Alchemist Socratic Discussion Questions

When possible, use text references to support your answers

1. What was the most valuable thing that Santiago gained from his journey?
2. What is the role of the hero in the heros journey? What impacts are the heroes intended to have on the
reader?
3. In your own opinion, and if you had to choose only one thing, what is the only thing worth living for? What
would Paulo Coelho say is the only thing worth living for?
4. Do we have more of a responsibility for ourselves or for other people? Why? Explain.
5. What was Coelhos purpose in writing the novel? Do you think he achieved his purpose?
6. Are omens really out there and are they important? What are omens? Are they just illusions that we see to
justify something we feel or want to do, or are they something more?
7. What was the point of the boy becoming the wind?
8. Does the simplistic and primitive style of this book add or detract from the main goal, what ever you think
the main goal is? Explain.
9. The alchemist told Santiago "when you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them,
seldom are you believed." Why do you think this is? Why are people unlikely to believe a person holds
treasure (literally or metaphorically)?
10. At the very end of the journey, why did the alchemist leave Santiago alone to complete it?
11. The alchemist tells Santiago "you don't even have to understand the desert: all you have to do is to
contemplate a simple grain of sand, and you will see in it all the marvels of creation." With this in mind, why
do you think the alchemist chose to befriend Santiago, though he knew that the Englishman was the one
looking at him?
12. One of the first major diversions from Santiago's journey was the theft of his money in Tangier, which
forced him into taking a menial job with the crystal merchant. There, Santiago learned many lessons on
everything from the art of business to the art of patience. Of all these, which lessons were the most crucial to
the pursuit of his Personal Legend?
13. What are some of the symbols that the author uses and what are the purposes for
using them?
14. What is at least one connection you can draw between this novel and Christianity?
Other religions?
15. Is it possible to live a life without fulfilling one's personal legend? Is it possible to
have multiple personal legends?
16. Why is it significant that Santiago finds his treasure back in Andalusia and not at the
pyramids?

17. Do you think Santiago went back for Fatima?

18. Some critics have said that the novel is sexist in the way it deals with the female
characters. What do you think about this?
19. Paulo Coelho once said that alchemy is all about pursuing our spiritual quest in the
physical world as it was given to us. It is the art of transmuting (transforming) the
reality into something sacred, of mixing the sacred and the profane. With this in mind,
explain the main metaphor of the book: alchemy.
20. Just as, in the prologue story, the lake grieves for the dead Narcissus, the wind and
the sun talk with Santiago about love, about their relationship to the soul of the world,
and about how he can turn himself into wind. Do you have a personal relationship with
any part of the natural world? Have you ever had an experience that you would
describe as a conversation with some part of nature?
21. Write you own question to pose to the class. Base it on one of the quotes you have
recorded, if you like.
Socratic Seminar: Participant Rubric
A Level Participant
Participant offers enough solid analysis, without prompting, to move the
conversation forward
Participant, through her comments, demonstrates a deep knowledge of the
text and the question
Participant has come to the seminar prepared, with notes
Participant shows, verbally and non-verbally that she is actively listening to
other participants
Participant offers clarification and/or follow-up that extends the conversation
Participants remarks often refer back to specific parts of the text.
B Level Participant
Participant offers solid analysis without prompting
Through comments, participant demonstrates a good knowledge of the text
and the question
Participant has come to the seminar prepared, with notes
Participant shows that he/she is actively listeningto others and offers
clarification and/or follow-up
C Level Participant
Participant offers some analysis, but needs prompting
Through comments, participant demonstrates a general knowledge of the text
and question
Participant is less prepared, with few notes
Participant is actively listening to others, but does not offer clarification and/or
follow-up to others comments
Participant relies more upon his or her opinion, and less on the text to drive
her comments

D or F Level
Participant offers little commentary
Participant comes to the seminar ill-prepared with little understanding of the
text
Participant does not listen to others, offers no commentary to further the
discussion
Participant distracts the group by interrupting other speakers or by offering off
topic questions and comments.
Participant ignores the discussion and its participants