What is your personal legend? How would you go about pursuing it? The Alchemist Paulo Coelho What is your personal legend? How would you go about pursuing it?

What is alchemy? Alchemy: [al-kuh-mee] -noun, plural -mies for 2. 1. a form of chemistry and speculative philosophy practiced in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and concerned principally with discovering methods for transmuting baser metals into gold and with finding a universal solvent and an elixir of life. 2. any magical power or process of transmuting a common substance, usually of little value, into a substance of great value.

What is an alchemist? a person who studies or practices alchemy First known use of word 14th century

Links The Alchemist: longer version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmNzndNLPKg&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmNzndNLPKg&feature=related Will Smith talks about the book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckhbz4xuLfM Paulo Coehlo himself on luck and coincidence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwkxzx6N6XE&feature=related What's on your "bucket list"?  http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/bucket+list The Alchemist in Search of the Philosophers Stone, by Joseph Wright. 1771.

What do YOU think? (Alchemy—spiritual evolution?) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7XX0DxUAHk&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active Power of Thought: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeFuc-qFKoA&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Biography Paulo Coelho on the Road to Santiago

Biography Paulo Coelho has led an extremely interesting life. Rebelliousness defined his youth. He was a hippie. He wrote popular lyrics for some of Brazil's most famous pop music stars, including Elis Regina and Raul Seixas. Shortly after, he worked as a journalist. In 1986 Paulo Coelho walked the Road to Santiago, a medieval pilgrim's route between France and Spain. He later described this experience in The Pilgrimage’, published in 1987. The following year, his second book The Alchemist established his worldwide fame.

Santiago---Cathedral The VR Romanesque Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

Structure of the Book Introduction by Coehlo. While it is not part of the actual story, it is definitely worth looking into because it describes the author’s thoughts and comments on his success and on the true meaning of the book and application into his life. The Prologue introduces the alchemist and tells a new version of the Greek story of Narcissus. The reader still may not have any idea what the book is going to be about, but the reader definitely knows to be ready for deeper meanings to be explored throughout the book.

Narcissus Explain the connection between the myth of Narcissus and The Alchemist. Why do you suppose Paulo Coelho selected this myth as a prologue to his tale?

Echo and Narcissus by John William Waterhouse

The book is divided into two parts: Part One describes how the boy comes to realize his Personal Legend, and ends by indicating significant growth in the boy. He has decided to be the main force in controlling his own destiny, and will not let misfortune distract him from his dream. Part Two ends with how he finally reaches the end of his journey, but then realizes where the treasure actually is. Each part includes stars to break up the text. There are 12 stars in Part One and 29 stars in Part Two, and each indicates a change of pace or subject within the text. The book closes with an Epilogue that tells how the boy recovers the treasure and sums up his journey.

Point of View, Narrative Voice This book is set up to feel like a story is being told to the reader. While the boy Santiago is the protagonist, and the story is about him, it is told by an omniscient narrator who is able to give insights into the personal growth of the boy. The narrator makes many statements about life and love, religion and destiny, and therefore gives the impression of the divine.

Andalusian Countryside

Andalusian shepherd modern day

Setting Because the nature of this book is journey-based, the setting changes throughout the boy’s travels. However, in general the setting is the path from southern Spain to the pyramids in Egypt.

EXCR: Research levanters, siroccos and other regional weather features described in the book.

Geographical Locations in the Novel: Al-Fayoum (oasis in Egypt) Tangier (p. 44) Coptic Monastery Tarifa Ceuta (p. 44) El Cairum (p.76) Moors (p.27) Salem (Jeru”salem”) Mecca (p. 54) Nile Sahara Desert (36)

Themes Bildungsroman— (novel of growth—coming of age story) major theme is the intellectual, moral, and spiritual development of a young protagonist (Santiago). His experiences cross many cultures, but the inner development echoes that of most students in secondary schools. Journey—The boy takes a literal journey across many lands in order to find the treasure that he seeks. The book raises the timeless question of whether the journey is more important to than the destination. Since the journey’s destination is where he began, the author leaves this question up for debate.

Theme Fate versus Will Fate is constantly intertwined with will How much of life is under one's control? How much is controlled by fate? The old king states that the world's greatest lie is that "at some point during our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate."

Themes Self-Discovery—Santiago must learn to trust himself and learn how to trust others as he travels to fulfill his Personal Legend. This is not unlike the struggles of those who read the book. Charity—Santiago develops his ability to speak in a universal language, which may be described as charity. He learns how to see people through eyes of love, just as Christ does.

Characters along the way. . . Explain the role the king of Salem plays in the boy's adventure. What does he represent to Santiago? What about the crystal merchant's role? Fatima's? The Alchemist's?

Melchizedek. Statue of Melchizedek. Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome. Who is Melchizedek? What role does he play in the Old Testament?

Foreshadowing There is both explicit and implicit foreshadowing throughout the book. The boy learns to read omens, which is an explicit symbol of foreshadowing in the boy’s life. For example, in the market place a young man warns Santiago of thievery, and then ends up to be a thief himself. How does his observation that the sheep“have forgotten to rely on their own instincts” foreshadow what might be coming in the novel?

Tone The tone is insightful and spiritual. The story is unique in the way that it seems both simple and complex at the same time.

Irony The old man tells the boy that he is the King of Salem. One possibility is that he is the King of Jerusalem. What might be the significance of this? Suppose that the reference is to Salem, Massachusetts. How might the connotation of this city change the significance to the novel? Explain how this could be a source of irony. How is the meeting with the refugee at the Pyramids a source of irony? How does the boy's original dream play a role in the irony? A main source of irony is found at the very end of the book

Symbolism Sheep Crystal The novel opens with Santiago thinking about his sheep. What does he observe about their existence? How might the sheep symbolize the way some people live their lives? How is it fitting that the boy should come to work for a crystal merchant? What might the crystal symbolize for the boy? What might it symbolize for the merchant?

The Alchemist’s Terms/Expressions: The Soul of the World Personal Legend Philosopher’s Stone ((p.66) Emerald Tablet (p. 126) Principle of Favorability (p.29) The Unspoken Language Elixir of Life (p. 66) Urim and Thummin (p. 30) The Language of the World Master Work (p.81)

Regional, Cultural or Spiritual Allusions and Terms: Narcissus (Prologue) Muslim Esperanto (p.66) Simum (p.148 King Melchizedek (Genesis14, Mecca Coptic (153,154) “King Most High”) Allah (p. 71, 97) Helvetius, Elias, Fulcanelli, Tiberius (p.158) Levanter (p.27) Geber (p.82) hookah (p. 114) Koran (p. 54) “Maktub” (p. 59) Scarab (p.161)

A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? Explain how Langston Hughes's poem "A Dream Deferred" relates to The Alchemist.

the Koran Explain the five obligations from the Koran that are expected of every Muslim. What do these obligations show about the culture of the people? How does the crystal merchant honor his obligations? Research EXCR: What are the Five Pillars of Islam (p. 54)? What is the Koran?

Study Questions

Multiple Choice Check According to the old man, what is the one great truth on this planet? A. All people can see both the past and the present if they are open to it. B. There is no such thing as free will. C. People have absolutely no control over their own destinies. D. Our deepest desires originated in the soul of the universe. Describe the shepherd boy's recurring dream. A. He dreamed about seven thin cows that ate seven fat cows yet grew no bigger. B. He dreamed of becoming a wealthy merchant, but it all turned to dust. C. He dreamed about his own death. D. He dreamed of being taken to the Pyramids and told of a treasure.

Prologue and pages 3-10 1. Why does Coelho open with the modified myth of Narcissus? How does the new version differ from the original one? How does it change the myth’s meaning? 2. What might the author be suggesting about how we perceive ourselves and the world?

pp. 10-25 3. The old man tells Santiago a story about a miner and an emerald. How does it connect to Santiago’s situation? 4. What does the old man mean when he says that “treasure is uncovered by the force of flowing water, and it is buried by the same currents?” What does this quote have to do with the story of the miner and the emerald?

Pp 25-33 5. What point does the old man make in the story about the boy in the castle and the drops of oil? (p. 30-32) How might the old man’s story apply to us in our modern lives?

Pages 51 – 61 6. How does the crystal merchant’s explanation for NOT taking the pilgrimage to Mecca highlight the difference between Santiago and the merchant? What effect does the merchant say Santiago has had on him?

Pages 61 (start after the asterisk)- 79 7. On page 78, the Englishman says that the progress made at the crystal shop is an example of the principle of the SOUL OF THE WORLD. What does he mean? How does he define this? 8. How does the Englishman connect the relationship between the caravan and the desert? Explore the concept of Soul of the World as different religions and philosophies define it.

Pages 80-87 9. What are the Englishman’s books about? Why is he in Africa? 10. Define the word Bedouins (p. 84) and explain what they have to do with the novel. 11. Define the word oasis (p. 86) and explain what it has to do with the novel.

Pages 87 (start after the asterisk)-104 12. The oasis is described in great detail. How do its lushness, laughter and color reflect what Santiago finds there? Use quotes to support your answer. 13. Where else in the novel does Coelho provide details about the physical setting in order to lend more meaning to the events which occur there?

14. Explain how Santiago’s union with Fatima represents the Language of the World (according to Santiago on page 98). Why does Fatima accept that her new husband wanders the desert, as she explains on page 98?

Pages 104 (start after the asterisk)- 116 15. What is the meaning of the two dead hawks in the oasis? How does this omen change Santiago’s status in society?

Pages 116- 132 16. During their trek through the desert the alchemist tells Santiago, “There is only one way to learn. It’s through action. Everything you need to know you have learned through your journey” (125). 17. What are some of the things that Santiago has learned on his journey through action? Use quotes to support your answer. (Minimum of 3 quotes/examples)

18.Why do you think the alchemist tells Santiago the story about the man’s dream about the two sons (the poet and the soldier)? 19. Why did Santiago have to go through the dangers of the tribal wars on the outskirts of the oasis in order to reach the Pyramids? At this point, the boy remembers the old proverb: “The darkest hour of the night came just before the dawn.” How does this apply to his situation now? At the end of the journey, why did the alchemist leave Santiago alone to complete it?

20. Earlier in the story, the alchemist told Santiago “when you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed.” At the end of the story, how did this simple lesson change Santiago’s life? How did it lead him back to the treasure he was looking for?

Vocabulary Alchemy Sacristy (163) Dialect (106) Infidel Scarab (161) Prognostication Oasis Parable Fable

Post-Reading What seems to be the main conflict in Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist? Fully describe the conflict and how it is (or is not) resolved. How does the fact that the novel is set in both Spain and Africa play an important part in the events of the plot? What elements of life in these countries seem to play a key role in the main conflict? How does the setting differ from your own culture? Describe the climax of the novel. How does the boy react to the climax?

Essay Prompt 1 Coelho states that “simple things are the most valuable and only wise people appreciate them.” Produce a written or artistic response (or bring something to class) which depicts something that is “simple” yet valuable to you. Be prepared to explain specifically why/ how the item is valuable.

Essay Prompt 2 The alchemist (in the form of Melchizedek) says to Santiago, “When you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish comes true.” Write or create a response which captures a time in your own life when you had a wish, and you felt that the whole universe conspired for OR against you. What happened to make you feel that way? Did your wish come true?

Essay Prompt 3 Santiago is guided by his dreams and by omens which appear to him throughout his journey. Write about a noteworthy dream you have had, or about an omen which guided you somehow during the course of your life. How did you interpret the dream or omen, and how did it influence your life?

Essay Prompt 4 The old man states that the “world’s greatest lie….is that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate.” Do you, like the old man, believe this is a lie, and that we are always in control of our destinies? Why/ why not? Why do you think people believe the “World’s greatest lie”? Or…..Write about/explore artistically a time in your life when you felt as though you had “lost control,” and your fate was being determined by other forces. Why did you feel that way? Did you regain control?

Essay Prompt 5 Santiago is told that “people are afraid to pursue their most important dreams because they feel they don’t deserve them, or that they’ll be unable to achieve them.” Create a written or artistic response to the following: Do you have a goal or dream which intimidates you? Why do you feel unworthy or fearful of it? What practical steps might you take to make the goal more accessible or easier to accomplish? On the other hand, are there some dreams which we are correct to fear? Do you believe some dreams should simply remain as dreams? Why/why not?

Critical Analysis with Art Characterization: Look closely at the people in the painting. List at least three possible character traits they might possess based on your examination. Also, use strong adjectives to write a description of each person in the painting. Setting: Based on the background of the painting, give at least four adjective-adjective-noun combinations that describe the setting (such as "big blue house"). Symbolism: Examine at least four objects in the painting and suggest why the artist decided to include them. What might they symbolize? Situation (Conflict): What story is the painting telling? What is going on? How does the character relate to the setting? What do the objects have to do with the character or the setting?

A Desert Encampment by Gustave Achille Guillaumet (French, 1840-1887)

Echo and Narcissus by John William Waterhouse

The Return (Hagar and Ishmael) by Gustave Boulanger (French, 1824-1888)

A Mediterranean Courtyard by Jean-Francois Raffaelli (French, 1850-1924)