The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho
A Lesson Guide
(Proposed Sophomore Reading)
Caressa Roberts

The Alchemist
Book length 168 pages
TEKS
10.5 Fiction (understand, make inferences and draw conclusions about the structure and elements of fiction and provide evidence from text to support their understanding)
A. analyze isolated scenes and their contribution to the success of the plot as a whole in a variety of works of fiction;
B. analyze differences in the characters’ moral dilemmas in works of fiction across different countries or cultures;
C. evaluate the connection between forms of narration (e.g., unreliable, omniscient) and tone in works of fiction;
D. demonstrate familiarity with works by authors from non-English-speaking literary traditions with emphasis on 20 th century world literature
10.2 Theme and Genre (analyze, make inferences and draw conclusions about theme and genre in different cultural, historical, and contemporary contexts and provide evidence from the text to support their understanding)
A. compare and contrast differences in similar themes expressed in different time periods;
B. analyze archetypes (e.g., journey of a hero, tragic flaw) in mythic, traditional and classical literature;
C. relate the figurative language of a literary work to its historical and cultural setting
Lesson Cycle (four to six weeks)

Vocabulary (words in the novel)
Adapted from BYU abrade p. 161 agitated (128) alchemy p.66
avid p. 159 balk p. 75 brandish (112) capricious p. 71 centurion (158) conspire contemplate (134) dialect (106) disciple (153) elixir (133) exultant p. 92 fixedly (136) flourish (145) garbed p. 135 habituate p. 105 hookah p. 57 incessant p. 62 incredulous p. 82 infidel (34) intuitive p. 73 levanter p. 27 luminous p. 130
“maktub” p. 59 mania p. 81
Geographical Locations in the Novel:
Andalusia
Tarifa
Salem (Jeru”salem”)
Tangier (p. 44)
Ceuta (p. 44)
Mecca (p. 54) monotony (124) nostalgia p. 74 obligation p. 54 omen p. 28 parable (p. 32) primitive p. 83 prognostication (111) realize p. 55 recount (153) rueful p. 53 sacristy p. 163 sacristy (163) scabbard (37) scarab (161) scimitar (112) sentinel p. 88 sirocco (146) suffuse p. 105 teem p. 42 tether (151) tracts (126) traitorous p. 116 trajectory p. 38 treasonous (129) proprietor p. 4 zenith p. 8
Al-Fayoum (oasis in Egypt)
El Cairum (p.76)
Nile
Coptic Monastery
Moors (p.27)
Sahara Desert (36)

Questions for Novel Study
Prologue
1. Who is Narcissus? ___________________________________________________
2. What is the theme or moral of the story of Narcissus? _______________________
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3. The alchemist believes this is a “lovely story.” What literary device do you believe is being used? ___________________________________________________________
Part I (pgs. 3-47)
1. Why does Santiago decide to sleep in the abandoned church? ____________________
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2. What is the significance of the name Santiago? What does it mean?________________
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3. What is Santiago’s profession? ____________________________________________
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4. Predict- How does Santiago know “big” words like sacristy? ____________________
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5. What is the significance of the story taking place at dusk ? ____________________
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6. What clues from the story let you know that the dream is important? ______________
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7. Why does Santiago become angry with the sheep? _____________________________
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8. What are the sheep a symbol for? How do you know? __________________________
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9. What prompts Santiago to read to the sheep? _________________________________
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10. What is the importance of the girl in the town? What archetype or symbol does she represent? _______________________________________________________________
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11. What emotions does she cause Santiago to have? (3 adjectives) __________________
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12. Where is Andalusia? ___________________________________________________
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13. Who are the Moors? ____________________________________________________
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14. What makes Santiago believe that his days will never be the same? ______________
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15. What does Santiago believe caused him to have thoughts of killing his sheep?
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16. What languages does Santiago speak? _____________________________________
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17. How did Santiago learn to read? How is this different from what he tells the girl?
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18. Why does Santiago want to travel? ________________________________________
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