Alchemist Quiz 2 (pg. 51-132)
The Soul of the World
governs all things, the language that connects all things - The universe helps Santiago find his personal legend in the desert.
word of Allah
people need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want - meaning you should not= afraid of losing what you have because the hand that writes the history of the world also writes your life story (they= balance out?)
What does Maktub mean? What does this connotate?
"It is written" (in the stars/universe) - in every situation or action there is a hand of fate involved
How does Santiago feel when he meets Fatima? How does he know this is love?
- He feels he= in love because time stood still, the Soul of the World surged within him, and he feels like they were the only two people alive - Also, she smiled at him which he thought was an omen that she liked him too - Finally, he remembers when the wind brought her scent to him at home
Disturbed by the omen, Santiago decides to go tell the chiefs of the desert tribes about it. In what ways is Santiago (our budding hero) being tested as a result of his decision to trust his intuition and tell the tribal chieftains what he has seen?
- He is tested because first he is tested to see if he would tell the chief or not (believe in his ability/ the Soul of the World or not) - Then he is tested to see how he would react to the possibility that he could die because of it - He reacts well- he is proud of himself + thinks "if it is my time to die, then that is what Allah wanted"
Santiago believes he has seen an omen in the desert. What has he seen, and what does he think it signifies?
- He saw 2 hawks attack each other + he had a vision that an army with swords would attack the oasis - He thinks this signifies that the oasis = in danger + the desert is now safer
Santiago says he believes all the things he learned about alchemy are so simple they could be written on the surface of an emerald. This description, of course, depicts the Emerald Tablet the Englishman told Santiago about. The Englishman is exasperated because he believes Santiago is simple-minded and has failed to grasp the complexity of alchemy. Yet, the gypsy Santiago met in Tarifa told him, "It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary; only wise men are able to understand them" (15). Is the Englishman right, or is Santiago?
- I think Santiago is correct because he has already completed many aspects of alchemy through his simple minded observations. - For example, one thing Santiago learned from the books were that the world has a soul and whoever understands the soul can understand the language of things. Santiago, however, has already learned the language/ soul of many things like the desert and was able to use this to understand the language of other things too. (like he knew war= BAD for them)
Specific words themselves also carry deep meaning. The crystal merchant introduces Santiago to the Arabic word maktub; this word loosely translates into "it is written," and is mentioned at important moments in the story. The word carries the connotation that in every situation or action there is a hand of fate involved. Why do you think the Crystal Merchant speaks this word when he and Santiago part ways on page 61?
- I think the Crystal Merchant speaks these words when he and Santiago part ways because he believes that Santiago is fated to make it to Egypt and that fate will interfere and influence him to do so instead of buying more sheep - Also, it was fated for them to meet and for Santiago to leave
Compare and contrast Santiago with the Crystal Merchant by examining how each one approaches the possibility of expanding the shop's business, first by building a display case and second by selling tea to customers. How is Santiago different from the shop's owner?
- Santiago is the one who comes up with the idea and wants to pursue it so that he can get money to buy his sheep - The merchant on the other hand is reluctant to because he doesn't like change and doesn't know how to handle it
The Alchemist persuades Santiago to sell his camel and buy a horse. The next night he takes Santiago into the desert and gives him his second test. What is the task The Alchemist gives Santiago, and what skill is being tested in this task?
- The Alchemist asks Santiago to find life in the desert - The Alchemists was testing this skill to find life in the desert/ understand omens/ the language of life because the Pyramids were surrounded by the desert
Why do you think The Alchemist gives the Englishman the response he does when the Englishman tells him what he is seeking? What point do you think the author is trying to make by showing how the Englishman feels once he spends some time following the advice given to him by The Alchemist?
- The Alchemist gave the Englishman the response he does because he wants the Englishman to go through the process of self-purification that goes with it - The author says that Englishman's "eyes seemed brighter than they had when he was reading his books" (Coelho 102) which shows that the self-purification= working
Santiago leaves the chieftain and encounters a powerful, intimidating stranger on horseback, who terrifies him at sword point. The stranger turns out to be The Alchemist, who demands to know who is reading the omens in the hawk's flight. What sort of test is The Alchemist subjecting Santiago to? After the test is over, what reason does The Alchemist give for testing Santiago in this way?
- The Alchemist is subjecting Santiago to a test to see if he would answer his questions truthfully - The Alchemist is testing Santiago's COURAGE because "courage is the quality most essential to understanding the Language of the World" (Coehlo 115).
When Santiago passes his test in the desert, The Alchemist is convinced that Santiago is a student worthy of this teaching. The Alchemist then offers to guide Santiago across the desert in search of his treasure. At first, Santiago refuses to leave the oasis because he does not want to part from Fatima. What does The Alchemist tell Santiago to try to convince him to go on? What sort of test does this decision represent for Santiago?
- The Alchemist tells Santiago the story of what his life would be if her did not go (it would be full of regret) - This represents an emotional test for Santiago
Nearly every encounter Santiago has contains a lesson for him, if the boy is observant enough to perceive it. Even the thief who stole his money in Tangier had a lesson for Santiago: Read the conversation on pages 86-87 between Santiago and his new friend, the camel driver. What life lesson is the camel driver trying to impart to the boy? As you read about Santiago's response to the appearance of the oasis on the horizon, do you see evidence that Santiago has internalized the bit of wisdom offered by the camel driver?
- The camel driver tells Santaigo to live in the present - Santiago responded to the oasis by living in the moment during the oasis + seeing the line of trees as a miracle, shade, water, + refuge instead of worrying about how he was to get to the Pyramids
Coelho says another one of the most common obstacles to realizing our Personal Legend is, "the fear of the defeats we will meet on the path" (vi). When his money was stolen in Tangier, Santiago suffered a defeat that forced him into taking a menial job with the crystal merchant. There, while he labored for a whole year to earn money to return to his life as a shepherd in Andalusia, Santiago learned many lessons on everything from the art of business to the art of patience. Coelho says that, while defeats are an unavoidable result of the mistakes we make in pursuing our Personal Legends, "The secret of life is to fall seven times and get up eight times" (vii). By the end of today's reading, how do we know that Santiago has learned this lesson of persistence, which is one of the most crucial to the pursuit of his Personal Legend?
- We know that Santiago has learned his lesson on persistence because he continued to work for the merchant (and was persistent and patient) until he had enough money - Also, he continues to be persistent with his dream because at the end of today's reading, Santiago decides to continue his journey to Africa/ Egypt
As the caravan travels, the Englishman spends his days poring over his books to learn the secrets of alchemy; Santiago, meanwhile, throws his book away, instead opting to observe the desert and listen to the wind. The Englishman represents the type of character who has book knowledge, but not practical knowledge. He tries to learn alchemy through the intellect. The Englishman's character is a foil, or contrasting character, to Santiago's character: Santiago has rejected the life of the mind for a life of interaction and a journey of purpose. Action, personal experience, and observation, Santiago believes, will bring him closer to understanding the language without words...the universal language. Based on the conversation between Santiago and the Englishman on page 80-82, does it appear that the two have anything to learn from each other?
- Yes, Santiago wants to learn about the Soul of the World and the Master Work from the Englishman's books - The Englishman wants to learn how to observe the world around him and discover the universal language
The Englishman, whom Santiago meets when he joins the caravan to the Egyptian pyramids, is—like Santiago—joining the caravan as part of a quest. What is the Englishman searching for?
- find universal lang (language understood by everybody, but already forgotten- language without words) which= done by finding an alchemist who would already know it - And find Philosopher's Stone + Elixir of Life at Al-Fayoum - Also, he is in search of an alchemist to teach him about alchemy/ find the Philosopher's Stone + Elixir of Life at Al-Fayoum + universal language
How are foil character's used?
1) establish the personality traits of a character 2) as a way to force a character to a deeper level of self understanding that precedes character change or character development
Who are Santiago's foil character? Why?
1) the Crystal merchant- afraid of change 2) Englishman- Santiago has rejected the life of the mind for a life of interaction and a journey of purpose while the Englishman pores himself over his books + has book knowledge, but not practical knowledge
What are 2 obstacles people face in completing their Personal Legends?
1) the fear of realizing the dream for which they fought all of their life for + it being a disappointment OR them having nothing to live for after *ex:* Crystal Merchant's dream to go to Mecca 2) the fear of the defeats we will meet on the path
Who finally shows Santiago how to find The Alchemist? Why is it significant that it is this person, and not someone else, who points the way to The Alchemist, who is the key to Santiago's search?
Fatima - This is significant because Santiago believed his love/ she is part of his treasure + will help him unlock every treasure in the world
According to the camel driver, why would God allow Santiago to see this vision of the future?
God would allow Santiago to see his vision of the future because it's a future that was written so as to be altered
When Santiago meets The Alchemist, he wants to give up his journey and remain at the oasis. He believes he has already found his treasure. What does this treasure include, according to Santiago?
His treasure includes a camel, money from the crystal shop, 50 gold pieces, and Fatima
Language is an important part of the theme of this fable, and although the story is told in rather simple terms, the ideas that it expresses are philosophical and deep. Santiago is an educated young man, capable of understanding many languages because of his seminary training. Yet, he is clearly interested in learning about the world and about his reason for being in a way that goes beyond mere speaking and writing. He chooses to travel, first as a shepherd and then as an adventurer seeking his destiny, because he wants to learn how to communicate in the Language of the World. There are many references throughout the text to this language, and clearly it is a language that goes beyond words. He often reflects on the "language without words," which describes the way that people communicate to each other when they do not speak each other's language. The language without words is also the language he speaks with his sheep. What are some of the literal and figurative languages that Santiago realizes he has learned by the time he completes his year of work for the crystal merchant?
Santiago has realized that he has learned to speak Arabic + that he has learned to read omens (dehydrated man at the top of the hill)
As the caravan crosses the Sahara, Santiago and the Englishman each make an effort to gain new insights by practicing the other's method of learning: Santiago reads the Englishman's books about alchemy, and the Englishman spends several days observing the caravan and the desert. When the Englishman asks Santiago what the boy learned about alchemy from reading his books, Santiago sums up his reading in a few short sentences (on page 83). What does he say he learned?
Santiago said he learned that the world= a soul, whoever understands the soul can understand the language of things, alchemists realize their Personal Odyssey and find the Soul of the World, the Philosopher's Stone, and the Elixir of Life, and that alchemy was so simple they could be written on the surface of an emerald
The Alchemist tells Santiago "you don't have to understand the desert: all you have to do is contemplate a simple grain of sand, and you will see in it all the marvels of creation." With this in mind, why do you think The Alchemist chose to befriend Santiago, though he knew that the Englishman was the one looking for him?
The Alchemist chose to befriend Santiago because Santiago was able to read omens + understand the Soul of the World, while the Englishman still had to work on things to accomplish this
The Alchemist says that for the boy to find his treasure he must listen to his heart. Why does The Alchemist feel that the heart is more important, or more trustworthy, than the mind? How and why is the heart able to understand things the mind can't grasp?
The Alchemist feels that the heart is more important than the mind because the heart knows all things because it came from the Soul of the World + will return there one day
According to the Englishman, how were the alchemists he read about changed by the years they spent "in their laboratories, observing the fire that purified the metals" (83)?
The alchemists who spent years in the laboratory discovered that the purification of metals led to the purification of themselves.
Recall that each encounter Santiago has presents him with the opportunity for personal growth provided that he can understand what it is he should learn from the interaction. What lesson is there for Santiago to learn from the fact that Fatima tells him not to stay at the oasis but to go to the pyramids after he has pledged his love for her?
The lesson is to continue following his Personal Legend/ journey
Author Paulo Coelho says that the biggest obstacle most people face in pursuing their Personal Legend is, "the fear of realizing the dream for which we fought all our lives." (viii). How does this explain the Crystal Merchant's failure to travel to Mecca?
The merchant has never traveled to Mecca because he fears that after realizing/ experiencing his dream, he would have nothing left to live for OR he would be disappointed by the experience
language of the world
The unspoken language where the Soul of the World connects people and the Earth - oneness of all things: that everything in the universe is tied together. And believers of this truth feel that the language of the universe links people to the world and to each other.
foil character
a character whose behavior and values contrast with those of another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight the unique personality of that character
universal language
a language that could be understood and used by everyone in the world - language without words
Why does Santiago want to travel?
he wants to learn how to communicate in the Language of the World/ language without words
The Tradition
the custom/ rules of the Oasis *ex:* Oasis= neutral (NO ARMS)
language without words
the way that people communicate to each other when they do not speak each other's language - also the language Santiago uses to speak to his sheep
How do you learn the universal language?
through action, personal experience, and observation, you= brought closer to understanding the language without words (universal language)