The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho [ISBN or or ]

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1 World Literature Summer Reading for Rising Sophomores May 2018 Dear Parents, The Language Arts Department at Brookwood High School encourages all of its students to continue reading as part of our summer reading program. It is our goal to make reading a pleasurable activity and a learning experience at the same time. Reading provides many benefits besides the obvious increase in vocabulary skills and general knowledge. Therefore, as we prepare to instruct your son or daughter as a sophomore at Brookwood High School in the fall, we want to inform you of your child s assignment for the Summer Reading Program. All rising sophomores are required to read The Alchemist, a novel focusing on the hero's journey which is a key component of our world literature curriculum. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho [ISBN or or ] Santiago, a young man in Spain who has attended seminary until the age of sixteen, is provided his father s blessing and three gold coins to purchase a flock of sheep so that he may travel as he desires. His father advises him that there is no place like home. As Santiago spends his first night with his sheep, he experiences a recurring dream. In the dream he is transported to Egyptian pyramids, where a child tells him that he will find a hidden treasure there if he makes the journey in reality. He awakens before the child can show him the exact location of the treasure. A dream interpreter tells him that he must go and find a treasure, which will make him a rich man. As Santiago journeys on in pursuit of his dream, he meets the King of Salem, a con man, a crystal merchant, an Englishman, tribal chieftains, and an alchemist. He learns of Fate, the Soul of the World, the Principle of Favorability, and that one s treasure can lie where one least expects it. This novel is easily found through local public libraries, at most area bookstores, as well as through online ordering sources. If you object to reading this particular novel, please contact David_Thompson@gwinnett.k12.ga.us or Angie_McLane@gwinnett.k12.ga.us for an alternate title. We will assess summer reading during the first weeks of school through class discussion, writing assignments, quizzes and on the first unit test of the semester. Each student should have his/her own copy of the The Alchemist in class during the first and second weeks of school. CP and HONORS STUDENTS: Come to school on the first day with the MAJOR WORKS DATA SHEET (attached) completed for The Alchemist. ALL WORK MUST BE HANDWRITTEN. In addition, students should watch one of the following movies: Lion King or Finding Nemo. GIFTED STUDENTS: Come to school on the first day with the MAJOR WORKS DATA SHEET (attached) completed for The Alchemist. ALL WORK MUST BE HANDWRITTEN At the beginning of the school year, gifted classes will do an in depth study of Joseph Campbell s research on world mythologies. Gifted students are expected to do the following before the first day of school in addition to the MAJOR WORKS DATA SHEET: 1. Visit this website: 2. Read the outline of the Hero s Journey. 3. Scroll down and download The Mythical Memo by Christopher Vogler and read it. Here Christopher Vogler outlines Joseph Campbell s formula of great hero epics and stories. 4. On your own paper, explain how The Alchemist fits at least 10 of the 12 stages. This should be written in complete sentences and use specific examples from the text. Number and label each stage according to Vogler s memo. Staple your paper to the Data Sheet. ALL WORK MUST BE HANDWRITTEN. ***You may also find the video on the above webpage interesting. In it, Christopher Vogler explains how film makers use the stages of the hero s journey to develop their stories. Sincerely, Tenth Grade Language Arts Instructional Team

2 TENTH GRADE WORLD LITERATURE SUPPLY LIST Supplies needed for book bag/locker/home: -1½ inch 3-ring binder -Loose-leaf notebook paper -Blue or black ink pens -#2 pencils -Tab dividers (2 packages or 10 total) -Highlighters -White out/liquid Paper -Colored Pencils **Teachers will have individual classroom donation supply lists available for students the week before school starts. Sophomore World Literature parallels the study of Sophomore World History. The major works we study include: *Lord of the Flies by William Golding Oedipus Rex by Sophocles Inferno by Dante Alighieri *A Midsummer Night s Dream, Julius Caesar, or other play by William Shakespeare A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen *Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka * Denotes supplemental novel. Students may choose to purchase their own copy to annotate.

3 10 th Language Arts Summer Reading Assigment Name: - Major Works Data Sheet- ALL WORK MUST BE HANDWRITTEN The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo Detailed Plot summary: Explain why the opening of the novel is important. Explain why the closing of the novel is important.

4 Major Works Data Sheet Page 2 Memorable Quotes- Select at least 5 Quote Why is the quote important? Symbols- Identify 3 and what they represent Setting/s- Identify and describe the settings of the novel.

5 Major Works Data Sheet Page 3 Characters Choose at least five (5) characters to analyze. Name Role in the story Why is he/she important to the plot? What influence does he/she have on the development of the main character? Adjectives Literary Connections- How is your summer reading novel similar to another novel you have read? Name the title and author and explain. The theme of a novel is the idea the author wishes to convey about a subject. It is expressed as a sentence or general statement about life or human nature. Write a theme statement for The Alchemist.