The alchemist

1. 2. 3. Introduction of the Book the Alchemist PAULO COELHOs enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in it powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian [, nd'lu:zin] shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself a king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts. This Brazilian wizard makes books disappear from stories. By New York Times [Coelhos] books have had a life-enhancing effect on millions of people. By London Times. - Enchanting: He is enchanted by this innovative idea. - Dazzle: The students are dazzled at his sudden success. - Andalusian: the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. - Quest: Man will suffer many disappointments in his quest for truth. - Surmount: overcome, Surmount obstacles. - Worldly: worldly-minded - Treasure found within: Please stay in your room until told otherwise - Lush: - Evocative: [K.K.:'vktv] This book
is evocative of my childhood. - Eternal testament to: This ring is an eternal testament to our love for each other.

 The alchemist

Prologue of the Book the Alchemist The Alchemist picked up a book that someone in the caravan had brought. Leafing through the pages, he found a story about Narcissus. The alchemist knew the legend of Narcissus, a youth who daily knelt beside a lake to contemplate his own beauty. He was so fascinated by himself that, one morning, he fell into the lake and drowned. At the spot where he fell, a flower was born, which was called the narcissus. But this was not how the author of the book ended the story. He said that when Narcissus died, the Goddesses of the Forest appeared and found the lake, which had been fresh water, transformed into a lake of salty tears. "Why do you weep?" the Goddesses asked. "I weep for Narcissus," the lake replied. "Ah, it is no surprise that you weep for Narcissus," they said, "for though we always pursued him in the forest, you alone could contemplate his beauty close at hand." "But..... was Narcissus beautiful?" the lake asked. "Who better than you to know that?" the Goddesses said in wonder, "After all, it was by your banks that he knelt each day to contemplate himself!!" The lake was silent for some time. Finally it said: "I weep for Narcissus, but I never noticed that Narcissus was beautiful. I weep because, each time he knelt beside my banks, I could see, in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty reflected." "What a lovely story," the alchemist thought.

Vocabularies: - Caravan: a procession () (of wagons or mules or camels) traveling together in single file; "we were part of a caravan of almost a thousand camels"; - Narcissus: Narcissistic (), daffodil () narcissus Narcissus Narcissus or Narkissos (Greek: ), possibly derived from (narke) meaning "sleep, numbness," in Greek mythology was a hunter from the territory of Thespiae in Boeotia who was renowned for his beauty. He was exceptionally proud, in that he disdained those who loved him. Nemesis saw this and attracted Narcissus to a pool where he saw his own reflection in the waters and fell in
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 The alchemist

love with it, not realizing it was merely an image. Unable to leave the beauty of his reflection, Narcissus died. In Greek mythology, Nemesis (Greek, ), also called Rhamnousia/Rhamnusia ("the goddess of Rhamnous") at her sanctuary at Rhamnous, north of Marathon, was the spirit of divine retribution(punishment) against those who succumb to hubris (arrogance before the gods). -Retribution: punishment. Do evil actions bring retribution after death? -Succumb to: consent reluctantly, yield to, - Nemesis: To follow the proposed course of action is to invite nemesis.
- Contemplate:

The government has contemplated reforming the entire tax system. - Alchemist: one who was versed in the practice of alchemy and who sought an elixir [K.K.:'lks] of life and a panacea [K.K.:,p n'si] and an alkahest [K.K.:' lk,hst] and the philosopher's stone. In the book, Lost Symbol by Dan Brown ()the author offered a different explanation of Alchemy which, rather than transforming other metals into gold and silver, transforms human spirituality onto a different level. Interestingly, Sir Isaac Newton was also one of the practitioners of the Alchemy which is widely recognized as a protoscience() that helps found and develop modern science.