Literary terms applied The Alchemist Literary terms applied

Personification When a nonliving thing is ___________________________________ “The wind’s curiosity was aroused…” (147) “The wind was a proud being, and it was becoming irritated with what the boy was saying.” (147) “The sun thought about that, and decided to shine more brightly.” (150)

Irony The opposite of ___________________ “‘That’s the Philosopher’s Stone and the Elixir of Life. It’s the Master Work of the Alchemists.’ …The Arabs laughed at him, and the alchemist laughed along. They thought his answer was amusing…” (133) “When you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed.” (134)

Humor “’If I’m not able to turn myself into the wind, we’re going to die,’ the boy said. ‘Why feed your falcon?’ ‘You’re the one who may die,’ the alchemist said. ‘I already know how to turn myself into the wind.’” (143)

Imagery Language that appeals ________________ “They were tribesmen dressed in blue, with black rings surrounding their turbans. Their faces were hidden behind blue veils, with only their eyes showing.” (139) “The desert nights were cold, and were becoming darker and darker as the phases of the moon passed.” (124)

Foreshadowing When an author ____________________ “…before a dream is realized, the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way…that’s the point at which most people give up…” (132) “The sun was setting when the boy’s heart sounded a danger signal.” (138)

Simile Compares two things _______________ “The alchemist fell as silent as the desert…” (137) “If what you had found was only a moment of light, like the explosion of a star, you would find nothing on your return.” (123) “The alchemist’s words echoed out like a curse.” (138)

Metaphor Compares two things ________________ “Because a grain of sand is a moment of creation…” (131) “The sun was turned into a golden disk.” (148) “…the desert only moments ago had been endless and free, and now it was an impenetrable wall.” (141)

Allusion A reference to another _________________ “’My Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. But only speak a word and my servant will be healed.’” (158) (Luke 7) “everything would be a symphony of peace if the hand that wrote all this had stopped on the fifth day of creation” “If there hadn’t been a sixth day, man would not exist” (149-50)

Motif: the wind A recurring ________________________ Has many names: levanter, sirocco Is personified and has character Positive or negative force? Direct plot device: Santiago becomes wind Romantic: brings perfume and a kiss Forces of nature, the unknown Represents travel/the whole world