The Alchemist Flashcards
Author
Paulo Coehlo
Book opens with the alchemist finding a story in a book from someone in the caravan about
Narcissus, a boy who knelt by the pond admiring his own reflection and reflection. Narcissus fell in and drown and a flower, the Narcissus was born. The fresh water became salty tears the lake replied to the fairies. The lake saw its own beauty reflected.
The shepherd boy name was
Santiago who had been travelling with sheep for two years
Santiago first slept in a
an abandoned church where he made sure no sheep could get out. used book as pillow. needed thicker book to last longer and make better pillow
what did santiago talk to the sheep about
the last few days about a girl the daughter of a merchant
what is a typical andalusian (in Spain) girl
flowing black hair and eyes that vaguely recalled the Moorish conquerers; she made him to desire to live in one place
the only things that concerned sheep
food and water
define zenith
…
santiago did what until he was 16
attended the seminary to elevate his farming family status but it was more important for him to learn about the world than learn God and others sins; he wanted to travel and so became a shepherd the father gave him 3 coins to buy a flock and his blessing
what makes life worth living
the possibility of having a dream come true; in Tarifa there was a person who could interpret dreams
his dream was
children played with sheep, he got transported to egyptian pyramids and was told that there was a hidden treasure; she didn’t charge him but she said she wanted 1/10 of the treasure when he found it
what else did she say
its the simple things in life that are most extraordinary; only wise men know this
the old man
could read; said the book was irritating because it said the same thing all books do tat people have an inability to choose their own legends and that we all believe the same lie – that are lives are controlled by fate and we lose control; he called himself the king of salem Melchizedek - he did a reading and knew anything
when you really want something
it is because the desire originated in the soul of the universe; the sol of the world is nourished by people’s happiness
in the long run what people thin about bakers and shepherds
becomes more important than their own personal legends
the miner found
an emerald
if you promise to give what you do not have yet
you will lose your desire to work at getting it
Egypt is in
…
Moors
had come from Levant at the eastern end of the Meditteranean; people called the wind the levanter
People fail to recognize
the good things that happen in their lives everyday that the sun rises
principle of favorability
aka beginner’s luck whets your appetite with a taste of success
the old man wore
a breast plate of heavy gold covered with precious stones
Black and white
Uri and Thummim, yes and no, always ask an objective question TRY TO MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS
the secret of happiness
is to see all the marvels of the world and never forget the drops of oil on the spoon; a shepherd map want to travel but should never forget about his sheep
what distracted him in the market in Tangier
a sword encrusted with precious stones in an Arab open market
learn to recognize omens
and follow them
he traveled how many hours by ship to the new place
two hours
there must be a language that doesn’t depend on words
he with sheep/ Spanish with Arabic then he could learn to understand the world - all things are one as the old man said
merchants he met
day one: candy day two: crystal
he cleaned the crystal in order
to earn food but the Koran requires one to feed a hungry person
five obligation of Koran
believe on one true God, pray five times a day, fast during Ramadan and be charitable to the poor. Fifth obligation is a pilgrimage to Mecca. That is why he started the shop
Egypt dream was replaced with a dream
to go home and buy more sheep maybe double; he could now also do business with the Arabs as he knew their language; he stayed at the crystal shop for a year
pipe used by Arabs
called a hookah
every blessing ignored becomes a
curse said the crystal shop owner; maktub - it is written, sometimes there is no way to hold back the river and so the crystal tea shop;
sheep couldn’t teach him
arabic
language of enthusiasm
things accomplished with love and purpose and as part of a something believed in and desired
THe Englishman had studied
Esperanto,then the world’s religions ,and now it was alchemy (was intriqued by any one who can change any metal into gold?)
when someone makes a decision
he is really diving into a strong current that will carry hi to places he had never dreamed of when he made the decision
luck and coincidence
those words that the universal language is written
define caprcious
…
who went on the desert caravan
200 people 400 animals women children men with swords, Englishmen with books, each with their own God. the caravan leader answered to Allah. In the desert disobedience means death. THe boy swore to Jesus Christ. THE Englishmen to nothing.
the most important text in the literature of alchemy
contained only a few lines and was inscribed on the surface of an emerald it’s the emerald tablet
the liquid part of the Master WOrj
Elixir of life anf cured all illnesses; kept alchemist from growing old
solid part
small sliver of stone can transform large quantities of metal into gold; Philosopher’s stone; purifiying metal purify self
Year written or copyrighted?
?
the caravan stopped what
fires to avoid raids
don’t live in past or future
concentrate only on present; life will be a party;life is the moment we are living right now
Englishman said that maybe god created the desert so that man
could appreciate the date trees
neutral territories
oases were places of refuge and contained many women and children
in pursuit of dream shepherd was
constantly subjected to tests of his persistence and courage. So he could not be hasty, not impatient. If he pushed forward he would fail to see the signs
married women at the oasis
dress in black
where did the shepherd meet the girl with the dark eyes and the veil named Fatima
at the well; here was the omen he had looked for all along; the pure language of the world just as the universe needs none; everything under the sun has been written by one hand. the hand that evokes love; maktub (so it is written)
