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The AlchemistThe Alchemist

What will you make of your What will you make of your life?life?

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About the AuthorAbout the Author

Paulo CoelhoPaulo Coelho Born in Brazil, 1947. Still alive!Born in Brazil, 1947. Still alive! A nonconformist who was part of a A nonconformist who was part of a

political revolution in 1968political revolution in 1968 Believes in free expressionBelieves in free expression A bestselling authorA bestselling author

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About About The AlchemistThe Alchemist

First published in 1988First published in 1988 Your version is a translation from the Your version is a translation from the

original Portuguese version called original Portuguese version called O O Alquimista Alquimista

Bestselling book in the history of Bestselling book in the history of BrazilBrazil

Currently a bestseller internationallyCurrently a bestseller internationally

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What is alchemy?What is alchemy?

A medieval chemical A medieval chemical science/philosophy that attempts to science/philosophy that attempts to change base metals into goldchange base metals into gold

The attempt to discover a universal The attempt to discover a universal cure for diseasecure for disease

The attempt to find a way to The attempt to find a way to indefinitely prolong lifeindefinitely prolong life

The process of transforming The process of transforming something common into something something common into something specialspecial

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What is an alchemist?What is an alchemist?

Someone who can change base metal Someone who can change base metal into goldinto gold

Someone who can cure diseasesSomeone who can cure diseases Someone who knows the secret to Someone who knows the secret to

living foreverliving forever Someone who understands how to Someone who understands how to

make something ordinary into make something ordinary into something extraordinarysomething extraordinary

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Literary term: AllegoryLiterary term: Allegory

An allegory is a story that An allegory is a story that symbolically represents something symbolically represents something greater than just the storygreater than just the story

The AlchemistThe Alchemist is a story about a is a story about a young man, but he represents a young man, but he represents a philosophy of life and livingphilosophy of life and living

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Literary motif: The JourneyLiterary motif: The Journey

Many great works of literature involve Many great works of literature involve characters who are going somewherecharacters who are going somewhere

Their journey represents a spiritual Their journey represents a spiritual change of some kindchange of some kind

We learn from watching other people We learn from watching other people travel through their livestravel through their lives

We learn from considering how our We learn from considering how our own lives are really a path toward own lives are really a path toward somethingsomething

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What is a legend?What is a legend?

What do you think is the definition of What do you think is the definition of a legend?a legend?

Name some famous legends that you Name some famous legends that you know.know.

Why are legends important to people? Why are legends important to people? Why are Why are childrenchildren often told legends often told legends

byby adultsadults??

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Hmmmmm…..Hmmmmm…..

Did you also consider that a legend is Did you also consider that a legend is something on a map that tells you something on a map that tells you how to read the map?how to read the map?

How do legends tell us how to How do legends tell us how to navigate our lives?navigate our lives?

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Personal legendsPersonal legends

What do you think a “personal What do you think a “personal legend” could be?legend” could be?

What is your “personal legend”?What is your “personal legend”? What will it take to pursue your What will it take to pursue your

“personal legend”?“personal legend”? Would you have to gain things or lose Would you have to gain things or lose

things?things?

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So far…So far…

We know that We know that alchemyalchemy is about the is about the ordinary becoming extraordinaryordinary becoming extraordinary

We know that We know that allegoriesallegories are stories are stories that represent something beyond that represent something beyond themselvesthemselves

We know that We know that thethe journeyjourney is a common is a common motif in literature and makes us think motif in literature and makes us think about the paths of our own livesabout the paths of our own lives

We know We know legendslegends are stories or myths are stories or myths that tell of great deeds and inspire that tell of great deeds and inspire peoplepeople

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We expect this novel to be about…We expect this novel to be about…

A person who goes on a journey to A person who goes on a journey to pursue his personal legend and ends pursue his personal legend and ends up turning an ordinary life into an up turning an ordinary life into an extraordinary life.extraordinary life.

It is an allegory because it is not just It is an allegory because it is not just about a young man, it’s about how about a young man, it’s about how YOU will approach your life’s journey YOU will approach your life’s journey that is only beginning.that is only beginning.

Could you be an alchemist?Could you be an alchemist?

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The AlchemistThe Alchemist: Setting: Setting

Time: probably more than a century Time: probably more than a century ago, although you will see that it ago, although you will see that it doesn’t really matter. “the timeless doesn’t really matter. “the timeless past”past”

Place: It’s a journey, so it has more Place: It’s a journey, so it has more than one location. That’s the idea…than one location. That’s the idea…

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As we read, think about:As we read, think about:

Santiago’s reason/motivation for his Santiago’s reason/motivation for his journeyjourney

The role of coincidence and luckThe role of coincidence and luck The importance of language: reading, The importance of language: reading,

speaking, a universal language?speaking, a universal language? The Soul of the WorldThe Soul of the World