Artemis Fowl

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“The Book of Our Class”

In this activity, students will create their own language in order to analyze the importance of the Book in Artemis Fowl.

Artemis discovers how to decode Gnommish, the symbols-based language of the People, in order to translate the Book and learn more about the fairies and the rules of their society.

First, in pairs or small groups, discuss the following questions:

1. Why is the Book significant to the overall story in Artemis Fowl?

2. How does Artemis use the Book to manipulate the fairies?

3. What does the Book represent on a symbolic level?

Share your takeaways with the class as a whole. Next, create a language based on symbols of your own. Choose one symbol for each letter. Write your name in your new language; then construct a short message in your language for others to decode.

Afterwards, consider the following:

• What does your language show about you? Are there particular symbols you feel represent your traits or skills?
• How did you decide which symbol would represent which letter?
• How might Gnommish represent the traits and skills of the People?

Teaching Suggestion: Students may enjoy creating their own language and having others attempt to translate their messages with or without decoding keys. In the discussion, encourage them to consider other world-building tasks that Colfer completed in writing Artemis Fowl in addition to creating a language.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who may not be suited to drawing symbols due to fine motor skills or other learning differences, they might instead translate the lines at the bottom of their edition of Artemis Fowl.

• Omniglot has compiled a key between the English alphabet and Gnommish.

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Several references are made to the environment and pollution throughout the novel.

• What is the connection between the fairies and the planet? (topic sentence)
• Name three instances in which the environment or Earth is mentioned and explain how the circumstances described in the story support your topic sentence.
• Finally, in your concluding sentence or sentences, connect your argument back to the theme of Destruction Resulting from Human Greed.

2. Both Artemis and Foaly use technology to achieve their ends.

• Why is science and technology important in this novel? (topic sentence)
• How does each character’s technology work with and/or in lieu of magic? Supply and discuss three examples from the text to support your argument.
• Finally, in your concluding sentence or sentences, briefly explain your argument’s connection to the theme of The Blending of Science and Magic.

3. Colfer makes frequent use of Irish myths and legends in Artemis Fowl.

• Why is it important that the novel takes place in Ireland? (topic sentence)
• How do myths and legends come to life in this text? Point out and explain three examples.
• Finally, in your concluding sentence or sentences, briefly evaluate the impact on the reader of bringing myths and legends into a contemporary text.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Artemis is torn between his desire to restore the family fortune and his emerging sense of ethics. He himself even wonders how far he will go in his kidnapping of Holly. Write an essay in which you discuss how Artemis grows as a character throughout this novel. How does this experience affect him? Does he let others make a difference in his life? What are his limits? Connect your discussion to either the theme of Caring for One’s Family and One’s People or Destruction Resulting from Human Greed.

2. Colfer makes several references to the environmental destruction wrought by humans from the fairies’ perspectives. Why does Colfer connect the motif of Irish myths and legends to Destruction Resulting from Human Greed? Write an essay in which you determine the most important environmental lesson the author wants readers to take away from this novel. Use at least three examples from the text to support your thesis.

3. What role does magic play in this novel? How is it intertwined with science? Write an essay in which you make an argument about these two entities as they are used by the novel’s characters. Ultimately, connect it back to the theme of The Blending of Science and Magic.

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-book review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. What is the effect of the Prologue’s account of Artemis Fowl on the readers?

A) It prepares readers to be disappointed, detailing a boring and unrelatable character.

B) It builds tension by suggesting that Artemis’s villainous enterprises are historic in scope.

C) It suggests that the book is inappropriate and should not be read by anyone.

D) It decreases tension by revealing the main points of the story.

2. Why is the Book important as a motif?

A) It provides the ground rules for governing fairy behavior, rules that Artemis exploits.

B) It symbolizes childlike wonder and Artemis Fowl is ultimately a story about curiosity.

C) It secretly holds the gold that Artemis wishes to have, but he is not clever enough to access it.

D) It reminds readers that Artemis himself is still a naïve child searching for a treasure.

3. What legendary figure is Artemis thinking of when he initially imagines that every fairy has a cache of gold?

A) An elf

B) A troll

C) A leprechaun

D) A centaur

4. Why might the fairies feel a particular empathy for damage to the planet done by humans?

A) They will use any excuse to blame humans.

B) They refuse to accept that humas live above ground.

C) The earth is their home.

D) The earth is the source of their magic.

5. What does Holly’s decision to intervene in the troll’s attack on a village to save humans specifically foreshadow?

A) Her unwillingness to save humans

B) Her later fight with a dwarf

C) Her empathy for Juliet as an innocent human

D) Her desire for vengeance against Fowl

6.  To what is LEPrecon an allusion?

A) Leprechauns

B) Trolls

C) St. Patrick

D) Ireland in general

7. Why does Artemis feel sympathetic to Holly when he first kidnaps her?

A) Because he thinks she will lose her job

B) Because she is a girl and reminds him of his mother and Juliet

C) Because he is worried she will not survive the ordeal

D) Because she seems like this is just another bad thing that’s happened to her

8. How does Artemis trick the fairies when he says that none of them may enter his house while he is alive?

A) He tricks them into thinking that he made a mistake.

B) He tricks them into thinking that they will never be able to enter his house.

C) He tricks them into thinking that he is letting Holly go.

D) He tricks them into thinking that he doesn’t want the gold after all.

9. How does Commander Root compare with Lieutenant Cudgeon?

A) Cudgeon is cowardly; Root is unconcerned with danger.

B) Cudgeon is brave; Root is cowardly and unwilling to endanger himself.

C) Cudgeon is sly and willing to take action; Root waits for things to happen.

D) Cudgeon is unwilling to put himself in harm’s way; Root won’t risk his followers’ lives.

10. How does Artemis’s intelligence get in his way?

A) He relies on his intelligence to get him through life, but he does not have any common sense.

B) He relies on his intelligence to make him into a good person.

C) He relies on his intelligence to make the most logical choices, but he does not always consider their ethical ramifications.

D) He relies on his intelligence rather than his physical strength; sometimes, he needs to fight.

11. Why is it significant that Butler leaves Artemis alone to find Juliet?

A) He has never abandoned Artemis before.

B) He shows that Juliet he does care about her after all.

C) He is siding with the fairies and leaves Artemis to what will happen without his help.

D) He needs to protect Mrs. Fowl.

12. Why is Holly’s decision to heal Butler significant beyond saving his life?

A) It helps her to manipulate him later when she wants him on her side.

B) It helps her to convince Juliet to betray Artemis.

C) It helps her to take over the LEP.

D) It helps her to show him that she is good.

13. Which of the following best describes Artemis’s reaction to being punched by Holly?

A) He is made even more furious.

B) He is humbled and rendered speechless.

C) He is happy someone finally called him out for his actions.

D) He is scared that she is going to kill him.

14. Why is Artemis especially grateful that Butler never called for help when the troll attacked?

A) If he had called for help, Artemis would have had to face the troll.

B) If he had called for help, Mrs. Fowl would have known what Artemis was up to.

C) If he had called for help, Juliet would’ve lost her life.

D) If he had called for help, the LEP would have been able to enter Fowl Manor.

15.  What does Artemis’s decision to ask Holly to heal his mother symbolize?

A) That he is not totally clouded by greed

B) That his sense of guilt has increased

C) That he hopes that he and Holly can be friends

D) That he has thought of everything

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. At what points in the text might readers root for Artemis? Why might readers find this anti-hero just as likeable or sympathetic as a traditional hero?

2. What is Holly’s overall role in this novel, besides the subject of a kidnapping? Why are her traits and flaws important?