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The Alchemist

Introduction

A Dream Deferred
by Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

Paulo Coelho
Born in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil in 1947
Always wanted to be a
writer
Worked at various
professions

Paulo Coelho
"I always knew, he says,
"that my Personal Legend,
to use a term from alchemy,
was to write.
He was 38 when he
published his first book.

Paulo Coelho
Dropped out of law
school in 1970
Traveled through much
of South America, North
Africa, Mexico, and
Europe.
Successful career as
popular songwriter.

Paulo Coelho
1974 imprisoned
short time by the
military dictatorship
then ruling in Brazil.
1980 walked the 500plus mile Road of
Santiago de
Compostela in
northwestern Spain.

Paulo Coelho
Coehlo achieved
a self-awareness
and spiritual
awakening that
he later
described in The
Pilgrimage.

Fable
Short narrative makes a
moral point
Traditionally by means of
animal characters who act
like human beings
Legend about supernatural
or mythical characters or
events

Allegory
A representation of an abstract or spiritual
meaning through concrete or material forms

What is
ALCHEMY?

Alchemists have 2 main goals


Medieval scientists practiced
alchemy, hoping to produce
gold from less valuable metals.
(Turn metal into gold)
Alchemists also desired to
develop potions, known as
elixirs, to ensure good health
and extend life spans. (The
Philosophers Stone and/or The
Elixir of Life)

Where did alchemy come from?


Founded in Egypt, alchemy was
practiced throughout the
Mediterranean regions and as far
away as China
They believed that all objects
consist of water, air, fire and
earth
Early alchemy was controversial
and was opposed by many rulers
and religions

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho


Personal Legend = Your Destiny
There are 4 obstacles to
overcome before you can achieve
your Personal Legend
People tell you that your dream is
IMPOSSIBLE to achieve
LOVE
FEAR OF DEFEAT
FEAR OF REALIZING THE DREAM

The Alchemist
Personal Legend =
Destiny
Our job is to pursue
our personal legend
despite the many
distractions placed
in our path

Lessons of The Alchemist


Trust your heart
Read the seemingly
inconspicuous signs
Understand that as you
look to fulfill a dream,
it looks to find you, if
you let it
Sometimes you can
find extraordinary in
the ordinary.

Henry David Thoreau


What a man thinks of himself, that is which
determines, or rather indicates, his fate.
Go confidently in the direction of your
dreams! Live the life youve imagined.

The Story of Narcissus


Once upon a time, there was a boy called Narcissus.
He was the son of a god and he was very, very
handsome. Many women fell in love with him, but he
turned them away. One of the women who loved
Narcissus was a nymph called Echo. Echo could not
speak properly - she could only repeat what was said
to her, so she couldn't tell Narcissus that she loved
him. One day, when Narcissus was walking in the
woods with some friends, he became separated from
them. He called out "Is anyone here?" Echo replied
"Here, Here". Echo stepped forward with open arms,
wanting to cuddle him. But Narcissus refused to accept
Echo's love. Echo was so upset that she left and hid in
a cave, until nothing was left of her, except her voice.

Story continued
The Maiden, a goddess, found out about this, and she
was very angry. She made Narcissus fall in love with
himself. When Narcissus looked at his reflection in a
pond one day, he fell in love. He stayed on that spot
forever, until he died one day. Where he died a flower
grew, and that flower is called a Narcissus.

Assignment due for Monday


Using your own words, describe your own Personal
Legend. Answer the questions that Coelho asks in the
text, including:
Fully describe a goal or dream that you are working
toward.
What is the purpose of this goal?
What will it help you achieve after attaining it?
What strengths do you possess that will help you along
the way?
This assignment should be at least one page typed and
printed out for class on Monday, August 29.

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