The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Reading Calendar 2010-2011
Week of September 20-24
Week of September 27- October 1
Week of October 4-8
Week of October 11-15
Week of October 18-22
Week of October 25-29
Week of November 1-5
Week of November 8-12
Week of December 6
Introduction, Prologue-Page 25
Pages 25-47;
Reading Quiz on Prologue-25
Pages 51-79;
Reading Quiz on 25-47
Pages 80-116
Pages 116-132
Pages 133-167
Packet Due
EXAM
ESSAY DUE
Preliminary Notes About the Novel:
The Alchemist is written in a fable format. Generally speaking, fables use recognizable, simple characters and
settings in order to illustrate a simple truth about life or human nature.
The novel integrates ideas and philosophies of many faiths and historical periods. Many of these ideas
concern the pursuit of truth, one’s intended destiny and the attainment of personal happiness. Coelho
refers to these combined elements as one’s “Personal Legend.” He tells the story of Santiago in order to
teach us how we may find and live out our own Personal Legends. These ideas, though, have been explored
since ancient times in one form or another by countless faiths and peoples. Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam,
Taoism, Christianity, Judaism, countless tribal cultures, in addition to ancient and modern philosophers, all
attempt to define the idea of one’s Personal Legend (though they may call it by different names), and all
subscribe paths to achieving personal fulfillment. Thus, although the legend is about no faith or philosophy
in particular, it is about all faiths and philosophies.
Alchemy is the medieval “science” of transforming rocks into gold. Alchemy plays an important part in the
plot (literal level) of the story, but it also becomes a symbol, or allegorical device, in the legend Coelho is
really using characters, events and symbols as tools to show us how to achieve spiritual alchemy. In other
words, how do we find or recognize the “gold,” -- our Personal Legend-- in the “rocks” of the everyday,
ordinary, simple details of our lives?
In The Alchemist, each character, place, and idea has a meaning beyond the regular “literal” (actual)
meaning in the story. They also have a “figurative”meaning (a comparison that seems dissimilar but actually
relates to your experience in the real world) As Santiago discovers, his treasure of “gold” is not literally
“gold” and not far away, not glittery, not exotic, and not complicated, but it may require a journey of
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courage, faith and perseverance to discover what it is and where it is hidden, the reader can relate the literal
meaning of “gold” in the novel to their own “figurative” gold in the real world which is achieving one’s own
dreams, whatever they may be.
In an allegorical novel, the characters and events are all symbolic and your job in reading this novel is to
figure out how, even the simplest objects, places, and people, represent importance beyond what they
represent in the novel. THIS IS YOUR CHALLENGE……….
Places/Terms/Vocabulary
Geographical Locations in the Novel:
Andalusia
El Cairum (p.76)
Al-Fayoum (oasis in Egypt)
Salem (Jeru”salem”)
Tarifa
Nile
Tangier (p. 44)
Coptic Monastery
Ceuta (p. 44)
Moors (p.27)
Mecca (p. 54)
Sahara Desert (36)
Regional, Cultural or Spiritual Allusions and Terms:
Narcissus (Prologue)
Helvetius, Elias, Fulcanelli,
Esperanto (p.66)
Geber (p.82)
King Melchizedek
Koran (p. 54)
(Genesis14, “King Most
Scarab (p.161)
High”)
Muslim
Simum (p.148
Mecca
Coptic (153,154)
Allah (p. 71, 97)
Tiberius (p.158)
Levanter (p.27)
hookah (p. 114)
“Maktub” (p. 59)
Personal Legend
Emerald Tablet (p. 126)
Principle of Favorability
(p.29)
Urim and Thummin (p. 30)
The Alchemist’s Terms/Expressions:
The Soul of the World
Philosopher’s Stone (p.66)
The Unspoken Language
Elixir of Life (p. 66)
The Language of the World
Master Work (p.81)
Vocabulary:
scabbard (37)
treasonous (129)
elixir (133)
scimitar (112)
infidel (34)
sacristy (163)
scarab (161)
avidly (159)
centurion (158)
tracts (126)
tether (151)
sirocco (146)
brandish (112)
fixedly (136)
dialect (106)
prognostication (111)
flourish (145)
Assignments:
1) Read and annotate the novel
2) Complete the literal and figurative charts
3) Answer Study Questions
YOUR OUTSIDE READING READING PROJECT IS TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
 Know Coehlo’s FOUR OBSTACLES. They are the basis for your whole understanding of
this novel.
 Annotate the novel as you read, so your novel will become a source of knowledge. Make
sure you have the FOUR OBSTACLES annotated which margin notes about your
personal comments about each obstacle that the main character will overcome in the
novel. As you read the novel, remember, different people, places, and events will
represent Coehlo’s obstacles. You must look for them.
 Briefly write the answers to the attached study guide questions as you read. They will help
you remember the important facts, people, and events in the novel. Read the questions
before you read the chapters and annotate as you go, so you can find the information
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when you return to answer the questions. If you have them all filled out, you should have
an excellent study guide for the exam for this novel.
 The Literal & Figurative Chart. You will be filling it out as you read.
 Explain the literal meaning of each example; this is what it means in the story (for
Santiago). This is actually easy.
 Explain the figurative meaning of each example. This is the meaning beyond
Santiago’s story, the deeper meaning that we can use to relate to life in general. It is
what you believe the literal person/place/idea represents for real individual’s lives
outside of the novel, and how it relates to Coehlo’s four obstacles. Explain in detail
because the figurative meaning is the most important aspect that reveals your personal
understanding of this very symbolic story. By the way, students sometimes see the
“figurative meaning” differently. That is okay. We will share our own interpretations
of the figurative meanings in a book club meeting when everyone is done.
THE ALCHEMIST LITERAL & FIGURATIVE CHART
PART ONE OF THE ALCHEMIST
Allegorical Character
Literal Meaning
Figurative Meaning
Object, Place, People, Concepts
Sheep
Gypsy
Santiago’s Father
Andalusia
The Merchant Girl
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Jacket
Melchizedek
The Principle of
Favorability
Salem
Baker
Omens
Personal Legend
Levanter
Urim and
Thummim
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Tangier
The Thief
PART TWO OF THE ALCHEMIST
Allegorical Character
Literal Meaning
Figurative Meaning
Object, Place, People, Concepts
Crystal Merchant
Mecca
Maktub
Desert
Englishman
Oasis
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Alchemy/Alchemist
Philosopher’s
Stone
Language of the
World
Caravan Driver
Soul of the World
Emerald Tablet
Elixir of Life
Fatima
Pyramids of Egypt
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Sycamore Tree
(at the sacristy)
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Study Guide Questions
Directions: Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. They can be hand
written or typed.
Prologue and pages 3-10*
1. Why do you think Paulo Coelho uses the legend of Narcissus in the prologue and
why does the lake weep for Narcissus?
2. The novel opens with Santiago thinking about his sheep. What does he observe about
their existence and how do the sheep symbolize the way some people live their lives?
Why does he say they “have forgotten to rely on their own instincts”?
3. How does Santiago’s father react when his son tells him that he wants to travel and
which of Coelho’s Obstacles does this relate to?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Pages 10*- 25*
Why do you think the old fortuneteller (the Gypsy) says that Santiago’s dream is
difficult to interpret and why is Santiago suspicious of her?
How are Santiago and “the merchant girl” different? What does she make him feel that
he has never felt before and which Obstacle does this relate to?
What is Santiago’s reoccurring dream?
What does Melchizedek say is the “world’s greatest lie.”?
The old man tells Santiago a story about a miner and an emerald. How does it
connect to Santiago’s situation?
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 the Gypsy ask in return for her advice and what does Melchizedek? What is
the difference between the two requests?
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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1.
2.
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5.
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7.
Pages 25*-47*
When Santiago climbs to the top of the castle in Andalucia what does he see that
helps him make a decision about his journey?
How does the King assist Santiago in recognizing omens and what omen does
Santiago first notice after the King tells him that he “will have to follow the omens” to
find his treasure?
Why does the old man give Santiago Urim and Thummim?
What point does the old man’s story about the boy in the castle and the drops of oil
make?
What was frustrating to Santiago when he first lands in Tangiers, Africa?
What happens in Tangiers that almost makes Santiago want to return home?
Pages 51 – 79*
What lessons does Santiago learn by working at the crystal shop? List as many as you
can. Why do you think Coelho chose to have Santiago work in a crystal shop?How
does the crystal merchant’s explanation for NOT taking the pilgrimage to Mecca
highlight the difference between Santiago and the merchant?
List all the different ways, Santiago has an effect on the merchant.
What does the merchant say about Santiago’s journey home when Santiago asks for
his blessing?
What changes Santiago’s mind about going home and where does he decide to go
instead?
The Englishman and his goals are described on pages 65-70. What are they? What
does the Englishman demonstrate to Santiago that he already knows?
Who are the “hooded men” that appear and why is the caravan leader very cautious in
traveling?
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?
How does the Englishman connect the idea to the relationship between the caravan
and the desert?
Pages 80-87*
What are the Englishman’s books about and Why is the Englishman in Africa?
What is the “Emerald Tablet”?
What is an “elixir” and the meaning of “The Elixir of Life”?
Describe the solid part of “The Philosopher’s Stone.”
What is the advice of the camel driver of the caravan?
Define the word Bedouins (p. 84) and explain what they have to do with the novel.
Define the word oasis (p. 86) and explain what it has to do with the novel.
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Pages 87-104*
The oasis is described in great detail. How does its lushness, laughter and color reflect
what Santiago finds there?
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?
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?
How are Santiago’s feelings different for Fatima than for “the merchant girl?”
Pages 104*- 132*
What is the meaning of the two dead hawks and the falcon in the oasis?
How does this omen change Santiago’s status in society.
Who was the boy who saved Egypt through his interpretations of the Pharaoh’s
dreams?
Who is the man on horseback and what does he believe is “the quality most essential
to understanding the Language of the World?
What words does the alchemist say that echo those of the Melchizedek?
Pages 132-152*
When they are captured by a tribe, the Alchemist claims that the boy is able to do
something magical. What is it?
Santiago is upset that the alchemist gives all his money to the Arab chief. What is the
alchemist’s reason for his action?
Who does Santiago call upon to help him perform this magical feat when the desert
cannot help him?
What is the reason that Santiago gives for the existence of “alchemy?”
When Santiago is told by the sun to “Speak to the hand that wrote all,”who does this
refer to?
Pages 153-167*
What is the legend that the Arabs recount for generations thereafter?
What magical feat does the alchemist perform at the monastery?
The alchemist describes a dream to the boy about a centurion. What did that
centurion say that was remembered for all time?
When Santiago gets to the Dunes and sees the Pyramids, what does he see in the sand
and what is important about this event?
What happens at the Pyramids that causes Santiago to return to Spain and how does
he get the money to make the journey?
What does Santiago find beneath the sycamore tree in the ruined church? What did
this final discovery mean to you?
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