Background
Who is the author of The Alchemist? And spell it.
Paulo Coelho
Who/What does Santiago trust more than anything?
His herd of sheep
What elements about Melchizedek make him fantastical? (two things)
He can turn into anything he wants, he knew everything about Santiago
Describe the very first setting of the novel.
An old abandoned church with a sycamore tree growing out of it.
Why does Santiago choose to dig by the pyramids?
He sees a scarab beattle there
What type of story is The Alchemist? And how do you know?
It is a fable because it is a story that teaches life lessons and has fantastical characters.
In what way is Santiago similar to the author of the story?
His parents had different dreams for him than he had for himself. He has a desire for travel.
Who does not follow their personal legend in the novel? (2 people)
The baker and the crystal merchant
Who are the guides of Santiago's Personal legend? (three people)
What is Gypsy, Melchizedek, and The Alchemist.
According to Santiago, he had all the treasure he needed (before he found the actual treasure). What were these treasures? (4)
money from the crystal merchant
his camel
50 pieces of gold
Fatima
Where is the author from?
Brazil
How does Santiago know his love for Fatima is real?
When their eyes connected, it felt like they belonged together. His journey led him to her.
Who do the chieftains speak about when Santiago goes to speak to them about his vision?
What is this person's story?
Yousef/ Joseph
He was abandoned by his siblings and sold to slavery, he went through a lot of hardships but in the end he saved the people of Egypt due to his ability to interpret dreams.
In what way did Santiago's biases lead him to get robbed?
He trusted the man who can speak Spanish over the Arab bar owner who was trying to warn him, simply because Santiago did not think Arabs were trustworthy people due to the fact that they were different than him and his customs.
What is the impact of Santiago attempting to turn himself into wind?
That all things are connected and he has truly become one with the Soul of the World.
In what way was Santiago similar to the Englishman at the beginning of the story?
He stuck to his books and did not want to socialize with people.
In what way did interpreting the omen of the hawks a game changer for Santiago? (two ways)
It gave him the new title as counselor of the Oasis. It led him the meet the Alchemist.
At the end of the day, are the elixir of life and philosopher's stone important? why or why not?
No because it is the journey of creating them that teaches men-- not the actual objects.
What is the real value of gold?
How you use it- not having it.
What religion is focused on in this book?
Give three facts you learned about it in this unit.
Islam
Answers may vary.
What three characteristics of Santiago helped him prosper in this journey. Explain each
Enthusiasm, Self-awareness, courage
How does the tribal chieftain punish the chief of the invading army? Why is that impactful?
death by hanging- there is no honor in it.
Describe three specific instances where Santiago took a leap of faith/ took a chance.
Selling his sheep to go to Africa
Going to the chieftains and striking the deal
Heading out into the desert and leaving Fatima
In what way is this story able to resonate with anyone? Be ready with a deep and thorough explanation.
Answers may vary.