Eragon Discussion Questions

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Compare and Contrast Charts

Go here and scroll down for several different compare and contrast charts. Choose the one that will help you with your discussion questions for Fellowship of the Ring or Eragon.

Fellowship of the Ring Discussion Questions

Remember: I am looking for thoughtful answers, not compositions. In other words, don’t worry about grammar or spelling. The point of answering these questions is to prepare you to articulate clearly your thoughts and opinions during class discussion.

You will be able to bring your notes with you to the discussion to use as a reference, which is why I insist that you must give evidence from the text for your answers, including page numbers. If someone asks you for clarification or challenges your answer, it is best to have a page number handy for yourself. There’s no point in bringing your notes if you can’t read them, though, so either type them or make sure they are legible.

You MUST use your “Thinking about Meaning in Faerie Stories” and “Spectrum of Faerie” handouts from class to help you think about and answer the following questions.

Choose either #1 or #2. Use the attached comparecontrastchart.pdf to help organize your answer.

1. Compare and contrast Frodo with either Aragorn or Gandalf. How does Tolkien portray each of these characters as heroes?

2. Compare and contrast the characters of Aragorn and Boromir. Each is heroic in his own way. What is Boromir’s essential flaw?

Choose either #3 or #4.

3. What is the “Nature of Magic” found in this book? Give at least 3 examples.

4. Name two instances of a battle between Good and Evil and briefly explain them.

Choose either #5 or #6.

5. Examine at least two poems in the book. Explain how the poetry of the Hobbits differs from that of Elves or other races

6. Explain who Tom Bombadil is and what he represents. Why is he important to the novel, or is he not important?

Choose either #7 or #8.

7. If you could go to any one place in Middle Earth, where would you go and why?

8. If you could be any one person in Middle Earth, who would you be and why?

Everyone must answer all these questions:

9. How important to Frodo’s quest are his friends? Discuss the idea of Fellowship and Friendship and its importance to the story.

10. Why does Gandalf feel that Gollum is worthy of redemption and pity?

11. Copy down and share a “Golden Line” from the book. Then tell why you like this quote.