Individual Task

Analysis of Structure and Style 

By: Moira Gesland         

   Paulo Coelho uses many different literary techniques in The Alchemist. However there is one technique that Coelho had often used. Coelho uses allegory to extend metaphors. Literally speaking, Santiago is in search for actual buried treasure however the message from the novel is that material wealth is not the only type of wealth there is. The most valuable thing is life is realizing your dreams and working hard to achieve them. In the end, Santiago finds his personal legend and also a great amount of gold.

            Paulo Coelho also uses allusions, especially from the bible. For example, the character Melchizedek is referred to as God in many biblical texts. Santiago can also be seen as a Christ like figure. For example, Santiago is a Sheppard and likewise, Christ is a figurative Sheppard.

            Coelho uses these literary techniques and devices to make his stories more interesting. Besides allegory and allusions, Coelho also uses imagery, theme, and foreshadowing. By using imagery, Coelho gives the readers a mental picture in order for us to understand what is happening better in the novel. The theme in The Alchemist is that you should listen to what your heart tells you, you must follow your dreams because they give you important messages and guide you to bigger things.  “The boy and his heart had become friends, and neither was capable now of betraying the other.” (Coelho 134). These themes are powerful to the reader because it influences him/her to follow their own dreams. He gives out an important and inspiring message to the audience. “When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream.”  (Coelho 64)     
        Coelho uses personification often when talking about the elements of nature. "The lake was silent for some time. Finally, it said, “I weep for Narcissus.”' (Prologue). He also uses flashbacks. for example, Coelho takes us back in time from the current point by opening the story with Santiago arriving at a ruined church in Andalusia. we are taken to the time when Santiago's father gave him his blessing and three old gold coins to buy his flock. Lastly and as mentioned before, Coelho uses foreshadowing. The entire forward in the novel is a foreshadow because it speaks about the future and mentions the obstacles Santiago will come across when he goes out to seek his treasure.   

Media

by: Raevon Khan

So the pages i did were from page 42-82 which is the ending of part one and the beginning of part two so i chose to do the beginning of part two just so there is an understanding to it. Basically Santiago and the crystal merchant are on different paths to success or you can say different paths to fulfill there ambitions only thing is the crystal merchant is scared of not fulfilling them, as for Santiago he has fears but he still wants to fulfill them. So this image is a great understanding of Santiago's ambitions even though he may have fears, he will still strive for greatness no matter what the outcome would be.

News report 

by: Nicole Massad 

A young shepherd named Santiago has set off on a quest to the Egyptian pyramids with his whole flock of sheep. He says he wants to find a treasure, and is very determined to reach it. 

"it came to me in a dream; twice," Santiago tells us. He's been having dreams about this treasure buried near the pyramids. Santiago is excited and eager to take on his mission.  

"I've met many heartwarming people along the way, including a woman named fatima, whom I am aiming to marry once my voyage has come to a conclusion," Santiago continues. Fatima has also been supportive of Santiago's trip. 

The shepherd also states that he met a man who claimed to be king of Salem. He's encouraged him on his quest. He has given Santiago some wise words of advice, some that even we can be inspired by. The king's helpful words have definitely added inspiration to Santiago's journey. 

After meeting an Englishman who was on a journey of his own to find an alchemist, Santiago was also introduced to this special individual as well, which has helped him incredibly as well. 

Santiago's journey is said to continue, and it may be nearing the end. This young shepherd is not a follower and is more a leader, with his courage.  

Analysis of Setting

By: Aliya Najarali

          In the beginning of the novel, The Alchemist, there are three significant settings in which Santiago encounters. One of them is the fields of Andalusia as well as the other fields that Santiago passed when he travelled with his sheep. The other one is the crowded marketplace in Tangier, Egypt. In Egypt at this time, Arabs populated the regions. The setting of the novel includes various aspects such as the socio-economic, cultural, and historic atmosphere in which all of the events take place.

            The fields of Andalusia are where Santiago spent his time travelling to other places along with his sheep.  All day and night Santiago travels with his sheep as part of his job as a shepherd. He sleeps in any place that he can find as he walks such as an old abandoned church. Santiago used the sun to help direct and guide him to the countries he needed to go to. “Looking at the sun, he calculated that he would reach Tarifa before midday” (Coelho 11). This quote proves that the sun was commonly used when people travelled at that time and it became Santiago’s means of reaching his destination’s throughout his journey. At that time, it was considered to be unpopular to want to become a shepherd. “His parents had wanted him to become a priest, and thereby a source of pride for a simple farm family” (Coelho 8). It is evident that although Santiago decided to become a shepherd against his parents’ wishes, he was able to live his dream by being able to travel the world. While travelling, Santiago met with a gypsy woman to help him interpret his dream. “People said that Gypsies spent their lives tricking others. It was also said that they had a pact with the devil, and that they kidnapped children and, taking them away to their mysterious camps, made them their slaves” (Coelho 12). This quote reveals the type of historic background that people believed in their time. The fields of Andalusia were full of wonder and wisdom for Santiago.

         The crowded marketplace in Tangier, Egypt was full of stalls with items for sale. An example of the socio-economic atmosphere was shown as Santiago walked through the streets of the marketplace. “In just a few hours he had seen men walking hand in hand, women with their faces covered, and priests that climbed to the tops of towers and chanted-as everyone about him went to their knees and placed their foreheads on the ground” (Coelho 34). The type of apparel and practice that the people did in this country was very strange to Santiago. Santiago also didn’t know the language of Arabic which was spoken in that country. Omens were a belief that many people in that area believed in as signs to be aware of.  Santiago met the bar owner and a boy about his age who knew how to speak Spanish. The boy ended up stealing Santiago’s money while he got distracted looking at an item in the marketplace. “All around him was the market, with people coming and going, shouting and buying, and the aroma of strange foods…” (Coelho 38). This quote describes the environment of how the marketplace was at that time. Although entering the marketplace caused Santiago to lose all his money, he remained positive about the current situation he was in and how he could improve it.