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Situational Irony In The Alchemist

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Ironic Devices: The author uses situational irony which is foreshadowed . Paulo Coelho begins the novel by introducing the situation, “The boy’s name was Santiago. Dusk was falling as where arrived with his herd at an abandoned church. The roof had fallen in long ago, and and an enormous sycamore had grown on the spot where the sacristy had one stood(Coelho 5). This is situationally ironic because further in the story Santiago returns to this broken place only to discover the treasure was beneath him all along. Santiago had the same dream underneath the tree of finding treasure at the Pyramids of Egypt, he travels a long journey and finally arrives. When Santiago diggs for the treasure two men approach him and beat him sharing that they too had a dream of finding treasure in an abandoned building under a sycamore tree. Santiago then fled back to Spain and returned to where it all began only to discover that all along the treasure was beneath the tree. Santiago had the same dream underneath the tree, finding treasure at the Pyramids of Egypt, he travels a long journey and finally arrives. When Santiago diggs for the treasure two men approach him and beat …show more content…

In the novel when Santiago meets with the king of Salem he invites him to his palace and takes him around giving Santiago a task to hold a spoon with oil, Santiago does so and the King asks him if he noticed certain objects in the palace and Santiago didn't focusing on the spoon and oil. Santiago then is asked to do perform the same except this time he focused on everything but the spoon an oil the King of Salem said, "The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never forget the drops of oil on the spoon"(Coelho 34). This novel is full of wisdom that is constantly shared with Santiago and the reader with an uncomplex understanding making it easier for the reader to understand what the author wants the reader to

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Dramatic irony and tragic irony are two concepts that can change the entire way one looks at how a story of any kind is presented. In the two short stories “Chemistry” by Ron Rash and “The Retreat” by Bobbie Ann Mason, irony plays a significant role in how the concept can completely consume a story making it come to life. Without irony, these two short stories would not have the intensity and meaningfulness packed into them. The short story “Chemistry” has a major focus on tragic irony.

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He didn’t think he could do it, then realized that “he, a boy, could perform miracles,” and he had to believe in what he had learned from the people he encountered on his journey, one being the crystal merchant. Santiago’s time with the crystal merchant was a challenge because he desired to go to the pyramids as soon as he could, but he needed money. It was hard for him to stay there for a year. Still, he had “...learned things from crystal,” making the time with the merchant very valuable. Santiago’s abyss was the attack on the camp at the oasis.

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Throughout the story, situational irony is intertwined in certain sections to create suspense and

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He digs for his treasure and finds it. As a master of both worlds Santiago decides to return to Africa with his treasure to find

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For example, after Santiago travels back to Andalusia and digs inside the abandoned church, he finds a chest full of treasure. He thinks about how he was able to reach his treasure and achieve his Personal Legend; “It's true; life really is generous to those who pursue their Personal Legend, the boy thought" (170). Santiago decided to follow his dream and never gave up, even when he was robbed in Tangier. As a result, he met many people, including Fatima, the love of his life, and learned many important lessons from them. Finally, he found his treasure.

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In the novel, Santiago is an old man who’s spent his whole life working as a fisherman off of Havana, Cuba. Santiago

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While at the Oasis of Al-Fayoum, the elder chieftain of the oasis tells Santiago the story of Joseph of Egypt. Joseph was enslaved for being a dreamer, but he persevered and managed to become an important counselor to the Pharaoh of Egypt. This Personal Legend could have suited Santiago because of his connection to the Soul of the World. The Soul of the World is a spiritual unity that binds all forms of nature together. Santiago knew he wanted to follow his dreams; it was helpful when he learned that “When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it” because he knew he was now destined to complete his goal, and not somebody else’s (Coelho 64).

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Santiago’s last step to completing his personal legend was walking through the desert, to find his treasure and completing it. Thus, showing the symbols and meanings behind these little puzzle pieces in the journey and being rewarded with love and treasure helping to support my thesis, through seeing and understanding symbols behind the world people can learn about their own personal legend and live life to the

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Before finding his treasure, he must be courageous and clever to survive the desert and the danger that he encounters. This courage enables him to reach the treasure and fulfill his Personal Legend. The determination Santiago exhibits is what allows him to earn his fortune and decide his

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Santiago had to look deep within himself, find peace and talk to the sand. He depended on the love he had for Fatima in order to save himself and to communicate with the part of the world that did not know man’s language. In the novel it states, “The sun thought for a minute. The wind was listening closely, and wanted to tell every corner of the world that the sun’s wisdom had its limitations.

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His desire to return to Fatima is what drives him to succeed. However, the desert is not able to help him, and so Santiago also expresses his love for Fatima to the wind. He wants to be the wind not only to prove to the tribesmen that they were indeed travelers, but to return to Fatima, and to be “able to reach every corner of the world, cross the seas, blow away the sands that cover [his] treasure, and carry the voice of the woman [he] love[s]” (146). He then also tells the wind that, “When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there’s no need at all to understand what’s happening because everything happens within you, and even men can turn themselves into the wind.

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Situational irony is a noun meaning “an outcome that turns out to be very different from what was expected, the difference between what is expected to happen and what actually does” (Dictionary.com). Many events that contain situational irony are present in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. This book is a story narrated by Death about a girl named Liesel and her experiences during World War II. She is givin up by her mother to live with Hans and Rosa Hubermann and she eventually has a wonderful life in her new home. She loves to spend time with her best friend Rudy Steiner and she even becomes friends with the Jewish man hiding in her basement, Max.

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Ultimately Santiago has developed his identity through the soul of the world and alchemy and has achieved his personal legend

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You just have to read the omens that he left for you” (29). The King, is actually an omen himself. He was put in Santiago’s path so he could start to realize what omens are. If the King had never told Santiago about omens, he would have remained where he is comfortable as a sheep herder. The King of Salem also reminds Santiago that everyone should pursue their personal legends.

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While Santiago originally sets out for his treasure of material riches, the treasure he values most has been transformed to that of knowledge and love along his journey. The theme of treasure appears early on in the story and inspires Santiago’s journey. One night while herding his flock, he dreams that there is buried treasure waiting for him at the pyramids of Egypt. After seeking advice from a gypsy who interprets his dream, she again confirms that at the pyramids of Egypt, “there you will find your treasure” (14).

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