The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - Summer Reading Packet
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Name: ______________________ Period: ______
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Summer Reading Packet
PRINT THIS PACKET AND HANDWRITE YOUR ANSWERS.
NO DIGITAL/TYPED PACKETS WILL BE ACCEPTED!
Preliminary Notes about the Novel:
The Alchemist is written in a fable format. Generally speaking, fables use recognizable, simple characters and
settings in order to illustrate a simple truth about life or human nature.
The novel integrates ideas and philosophies of many faiths and historical periods. Many of these ideas concern
the pursuit of truth, one’s intended destiny and the attainment of personal happiness. Coelho refers to these
combined elements as one’s “Personal Legend.” He tells the story of Santiago in order to teach us how we
may find and live out our own Personal Legends. These ideas, though, have been explored since ancient times
in one form or another by countless faiths and peoples. Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Taoism, Christianity,
Judaism, countless tribal cultures, in addition to ancient and modern philosophers, all attempt to define the idea
of one’s Personal Legend (though they may call it by different names), and all subscribe paths to achieving
personal fulfillment. Thus, although the legend is about no faith or philosophy in particular, it is about all faiths
and philosophies.
Alchemy is the medieval “science” of transforming rocks into gold. Alchemy plays an important part in the
plot (literal level) of the story, but it also becomes a symbol, or allegorical device, in the legend Coelho is really
using characters, events and symbols as tools to show us how to achieve spiritual alchemy. In other words, how
do we find or recognize the “gold,” -- our Personal Legend-- in the “rocks” of the everyday, ordinary, simple
details of our lives?
In The Alchemist, each character, place, and idea has a meaning beyond the regular “literal” (actual) meaning
in the story. They also have a “figurative” meaning (a comparison that seems dissimilar but actually relates to
your experience in the real world) As Santiago discovers, his treasure of “gold” is not literally “gold” and not
far away, not glittery, not exotic, and not complicated, but it may require a journey of courage, faith and
perseverance to discover what it is and where it is hidden, the reader can relate the literal meaning of “gold” in
the novel to their own “figurative” gold in the real world which is achieving one’s own dreams, whatever they
may be.
In an allegorical novel, the characters and events are all symbolic and your job in reading this novel is to figure
out how, even the simplest objects, places, and people, represent importance beyond what they represent in the
novel.Part #1
Annotate the novel as you read, so your novel will become a source of knowledge.
Read the Introduction Pages: v-viii & Prologue Pages: ix-x.
Identify & Explain Coehlo’s four obstacles from the Introduction:
Obstacle #1 Obstacle #2
Obstacle #3 Obstacle #4Part #2
Study Guide Questions
Directions: Answer the following questions. They can only be hand written not typed.
Prologue and pages 3-10*
1. Why do you think Paulo Coelho uses the legend of Narcissus in the prologue and why does the lake
weep for Narcissus?
2. The novel opens with Santiago thinking about his sheep. What does he observe about their existence
and how do the sheep symbolize the way some people live their lives? Why does he say they “have
forgotten to rely on their own instincts”?
3. How does Santiago’s father react when his son tells him that he wants to travel and which of Coelho’s
Obstacles does this relate to?
Pages 10*- 25*
1. Why do you think the old fortuneteller (the Gypsy) says that Santiago’s dream is difficult to interpret
and why is Santiago suspicious of her?
2. How are Santiago and “the merchant girl” different? What does she make him feel that he has never felt
before and which Obstacle does this relate to?
3. What is Santiago’s reoccurring dream?
4. What does Melchizedek say is the “world’s greatest lie.”?
5. The old man tells Santiago a story about a miner and an emerald. How does it connect to Santiago’s
situation?
6. What does the old man mean when he says that “treasure is uncovered by the force of flowing water,
and it is buried by the same currents?7. What does the Gypsy ask in return for her advice and what does Melchizedek? What is the difference
between the two requests?
Pages 25*-47*
1. When Santiago climbs to the top of the castle in Andalucia what does he see that helps him make a
decision about his journey?
2. How does the King assist Santiago in recognizing omens and what omen does Santiago first notice after
the King tells him that he “will have to follow the omens” to find his treasure?
3. Why does the old man give Santiago Urim and Thummim?
4. What point does the old man’s story about the boy in the castle and the drops of oil make?
5. What was frustrating to Santiago when he first lands in Tangiers, Africa?
6. What happens in Tangiers that almost makes Santiago want to return home?
Pages 51 – 79*
1. What lessons does Santiago learn by working at the crystal shop? List as many as you can. Why do you
think Coelho chose to have Santiago work in a crystal shop? How does the crystal merchant’s
explanation for NOT taking the pilgrimage to Mecca highlight the difference between Santiago and the
merchant?
2. List all the different ways, Santiago has an effect on the merchant.
3. What does the merchant say about Santiago’s journey home when Santiago asks for his blessing?
4. What changes Santiago’s mind about going home and where does he decide to go instead?5. The Englishman and his goals are described on pages 65-70. What are they? What does the
Englishman demonstrate to Santiago that he already knows?
6. Who are the “hooded men” that appear and why is the caravan leader very cautious in traveling?
7. On page 78, the Englishman says that the progress made at the crystal shop is an example of the
principle of the SOUL OF THE WORLD. What does he mean? How does he define this?
8. How does the Englishman connect the idea to the relationship between the caravan and the desert?
Pages 80-87*
1. What are the Englishman’s books about and why is the Englishman in Africa?
2. What is the “Emerald Tablet”?
3. What is an “elixir” and the meaning of “The Elixir of Life”?
4. Describe the solid part of “The Philosopher’s Stone.”
5. What is the advice of the camel driver of the caravan?
6. Define the word Bedouins (p. 84) and explain what they have to do with the novel.
7. Define the word oasis (p. 86) and explain what it has to do with the novel.Pages 87-104*
1. The oasis is described in great detail. How does its lushness, laughter and color reflect what Santiago
finds there?
2. Where else in the novel does Coelho provide details about the physical setting in order to lend more
meaning to the events which occur there?
3. Explain how Santiago’s union with Fatima represents the Language of the World, according to Santiago
on page 98.
4. Why does Fatima accept that her new husband wanders the desert, as she explains on page 98?
5. How are Santiago’s feelings different for Fatima than for “the merchant girl?”
Pages 104*- 132*
1. What is the meaning of the two dead hawks and the falcon in the oasis?
2. How does this omen change Santiago’s status in society.
3. Who was the boy who saved Egypt through his interpretations of the Pharaoh’s dreams?
4. Who is the man on horseback and what does he believe is “the quality most essential to understanding
the Language of the World?
5. What words does the alchemist say that echo those of the Melchizedek?
Pages 132-152*
1. When they are captured by a tribe, the Alchemist claims that the boy is able to do something magical.
What is it?2. Santiago is upset that the alchemist gives all his money to the Arab chief. What is the alchemist’s reason
for his action?
3. Who does Santiago call upon to help him perform this magical feat when the desert cannot help him?
4. What is the reason that Santiago gives for the existence of “alchemy?”
5. When Santiago is told by the sun to “Speak to the hand that wrote all,”who does this refer to?
Pages 153-167*
1. What is the legend that the Arabs recount for generations thereafter?
2. What magical feat does the alchemist perform at the monastery?
3. The alchemist describes a dream to the boy about a centurion. What did that centurion say that was
remembered for all time?
4. When Santiago gets to the Dunes and sees the Pyramids, what does he see in the sand and what is
important about this event?
5. What happens at the Pyramids that causes Santiago to return to Spain and how does he get the money to
make the journey?
6. What does Santiago find beneath the sycamore tree in the ruined church? What did this final discovery
mean to you?Part #3
Symbol Reflection
Definition of a Symbol: A person, place, action, word, or thing that (by association, resemblance, or
convention) represents something other than itself. For example: A smile is a symbol for friendship.
Directions: After completing the novel, choose a symbol from the story which is the most important to your
reading experience. Write a detailed paragraph response explaining why that symbol is the most significant to
you.
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Remember to bring your printed packet to the first day of school and
your annotated copy of the text.You can also read
