Brisingr

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2008

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Download PDF

Chapters 1-3

Chapter 1 Summary: “The Gates of Death”

The novel opens on Eragon surveying a dark stone tower where monsters (the Ra’zacs) killed Garrow, his uncle, and Brom, his mentor. He and his cousin, Roran, watch the priests of Helgrind and their followers (servants of King Galbatorix, a powerful enemy and sorcerer) enact a blood ritual, which Eragon mistakes for cannibalism. Roran’s fiancée, Katrina, is imprisoned in Helgrind. Her father, Sloan, betrayed Roran to the enemy, but when the plan failed they kidnapped Katrina instead. Eragon is able to concentrate on his own consciousness to detect her but must be wary of attention from the Ra’zacs and their companions, the Lethrblaka. He sees another figure with Katrina but does not share this with Roran; they agree to free the slaves at dawn and retreat to the base of the hill.

Chapter 2 Summary: “Around the Campfire”

The next morning, Roran and Eragon sit beside their campfire with Saphira, Eragon’s dragon. The three discuss events from a previous battle, where Eragon’s half-brother, Murtagh, betrayed him and stole Zar’roc, his sword. Eragon reveals he did not get permission from Nasuada, leader of the Varden, nor Arya, daughter of Queen Islanzadí, to quest for revenge against the Ra’zacs and obliterate their race from the world. Saphira and Eragon share a deep connection, including hearing one another’s thoughts, she plans to go with Roran to save Katrina. Despite carrying only a hawthorn staff for protection, the trio spend one day preparing and then Saphira carries both Eragon and Roran on her back northeast above the mountains. Eragon reveals a simple spell for bringing light into dark situations, called “Brisingr”—or, in this situation, Brisingr raudhr, a red werelight.

The men set up camp and then, with Saphira, discuss a plan for the fight ahead, which involves sticking together—they will be up against spells cast by King Galbatorix. Roran reveals a recent injury so bad that it prompts Eragon to use magic to heal it, sapping the nearby wildlife’s energy to the extent that three animals die in the process. The men consider the possibility of teaching Roran magic in the future, at least as a defense against mental attack. Eragon falls asleep worrying that the second person he saw with Katrina in Helgrind will be her father, Sloan.

Chapter 3 Summary: “Assault on Helgrind”

The men wake before daybreak to go over their plan of attack. Flying to Helgrind on Saphira, they are unable to find an opening into the mountain. When Eragon casts his mind out, he cannot feel the presence of anything but Katrina and the other prisoner—no Ra’zac or other followers of Galbatorix. Then, without meaning to, they find part of the mountain is an illusion they can cross to get into an enormous cave with five empty tunnels. A Lethrblaka, similar to a dragon but hairless, with a beak and batlike wings, appears so quickly that Saphira is caught off guard and wounded, and her riders are pitched down to the ground; at that, the battle has begun. Soon, two Lethrblaka assault Saphira while two Ra’zac appear to challenge Roran and Eragon.

Rather than letting these challengers defeat his group, Eragon goes into spellcaster mode, beginning yet again with the simple “Brisingr,” which this time produces a fireball. With a mix of death spells and the use of his hawthorn staff, Eragon holds his own. Saphira kills both Lethrblaka but is spotted by a fisherman above Lake Leona. The two Ra’zac flee deeper into the mountain; close to Katrina’s cell, they set up an ambush, during which the men are able to kill one Ra’zac before freeing Katrina with the use of Brisingr. Sneaking away, Eragon finds Sloan imprisoned in a separate cell.

Chapters 1-3 Analysis

Christopher Paolini utilizes the first few chapters of Brisingr to remind readers of key events in the previous two novels in this series. To do this, he sets up opportunities for dialogue and natural conversation between Eragon and Roran around the campfire under the premise of catching up on gossip and discussing future possibilities; relatable, as this is what any reader might do under similar circumstances. For example, the men mull over Arya, an elf whom Eragon fancies; his position is that he cannot fall for mortal women now that he is a Rider. Morality also comes up in conversation; Saphira reveals that dragons enjoy violence differently than humans, as for them it pertains to survival.

The spell for light in darkness, literally “fire” in their ancient language, is repeated at least three times in the opening chapters. As this was the first spell Eragon learned from his teacher, Brom, many readers will already be familiar with this spell. Paolini has named the book in its entirety after the simple incantation, indicating it will be important for the overall plot of the text—through its repetition, he reminds the reader of its meaning and gives it an element of power by displaying its different uses and effects.