Chapter 5 Awakening Chapter five holds in its contents the birth of the baby blue dragon, and its subsequent growth process, also Eragon beginning with seeing the dragon as a mere animal, then through their special link, realizing the dragon to be much, much more. . A few things I'd like to mention: I appreciate the magical link between human/elf and dragon that Paolini has created. I think it's a great idea, the history of the idea I like, and the actual idea itself. It brings together two iconic fantasy novel characters, and humans as well of course, and puts a twist on them. I like the feline-like qualities of the dragon in its newborn state, a fitting mix of feline and reptile, a dragon is. I mostly like how Paolini introduces the 'mental link', and how at first it freaks Eragon out, which I'm sure it would freak us out just the same. The idea that the mind is far reaching is an old one, and telepathy is old as well, but the transition from ordinary life to a telepathic one I haven't read before, and I like his description of Eragon during that transition. Chapter 6 Tea for Two Here we have our second experience with Brom. The information he gives Eragon, and thus, gives us as the reader, is invaluable, so there's a few things I wanted to mention from his interview. Name of the Riders according to the ancient language, and the elves is "shurtogal" The Empire is half the size of the lands the Riders held. Which is MOSTLY a testament to Galbatorix's power. He is only one rider, and MANY riders only controlled twice as much as he did. Proportionally, that's pretty awesome. Brom gives the Riders a realistic light, they were not 'lesser gods' We learn Dragons, Dwarves, and 'a few others' are true inhabitants of this land. We know it's not the elves, or humans, or urgals, who are the others?? We learn dragons suffer as the land suffers, and that they were from the beginning, which reminds me again of that theory about the Spine being an ancient Dragons spine. Elves come from a land they call Alalea, none but they know what or where it is. WHY haven't they returned, during these dark times, THAT is the question. Are they unable to return? We learn elves first viewed dragons as mere animals, much like Eragon did in the beginning of chapter 5. We learn Eragons namesake. Ironically, the first found an egg just like this one. We learn the original Eragon and his dragon BidDaum traveled among dragons to make peace. Obviously, they were winning the war, and perhaps, the dragons were the more reasonable of the two races. Brom admits that it is a mystery as to how many dragons are still alive. Other than the forsworn dragons all others are reportedly killed. And Shruikan was taken as a hatchling, not as an egg. We learn Dragons can be huge, which we had discussed before, mistaken for large hills. Dragons can apparently live Forever. Dragons have innate magical power, seemingly uncontrolled by them, that effects everything around them. Human riders over time will look more like elves, and both elf and human riders were granted extra strength and such. We now see the solid transition between Eragon thinking Dragons are animals, to recognizing them as an intelligent race. And we learn that the riders great deeds were accomplished because of the Dragons. So this amazing connection between them had some unforeseen results, as Dragons magic usually does.

• published: 14 Jun 2011
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