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50 free Eragon trivia questions with answers — literature quiz, new questions added Aug 2026.
A home-schooled fifteen-year-old in Montana wrote a dragon story, his parents self-published it, and a thriller novelist's stepson picked it up on holiday. Two years later Eragon was a Knopf bestseller that spent 121 weeks on the New York Times list, and a four-book cycle that has sold more than 33 million copies was under way. These 50 questions cover the writing and publication of Eragon, Paolini's influences and his colour-blindness, the plot of the first book from the blue stone in the Spine to the Battle of Farthen Dûr, Brom, Zar'roc, the Ra'zac, Angela and Solembum, Murtagh's parentage, Ajihad and Nasuada, the Shade Durza and how to kill one, plus the sequels Eldest, Brisingr and Inheritance, the Eldunarí, the Vault of Souls and the ending, the 2006 film with Ed Speleers and Jeremy Irons, the Murtagh follow-up and the Disney+ adaptation. Every answer is cited to a page we checked and each explanation adds one more detail. Play it solo or print it for a fantasy book club.
30 of 50 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01How old was Christopher Paolini when he began writing Eragon after finishing home school?
Fifteen
He spent a year on the first draft and a second year rewriting before his parents saw it.
Q 02Who first published Eragon, in 2001?
Paolini's parents, through their own company
Paolini International was a small home-based publisher; he drew the cover art of Saphira's eye himself.
Q 03Which novelist discovered Eragon on holiday and brought it to Knopf's attention?
Carl Hiaasen
His stepson bought a copy at one of Paolini's talks and immediately loved it.
Q 04In which year did Knopf release its edition of Eragon?
2003
It came out on August 26 with a new cover by John Jude Palencar.
Q 05Roughly how many talks did Paolini give while touring to promote the self-published book?
Over 135
He often appeared in medieval costume and might sell forty books in a good eight-hour day.
Q 06Which US state's wild landscape inspired the setting of Eragon?
Montana
Paolini grew up in Paradise Valley and still lives there.
Q 07What is the name of the fictional continent where the series takes place?
Alagaësia
Paolini roughed out its history before writing but only drew a map once Eragon's travels required it.
Q 08The elves' ancient language draws on Old Norse, German, Anglo-Saxon and what else?
Russian myth
Paolini said using words that had been around for centuries gave the world an older feel.
Q 09Paolini said he was lucky with the hero's name because it is one letter away from what?
What you call a fire-breathing beast
Eragon is just "dragon" with one letter changed; he also liked that "era" and "gone" suggested a character who changes his era.
Q 10Saphira's blue-tinted vision was inspired by what about Paolini?
His colour-blindness
He imagined her as the perfect friend: loyal, funny, brave, intelligent and noble.
Q 11Which epic poem does Paolini name among his biggest influences?
Beowulf
He also cites Tolkien and E. R. Eddison, plus Eddings, McCaffrey, Le Guin and Herbert.
Q 12Which Shade ambushes three elves at the start of the novel, trying to steal a dragon egg?
Durza
The surviving elf teleports the egg away, and he imprisons her at Gil'ead.
Q 13How old is Eragon at the start of the book?
Fifteen
His mother left him with his uncle fifteen years earlier, on a farm near Carvahall.
Q 14What is the name of Eragon's uncle, who raises him?
Q 21In which city do Eragon and Brom meet Brom's friend Jeod?
Teirm
Jeod helps them track the Ra'zac to Dras-Leona.
Q 22Which witch tells Eragon's fortune in Teirm?
Angela
Her companion is the werecat Solembum, who gives Eragon cryptic advice.
Q 23What kind of creature is Solembum?
A werecat
His advice about the Rock of Kuthian eventually leads Eragon to the Vault of Souls.
Q 24How does Saphira entomb Brom after he dies?
Garrow
The Ra'zac fatally wound him and burn the farm, which sets Eragon on his quest for revenge.
Q 15In which village does Eragon grow up?
Carvahall
In Eldest his cousin Roran leads the whole village to Surda to join the Varden.
Q 16What does Saphira's hatching leave on Eragon's palm?
A silver mark
The bond makes him the only known Rider besides King Galbatorix.
Q 17Which of Galbatorix's monstrous servants come hunting the egg in Eragon's village?
The Ra'zac
Their mounts, and parents, are the Lethrblaka, introduced in Eldest.
Q 18Which sword does the old storyteller give Eragon when they set out?
Zar'roc
It once belonged to Morzan, leader of the Forsworn.
Q 19Where do Eragon and Saphira hide from the Ra'zac after fleeing the farm?
The Spine
Eragon had found the blue stone in the Spine while hunting.
Q 20Who were the Forsworn?
Rogue Dragon Riders who helped Galbatorix
With their help the king killed every other Rider a century before the story.
She encases him in diamond with magic
Before dying he reveals he was once a Dragon Rider himself.
Q 25What are the Varden?
Rebels seeking to overthrow Galbatorix
Their hideout is Farthen Dûr, a hollow mountain.
Q 26Which elf does Eragon free from the prison at Gil'ead?
Arya
She had accidentally sent the dragon egg to him, and she tells him where to find the Varden.
Q 27Murtagh reveals he is the son of which former leader of the Forsworn?
Morzan
Brisingr later reveals that Eragon and Murtagh share a mother but not a father.
Q 28What are the Kull?
Elite Urgals
An army of them chases Eragon to the Varden's headquarters.
Q 29Who leads the Varden when Eragon first arrives?
Ajihad
His daughter Nasuada takes over after he is ambushed and killed at the start of Eldest.
Q 30Which dwarf, nephew of King Hrothgar, becomes Eragon and Saphira's guide?
Orik
In Brisingr he is elected the new dwarf king.