English | Assignment | Write a Literary Analysis Essay

Assignment
Write a Literary Analysis Essay on The Alchemist

(NOTE: Students with an IEP in this course may have a modified or shortened assignment that fits well with their
personal writing goals. Please email Mrs. Crebs regarding this at dcrebs@wava.org if this applies to you.)
NUTS & BOLTS:
 LENGTH: Approximately 500–750 words which is about two typed pages.
 PARAGRAPHS: I recommend using four paragraphs: an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a
conclusion. However, it is OK to add more paragraphs if needed to fully explore your ideas.

 No Plagiarism and No OUTSIDE SOURCES?

WHAT EXACTLY IS A LITERARY ANALYSIS? It is a short essay in which the writer analyzes a literary element
from a literary work such as a novel, poem, or play. For the general content of this literary analysis essay, you will
explore a theme from The Alchemist. In your introduction, you will narrow your focus to show how one of these
elements, either symbols, characters, or settings, help to develop a theme. Again, you only need to explore
ONE of those elements in your analysis. See some more details about those options below. In your two body
paragraphs, give specific examples by which Paulo Coelho develops a theme. End your essay with a concluding
statement that sums up both your thesis and your major supporting ideas in new words. Your conclusion may offer
examples of how the chosen theme relates to real-life situations. As you work on your essay this week, you may
want to review Lesson 6.07 as it discusses the theme, symbols, setting, and characters in detail.

Choose only ONE PROMPT below to narrow the focus of your essay:
(1) SYMBOLS: Write an essay exploring the symbols in the novel and how they help develop a theme.
Think about what lessons Santiago learns from the following symbols: his sheep, crystal shop, desert,
treasure, oasis, gold, the wind, Urim and Thummim, etc.
(2) CHARACTERS: Write an essay exploring the role of the different characters in the novel. Each character
interacts with Santiago and helps him on his journey. They each help him learn something about the Soul
of the World and why he should follow his Personal Legend. Think about what lessons Santiago learns
from the gypsy woman, the king of Salem, the Englishman, Fatima, the crystal merchant, the baker, the
Alchemist, the merchant’s daughter, etc.
(3) SETTINGS: Write an essay exploring how Santiago’s journey takes him to many settings where he learns
something in each one. How does the author use each of these places to develop a theme? How does
Santiago grow or change in each one? Possible settings to analyze: home, the crystal shop, the desert,
the pyramids, the oasis, Tangier, etc.
(4) CHOOSE YOUR OWN: If you have a literary analysis essay idea about a theme in The Alchemist that
does not relate to the prompts abov If you choose this option, it will be up to you to determine the best
organizational pattern. You may explore omens, alchemy, connnections between Santiago and the natural
world, the archetypical hero’s journey, etc. Regardless of how you choose to narrow your focus, think
about the overall theme when you do this. What theme emerges in the story that teaches the reader
about human nature or the human experience?
Organizational Plans to Consider—Choose only ONE of the three options
Analyze how SYMBOLS help Analyze how CHARACTERS Analyze how the SETTINGS
develop a theme help develop a theme help develop a theme
Introduction paragraph: Include the author’s name, the Include the author’s name, the Include the author’s name, the
Include author’s name, title of the novel, a very brief title of the novel, a very brief title of the novel, a very brief
summary of the story and then summary of the story and then summary of the story and then
very brief summary of the
transition to your thesis at the transition to your thesis at the transition to your thesis at the
story and then transition

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 English | Assignment | Write a Literary Analysis Essay
to your thesis at the end end. end. end.
Possible thesis: Paulo Coleho Possible thesis: Paulo Coleho Possible thesis: Paulo Coleho
Debateable Thesis: See uses the symbols of uses the characters uses many settings including
____,_______, _______, and ____,_______, _______, and ____,_______, _______, and
boxes to the left
_______ to explore the theme _______ to explore the theme _______ to explore the theme
of __________________. of __________________. of __________________.
BODY PARAGRAPH #1 “In the first half of the “In the first half of the “In the first half of the
novel…” novel…” novel…”
(Suggestion: Focus your
analysis in this paragraph on  Discuss one  Discuss one  Discuss one
the Prologue and Part One symbol and use character and use setting and use
of the novel.) one quote for one quote for one quote for
evidence evidence evidence
***Topic sentence  Transition and  Transition and Transition and
***Transition and Quote #1 discuss a second
***Explanation of quote discuss a second discuss a second
symbol and use a character and use setting and use a
***Transition and Quote #2
***Explanation of quote second quote for a second quote for second quote for
***Provide reasoning to show evidence evidence evidence
how quotes connect back to
claim in thesis
BODY PARAGRAPH #2 “As the reader “As the reader “In Part Two of the
(Suggestion: Focus your continues to travel with continues to travel with novel, Santiago
analysis in this paragraph Santiago on his journey Santiago on his journey encounters several new
on Part Two of the novel) in Part Two, Coleho in Part Two, Coleho places including…”
incorporates more introduces more  Discuss a third
symbols including…” characters including…” setting and use a
***Topic sentence  Discuss a third  Discuss a third third quote for
***Transition and Quote #3 symbol and use a character and use evidence
***Explanation of quote third quote for a third quote for  Transition to a
***Transition and Quote #4 evidence evidence fourth setting and
***Explanation of quote  Transition to a  Transition to a use a fourth quote
***Provide reasoning to show for evidence
fourth symbol and fourth character
how quotes connect back to
claim in thesis use a fourth quote and use a fourth
for evidence quote for
evidence
Conclusion To conclude, the symbols in To conclude, the many To conclude, the various
Summarize the key The Alchemist contribute characters in The Alchemist settings in The Alchemist
ideas in your essay and significantly to the contribute significantly to the contribute significantly to the
reinforce the claim you development of theme by… development of theme by… development of theme by…
made in the thesis

Prewriting Steps:
1. I know that there is a plagiarism detector built into the assignment dropbox and I understand that I should
not use any outside sources for this essay. Write “Yes, I understand” on the line below:
___________________________
2. Decide which organization plan you will use from above to narrow your focus in the literary analysis.
Put either SYMBOLS, CHARACTERS, or SETTINGS on this line: ___________________________
3. THESIS SENTENCE: In this essay you will explore a theme in The Alchemist. Notice how I wrote “a
theme” and not “the theme”. Why? Many themes may exist in the novel. As we have discussed several
times in class, there are no “right” or “wrong” themes about literature. It is up to you to take a risk and
make a claim about what you believe is the lesson the main character learned about life or the main
lesson the author is trying to explain through all the events in a story. A theme is often connected to how a
character changes and what he or she learned by the end of the story. So, what does Santiago learn?
How does he change because of his journey? What is the message the reader can take away from this?

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 English | Assignment | Write a Literary Analysis Essay

You will not state a theme as one word like this: “The theme of the story is love.” “Love” is only a subject
in a literary work. A theme says something debatable about that subject or a character and it is best
stated in a complete sentence. Example theme statement: “Love can conquer all obstacles.” See? It is a
full statement that includes a subject (“love) but it makes a debatable claim about that subject (“it can
conquer all obstacles”). Not all people will agree that love can conquer all obstacles, right? That’s what I
mean when I say your literary analysis thesis statement needs to be debatable. Since a good theme
statement is debatable, a student must prove its validity by selecting relevant evidence from the story
and include reasoning and elaboration in the body paragraphs to back up the claim.
Write your thesis sentence on the line: __________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________.
4. Review your thesis statement above and double check that you included only one of these words,
symbols, characters, or settings, so the reader will know how you narrowed your focus of this essay
about theme. If you didn’t include one of those words, revise your thesis to include it now before moving
on. We discussed several example thesis sentences in the March 14th Class Connect. Please watch that
now if you did not attend the live session. You may use any thesis you see from your peers on the white
board in the session.

5. Next, start filling in the shaping sheet on the next page. You can use any of the sentence starters I
included in the boxes above as you complete your shaping sheet.

USE Essay Shaping Sheet BELOW—Rough Draft

Introduction
 Include the name of the title and author and
include a short summary of the book (about 3-
4 sentences)
 End the paragraph with a thesis sentence

Paragraph 1 (Discussion of your thesis as it pertains

to the Prologue and Part One of the novel)
 Topic sentence
 Transition and Quote #1
 Explanation of quote
 Transition and Quote #2
 Explanation of quote
 Provide reasoning to show how quotes connect
back to claim in thesis

Paragraph 2 (Discussion of your thesis as it pertains

to Part Two and Epilogue of the novel)

 Topic sentence
 Transition and Quote #1
 Explanation of quote
 Transition and Quote #2
 Explanation of quote

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 English | Assignment | Write a Literary Analysis Essay
 Provide reasoning to show how quotes connect
back to claim in thesis

Conclusion
Summarize the key ideas in your essay and reinforce
the claim you made in the thesis.

Drafting
Write the first draft of your literary analysis essay at the end of this document where you see the yellow line for the
final draft. To get started, just copy the sentences from the prewriting boxes above and paste them below under
the line. Remember to save often. You will continue to write, revise, and edit the draft below several times until
your work eventually becomes your FINAL DRAFT. You do not have to submit two documents—a rough draft and
a final draft. I will only score your revised and edited FINAL DRAFT of the literary analysis essay at the bottom of
this document.
As you write, follow these guidelines:
 Include your thesis statement, making sure it is a clear and precise thesis statement that makes a makes
a claim about the theme in The Alchemist. It should also show the reader how you are narrowing the
focus of your essay to explore how either the symbols, the characters, or the setting help contribute to the
reader’s understanding of the theme.
 Write body paragraphs that develop and support your thesis using reasons and evidence from the text.
 Sequence your ideas logically and make clear connections between ideas and support.
 Quote or paraphrase from the literary work to support your points, using in-text citations. You will need to
use a minimum of four quotes, preferably two in each of your body paragraphs.
 Use transitions, a formal style, and an objective tone. Do not use the pronoun “you” in a formal essay.
 Write a conclusion that wraps up your argument.

Transition, Lead-in, Quote (TLQ): Using Quotes in Essays

When you use quotes, you must first use a transitional phrase (such as “For example,…”, “In addition”,
“Furthermore”, etc...). This is called the transition. Secondly, you must first provide the context of the quote (who
is speaking and in what situation?). This is called the lead-in. The lead-in sets up the quote. Lastly, provide the
actual quote. Use the page number where you found the quote. You do not have to include the author’s last
name when you are writing about only one literary work since the author of the quote is obvious in the essay. You
would, however, include the author’s last name next to the page number if you were writing about several literary
works in an essay. Include end punctuation, usually a period, only after the page number and not at the end of
the quote.

The following are three examples of correct TLQ:

 For example, after Scout hits Walter Cunningham in the schoolyard, she says, “He made me start off on
the wrong foot” (27).

 In addition, while spending Christmas at Finch’s Landing, Francis tells Scout that Atticus is “ruinin’ the
family” (87).

 Furthermore, when Scout and Jem are walking home from the pageant, they hear a
man “running toward [them] with no child’s steps” (264). *

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 English | Assignment | Write a Literary Analysis Essay

*(Brackets [ ] are used when you alter a word in a quotation like in example #3 above.)

Transition Words and Phrases:

Explore this site for even more transitions: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/574/02/
Examples: for example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate
Additional Support or additionally, again, also, and, as well, besides, equally important, further,
Evidence: furthermore, in addition, moreover, then

Write Your Literary Analysis Essay Final Draft Below the Line
__________________________________________________________________________________________
The Alchemist Mythical Framework The Alchemist. A book about a boy’s pursuit for hidden
pearl, seeing new spaces, meeting new persons. It has developed a global hit, selling millions of
prints since it’s publication in 1988. It’s established many awards and has pinched scores of
scholars and unplanned readers alike. This book has received delirious reviews and cruel critics.
The author, Paulo Coehlo, repeatedly explains the point of a deep joining between all things in
the world. One would motive there could be no other likely reason for writing this book. But
come again if there stayed? What if Coehlo obvious to go against the scrap in his book. It
wouldn’t be firm to draw a linking between avariciousness and Coehlo, after all he did raise up
in a very poor county of the world where kids habitually grow up fancying of eating as much as
the rich people in the world. My belief stands that Coehlo not one likes greediness but he is
frustrating to encourage it in this book. He’s trying to retail it off as a countless thing to consume.
Of course possibly that was his entire point for script this volume. After all you can mark a lot of
good cash from lettering a book, money which would merely help to relief a person get quicker
to their grasping dreams. There are numerous things that fact to the statistic that Coehlo is trying
to stimulate this worldly method of living such as; everybody in the book is demanding to gain
substantial things, entire subversion of the book is around a boy penetrating for a factual
paragon, and the characters only treasure God and the soul of the biosphere in order to benefit
attain their money-oriented goals. It appears as however everyone in this book is attentive on
materialism of certain category. No matter who they are they want a bit factual.
The boy, the Alchemist, the crystal shop wholesaler, the Englishman. Though it may be delicate,
if you look carefully at these characters you will absolutely see the inspiration of materialism on
them. In the next few passages I’m going to go into additional detail on the avariciousness of
these characters. To start with we have the key character, Santiago, or the boy. All over the book
he has one objective. His treasure isn’t the familiarity of his journey, or Fatima. It’s a factual
chest of gold and treasurable things. The whole thing that happens to him all over the story, all
his experiences, are effects that helped getting him nearer to his material gem, whereas not
material themselves. This money indicates getting your factual reward at the close of a long
voyage. Then we derived to the Alchemist. Yes, he was engrossed on things of the world, even
with his ostensibly endless knowledge and awareness. Let’s not supervise the biggest portion of
indication that he’s a substantial man, he’s an alchemist! Alchemy by meaning is converting lead
into gold. Or turning somewhat unusable into something particularly treasured and material.
Gold is the model symbol of wealth and treasures, which are clearly material things. A much
fewer delicate clue to the Alchemist’s intentions, is the lavender he has outside his shelter with

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 English | Assignment | Write a Literary Analysis Essay
the boy. This wine is prohibited by the native religion, but he’d pretty have the substantial wine
flask than esteem a divine religion. Then after he clarifies that the wine is prohibited because it
makes people say stuffs they possibly shouldn’t, he spirits ahead and decants a beaker for him
and the boy.
Further viewing he had tiny care for the faith and more anxiety with drinking that substantial
bottle of wine. Even some of the additional minor charms in the book presented traits of
thoughtful more for experienced things. The gemstone merchant for case. He preserves a shop,
which sells material belongings in conversation for material money. He’s virtually circulating
covetousness. When inquired if he would ever take the ramble and see the religious pebble, he
says he’s happy where he is in work in a material shop and only thoughtful of being spiritual.
The other trivial character in the book who displays this kind of performance is the Englishman.
He showed numerous times he’d pretty be repressed in his material books than pay consideration
to the things all over the place. He is also trailing the art of alchemy, which once more is the
detection of making treasured gold in order to increase wealth and control. As you can see all of
the characters that drama big shares in this story are all very much absorbed on materialism.
Then there’s the circumstance that the whole book is about the pursuit for a material gem.

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