The Night Circus Unit Plan
By Natalie Mares, Samantha Hardie, Elizabeth Morgan, and Kate Kinsella
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Summary
The Night Circus tells the story of the magical Le Cirque des Reves, or the "Circus of Dreams". It is not your ordinary circus being open only during the nighttime and presenting acts that represent the extraordinary and unusual. Even though it's so spectacular, it's not quite as it seems because it is also a battleground for two dueling magicians, both fated to play against each other and win a mysterious game that neither knows the rules to. The circus travels around the world touching people in unimaginable ways and changing everyone involved.
Context
The book is set in Victorian age London, but the circus itself travels across the world to New York, Massachusetts, Munich, Cairo, Paris, Vienna, Prague, Barcelona, Glasgow, Dublin, Montreal, Boston,
Characters
Themes
Quotes
"She is still unsure who her opponent is, but whatever move has just been made, it has rattled her. She feels the entirety of the circus radiating around her, as though a net has been thrown over it, trapping everything within the iron fence, fluttering like a butterfly. She wonders how she is supposed to retaliate" (Morgenstern 100)
“'It’s a circus,” Celia says. 'It’s difficult to take it seriously.' 'The circus is only a venue.' 'Then this is not a game or a challenge, it’s an exhibition.' 'It’s more than that.' 'How?' Celia demands, but her father only shakes his head. 'I have told you all the rules you need to know'" (Morgenstern 117)
“'It’s not like chess,' Marco says, struggling to explain something that he has finally begun to understand even though he cannot properly articulate it" (Morgenstern 129)
“'Secrets have power,' Widget begins. 'And that power diminishes when they are shared, so they are best kept and kept well. Sharing secrets, real secrets, important ones, with even one other person, will change them'" (Morgenstern 173)
"'I’m in love with her.' Never before has anything Marco said or did elicited a visible response from the man in the grey suit, not even when he once accidentally set a table aflame during his lessons, but the expression that crosses the man’s face now is unmistakably sad. 'I am sorry to hear that,' he says. 'It will make the challenge a great deal more difficult for you' (Morgenstern 232)
"'Stories have changed, my dear boy,' the man in the grey suit says, his voice almost imperceptibly sad. 'There are no more battles between good and evil, no monsters to slay, no maidens in need of rescue. Most maidens are perfectly capable of rescuing themselves in my experience, at least the ones worth something, in any case.'" (Morgenstern 377)
Click here to view Erin Morgenstern's website!
The Night Circus tells the story of the magical Le Cirque des Reves, or the "Circus of Dreams". It is not your ordinary circus being open only during the nighttime and presenting acts that represent the extraordinary and unusual. Even though it's so spectacular, it's not quite as it seems because it is also a battleground for two dueling magicians, both fated to play against each other and win a mysterious game that neither knows the rules to. The circus travels around the world touching people in unimaginable ways and changing everyone involved.
Context
The book is set in Victorian age London, but the circus itself travels across the world to New York, Massachusetts, Munich, Cairo, Paris, Vienna, Prague, Barcelona, Glasgow, Dublin, Montreal, Boston,
Characters
- Marco: Chandresh's Assistant, Mr. A.H.-'s player in the game
- Celia: Illusionist, Prospero's player in the game
- Prospero the Enchanter: Enchanter/Magician, Celia's mentor
- Mr. A.H-: Mysterious man, Marco's mentor
- Poppet: Kitten Trainer, born on the first night of the circus, Widget's twin sister
- Widget: Kitten Trainer, born on the first night of the circus, Poppet's twin sister
- Tsukiko: Contortionist
- Bailey: Son of a farmer, circus enthusiast
- Herr Theissen: Clockmaker, head of the Reveurs
- Chandresh Leferve: Creator of the Circus
Themes
- Memory
- Dreams
- Circles
- Time
- Markings/Symbols
- Trees
Quotes
"She is still unsure who her opponent is, but whatever move has just been made, it has rattled her. She feels the entirety of the circus radiating around her, as though a net has been thrown over it, trapping everything within the iron fence, fluttering like a butterfly. She wonders how she is supposed to retaliate" (Morgenstern 100)
“'It’s a circus,” Celia says. 'It’s difficult to take it seriously.' 'The circus is only a venue.' 'Then this is not a game or a challenge, it’s an exhibition.' 'It’s more than that.' 'How?' Celia demands, but her father only shakes his head. 'I have told you all the rules you need to know'" (Morgenstern 117)
“'It’s not like chess,' Marco says, struggling to explain something that he has finally begun to understand even though he cannot properly articulate it" (Morgenstern 129)
“'Secrets have power,' Widget begins. 'And that power diminishes when they are shared, so they are best kept and kept well. Sharing secrets, real secrets, important ones, with even one other person, will change them'" (Morgenstern 173)
"'I’m in love with her.' Never before has anything Marco said or did elicited a visible response from the man in the grey suit, not even when he once accidentally set a table aflame during his lessons, but the expression that crosses the man’s face now is unmistakably sad. 'I am sorry to hear that,' he says. 'It will make the challenge a great deal more difficult for you' (Morgenstern 232)
"'Stories have changed, my dear boy,' the man in the grey suit says, his voice almost imperceptibly sad. 'There are no more battles between good and evil, no monsters to slay, no maidens in need of rescue. Most maidens are perfectly capable of rescuing themselves in my experience, at least the ones worth something, in any case.'" (Morgenstern 377)
Click here to view Erin Morgenstern's website!