POST B!!! HA....HA.....HA....HA!!!

Well, I'm sorry, but this is my last post for Enriched English 10, and I'm very sad because I've had a lot of fun with doing all these post every wee- Wait, what am I saying? I've very relieved that all this is over and could not be happier. Any way,

I wanted to discuss some quotes that I found. Coelho is an expert writer and I'm amazed at how much I find to have a double or triple meaning that is applicable to everything in life.

"Because people become fascinated with pictures and words, and wind up forgetting the Language of the World." (87)

I really took to this because I personally believe that in today's society of fast paces, and busy work, that we forget to listen to the world around us. I don't mean that we need to listen to the Language of the World, but I believe that we need to listen to those around us and here their problems, because the world would be better if we all did that.

Another quote I'd like to discuss is found on page 97:

" 'You have told me about your dreams, about the old king and your treasure. And you've told me about omens. So now, I fear nothing, because it was those omens that brought you to me. And I am a part of your dream, a part of your Personal Legend, as you call it. That's why I want you to continue toward your goal. If you have to wait until the war is over, then wait. But if you have to go before then, on on in pursuit of your dream. The dunes are changed by the wind, but the desert never changes. That's the way it will be with our love for each other."

The bold text is what I found the most moving, but I felt that it was the rest that provided that excerpt with some gusto. It's my personal belief that two people could be deeply in love, and be on opposite sides of the planet from eachother, but there are those who think they're in love, but once distance comes between them, it all falls apart.

Post A!!!

So, I'm very much into my book now, actually I'm almost done with it, but anyway, the Boy has been traveling now for quite some time. As a reader I got used to the idea that he was in Tangier, a Muslim market city, but now he's begun a trek across the desert. This voyage has brought more culture to the table than I expected. First off, the Boy gets immersed in the ideas of the Englishman, but he must also adjust to desert life. He's used to leading around his sheep, but now the roll has been reversed and he must be the follower. There is an unsettling quiet to the desert that he can't quite pin point, and they (the caravan he's traveling with) must concern themselves with the threat of warring tribes. Thank fully, this is all changed once they arrive at the oasis. Here, the Boy learns more about women's role in a Muslim society because he falls in love. He knows that he's in love because he was paying attention to the language of the world and he knew that what he had sensed was true love.

Post B

So for this free response, I'd like to discuss the religious aspects of the book. As anyone can see by the title of my blog, I'm Christian, and I'm pretty serious about my faith too. This book takes place in North Africa, crossing the Sahara Desert, so by default there will be the Islamic faith (which my father is). One part of my faith that may differ from other's, is that I believe that other religions (for other people) are acceptable. To explain that confusing sentence is easy. One thing that we are taught in Church is that the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ, that's not something I believe. I believe that the only way for me to get to heaven is through Jesus, but that my Indian neighbor can only get to heaven through the Hindu religion. This idea is reinforced by The Englishman that takes the caravan across the desert:

"' We make a lot of detours, but we're always heading for the same
destination.'" (77).

Another thing that I wanted to bring to light was that Islam isn't really as scarry as some people think it is. In today's news, Americans are exposed to terrorists that are Islamic, and that it's part of the Islamic religion to do all the terrible things that have happened. The truth is, those that believe that it is in the Koran to bomb cities and kill millions are only a small percentage of most Muslims, they are known as the extremists.

"[...]But that disaster taught me to understand the word of Allah: people
need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achierving what they need and
want. 'we are afraid of losing what we have whether it's our life or our
possesions and property. but this fear evaporates when we understand that
our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand.'" (76)

This also ties to my 1st point. All roads (IN MY OPINION) lead to the same place, its just that some people need to take a left turn, while other need to take a right turn.

Post A for Wednesday May 21st

Cultural commentary...well, I've gone over pretty much all of the cultural aspects of The Alchemist, so I'm not sure what there is to discuss...oh wait, there is one thing. In the last week I discovered where Paulo Coelho got the title for his novel. The introduction of another character, the Englishman, brings about a whole new religion for me. Alchemy is the study of turning metals into gold...which I already knew, but what I didn't know about was that there was a whole belief around this study. Aparently, those who study Alchemy aren't only looking to make gold. What they're making is a liquid and a solid substance, the liquid part is called the "Elixir of Life" (what I'm guessing is in Harry Potter) and the stone is called "The Philosopher's Stone" (similar to Harry Potter's "Sorcerer's Stone" I'm assuming"). The stone is what makes the gold, and the liquid can cure any disease. The second thing I didn't know about Alchemy was that those who study Alchemy need to master the Language of the World, which is a language that needs no words, but that everyone can understand. So that's something that I've learned.

Again! On time!

Dear Mr. Coelho,

I know I'm writing you another letter, but I had some questions I wanted to ask you. First, is there a particular reason why the boy thinks to himself more than he speaks? Because I've noticed that there is a lot that the boy either says to himself or that he keeps quiet. I find it an interesting choice of style, and isn't something I've seen before. The second question I've got is regarding the old king. I wanted to know whether or not the old king in person will ever show up? I have noticed that the boy has seen omens that have pushed him to pursue his Personal Legend again, but will there ever be the king again, or will small characteristics of the king show up subtly like his hair on the merchants head?
I also wanted to know, because you're Brazilian, if you've ever lived in Spain and/or North Africa. I ask you this because I feel that having lived in the location in a book can only help. PLEASE, don't think that I'm discrediting your work, I find it wonderful, and only ask because it seems as if you've really gotten a wonderful grasp on the cultural differences of a Spanish shepherd and a merchant of Tangier.

Thank you for your time,
Kian H-R

I'm on time!

So, I've been reading like crazy, and I've been loosing track of time and flying through my book. I thought "Maybe I should make a post now?" So I'm going to. In this last section of about 30 pages, I've been immersed in the Arabic culture of Tangier. The shepherd (he doesn't have a specific name, its always 'the boy' or 'the shepherd') was working for a crystal merchant, and thats when he starts pulling away from his personal legend and aiming towards going back to Spain. He talks a lot with the merchant about following one's dreams, and how its usually the unfulfilled dream that keeps a dream going. I found this very interesting because the boy (from Spain) was all gun ho about following his Personal Legend and the shop keeper wanted to stay in his shop, not change a thing and "think" about going to Mecca. It makes me wonder how much more optomistic western cultures are than Muslim or North African cultures are?

Post B, from last week

Dear Mr. Coelho,

I felt that this section of your book wa...................................wait, I'm going to do something different for this free response. Instead I'm going to right a poem.

Oh Boy, you wine and you complain,
But no one could no your pain.
So you've dropped your life as a shepherd,
At least you've heard,
About having a Personal Legend,
And now you'll find it in the end.

You can laugh, you can show your smiles,
Because your friends will travel miles,
To find what you've found.
Search for that treasure like a hound.

So you met a thief
And he stole from you,
At least your encounter was brief.
Urim and Thummim will guide you,
And the treasure you'll find,
Don't get distracted by the little things,
They won't compare to the treasure you'll find.

So, that was a pretty bad poem, I know, it was off the top of my head, but I wanted to write something other than a letter to Coelho, and I wanted to boost the Boy in his confidence. That's what he needs right now. I do hope at the bottom of my heart that he doesn't give up.

Cultural Stuff

Here is last weeks post....I'm so bad at this :-(
As the main character of Coelho's novel continues his journey in northern Africa, I've been seeing more and more culture. On page 42, the boy is standing in the empty market place pitying himself for being fooled. As he is going through a plethora of emotions, readers can detect some stereotypical thought comming from the boy. First, he says that the bartender was giving him a dirty look because he was being robbed by a thief. He then rationalizes that all the people in the market place really are thieves. But as he continues through his roller coaster of sadness and despair, he realizes that he has the two stones. These stones I believe are a piece of his culture because it relates back to the idea of good and bad omens and fortune telling, which isn't seen on a daily basis here. I also noticed that while he was in the market place, some of the things that were for sale were specific to northern Africa. Most times, when we walk into a store, we don't usually pick up a sword, or even see one, but that's what can be bought in the market place of Tangier.

Grrrrrrrr, Post B

Dear Paulo,

I know this is yet another letter to you, and that it gets boring, but I really don't feel creative right now. I did however want to mention some things I found in your book. The first thing was a very long quote that struck a chord with me (in a good way):
" 'Well,' asked the wise man, 'did you see the Persian tapestries that are hanging in my dining hall? Did you see the garden that it took the master gardener ten years t create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?' The boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing. His only concern had ben not to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him. 'Then go back and observe the marvels of my world,' said the wise man. 'You cannot trust a man if you don't know his house.' Relieved the boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this time observing all of the works of art on the ceilings and the waslls. He saw te gardens, the mountains all around him, the beauty of the flowers, and the taste with which everything had been selected. Upon returning to the wise man, he related in detail everything he had seen. 'But where are the drops of oil I entruted to you?' asked the wise man. Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was goond. 'Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you.' said the wises of wise men. 'The secret of happiness is to see al the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.'" (31-32)
As I read this over a couple of times, I was trying to understand what you meant here. Are you saying that we should not take life for granted? Or are you saying that we should pay attention to details that are large and universal and to the details that are small and personal? That was my major question for the day. Now I feel more sure about my thoughts on it.

Sincerely,
Kian H-R

Oy, this is difficult keeping up with my posting...

Well, I'm getting farther along into my book, and I'm more and more intrigued by it. I was right last week in thinking that the farther I got into my book, the more culture I would see. Now, in my Coelho's novel, the boy has discovered that what the gypsy had told him was true. He talks about a wind that brought the Moors to Spain way back when. And when "the king of Salem" comes to him to tell him to follow his personal legend he, well, assumed the form of a king. I thought it was pretty cultural that Coelho chose for this spirit to take the shape of a king, because since the beginning of the book, it has discussed the presence of palaces at every city.
But the most cultural aspect so far is when the boy arrives in Tangier, crossing the straits. In Tangier, and I quote: " 'A practice of infidels,' he said to himself. As a child in church, he had always looked at the image of Saint Santiago Matamoros on his white horse, his sword unsheathed, and figures such as those kneeling at his feet. The boy felt ill and terribly alone. The infidels had an evil look about them." (34) The boy had never seen a Muslim person in his travels all over Andalusia, yet alone an entire nation of them. He also encounters culture shock when he makes a startling discovery, "He recalled that when the sun had risen that morning, he was on another continent, still a shepherd with sixty sheep, and looking forward to meeting with a girl." (38) The boy had to come to terms with his decision to leave behind what was normal to him to follow what to others may be considered as a "wild goose chase" but to him it was his personal legend.