Journal Topic 5/3How far would you be willing to go to collect something of great value? Depending on who you are, this could include: money, hidden treasure, love, friendship, material items, etc.

The Alchemist unit questions

•Who am I and what do I want to do with my life?

•Who do I allow to influence big decisions in my life?

•What do I value? What kind of person do I want to be when I grow up?

Today’s goals

•To gain an understanding of the background of Paulo Coelho

•To gain an understanding of the significance of Narcissus.

•To begin to consider why the author would write about Narcissus in the prologue.

Today • Announcements:

▫Panel meetings – were this morning.• Due today:

▫Nothing• Homework:

▫Read to page 21 for Friday• Agenda:

▫Pre-reading assignment ▫Read the about the author▫Read the Prologue▫Socratic Seminars

Pre-Reading assignment

•With a partner, complete The Alchemist pre-reading assignment.

•You will have 20 minutes. Whatever you do not complete will be homework. ▫Submit to turnitin.com

The Story of Narcissus• Once upon a time, there was a boy called Narcissus. He was the son

of a god and he was very, very handsome. Many women fell in love with him, but he turned them away. One of the women who loved Narcissus was a nymph called Echo. Echo could not speak properly - she could only repeat what was said to her, so she couldn't tell Narcissus that she loved him. One day, when Narcissus was walking in the woods with some friends, he became separated from them. He called out "Is anyone here?" Echo replied "Here, Here". Echo stepped forward with open arms, wanting to cuddle him. But Narcissus refused to accept Echo's love. Echo was so upset that she left and hid in a cave, until nothing was left of her, except her voice.

• The Maiden, a goddess, found out about this, and she was very angry. She made Narcissus fall in love with himself. When Narcissus looked at his reflection in a pond one day, he fell in love. He stayed on that spot forever, until he died one day. Where he died a flower grew, and that flower is called a Narcissus.

The Alchemist

•Read the introduction by the author•Read the Prologue

Prologue questions:

•On a word document you can submit, answer the following questions:▫What is the key phrase of the prologue▫Define the term narcissism▫Why does the lake grieve?▫What is important about the lake being sad

over the death of Narcissus? ▫Did the lake miss something by focusing on

it’s own beauty in the eyes of Narcissus?

Form a group of four students

•As a group, discuss the prologue of the book▫What does the story of the lake and

Narcissist tell us about the novel?▫You have 5 minutes to discuss as a group▫After 5 minutes each group will share with

the class

Socratic Seminar

•For The Alchemist, we will be using seminar and discussion groups to engage in the novel

•We’re going to practice that today

Concept of Socratic Seminar

•Dialogue, not Debate•4 elements of Seminar

▫The Text being considered▫The Questions being Raised▫The seminar leader (at times Andres, but

sometimes you guys)▫The Participants

Habits of Mind What is it I think I know? How do I know what I know? How do I know that I know? What is the Evidence? How is it connected to other things? How else may it be connected? What difference does it make? What if…? So what?

Opening Question

•Why would the author of the novel change the story of narcissus to include the lake crying?

For Friday

•Read to page 21 of The Alchemist