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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 5 page book review/research paper that examines The Alchemist by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho. The writer draws on the work of critic Stephen Hart in order to argue that Coelho incorporates aspects of magical realism into this work in order to support and give depth to the book’s allegorical structure. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khpcalc.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
appeal of one of his most famous works, The Alchemist, which has been described as a "charming, simple and well-written allegory" (Zaleski 32). The Alchemist is about a boy, Santiago,
who finds within himself the courage to follow his dreams and fulfill his "personal legend" (Zaleski 32). Such evaluations picture Coelhos work as simplistic and, indeed, Coelhos frequent utilization of
stereotypes is "one of the reasons Coelhos work has not always endeared itself to academic audiences" (Hart 304). Critics have frequently perceived Coelhos books as "pandering to popular taste" (Hart
304). However, other academic scholars differ with this evaluation and an examination of their arguments, in regards to The Alchemist, demonstrates substantiation for this perception, as Coelhos work draws upon
the Latin American literary tradition of magical realism in order to support and give depth to his allegorical structure. The basic plot of The Alchemist fits the parameters of
the usual coming-of-age story. Santiago is shepherd boy who has a prophetic dream while resting under a tree growing inside of a ruined church. In his dream, Santiago sees himself
traveling to distant lands and that he will find a treasure buried beside the pyramids. Santiago sets out to find his fortune and novel concerns his journey and the people
he meets, as well as the lessons that he learns. This plot sounds simplistic and stereotypical, and in many ways this is true; however, Coelho turns these stereotypical features into
something extraordinary through the way he amalgamates aspects of magical realism into the narrative. This is a feature that critic Stephen Hart focuses on in his discussion of this
novel. Hart points out that there are numerous features in The Alchemist that incorporate aspects of magical realism. The character of the alchemist in Coelhos novel is constructed in a
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