Protagonists
Eragon – One of the main protagonists of the book. He is one of two
Dragon Riders free from the Empire, and a magician, as being a Rider makes one a magician. For most of this book, he is in the Elven city of
Ellésmera, learning more about being a Dragon Rider and a magician from his teachers, Oromis and Glaedr. However at the end of the book, he participates in a war between the Empire and the Varden.
He is compassionate and responsible: “‘There must be ways to remove the blessing, to negate a spell.’ Eragon was almost pleading” (Paolini 217). In this quote, Eragon has just found out that he accidentally cursed a baby to take other people’s pain. He wants to fix the problem, and he feels terrible for putting that curse on her.
Saphira – Eragon’s dragon; while in Ellésmera, she realizes how alone she is in the world, as she is one of two free dragons in the world, and Glaedr, the other dragon, does not want her because he is too old for her. She also expresses a lot of individuality, as many dwarves believed that dragons could not think.
Saphira is witty, yet also playful. She is very good at riddles, showing she is witty: “As most dragons are, she was fascinated by puzzles and found them quite easy to unravel” (Paolini 412). Also, she likes to play around, as she shows when she “plays” with Glaedr: “Darting forward, Saphira nipped at the end of Glaedr’s tail, tossing it into the air with a flip of her head,

like she would to break the neck of a deer. She recoiled as Glaedr twisted round and snapped at her neck, exposing his enormous fangs… Instead of remorse, Eragon detected an excited playfulness in her—like a child with a new toy—and a near-blind devotion to the other dragon” (Paolini 260-
261).
Roran – Roran is another one of the main protagonists in the book. Most of the action revolves around him, as the Empire is hunting him to use against Eragon. He has a lot of fighting scenes in the book, and is betrothed to Katrina, a minor character. He prefers to fight with a hammer.
Roran is determined and risk-taking: “ What... what if everyone in
Carvahall accompanied me to Narda and then to Surda?
He would achieve both his desires simultaneously” (Paolini 184). He knows that the Empire would overrun his village of Carvahall, so he decides to cross the Spine (a
“cursed” mountain range), and go join the rebels (The Varden). He is determined to get to Surda, so he wants to bring all of the people in
Carvahall with him. Also, almost everyone hates the Spine because of the amount of misfortune around it. However, he is taking the risk to cross it.

Nasuada – Nasuada is the leader of the Varden, and she mainly has worries of the Varden’s economy, until she realizes one thing. She realizes that lace; a very expensive material because it takes a long time to make, would be fast and easy to make with magic, as it doesn’t use much energy. Afterwards, she looks for The Black Hand, a group of spies that try to assassinate her.
Nasuada is creative and daring. She makes lace with magic: “‘Well, it struck me that while lace takes a long time to make by hand, which is why it’s so expensive, lace is quite easy to produce using magic due to the small amount of energy involved…’” (Paolini 381). This is a fast way for the Varden to earn money, and nobody else every thought of it. Also, she moves the Varden from the safety of the Dwarves to Surda, to more directly fight the Empire: “‘Your name will be praised for centuries for having the courage and foresight to move the Varden to Surda and attack the Empire when everyone else thought it was insane to do so’” (Paolini
242).
Oromis – Eragon’s teacher in Ellésmera, and the other Rider free of
Galbotorix. He is an elf, and centuries of years old (as elves cannot die from old age). However, he cannot grasp magic as well, as when he was captured by the Empire, they broke something inside of him. His dragon is Glaedr.
Oromis is attentive and magnanimous: “‘I am sorry, Master.”Does he resent that the dragons didn’t choose to heal him as well?’ wondered

Eragon. He immediately discounted the thought; Oromis would never be so petty” (Paolini 387).
“’We expect to receive a missive from Nasuada in the next few days, requesting assistance from Islanzadí and that you rejoin the Varden. I intended to inform you of the Varden’s predicament then, when you would still have enough time to reach Surda before swords are drawn. If I told you earlier, you would have been honor-bound to abandon your training and rush to the defense of your liegelord. That is why I and
Islanzadí held our tongues’” (Paolini 398).
Arya – Eragon’s love interest and the Elven ambassador to the Varden.
However, she is afraid of his feelings for her, as she knows that they will distract Eragon from his task at hand: learning and fighting for the
Varden.
Arya is wary and dependable: “‘No. I...’ He stopped and twisted the goblet between his hands while he searched for the right words. ‘Arya... you’ll be leaving soon enough. I would count it a shame if this is the last I see of you between now and then. Could we not meet occasionally, as we did before, and you could show Saphira and me more of Ellesméra?’
‘It would not be wise,’ she said in a gentle but firm voice” (Paolini 282).
She is dependable as well, as shown in this quote: “‘I have been preparing to return to the Varden… After the Blood-oath Celebration. I have tarried here far too long as it is’ (Paolini 282).

Antagonists
Murtagh – Murtagh used to be one of Eragon’s best friends, but seemingly gets killed at the beginning of the book. However, he is actually spirited away to Galbatorix (the leader of the Empire), and has sworn oaths to always obey him. He becomes a Dragon Rider after reaching another dragon egg. He kills Orik’s uncle in the big war at the end of the book, who is the dwarven king.
His dragon is called Thorn.
Murtagh is honest and kind. This might not seem like traits of a “villain,” but in the book Eragon , he was a protagonist, and still likes Eragon: “Just as he opened his mouth to cast a spell that would transport Roran out of danger—no matter the cost—Murtagh said, ‘Wait. I want to see what he’ll do.’
‘Why?’
A bleak smile crossed Murtagh’s face. ‘The Twins enjoyed tormenting me when I was their captive.’
Eragon glanced at him, suspicious. ‘You won’t hurt him? You won’t warn the
Twins?’
‘Vel eï nradhin iet ai Shur’tugal.' Upon my word as a Rider” (Paolini 461).
“A long minute passed where the only sound was the hue and cry of the clashing armies. Blood trickled down Eragon’s neck from where the sword point cut him. Saphira lashed her tail with helpless rage.
Finally, Murtagh said, ‘I was ordered to try and capture you and Saphira.’
He paused. ‘I have tried... Make sure we don’t cross paths again.
Galbatorix will have me swear additional oaths in the ancient language

that will prevent me from showing you such mercy when next we meet.’ He lowered his sword” (Paolini 464).