I enjoyed Tolkien's world of hobbits, elves, and dwarves, and the epic quest of the ring. Like Tolkien, I also drew inspiration from Nordic, Old English, and Icelandic sagas.

Plot:
-The concept that a “good” character turns “evil” (Morzan/Anakin) after a great loss (dragon/Amidala (or, alternatively, Anakin’s mother)
-The concept of a mother (Selena/Amidala) having two children (Murtagh & Eragon/Leia & Luke) who are separated and meet later under difficult circumstances.
-The concept that a poor farm boy (Eragon/Luke) has a greater heritage than he realizes (Morzan/Anakin)
-The concept that a poor farm boy (Eragon/Luke) lives with a close relative (Uncle Garrow/Uncle Owen) because of his mother’s premature death
-The concept that, just before capture, a princess (Arya/Leia) sends something (Dragon Egg/R2D2) far away to protect something (Saphira/recording).
-The concept that a poor farm boy (Eragon/Luke) picks up said something while doing regular work (hunting/trading)
-The idea that a poor farm boy loses his uncle (Uncle Garrow/Uncle Owen) to the hands of "the Empire"
-The passing on of a weapon (Zar’roc/lightsaber) from father to son (Morzan & Eragon/Anakin & Luke) through another source (Brom/Obi Wan Kenobi)
-The concept of a wise old man who is among the last of a declining resistance (Brom/Obi Wan Kenobi) teaching the descendant of a once-friend-now-rival (Morzan/Anakin)
-The concept of a group of "good" rebels bent on destroying "the Empire"
-The concept of an initial battle (Battle of Farthen Dur/Battle of the Death Star) which is ultimately won
-The concept of a new teacher (Oromis/Yoda) who takes the place of the old one (Brom/Obi Wan) under certain circumstances and present also lessons of philosophy
-Father/Son Revelations

*is a ninny* yaaaay

Ok, as I've said, I do like the Inheritance books. A lot. I cannot repeat that enough. I like them, I like them, I like them. I admire CP for writing Eragon at the ripe old age of 15 - I know I couldn't have done it at that age, and still couldn't. I think a lot of his plot lines are original, too.

However, take a look at the list of "similar" names between LotR and Inheritance. There is NO way CP found all of those names by simply referring to all the same texts Tolkien drew on. In the same interview where CP didn't answer the Tolkien question, he said that what he does with what inspires him is he takes what he likes, tosses the rest, and mixes it all together. Now if he were just taking a few subtle elements, that would be fine; I think all authors do that, at least subconsciously. But he's NOT taking subtle things. A lot of the names in particularl are "Oh, that sounds like a cool name, I'll add/change a letter here and make it mine!" And even though I agree that it's a smart practical move for him not to gush over how much Tolkien inspired him, I think if he didn't want people to yell at him for some overt similarities, he shouldn't have borrowed that much material in the first place.