Alchemist information for data sheet (AP lit)

The Alchemist (for data sheet)
author: Paulo Coelho
Genre: novel/fable
Author Information
Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1947
Educated in a Jesuit Catholic school
Committed to a mental institution as a teen
Worked in theater and journalism
An admitted “spiritualist” and activist for free speech and individualism
Author of several other novels
Started writing seriously after an encounter with a stranger who told him to return to the church and walk a medieval pilgrim’s path


Background
Originally written in Portuguese
Published in 1988
First published in English in 1993

What is alchemy? (definitions and history just fyi)
Alchemy is the precursor of modern chemistry. It began in ancient Egypt and moved to the Greeks when they invaded the area. Arabs and ancient Chinese also followed this science and it was born in Europe as the Arabs moved into Spain in the 8th century.

Definition and Premises
Alchemy is best known for its goal of turning base metals into gold. The ancients also desired to use the science as a philsophical and spiritual one by searching for “the philosopher’s stone” or technically when an alchemist’s substance turned red or the achieving of the goal.
Carl Jung was the first to look at alchemy in a spiritual sense, suggesting that alchemy was not a search for actual gold, but that it was the transformation of the human from lead into the gold of spiritual enlightenment.
Other Ideas
Alchemy branched into other areas of study including art and spiritual enlightenment. Alchemists believed in the significance of specific elements, such as air, water, and even specifics such as sulfur. These all had symbols referencing them, which were used in art, etc Many of these beliefs were used allegorically in literature.
Characteristics of this novel
1. Use of dialogue (between characters)
2. Dreams (Santiago’s)
3. Historical and Biblical allusions (King is a Biblical character; Salem is a true Biblical city, etc.)
4. Repeated imagery and symbolism (pyramids, stones, jewels, animals, etc.)

Characters

Gypsy woman: the first to tell Santiago to go
Crystal merchant: helps boy earn money
Englishman: in search of answers to alchemy; on the caravan with Santiago
Merchant’s daughter: she’s the merchant’s daughter!
Fatima: girl at oasis; Santiago falls in love with her
Characters
Melchizedek: king of Salem; gives him the 2 stones; never stop dreaming and follow omens
Alchemist: supposedly over 200 years old; Santiago meets him in the desert; he seems to think he must help Santiago achieve his dreams;
Santiago: shepherd; protagonist; makes mistakes; learns to have dreams and follow through; perseveres and has faith;


Settings
Andalusia:southern Spain; Santiago’s original homeland
Tarifa: Northern Africa
Al-Fayoum: the oasis in the desert
Sahara: the desert Santiago must cross
Tangier, Morocco: city of the crystal merchant; north Africa
Time: late 17th-early 18 century
Symbols
Dreams: the manifestation of the character’s dreams, goals, fears, etc.
Pyramids: the object of the quest
Urim and Thummim:the stones; represent a physical object of luck and the source of answers
Gypsy woman: the catalyst that begins the journey
Ruined church: Santiago’s treasure in “material” form


Themes
Follow your dreams…
True love will last…
Faith and spirituality as significant…
An individual’s quest for meaning in life…
Discovering what is really important in life…

Author’s Terms (could use this in genre or examples, too)
Soul of the World: the world’s morality
Unspoken language: what all humans know and understand
Philosopher’s stone: search for “life”…
The language of the world: what we all get from each other just by being human
Literary Devices in style (could use for characteristics of genre)
Personification: Santiago “hears” his heart; his dreams take on a reality
Irony: didn’t become a priest because he didn’t need God with his sheep, but he “finds” spirituality in his journey
Use of fables/allusions: other stories make the same point and are connected to Santiago’s journey or religious texts
Other Devices (could use for examples of author’s style)
Foreshadowing: Santiago’s dream, etc.
Allusions: King M of Salem…his story is in Genesis as he served Abraham…
Setting: as the story progresses, the setting becomes more unfamiliar but also more detailed in some respects

Discussion As We Begin reading…
“Simple things are the most valuable…” What about this statement seems true?
“When you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish comes true.” Do you agree? Does the universe conspire against you?
In what way are “dreams” and “omens” significant in today’s world? Are these believeable ideas?

Discussion as we begin reading…
Have you ever had a non-waking dream that was so significant that it caused you to follow through or not follow through with something?
What controls a human life, fate or destiny? Why?
Are humans in control of all aspects of their lives?
“People are afraid to pursue their dreams because they feel they don’t deserve them.” Is this a a true statement?
Discussion as we begin reading…
What other stories can you think of that deal with dreams and following dreams?