Paulo Coelho
What is your personal legend? How would you go about
pursuing it?

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.
a person who
studies or
practices
alchemy
First known
use of word
14th century
The Alchemist: longer version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmNzn
dNLPKg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmNzn
dNLPKg&feature=related
Will Smith talks about the book:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckhbz4x
uLfM
Paulo Coehlo himself on luck and
coincidence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwkxzx6
N6XE&feature=related What's
on your "bucket
list"? http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/bu
cket+list
The Alchemist in Search of the Philosophers Stone, by Joseph Wright. 1771.
(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=FeFucqFKoA&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=act
ive
Paulo Coelho on the Road to Santiago
 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.
The VR Romanesque
Cathedral of
Santiago de
Compostela
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
Al-Fayoum (oasis in
Egypt)
Tarifa
El Cairum (p.76)
Salem (Jeru”salem”)
Nile
Tangier (p. 44)
Coptic Monastery
Ceuta (p. 44)
Moors (p.27)
Mecca (p. 54)
Sahara Desert (36)
 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.
 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."
 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.
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?

Statue of
Melchizedek. Santa
Maria Maggiore,
Rome.
Who is Melchizedek? What
role does he play in the Old
Testament?
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?
 The tone is insightful and spiritual.
The story is unique in the way that
it seems both simple and complex
at the same time.
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
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 Soul of the World
 Personal Legend
 Philosopher’s Stone
 Emerald Tablet (p. 126)




((p.66)
 Principle of Favorability
The Unspoken Language (p.29)
Elixir of Life (p. 66)
 Urim and Thummin (p.
30)
The Language of the
World
Master Work (p.81)
 Narcissus (Prologue)
 Muslim
 Esperanto (p.66)
 Simum (p.148
 King Melchizedek
 Mecca





(Genesis14,
“King Most High”)
Helvetius, Elias,
Fulcanelli,
Geber (p.82)
Koran (p. 54)
Scarab (p.161)
 Coptic (153,154)
 Allah (p. 71, 97)
 Tiberius (p.158)
 Levanter (p.27)
 hookah (p. 114)
 “Maktub” (p. 59)
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.
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
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.
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?
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?
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?
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?
 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.
 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.
 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?
15. What is the meaning of the two dead hawks in the
oasis? How does this omen change Santiago’s status
in society?
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?
 Alchemy
 Dialect (106)
 Scarab (161)
 Oasis
 Sacristy (163)
 Infidel
 Prognostication
 Parable
 Fable
 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?
 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.
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?
 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?
 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?
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?
 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?