The Alchemist Literary Analysis Essay – EXTRA CREDIT
Directions:
Choose the theme from The Alchemist that is most evident or powerful. You will include quotes from the story as
your concrete detail and comment on how those details support your thesis.
Choose ONE (1) of the BOLDED themes:
The theme of one’s own Personal Legend recurs many times in the story. It refers to that which is your own dream or goal in life
and is part of the path God has created for you. You have the free will to turn your back on your Personal Legend, but it is a
decision which you could live to regret. Most people never achieve it because it is a journey filled with hardships and many turn
back. For those who continue their search, the fulfillment of their Personal Legend is immensely satisfying and rewarding.
The theme of perseverance is also an important idea. Many times, Santiago finds himself wanting to turn back and it’s only when
he reaches deep within himself that he finds the strength of will to go on. It teaches us all about how good things come to those
who reach out for them, not to those who wait! Life is a struggle no matter what path we may choose, but if we stay strong and
continue on, the consequences are all good.
The theme of the Soul of the World is a theme which makes the reader think about how we are all connected in some way to
each other, to the animals around, to the plant life, and to every element created by God. The Master Work is actually his
creation of earth and everything on it and around it in six days. So we are all an element of his creation. Once we realize that, we
can find our Personal Legend and understand the language of the world.
The theme of faith/positive thinking is also an intrinsic part of this story. Without faith that he could succeed and without the
faith others had in him, Santiago would have been lost. Santiago’s faith also made him able to find the positive aspects of
seemingly negative situations. Again, it is a message to us all about believing in ourselves and our part of the Soul of the World.
The final theme is very close to perseverance, but refers to the need to confront the four obstacles of life and overcome them.
This refers to the obstacles found in Coelho’s Introduction. If we can climb over these four walls, our treasure will be close at
hand and we will have discovered our fulfilled our own Personal Legend.
Source for theme explanation: Pinkmonkey.com
PROMPT:
In a 4-paragraph essay, decide which of the following themes is the most prominent/important/relevant in The
Alchemist and explain why. Also, consider how this theme functions throughout the book.
ASSIGNMENT SPECIFIC ELEMENTS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Introductory Paragraph: includes hook (general thoughts/ideas about your theme), title, author, précis,
thesis that directly answers the prompt with 2 reasons (your two body paragraphs)
Body Paragraph 1: Should have ample support (quotes and passages) as well as topic and conclusion sentences.
This proves your reason number 1.
Body Paragraph 2: Should have ample support (quotes and passages) as well as topic and conclusion sentences.
This proves your reason number 2.
Conclusion Paragraph: revisits thesis and explains with convincing commentary the reasons that support it.
Leaves the reader with general thoughts regarding your theme, possibly unrelated to Santiago or The
Alchemist.
MLA Format with Works Cited: original title, 1” margins, heading, page numbers, spacing, TLQ’s, internal
citations, works cited format (see MLA handbook)
Insight: Did you think deeply and portray your thoughts using mature diction, present tense, and NO 1st
person (“I think the most important theme is…”).
Argument
5 4 3 2 1
Application: Does the writing have an argumentative thesis that answers the prompt?
Analysis: Is the argument divided into logical parts? Are provoking questions addressed? Are terms defined?
Synthesis: Are the logical parts related to the whole? Is an understanding of the big picture evident?
Evaluation: Are opinions presented in arguable fashion? Are judgments made? Is a point made?
Development
5 4 3 2 1
Evidence: Are specific, concrete details presented? Are the concrete details accurate and true?
Accuracy: Are the concrete details introduced/blended accurately?
Relevance: Is the evidence relevant to the argument? Is the relevance explained? Does it prove your point?
Substance: Is enough evidence presented to prove your point?
Organization
5 4 3 2 1
Unity & Coherence: Does all of the writing center on the argument?
Order: Are the argument and evidence arranged in the most convincing order?
Structure: Are introduction, thesis, body paragraphs, and conclusion constructed appropriately? Are paragraphs introduced,
maintained, and concluded?
Presentation: Are symmetry, parallel structure, transitions & variation employed effectively? Is the writing’s length appropriate
to the argument?
Expression
5 4 3 2 1
Style: Is the style appropriate to the assignment – formal, informal, scholarly, personal, or creative?
Voice: Is a recognizable identity present? Is the audience understood? Is the tone appropriate?
Diction & Language: Are the most effective words chosen? Is rhetorical or figurative language employed appropriately?
Clarity: Is the writing clear, active, readable, and appropriately concise?
Conventions
5 4 3 2 1
Diction & Spelling: Are the right words spelled correctly?
Grammar & Usage: Are person, tense, subject/verb agreement, & subordination used appropriately? Are words and phrases
used according to custom?
Mechanics & Punctuation: Is sentence construction sound? Are punctuation marks used appropriately?
MLA: Is the proper formatting applied to font, margins, spacing, & citations?
TOTAL: ________/100
Rationale for numeric values:
5 Skill or element applied subtly, sophisticatedly, with superior insight & complexity.
4 Skill or element applied with greater competence and with greater insight & complexity, but lacking the distinction of a 5.
3 Skill or element applied competently.
2 Skill or element approaching competence.
1 Little evidence of skill or element.
The Alchemist Essay Brainstorming Chart
Fill this out completely to help you pick which theme you would like to write about. Remember that you will need a total of 4-6
quotes TOTAL for your essay.
Theme
1. Personal
Legend
2. Perseverance
3. Soul of the
World
4. Faith/
Positive
Thinking
5. Obstacles
Concrete Details (examples of the theme)
A.
Commentary (how the quote illustrates the theme)
A.
B.
B.
A.
A.
B.
B.
A.
A.
B.
B.
A.
A.
B.
B.
A.
A.
B.
B.
The Alchemist Essay Brainstorming Chart
You can use this chart if you have settled on your theme. Don’t forget to include page numbers for quotes!
THEME:
Concrete Details (examples of the theme)
A.
Commentary (how the quote illustrates the theme)
A.
B.
B.
C.
C.
D.
D.
E.
E.
F.
F.
Name
Miss Trigillo
English 1, Period ___
Day Month Year
Original Title
Hook ______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Précis ____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Thesis statement ____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________.
Hook = 1 sentence – This can be a quote, a question, or a startling fact ~ this gets the readers attention.
Précis = 2-3 sentences - Introduce the author, title, and main characters and include a short summary of the
novel
Thesis statement = 1 sentence – This tells the reader what your essay is going to be about and includes general
examples of what will be discussed in your body paragraphs. Make a claim and give 2 reasons.
Topic Sentence___________________________________________________________.
TLQ/CD#1________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________.
Commentary_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.
Commentary_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.
TLQ/CD#2________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________.
Commentary_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.
Commentary_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.
Conclusion Sentence_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________.
Topic Sentence – introduces the body paragraph with one of the reasons from your thesis statement.
Concrete detail – must be a quote from the novel with proper introduction/lead-in (TLQ) and citation (page
number).
Commentary – explain how the quote illustrates the theme/how the quote backs your thesis up. *Do not use “I”
or “You”.
Conclusion Sentence – wrap up the paragraph and transition into the next
Topic Sentence___________________________________________________________.
TLQ/CD#3________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________.
Commentary_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.
Commentary_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.
TLQ/CD#4________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________.
Commentary_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.
Commentary_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.
Conclusion Sentence_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________.
Topic Sentence – introduces the body paragraph with one of the reasons from your thesis statement.
Concrete detail – must be a quote from the novel with proper introduction/lead-in (TLQ) and citation (page
number).
Commentary – explain how the quote illustrates the theme/how the quote backs your thesis up. *Do not use “I”
or “You”.
Conclusion Sentence – wrap up the paragraph and transition into the next
Re-visit thesis statement________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________.
Re-visit the hook ___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________.
Big picture ________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________.
Re-visit thesis statement – re-visit your entire thesis statement from your introduction paragraph. DO NOT just
restate the thesis word by word… it should “echo” or resemble the thoughts expressed in the thesis.
Re-visit the hook – explain the hook from your introduction paragraph. If you posed a question, answer the
question and tie it into your essay. If you used a quote, a definition, or a fact, explain it and how it ties into your
essay.
You also want to make larger connections and explain any “big picture” revelations about your topic.