A LITERATURE CIRCLE GUIDE
The Literature Circle
There are as many as three different activities in each part. Work as a team to complete
them and enhance your vocabulary and knowledge relating to Cirque du Freak and other
pieces of literature.
VOCABULARY: Find the definitions to these words and phrases: After writing the
definition, use each in a sentence. Not all vocabulary may be found in a dictionary. You
may need to ask or find alternate sources to define.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: After reading the appropriate chapters, you will want to
discuss these questions as a team. There may be differing opinions. After discussion, as
a group prepare an appropriate response in writing. Responses to discussion questions
should be at least one paragraph long. If there are alternate answers within the group,
you may include both reactions.
ACTIVITIES: Certain Parts of this Literature Circle Guide contain items that you need
to use further exploration and research to complete.
An illustrated report is no more than 1 page long, including the illustration. The written
part should be a brief summary of the subject which need not be more than 2 paragraphs,
IN YOUR OWN WORDS!!!
Each member is equally responsible for the completion of all aspects of this project
which will be presented in a binder as follows.
Four sections:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Vocabulary
Discussion questions
Activities
Final Projects
PRE-READING
Judging by the cover and the title, discuss what you think this story might be
about. Include what type of conflict, characters and settings may be
involved.
PART I
Introduction, Chapters 1, 2 & 3
Vocabulary:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
queasy
despised
admire
hat trick
fainthearted
Discussion questions:
1. From the Introduction, do you believe this is a true story? Explain
your reasoning.
2. Who is telling the story?
3. What is the foreshadowing used in Chapter 1? Predict where it may
lead.
4. In the Cirque du Freak flyer, describe what is meant by, “Not for the
fainthearted. Certain restrictions apply.”
5. Would you go to a freak show? Why or why not?
Activities:
1. Prepare an illustrated report on tarantulas.
2. Individual writing: Describe a friend you’ve had, who like Steve,
drove you to like them because of their wildness. Give details of wild things
you did with them, and how you felt doing them, and perhaps any
consequences.
3. Begin collecting (writing down) the elements of literature in the story
for a story structure chart to be completed as a final project.
PART II
Chapters 4, 5 & 6
Vocabulary:
1.
2.
3.
4.
freak (n.)
geography
smother
contradict
Discussion questions:
1. In Chapter 5, what metaphor does Mrs. Quinn use to describe Darren?
2. If it were you and 3 friends, how would you have handled dividing up
the only 2 tickets?
Activities:
1. Darren’s mom collects stamps and his dad writes to people all over the
world. His sister collects dolls and Darren collects comic books? What
hobbies do you have. Have someone in the group share their hobby with the
class in an oral presentation. (BONUS POINTS)
2. Make a group list of the scariest things you’ve ever read or seen.
PART III
Chapters 7, 8 & 9
Vocabulary:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
venue
haunted
corridor
eerie
grotesque
astound
Discussion questions:
1. After reading Chapter 7, discuss whether “not telling” is telling a lie.
2. Make a list of Darren’s character traits.
3. At the end of Chapter 7, what descriptions show that Darren and Steve
are afraid to go in?
4. After the lady’s hand was bitten off in Chapter 9, would you have
stayed or left. Explain why?
5. Predict what might happen during the rest of the show.
Activities:
1.
2.
Prepare an illustrated report on Stephen King.
Write synonyms for the vocabulary words.
PART IV
Chapters 10, 11 & 12
Vocabulary:
1.
2.
3.
extraordinary
perplexing
rare
Discussion questions:
1. Explain who was more grotesque to you: Alexander Ribs or Rhamus
Twobellies.
2. Which act did you find most fascinating? Why?
3. At the end of Chapter 12, Steve is fascinated more by Mr. Crepsley
than the spider, and says he knows who he is. Who does Steve think he is
and why is he so fascinated?
Activities:
1.
2.
Music: Listen to some Beatles music.
Write an antonym for each vocabulary word.
PART V
Chapter 13 & 14
Vocabulary
1.
2.
3.
sledgehammer
chisel
lagoon
Discussion questions:
1. Describe the idiom used in Chapter 13 (about Gertha Teeth). What
does it really mean in context?
2. Why was Darren disappointed at the end of Chapter 13? Should he
have been?
3. In Chapter 14, describe why you think Steve is going into one of “his
moods”.
4. Why do you think Steve wants to stay behind after the show is over?
Why does Darren?
Activity:
1. Prepare an illustrated report on teeth. Label the different types of teeth
and what each is used for.
PART VI
Chapters 15, 16 & 17
Vocabulary:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
stubborn
menace
savage
groggy
deserted
Discussion questions:
1. In Chapter 15, what makes Mr. Crepsley state that he hates children.
2. Why do you think Steve wants to be a vampire so badly?
3. After reading Chapter 17, do you think Darren’s character has
changed. If so, how? Refer back to your response in Part III.
4. Predict/infer what Darren will do with Madame Octa, or what may
happen.
Activities:
1. Write a matching quiz for the vocabulary words.
2. Individual writing: CHOICE of 1.
a. Discuss whether or not you would want to be a vampire. Use support
for your response from Chapter 15.
b. Discuss why you do or don’t believe in vampires.
PART VII
Chapters 18 & 19
Vocabulary:
1.
unique
Discussion questions:
1. Right after reading Chapter 18, describe what you think happened to
Darren. Were you right? Why or why not?
2. What simile does Darren use to describe his immediate actions on the
first page of Chapter 19?
3. Why can’t Darren stop himself from playing with the spider, even
though he recognizes the danger? Use personal experience to draw
comparisons between yourself and Darren. Consider a time when you
couldn’t stop yourself from doing something dangerous.
4. Predict why the world would come crashing down on Darren at the end
of Chapter 19.
Activities:
1. Individual writing: Write about a time you faked being sick. What did
you do or say. Did you get away with it?
2. Prepare an illustrated report on Mozart.
3. Listen to some of Mozart’s music and write one paragraph describing
it, and how you felt listening to it.
PART VIII
Chapters 20 & 21
Vocabulary:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
noble
squint
imbecile
blackmail
boastful
vital
Discussion questions:
1.
2.
tell?
3.
4.
Is Steve evil? Explain why or why not?
Describe how Darren feels about stealing the spider. How can you
If Steve dies, discuss whether it’s Darren’s fault or not.
What do you think will happen to Steve? Darren?
PART IX
Chapters 22, 23
Vocabulary:
1.
2.
3.
4.
diabetes
epilepsy
coma
optimistic
Discussion questions:
1.
2.
3.
Why did Steve’s mother blame Darren for what happened?
Does Darren have a reason to be optimistic? Explain.
How will Darren find Mr. Crepsley?
Activity:
1.
Prepare an illustrated report on the heart and lungs.
PART X
Chapters 24, 25 & 26
Vocabulary:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
comet
destiny
antidote
prodigy
serum
Discussion questions:
1. In Chapter 24, Crepsley states, “But one who just takes a little blood to
fill his rumbling belly…where is the harm in that?” Do you agree or
disagree? Explain.
2. Why does Crepsley want Darren for an assistant, and he didn’t want
Steve?
3. After reading Chapter 25, describe how you would react to Crepsley’s
deal.
4. What do you think will happen to Darren?
Activity:
Prepare an illustrated report on a mole.
PART XI
Chapters 27, 28
Vocabulary
1.
ploy
Discussion questions:
1. In Chapter 27, why doesn’t Darren feel like a normal human being
anymore?
2. Why does Crepsley now want to kill Darren. Will he?
3. Was Crepsley’s deal with Darren fair? Explain
PART XII
Chapters 29,30,31,32 & 33
Vocabulary:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
reluctant
linger
verdict
undertaker
hearse
autopsy
gloomy
Discussion questions:
1. In Chapter 30, why does Crepsley mean when he says, “No one comes
searching for a dead person.”?
2. Why does Steve want to kill Darren?
FINAL PROJECTS
Individual
1. Act as the author and describe a scene where Darren meets Steve in 10 years.
(Remember Darren only ages 1 human year for every five years that pass)
2. Go to Darren Shan’s website http://www.darrenshan.com/. Reprot on what you
find. List 3 things in order of preference that other people might like to read or look at.
Group
1. Complete your story structure chart
2. Design your own Cirque du Freak. What acts would you have? Prepare an
advertising flyer luring people to your act.
3. Write a group letter to Darren Shan. (see website for address)
Characters
Darren Shan – narrator
Angela Shan – Darren’s mother
Dermot Shan - Darren’s father
Annie Shan – Darren’s sister
Steve Leonard Leopard – friend
Tommy Jones - friend
Alan Morris – friend
Mr. Dalton – teacher
Performers
Mr. Tall – owner of the Cirque du Freak
Mr. Larten Crepsley – Vampire and Madam Octa’s (spider) handler
Alexander Ribs – skin and bones contortionist
Rhamus Twobellies – eats anything
Truska – bearded lady
Hans Hands: walks/races on hands
Gertha Teeth: can bite through steel bars
Twinsting Twins: Sive and Sersa – contortionists….. Snakeboy
Setting
Modern times (talk about WWII in school history class)
Darren’s house &school
Old abandoned theatre where the cirque performs
Conflict
Darren steals the vampire’s poisonous spider and it accidentally bites Steve. Steve is in a
coma and the only way to get an antidote is to become the vampire’s assistant…having to
become a vampire himself.
Rising Action
Darren searches for the Vampire to try to save Steve’s life.
Climax:
Darren finds the vampire and he agrees to save Steve with the antidote if Darren agrees to
become his assistant. Darren goes back on his word, but soon finds out that since he has
been given his vampire blood, he is a vampire and may be dangerous to his own family.
He almost bites the neck of his little sister.
Resolution
Darren’s death is faked so that once he’s gone no one will come searching for him, and
he can go on as Crepsley’s assistant.
Theme
1.A deal is a deal, no matter how it ends up
2.Your life can change so fast.f