roran would have no choice but to submit to his demands.
It would be best, then, to patch this breach in their defenses before their enemies took advantage of it.
As for timing, it was perfect. Neither Galbatorix nor the Ra'zac would expect a raid in the center of the Empire when the Varden were busy fighting Galbatorix's troops near the border of Surda. Murtagh and Thorn had been seen flying toward Uru'baen- no doubt to be chastised in person- and Nasuada and Arya agreed with Eragon that those two would probably then continue northward to confront Queen Islanzandi and the army under her command once the elves made their first strike and revealed their presence. And if possible, it would be good to eliminate the Ra'zac before they started to terrorize and demoralize the Varden's warriors.
Saphira then pointed out, in the most diplomatic of terms, that if Nasuada asserted her authority as Eragon's liegelord and forbade him from participating in the sortie, it would poison their relationship with the sort of rancor and dissent that could undermine the Varden's cause. But, said Saphira, the choice is yours. Keep Eragon here if you want. However, his commitments are not mine, and I, for one, have decided to accompany Roran. It seems like a fine adventure.
A faint smile touched Eragon's lips as he recalled the scene.
The combined weight of Saphira's declaration and her impregnable logic had convinced Nasuada and Arya to grant their approval, albeit grudgingly.
Afterward, Nasuada had said, 'We are trusting your judgement in this, Eragon, Saphira. For your sake and ours, I hope this expedition goes well.' Her tone left Eragon uncertain whether her words represented a heartfelt wish or a subtle threat (Paolini 13-15)."
In this passage Eragon is remembering a day past where he's trying to go save his soon-to-be-sister-in-law. This passage reveals part of the complex situation Eragon finds himself in. Not only does he have his family to take care of- Roran, Katrina and Saphira; but he also has his promises to the Varden along with fighting his enemy, Galbatorix. The main theme I think of this passage though is family, love and defending those that you love. Eragon seems to kind of be playing the hero here- he wants to go off and rescue his soon-to-be-sister-in-law and help keep Roran from getting killed. I wonder why though Saphira decides to help Eragon convince Nasuada and Arya to let him go? Throughout the book- Saphira rarely speaks to others (besides Eragon of course), so why did she choose then to speak up for Eragon? Of course Eragon gets to go on this adventure- but I wonder what will happen as a result of his adventure?
Questions: How does Eragon deal with his life being so complex? Supposedly, the Dragon Rider is supposed to be a being that's entirely separate from all the races in a sense that he has no particularly close ties with any one particular race. He's a being that supposed to be able to travel among the different races as a sort of peace keeper. I wonder if anything will happen between Eragon and Arya?
-katthegreat08
**Note: certain names such as Alagaesia, Uru'baen, and Islanzandi don't have the exact markings that they do in the book.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
2nd post of 2nd book
"Eragon stared at the dark tower of stone wherein hid the monsters who had murdered his uncle, Garrow.
He was lying on his belly behind the edge of a sandy hill dotted with sparse blades of grass, thornbushes, and small, rosebud-like cactuses. The brittle stems of last year's foliage pricked his palms as he inched forward to gain a better view of Helgrind, which loomed over the surrounding land like a black dagger thrust out from the bowels of the earth.
The evening sun streaked the low hills with shadows long and narrow and- far in the west- illuminated the surface of Leona Lake so the the horizon became a rippling bar of gold.
To his left, Eragon heard the steady breathing of his cousin, Roran who was stretched out beside him. The normal inaudible flow of air seemed preternaturally loud to Eragon with his heightened sense of hearing, one of many such changes wrought by his experience during the Agaeti Blodhren, the elves' Blood-oath Celebration.
He paid little attention to that now as he watched a column of people inch toward the base of Helgrind, apparently having walked from the city of Dras-Leona, some miles away. A contingent of twenty-four men and women, garbed in thick leather robes, occupied the head of the column. This group moved with many strange and varied gaits- they limped and shuffled and humped and wriggled; they swung on crutches or used arms to propel themselves forward of curiously short legs- contortions that were necessary because, as Eragon realized, every one of the twenty-four lacked an arm or a leg or some combination thereof. Their leader sat upright upon a litter borne by six oiled slaves, a pose Eragon regarded as a rather amazing accomplishment, considering that the man or woman- he could not tell which- consisted of nothing more than a torso and head, upon whose brow balanced an ornate leather crest three feet high.
'The priests of Helgrind,' he murmured to Roran (Paolini 1-2)."
I think that this passage is setting because of how the author uses a lot of describing- giving the reader an idea of the place where the main character is and what he's doing, what he's seeing; etc. For the most part, I think Paolini gives an almost constant barrage of information, constantly describing- which makes the story all the more interesting. The pages following this passage are somewhat graphic- the priests and the others attending in the procession come to a halt at an alter and there they drink each other's blood calling upon themselves to become servants of some sort to their 'Great and Terrible Lord (Paolini 4).' The reader assumes that the 'great and terrible Lord' is no other than Galbatorix or someone else that Paolini hasn't introduced the reader to yet that's just as powerful as Galbatorix.
Questions: What would make these people do this? What would make them want to be like this? What is Galbatorix up to? Is humanity really this horrible? Strange that the author uses this as an example of the atrocities that people commit everyday... Wonder why he did that?
Note: For some of the spelling, such as "Agaeti Blodhren" I didn't have the proper keys to put the right enunciation marks where they should be (according to how they're found in the book).
-katthegreat08
He was lying on his belly behind the edge of a sandy hill dotted with sparse blades of grass, thornbushes, and small, rosebud-like cactuses. The brittle stems of last year's foliage pricked his palms as he inched forward to gain a better view of Helgrind, which loomed over the surrounding land like a black dagger thrust out from the bowels of the earth.
The evening sun streaked the low hills with shadows long and narrow and- far in the west- illuminated the surface of Leona Lake so the the horizon became a rippling bar of gold.
To his left, Eragon heard the steady breathing of his cousin, Roran who was stretched out beside him. The normal inaudible flow of air seemed preternaturally loud to Eragon with his heightened sense of hearing, one of many such changes wrought by his experience during the Agaeti Blodhren, the elves' Blood-oath Celebration.
He paid little attention to that now as he watched a column of people inch toward the base of Helgrind, apparently having walked from the city of Dras-Leona, some miles away. A contingent of twenty-four men and women, garbed in thick leather robes, occupied the head of the column. This group moved with many strange and varied gaits- they limped and shuffled and humped and wriggled; they swung on crutches or used arms to propel themselves forward of curiously short legs- contortions that were necessary because, as Eragon realized, every one of the twenty-four lacked an arm or a leg or some combination thereof. Their leader sat upright upon a litter borne by six oiled slaves, a pose Eragon regarded as a rather amazing accomplishment, considering that the man or woman- he could not tell which- consisted of nothing more than a torso and head, upon whose brow balanced an ornate leather crest three feet high.
'The priests of Helgrind,' he murmured to Roran (Paolini 1-2)."
I think that this passage is setting because of how the author uses a lot of describing- giving the reader an idea of the place where the main character is and what he's doing, what he's seeing; etc. For the most part, I think Paolini gives an almost constant barrage of information, constantly describing- which makes the story all the more interesting. The pages following this passage are somewhat graphic- the priests and the others attending in the procession come to a halt at an alter and there they drink each other's blood calling upon themselves to become servants of some sort to their 'Great and Terrible Lord (Paolini 4).' The reader assumes that the 'great and terrible Lord' is no other than Galbatorix or someone else that Paolini hasn't introduced the reader to yet that's just as powerful as Galbatorix.
Questions: What would make these people do this? What would make them want to be like this? What is Galbatorix up to? Is humanity really this horrible? Strange that the author uses this as an example of the atrocities that people commit everyday... Wonder why he did that?
Note: For some of the spelling, such as "Agaeti Blodhren" I didn't have the proper keys to put the right enunciation marks where they should be (according to how they're found in the book).
-katthegreat08
1st post- book 2:
"Unbidden, a series of memories overwhelmed Eragon: A sullen orange and crimson sky swirled around him as Saphira dove in pursuit of the red dragon and his Rider. Wind howled past his ears... His fingers went numb from the jolt of sword striking sword as he dueled that same Rider on the ground... Tearing off his foe's helm in the midst of combat reveal his once friend and traveling companion, Murtagh, whom he had thought dead... The sneer upon Murtagh's face as he took Zar'roc from Eragon, claiming the red sword by right of inheritance as Eragon's elder brother...
Eragon blinked, disoriented as the noise and fury of battle faded and the pleasant aroma of juniper wood replaced the stench of blood. He ran his tongue over his upper teeth, trying to eradicate the taste of bile that filled his mouth.
Murtagh.
The name alone generated a welter of confused emotions in Eragon. On one hand, he liked Murtagh. Murtagh had saved Eragon and Saphira from the Ra'zac after their first, ill-fated visit to Dras-Leona; risked his life to help extricated Eragon from Gil'ead; acquitted himself honorably in the Battle of Farthen Dur; and, despite the torments he no doubt endured as a result, had chosen to interpret his orders from Galbatorix in a way that allowed him to release Eragon and Saphira after the Battle of the Burning Plains instead of taking them captive. It was not Murtagh's fault that the Twins had abducted him; that the red dragon, Thorn, had hatched for him; or that Galbatorix had discovered their true names, with which he extracted oaths of fealty in the ancient language from both Murtagh and Thorn.
None of that could be blamed on Murtagh. He was a victim of fate, and had been since the day he was born.
And yet... Murtagh might serve Galbatorix against his will, and he might abhor the atrocities the king forced him to commit, but some part of him seemed to revel in wielding his newfound power. During the recent engagement between the Varden and the Empire on the Burning Plains, Murtagh had singled out the dwarf king, Hrothgar, and slain him, although Galbatorix had not ordered Murtagh to do so. He had let Eragon and Saphira go, yes, but only after defeating them in a brutal contest of strength and then listening to Eragon plead for their freedom.
And Murtagh had derived entirely too much pleasure from the anguish he inflicted upon Eragon by revealing they were both sons of Morzan- first and last of the thirteen Dragon Riders, the Forsworn, who had betrayed their compatriots to Galbatorix.
Now, four days after the battle, another explanation presented itself to Eragon: Perhaps what Murtagh enjoyed was watching another person shoulder the same terrible burden he had carried his whole life.
Whether or not that was true, Eragon suspected Murtagh had embraced his new role for the same reason that a dog who has been whipped without cause will someday turn and attack his master. Murtagh had been whipped and whipped, and now he had his chance to strike back at a world that had shown him little enough kindness.
Yet no matter what good might still flicker in Murtagh's breast, he and Eragon were doomed to be mortal enemies, for Murtagh's promises in the ancient language bound him to Galbatorix with unbreakable fetters and would forevermore.
If only he hadn't gone with Ajihad to hunt Urgals underneath Farthen Dur. Or if I had just been a little faster, the Twins-
Eragon, said Saphira.
He caught himself and nodded, grateful for her intervention. Eragon did his best to avoid brooding upon Murtagh or their shared parents, but such thoughts often waylaid him when he least expected it.
Drawing and releasing a slow breath to clear his head, Eragon tried to force his mind back to the present but could not (Paolini 11-13)."
I think this passage is an example of characterization of Eragon. Through hearing/listening to his thoughts, we learn more about Eragon as a person. Currently in the story, Eragon had just come back from a scouting mission- Eragon and his cousin Roran are planning to rescue Roran's fiancee, Katrina, who's being held captive in Helgrind (which is a tall black tower of stone) by the Ra'zac. "Unlike their parents, the Ra'zac were roughly the same size and shape as humans. An ebony exoskeleton encased them from top to bottom, although little of it showed, for even in Helgrind, the Ra'zac wore dark robes and cloaks. They advanced with startling swiftness, their movements sharp and jerky like those of an insect (Paolini 43)." The author also goes on to describe the Ra'zac as hissing creatures that have "hard, clacking jaws (Paolini 45)." The story is made even more interesting by the fact that when facing such horrible creatures, Eragon doesn't have much of chance to survive and that all of Alagaesia is depending on one of the last free Dragon Riders to free everyone from the reign of Galbatorix. Through a twist of fate, Eragon is related to one of his mortal enemies- Murtagh!
Note: This is the third book in a series- there are two books before this one called "Eragon" and "Eldest" by Christopher Paolini.
Questions: Why would Eragon risk so much to go to the den of one of his enemies to rescue someone from his family? Why go to so much trouble? How will being related to one of his mortal enemies affect him in future battles?
-katthegreat08
Eragon blinked, disoriented as the noise and fury of battle faded and the pleasant aroma of juniper wood replaced the stench of blood. He ran his tongue over his upper teeth, trying to eradicate the taste of bile that filled his mouth.
Murtagh.
The name alone generated a welter of confused emotions in Eragon. On one hand, he liked Murtagh. Murtagh had saved Eragon and Saphira from the Ra'zac after their first, ill-fated visit to Dras-Leona; risked his life to help extricated Eragon from Gil'ead; acquitted himself honorably in the Battle of Farthen Dur; and, despite the torments he no doubt endured as a result, had chosen to interpret his orders from Galbatorix in a way that allowed him to release Eragon and Saphira after the Battle of the Burning Plains instead of taking them captive. It was not Murtagh's fault that the Twins had abducted him; that the red dragon, Thorn, had hatched for him; or that Galbatorix had discovered their true names, with which he extracted oaths of fealty in the ancient language from both Murtagh and Thorn.
None of that could be blamed on Murtagh. He was a victim of fate, and had been since the day he was born.
And yet... Murtagh might serve Galbatorix against his will, and he might abhor the atrocities the king forced him to commit, but some part of him seemed to revel in wielding his newfound power. During the recent engagement between the Varden and the Empire on the Burning Plains, Murtagh had singled out the dwarf king, Hrothgar, and slain him, although Galbatorix had not ordered Murtagh to do so. He had let Eragon and Saphira go, yes, but only after defeating them in a brutal contest of strength and then listening to Eragon plead for their freedom.
And Murtagh had derived entirely too much pleasure from the anguish he inflicted upon Eragon by revealing they were both sons of Morzan- first and last of the thirteen Dragon Riders, the Forsworn, who had betrayed their compatriots to Galbatorix.
Now, four days after the battle, another explanation presented itself to Eragon: Perhaps what Murtagh enjoyed was watching another person shoulder the same terrible burden he had carried his whole life.
Whether or not that was true, Eragon suspected Murtagh had embraced his new role for the same reason that a dog who has been whipped without cause will someday turn and attack his master. Murtagh had been whipped and whipped, and now he had his chance to strike back at a world that had shown him little enough kindness.
Yet no matter what good might still flicker in Murtagh's breast, he and Eragon were doomed to be mortal enemies, for Murtagh's promises in the ancient language bound him to Galbatorix with unbreakable fetters and would forevermore.
If only he hadn't gone with Ajihad to hunt Urgals underneath Farthen Dur. Or if I had just been a little faster, the Twins-
Eragon, said Saphira.
He caught himself and nodded, grateful for her intervention. Eragon did his best to avoid brooding upon Murtagh or their shared parents, but such thoughts often waylaid him when he least expected it.
Drawing and releasing a slow breath to clear his head, Eragon tried to force his mind back to the present but could not (Paolini 11-13)."
I think this passage is an example of characterization of Eragon. Through hearing/listening to his thoughts, we learn more about Eragon as a person. Currently in the story, Eragon had just come back from a scouting mission- Eragon and his cousin Roran are planning to rescue Roran's fiancee, Katrina, who's being held captive in Helgrind (which is a tall black tower of stone) by the Ra'zac. "Unlike their parents, the Ra'zac were roughly the same size and shape as humans. An ebony exoskeleton encased them from top to bottom, although little of it showed, for even in Helgrind, the Ra'zac wore dark robes and cloaks. They advanced with startling swiftness, their movements sharp and jerky like those of an insect (Paolini 43)." The author also goes on to describe the Ra'zac as hissing creatures that have "hard, clacking jaws (Paolini 45)." The story is made even more interesting by the fact that when facing such horrible creatures, Eragon doesn't have much of chance to survive and that all of Alagaesia is depending on one of the last free Dragon Riders to free everyone from the reign of Galbatorix. Through a twist of fate, Eragon is related to one of his mortal enemies- Murtagh!
Note: This is the third book in a series- there are two books before this one called "Eragon" and "Eldest" by Christopher Paolini.
Questions: Why would Eragon risk so much to go to the den of one of his enemies to rescue someone from his family? Why go to so much trouble? How will being related to one of his mortal enemies affect him in future battles?
-katthegreat08
Announcement: 2nd book for Independent Reading Is:
Hey all! The book I'm reading for my 2nd independent reading is "Brisingr" by Christopher Paolini.
-katthegreat08
-katthegreat08
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
