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Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the city where he now lives, he encountered difficulties on his quest toward becoming a writer. “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.

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Paulo Coelho

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  1. Paulo Coelho

  2. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the city where he now lives, he encountered difficulties on his quest toward becoming a writer. “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.

  3. First published in 1988 • 1st edition sold only 900 copies • Moved to another publishing house • The Alchemist went on to sell more copies than any other book in the history of Brazil, and even made it into the Guinness Book of Records.

  4. Coelho traveled South America and Europe. In 1980, he walked the 500-plus mile Road of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. On this ancient highway, used for centuries by pilgrims from France to get to the cathedral said to house the remains of St. James, he achieved a self-awareness and a spiritual awakening.

  5. He is most recognized for his powerful storytelling technique and the profound insights he blends into his parables. Winner of numerous literary prizes and a prominent speaker for humanitarian causes.

  6. The Alchemist is an inspiring fable about the journey we all take to find the most meaningful treasures in our lives. It is about the faith, power, and courage we all have within us to pursue the intricate path of a Personal Legend, a path charted by the mysterious magnet of destiny but obscured by distractions.

  7. Written in fable format • Integrates ideas and philosophies of many faiths and historical periods • Fable: use recognizable, simple characters and settings in order to illustrate a simple truth about life and human nature

  8. Follow the story of Santiago in order to teach us how we may find and live out our own “Personal Legend.” • These ideas have been explored since ancient times • Includes all faiths and all philosophies • Pursuit of truth; one’s intended destiny; the attainment of personal happiness

  9. Archetypes Main Character The Quest/Journey The Seeker/Adventurer Santiago, a shepherd boy from Andalusia, Spain, who has a dream about finding a treasure in the pyramids of Egypt.

  10. Life attracts life. • We must follow our dreams, but dreams may follow us just the same. • Real treasures may lie in the most unexpected corners. • Life is about the course you take not the destination.

  11. SYMBOLS • From the first pages, The Alchemist is infused with symbolism. • Sycamore Tree - Tree of Life. From the highest antiquity trees were connected with the gods and mystical forces in nature. • Sheep – Denote a lack of individuality • Shepherd – Leader, higher/spiritual guide, Christ-like figure

  12. Pronunciation: 'al-k&-mEFunction: noun1: a medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy aiming to achieve the transformation of the base metals into gold, the discovery of a universal cure for disease, and the discovery of a means of indefinitely prolonging life2: a power or process of transforming something common into something special3: an inexplicable or mysterious transmuting “Alchemy." Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. 10th ed.  2000.

  13. The medieval “science” of transforming rocks into gold. • Used both as a literal and figurative device • Literal: turn rocks into gold • Spiritual: how do we find or recognize the “gold” in the “rocks” of the everyday and ordinary?

  14. Ancient art practiced especially in the Middle Ages, devoted chiefly to discovering a substance that would transmute the more common metals into gold or silver and to finding a means of indefinitely prolonging human life. Often seen as the predecessor of modern science (chemistry). • Origins of Alchemy: Birthplace was Alexandria, Egypt.

  15. Aristotelian doctrine that all things tend to reach perfection. Because other metals were thought to be less than “perfect” than gold, it was reasonable to assume that nature formed gold out of other metals deep within the earth and that with sufficient skill an artisan could duplicate this process.

  16. One must believe in “The Soul of the World” or in Latin, “anima mundi” Everything is interconnected—what one does affects everything else

  17. 2. One must listen to the voice of the heart. Sometimes we must follow our feelings and intuitions, even if we do not fully understand them. Through feeling one gains wisdom

  18. 3. One must be faithful to one’s dreams, for they both test and reward us. The path to achieving one’s Personal Legend may not be easy, but we must endure the tests in order to gain the rewards.

  19. 4. One must “surrender oneself to the universe.” We must allow ourselves to be open to recognizing and learning from omens and signs which come our way.

  20. Questions: -What is your philosophy of life? -What is your Personal Legend?

  21. When you think about your future, what comes to mind? Are you scared or excited? Do you have specific goals? What do you intend to do? Write a short essay discussing where you think life may take you.

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