Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- Why is The Alchemist divided into two parts? What lesson or point does each part make?
- In The Alchemist, Santiago is going after a literal treasure: buried gold. Why do you think that Coelho chose such a concrete, obvious treasure instead of something more abstract?
- Many of the wise people that Santiago meets are really old. What does this tell you about wisdom in The Alchemist? What do young people have to offer?
- Personal Legend. The Language of the World. The Soul of the World. What is with these capitalized concepts that are repeated throughout the book?
- What is the role of nature in The Alchemist?
- Santiago's treasure is buried gold. Fatima's treasure is Santiago himself. Is that fair? Do you think that there might be some unfair gender biases at work there? How?
- There has been talk of making The Alchemist into a movie for years and years. If you were the director, who would you cast as Santiago, Fatima, the old king, and the alchemist?
- What do you think happened to the girl that Santiago had a crush on back in Spain?
- Do you think that it's a good idea to use The Alchemist as a self-help book, applying its lessons to your life? Why or why not?