Alison Stefansic, Ava Rymut, and Jordan Holdaway

H 9th Lit/2nd period

Ms. Tatum

4/27/2018

Original Review-Eläinten Maamila

I entered the crimson and white striped tent with a feeling of anticipation. I took one look back to

the the rest of the circus at the bottom of the mountain. At first sight, the abandoned looking tent

seemed to be closed down. But at the back of the dark, cold hall, there was a large sign

reading, “Geijer-Hiss”. A small translation underneath the bold sign read, “Elevator of Gold”. The

room began to fill with circus goers from all different backgrounds. Everyone and everything

seemed out of place. Despite my feelings of unease, I ventured toward the elevator and pressed

the down button made of gold. I took a step inside and questioned my fate. People stared at me

with a look of curiosity as I turned around and the doors started closing. The thirty second ride

to the unknown destination seemed all too mysterious. As the elevator chimed when it hit

bottom, I jumped. The doors creaked open and my eyes were filled with astonishment. Animals I

had studied in books proven long to be dead were alive and well right in front of my eyes. I

stood there for a second realizing what I had gotten myself into. The air was filled with a such

savory and sweet aroma that I felt almost nauseous. My senses returned when I saw the bustle

of people, animals, and music. Sounds of the animals flooded my ears as I took one step

outside the elevator. To my left was a concession stand offering treats such as chocolate

covered mice and animal cracker cookies. I took a step back and realized the elevator was gone

and I had been stuck in an enchanted extinct animal haven. Words can not describe my

astonishment to this particular exhibit. I still wonder whether the experience was a figment of my

imagination. Hours were spent in the exhibit until I laid to rest beside a rare species of penguin.

As I woke up the next day, I was suddenly outside the zoo. However, I knew this wasn’t a

dream, for it had to be true.

-Herr Frederick Thiessen, 1895

Interior Design: Animals

Dodo Bird: This extinct creature represents the constant travel of the circus. As birds fly

throughout the world so does the circus. The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) is a flightless bird that

inhabited the coast of East Madagascar and the Indian Ocean. Its closest known family is the

pigeon and dove. These birds have been extinct for almost 350 years!

Short-Faced Bear: The short-faced bear is represented in The Night Circus as the ringleader of

the circus. In the novel, this animal could be portrayed as Hector and Alexander. The short-faced

bear inhabited North America and was the fastest species of bear that ever lived. This bear

became extinct about 11,000 years ago.

Brachiosaurus altithorax: The Brachiosaurus altithorax or long-necked dinosaur represents

Marco in The Night Circus. This is because he attended the Midnight Dinners and had a greater

understanding of the circus. The Brachiosaurus altithorax weighed up to 60+ tons and was over

40+ feet tall. This animal had such a long neck to eat leaves that were high up in trees.

Balinese tigers: The balinese tiger represents Celia in The Night Circus. This is because Celia

had a watchful eye over the circus and controlled most of it just like tigers. The balinese tiger has

been extinct for over 3 decades. This species lived on the Indonesian island of Bali and is often

called samong in Bali.

Exterior Design: Eläinten Maailma

Eläinten Maailma, or World of Animals, is a magical animal kingdom of all extinct animals. The

red and white striped tent is positioned atop a mountain which overlooks the rest of the circus.

Inside the tent, a rickety elevator awaits the visitors. Many circus goers choose to abandon this

attraction due to the unsafe appearance, but that is the thrill the rêvours seek. The tent is dark,

which represents the death of the animals among this attraction. The elevator allows a maximum

of seven people, each to give respects to the competitors lost during Hector and Alexander’s

games. Once the ride is over, the visitor is greeted by an array of extinct animals thriving

underneath the mountain’s surface. The air is bright to represent the new life the animals are

given through hydrolysis. This magical practice allows the animals through water based

synthesis to be reborn. Hydrolysis which means to “unbind” is the separation of chemicals with

the addition of water (An Explanation of the Process of Hydrolysis). Through this process, the

animals grow and develop life from their death due to the chemical combination in their bodies.

Smells of chocolate dipped mice and animal cookies are spilling through the bustle of the

animals. Sounds of roaring dinosaurs, screeching cats, chirps of birds, and flutter of the pegasis

are heard throughout the attraction. In the center of the arena a quote reads, “Esse quam videri”

(Morgenstern 348). The quote is transcribed underneath saying, “To be rather than to seem”

(Morgenstern 349). Circus attendants are dressed in red and white apparel, some with

assortments of stripes or bows. Smaller animals may have small red or white bow ties.

Symbolism is portrayed throughout the circus with Ouroboros (Ouroboros Description.). This

sign often depicts eternity. It’s circular figure representing a snake swallowing its tail shows

wholeness. This shows the eternal bond the animals have with themselves since their rebirth.

With birds perched above the quote transcribed across the walls, lions roaming around the edge

of the exhibit, and small creatures often resting on the visitor’s shoulders many people seem to
lose track of time. They spend hours which seem like minutes in the extinct zoo-like experience.

Some visitors even choose to take a break by resting besides the different exhibits. The animals

provide a sense of eternal love, youth, and prosperity among the visitors which comforts them to

sleep. Once they are asleep, underground carts used in magic shows transport them outside the

zoo. They wake up from their sleep, outside the circus under the clock they waited under just

hours ago. Wondering about reality, they question whether or not the experience they had was a

dream. They look up to see the sign in front of the circus which says, “Le Cirque des Reves” and

are immediately reminded they just left the “Circus of Dreams” (Morgenstern 6).

Eläinten Maailma Circus Treats

Animal Cracker Sugar Cookies

These delicate cookies are Poppet Murray’s favorite. Coated with red and white sprinkles, they
represent the death of the animals (red) and their rebirth (white). Each cookie has a special
animal on it which represents one of the animals at the circus. These cookies also are animal
friendly and make for a great snack for any creature. Known for their gooey center, they are
certainly a crowd favorite!

Ingredients
 3 cups All-Purpose Flour
 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
 1/2 cup Salted Butter, Softened
 1/2 cup Vegetable Shortening
 1 cup Granulated Sugar
 1 cup Light Brown Sugar, Packed
 2 large Eggs
 2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
  2 cups Frosted Animal Crackers, Chopped
 1 cup White Chocolate Chips
 1 cup Rainbow Nonpareils
 36 Frosted Animal Crackers
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium-large
bowl, stir flour and baking soda together. Set aside.
2. Beat butter, shortening, and sugars with your electric mixer on medium speed until pale
and fluffy, about 1 minute. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, and then vanilla extract. Reduce
speed; gradually add flour mixture, and mix until just combined. Add animal cracker
pieces and white chocolate chips and mix until combined.
3. Scoop dough using a medium-size cookie scoop. Roll tops and sides of cookies in
nonpareils. Place on prepared baking sheets, 2 inches apart.
4. Bake for about 12 minutes, until edges are just barely golden. Immediately press a frosted
animal cracker into the center of each cookie. Let cookies cool on baking sheets for
several minutes, then remove to rack to cool completely.

Chocolate Dipped Mice

This spin on Bailey’s favorite Night Circus treat incorporates cherries as the mouse’s body.
Served cold, these mouth-watering delectables are perfect for any visitor. These mice represent
the animal’s playful side. As a visitor enters the Elainten Maailma attraction, the chocolate
dipped mice become alive and scurry across the floors. Animals watch out for these treats
because they are also their favorite treat!
Ingredients
 1-4.6 oz box of Vanilla Pudding and Pie Filling Mix (not instant)
 1½ cups of Eggnog
 ½ cup milk
 4 oz frozen whipped topping
 Chocolate cups
 Small jar maraschino cherries with stems.
 8 oz dark chocolate for melting
  Cherry Cordial Hershey's Kisses
 Almond slices

Directions
1. Mix eggnog and milk together into a large bowl.
2. Whisk in vanilla pudding until well mixed.
3. Pour mixture into a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat. Stir continuously.
Bring to boil and continue to cook for 1 minute.
4. Remove from heat and return to large bowl. Cover and refrigerate until pudding is no
longer warm.
5. While mixture cools, pat cherries dry and melt chocolate in a small bowl. Dip cherries
in chocolate and place on parchment paper. While still warm attach kiss to the front of
the cherry opposite the stem. Slip two almond slices behind the kiss. Hold briefly to
set.
6. When pudding mixture is cool stir in 4 oz of the whipped cream.
7. Pipe mousse into chocolate shells.

Works Cited:
Animal Cracker Sugar Cookies - Confessions Of A Cookbook Queen. (2016, March 25). Retrieved

from http://www.confessionsofacookbookqueen.com/animal-cracker-sugar-cookies/

Chocolate Mice: The Food of THE NIGHT CIRCUS. (2011, December 27). Retrieved from

https://www.sarawalker.ca/blog/2011/12/27/the-food-of-the-night-circus

Bali Tiger - Extinct Balinese Tiger - Extinct Species. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.itsnature.org/rip/bali-tiger/

Dinosaurs - Dinosaur, facts, pictures, and information. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.dinosaurfact.net/

The Dodo Bird | History, Story and Resources for Dodobirds. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.dodobird.net/
Hydrolysis. (2016, July 21). Retrieved from

https://chem.libretexts.org/Core/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry/Equilibria/Solubilty/Hydr

olysis

Ouroboros- A Thorough Explanation. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.tokenrock.com/explain-

ouroboros-70.html

North American Bear Center - Extinct Short-faced Bear. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.bear.org/website/bear-pages/extinct-short-faced-bear.html

Morgenstern, E. (2015). The Night Circus. New York City, NY: Random House.

Ouroboros. (2018, April 17). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouroboros

Q&A with The Night Circus's Erin Morgenstern - Chatelaine. (2012, November 1). Retrieved from

http://www.chatelaine.com/living/books/qa-with-the-night-circuss-erin-morgenstern/