The Alchemist

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the play over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Santiago’s journey begins with a dream.

• What role do dreams and/or omens play in Santiago’s journey? (topic sentence)
• Provide 3 examples from the text in which Santiago mentions or encounters a dream or omen.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, link your examples back to Santiago’s development as a character and the theme of Dreams and Omens.

2. Santiago begins as a shepherd and ultimately returns home as a very different person.

• What do sheep symbolize in this novel? (topic sentence)
• Using at least 3 examples from the text, think about what role sheep play in Santiago’s journey.
• In your conclusion, connect your argument back to Santiago’s transformation over the course of the novel.

3. Santiago enters the desert hoping to learn from it, despite its harsh conditions.

• What does Santiago ultimately learn from his time in the desert? (topic sentence)
• What challenges does Santiago encounter in the desert? Provide 3 examples that support your topic sentence.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, discuss how Santiago’s time in the desert provides him with tools and experiences that he draws on after leaving the desert.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Alchemy refers to the transformation of metal into gold, but in this novel, it means much more than that. We see not only how the alchemist can do this basic task of physical transformation but also how Santiago himself is transformed throughout the text. Make an argument about alchemy as a symbol and how Santiago is transformed. Show how this connects to the theme of Gold, Treasure, and Money.

2. There are many times when Santiago is tempted to give up pursuing his Personal Legend. His ambition constant battles with his fear. What spurs him on throughout the novel? What lessons ultimately contribute to his ability to achieve his goals? What role does fear play in the achievement of one’s Personal Legend? Make an argument responding to these questions, connecting it to the theme of Fear and Loneliness.

3. How do Santiago’s dreams guide him throughout this novel? How do omens affect his behavior? As you formulate an answer to these questions, you might think about dreams as a way of communicating and about the differences between Santiago and the Englishman. Make an argument about what role Dreams and Omens play in Santiago’s transformation throughout the novel.