The Alchemist Study Guide Ques
English 10
The Alchemist
Discussion Questions
Directions:
Read the assigned selections and answer the following questions for each section.
Answer each question thoroughly, using complete sentences and details from the novel.
As you read and reflect on these questions, it is important to remember that The
Alchemist is a fable. In fact, The Alchemist is subtitled "A Fable about Following Your
Dreams." Like most fables, The Alchemist has a theme/moral that reflects a universal truth concerning life and human existence. The universal point this story makes is that everyone has a special destiny, and yet not everyone tries to achieve it because it takes hard work. Reaching one's destiny requires leaving behind familiar surroundings. It also demands courage, persistence, the ability to change when appropriate and the willingness to respond to omens that point the way.
Also, like many fables, the story told in The Alchemist does not make its universal point directly, or in so many words, by the author telling the reader in plain language what the moral of the story is. Instead, the story of the main character in The Alchemist is what we call an allegory. An allegory is a narrative that has two levels of meaning: a literal one and a figurative or symbolic one. As a reader, your challenges with this fable are to watch for and try to interpret symbols (symbolism=something that is itself but also represents something else or something deeper). Remember, most anything in a story can have symbolic meaning, including objects, characters, places, names, events, etc. We will apply what we have learned from Joseph Campbell’s model of the Hero’s Journey in order to delve beneath the surface of The Alchemist and examine its symbolic meaning.
Beginning through page 25
1. What is the name of the shepherd boy? How long has he been a shepherd? What is the name of the region in Spain where he grazes his flock?
2. What is the significance of Santiago becoming a shepherd rather
The Alchemist
Discussion Questions
Directions:
Read the assigned selections and answer the following questions for each section.
Answer each question thoroughly, using complete sentences and details from the novel.
As you read and reflect on these questions, it is important to remember that The
Alchemist is a fable. In fact, The Alchemist is subtitled "A Fable about Following Your
Dreams." Like most fables, The Alchemist has a theme/moral that reflects a universal truth concerning life and human existence. The universal point this story makes is that everyone has a special destiny, and yet not everyone tries to achieve it because it takes hard work. Reaching one's destiny requires leaving behind familiar surroundings. It also demands courage, persistence, the ability to change when appropriate and the willingness to respond to omens that point the way.
Also, like many fables, the story told in The Alchemist does not make its universal point directly, or in so many words, by the author telling the reader in plain language what the moral of the story is. Instead, the story of the main character in The Alchemist is what we call an allegory. An allegory is a narrative that has two levels of meaning: a literal one and a figurative or symbolic one. As a reader, your challenges with this fable are to watch for and try to interpret symbols (symbolism=something that is itself but also represents something else or something deeper). Remember, most anything in a story can have symbolic meaning, including objects, characters, places, names, events, etc. We will apply what we have learned from Joseph Campbell’s model of the Hero’s Journey in order to delve beneath the surface of The Alchemist and examine its symbolic meaning.
Beginning through page 25
1. What is the name of the shepherd boy? How long has he been a shepherd? What is the name of the region in Spain where he grazes his flock?
2. What is the significance of Santiago becoming a shepherd rather