The Alchemist

Why do you think the alchemist tells Santiago the story about the man's dream about the 2 sons?

The alchemist wanted to show that no matter your job or ranking, you can impact the world just as much.

The oasis is described in great detail.How does its lushness, laughter, and color reflect what Santiago finds there?

The lushness, laughter, and color reflects what Santiago finds there because he finds the love of his life which is equally as good as all three of those things.

How does the new version differ from the original one?

The new one is not only about Narcissus/egos but also about the lake.

How might this story apply to us in our modern lives?

There are certain things you can do but also things you can't forget about.

Why does Fatima accept that her new husband wanders the desert?

Fatima accepts that waiting for her husbands return is part of her job/role as a woman of the desert.

How does Santiagos father react when his son tells him that he wants to travel?

He says that unless you are wealthy and or/a shepherd, it is hard to travel. He is taken by surprise and then learns to give the boy a chance.

How do Santiago's thoughts and perceptions about himself and the world begin to change on pgs 42-44?

They begin to change because he realizes that language isn't the only way to communicate between 2 people.

How does this omen chnage Santiagos status in society?

This omen

How does this omen change Santiagos status in society?

This omen changes Santiagos status because the people of the oasis want him to be the cheif becuase he can see omens and predict the future.

What does this quote have to do with the miner/emerald story?

This quote is portraying how your attitude and passion determines what you'll achive in life.

Why does Coelho open with the modified myth of Narcissus?

To emphasize that we all have a small ego/narcisticness

Describe 3 things that Santiago sees now that he had never noticed before.

1. if he can communicate with his sheep without talking then he can do the same with people 2. he doesnt need money he needs faith 3. he could tell if someone was close or far to their personal legend

Why does the old fortune teller say that Santiago's dream is difficult to interpret? Why is Santiago suspicious of her?

She says that Santiago's dream is difficult to interpret because "of the world". Santiago is suspicious of her because he knows that some gypsies can be pranksters.

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" How did this simple lesson change Santiago's life? How did it lead him back to the treasure he was looking for?

At the end of the story, when he meets the group of men they laugh at him for saying hes looking for hidden treasure and leave him when they were beating him to death. One of the men come back and tell him where the treasure is by telling him about his "stupid" recurrent dream.

Where else in the story does Coelho provide details about the physical setting in order to lend more meaning to the events which occur there?

He also provides details about the setting when he describes the moment he meets Fatima.

How does he connect the idea to the relationship between the caravan and the desert?

He connects the idea to the relationship between the caravan and the desert by saying "the caravan and the desert speak the same language and its for that reason that the desert allows the crossing." (79).

What are some of the things Santigao has learned through action?

He has learned about reading the omens and he learns that not everything comes right away.

The Englishman and his goals are described on pages 65-70. What is he looking for? What does he demonstrate to Santiago that he already knows?

He is looking for his personal legend. He demonstrates the importance of omens.

What point does the old man's story about the boy in the castle and the drops of oil make?

He makes a point that "the secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, but to never forget the drops of oil..." (32).

What does Santiago observe about his sheeps existence?

He observes that their only concerns are food and water.

The old man tells Santiago the story about the miner and the emerald. How does it connect to Santiago's situation?

It connects to Santiago's situation because Santiago was just about to quit his dream before the old man came.

Why do you think Coelho chose crystal? How does the crystal merchants explanation for not taking the pilgrimage to Mecca highlight the difference between Santiago and him?

It may have represented the perspective of certain things, for example when you look through crystal; this explanation shows how Santiago truly tried to follow his dream, where as the merchant just left it alone.

What is the meaning of 2 dead hawks and the falcon in the oasis?

It symbolizes death and a battle soon to happen.

How might the sheep symbolize the way some people live their lives?

It symbolizes the way some people live-they don't try to learn or grow only survive.

To what degree is his fathers observation about travelers (they come in search of new things but when they leave they are basically the same people they were when they arrived) true about Santiago?

Santiago discovers that what he has been searching for was already with in his grasp. He is the same person when he left he just needed to pursue his dream to find this out.

What lessons does Santiago learn by working at the crystal merchant shop?

Santiago learns to speak Arabic, that the merchant wants to travel to Mecca,etc.

What effect does the merchant say Santiago had on him?

Santiago showed the man about perseverance.

When does Santiago use this help?

Santiago uses this help only once by asking if the old man's blessing was still with him and if he was gonna find his treasure.

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? Why did the the alchemist leave the boy alone to complete his journey?

Santiago went through the dangers of the tribal wars in order to reach the pyramids because it is his personal legend to go to the pyramids. It was the fasted way to get to the pyramids. That proverb applies to Santiago's situation because although he did have to go very close to the dangerous wars, he was very close to completing his personal legend. The alchemist leaves Santiago because it is his own personal legend to complete, not the alchemists.

Explain how Santiago's union with Fatima represents the language of the world.

Santiago's reunion with Fatima represents the language of the world by showing that you can communicate with anyone in the world without words.

What does he mean when he says that "treasure is uncovered by the force of flowing water, and it is buried by the same currents"?

We are the water, and we have the ability to follow our dreams or to discourage ourselves.

How does the king assist Santiago in recognizing omens?

he gives him 2 stones that help him interpret omens.

What does he mean by saying that the progress made at the crystal shop is an example of the principle of the Soul of the World?

he means that it shows how badly the boy wanted money and "thats when you are closest to the soul of the world." (78).