Stronghammer by Haley

Stronghammer by Haley - April 2014 Scholarship Essay

I first stumbled upon the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini when I was in middle school. I eagerly read each book as soon as it came out. At several points since then I have wished I lived in Alagaesia. One of the characters from this series has influenced me more than any other fictional person. That man is Roran Stronghammer.

Roran was one of the few boys in the novels I didn’t have a fictional character crush on at one point. However, I always admired everything that Roran stood for. He was fiercely loyal to his family and friends. He protects his village with his life and crossed mountains for his love, Katrina. Roran has to make hard decisions throughout all four books but it makes him grow up. There is a lot of gore and bloodshed in the books and though Roran doesn’t relish it, he does what needs to be done for his cause and his family. The other thing about Roran’s character that has influenced me for good is his lack of magical ability. Eragon is something of a chosen one with magic and the elves and Saphira, but Roran has to do everything the old fashioned way. I respect that about him. He knows that he can’t get any shortcuts but he keeps trying and that means a lot to me. I look up to Roran in almost every way. After his wife, Katrina, has her baby he fights to keep them safe and provide for them. Roran is a mere human in a world with magicians, queens, kings, elves, and dwarves. He represents the common man; and the way that Christopher Paolini writes him he represents hope for us. Roran is strong and pushes through everything thrown at him and I really admire his ability to stand up for what he believes is right even when his opponent is stronger than him.

Overall, I think that Roran is a character that has influenced me more than any other. I love Roran’s personality and look up to him through all the novels he is in.