In Eragon, knowledge is a source of power that can change the course of events in Alagaësia. How do the characters use their knowledge to influence others, shape their destiny, and navigate their world?

Use these questions to help develop your response:

• How is knowledge tied to magical power?
• How is knowledge controlled, manipulated, or withheld?
• How do the characters deal with the ethical implications of their knowledge?
• How do secrets and the control of information affect the balance of power?

Teaching Suggestion: To warm students up for this challenging question, they might brainstorm situations in which knowledge has influenced people in their lives. Remind them this could be a positive or negative piece of knowledge. If there are no personal connections, this brief news article about a teen who had an idea and started a recycling program at his school could be a good jumping off point for discussion. If students are still struggling with this question, you may want to prompt them with specific characters who have knowledge or obtain knowledge. This can lead to a discussion of how these characters use their knowledge. This ties into the theme of The Pursuit of Power because knowledge is used to gain both magical and political power.