Santiago leaves his life as a shepherd to embark on a journey in search of his personal legend and treasure. Along the way, he learns valuable life lessons from the people he meets and experiences, realizing that the treasure was the journey itself. The document then describes the narrator's own journey of self-discovery after moving to a new town, culminating in a mission trip that helps them understand their personal legend of positively impacting others.

1. To what extent is the fable of Santiago an allegory to my life? By Garrett Spahn

2. Santiago begins his journey and searching for his personal legend by leaving his sheep. He had to realize, that he no longer had to watch over them like he had for so many years. He had learned a lot from his herd, but it was time to move on. Santiago had to leave in search for much bigger and better things. “Looking around, he sought his sheep, and then realized that he was in a new world. But instead of being saddened, he was happy. He no longer had to seek out food and water for the sheep; he could go in search of his treasure, instead.” (42) Santiago leaving his sheep was much like a bird leaving it’s nest. The bird has to leave it’s easygoing life and venture off into the world he has not yet explored. Much like Santiago had to leave his accustomed life of being a Shepard in order to explore the world in search of his great treasure. Santiago’s Journey:

3. Santiago’s Journey: Along Santiago’ travels, he learns about an unspoken language when coming across two men working together, but speaking different languages. He believes it to be the language of the world and how all things in the world communicate. The unspoken language is just one of the many things Santiago learns along his quest that gives him a better understanding for life and his own personal journey. “When he had gone only a short distance, he realized that, while they were erecting the stall, one of them had spoken Arabic and the other Spanish. And they had understood each other perfectly well” (43) The unspoken language is a lot like things like sign language and Braille. Sign language and Braille are both ways for people to communicate with one another without even talking. This is a lot like the Spanish and Arab man setting up the stall, although they were speaking in different languages and couldn’t understand each other, they could accomplish a task by using the language of the world.

4. Santiago’s Journey: Santiago also learns to listen to the omens along his journey. The omens are a form of foreshadowing, they are a way to tell how things are going to play out. He uses these omens to guide him in his travels and help him make good decisions. For example, when the old man who owned the crystal shop didn’t want to improve on things, Santiago told him to listen to the omens and that they were a sign of good fortune. They should act quick while the good luck was on their side. “ I’m doing much better, and soon you’ll be able to return to your sheep. Why ask more out of life? Because we have to respond to the omens.” (52) My symbol for this passage is the old expression “Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky at morning, sailors warning.” The red sky is an omen, and when a sailor sees a red sky at night, he knows the next day will be smooth sailing. However, if a sailor sees red sky in the morning, there will be bad weather for sailing that day, and he is thus warned.

5. Santiago’s Journey: When Santiago arrives at the Pyramids and finds no treasure, he is confused and depressed. However, he is then told by a man who tried robbing him that he is stupid, the robber told Santiago he also once had a dream, the dream was that he should search for treasure where Shepard's and their sheep slept in Spain near an old church. “ But before they left, he came back to the boy and said, “You’re not going to die. You’ll live, and you’ll learn that a man shouldn’t be so stupid. Two years ago, right here on this spot, I had a recurrent dream, too. I dreamed that I should travel the fields of Spain and look for a ruined church where Shepard's and their sheep slept. In my dream, there was a sycamore growing out of the ruins of the sacristy, and I was told that, if I dug at the roots of the sycamore, I would find a hidden treasure. But I’m not so stupid as to cross an entire desert just because of a recurrent dream.” And they disappeared. The boy stood up shakily, and looked once more at the Pyramids. They seemed to laugh at him, and he laughed back, his heart bursting with joy. Because now he knew where his treasure was.” (162-163) After the man shared his dream with Santiago he realized, his treasure was at home the whole time. If it was ,why did the omens lead him all the way out to the Pyramids? The answer to that is for the journey, Santiago learned a lot along his journey, just like his personal legend required him to. This part of the story resembles a rainbow. It’s not about what is at the end or beginning of the rainbow, because some may never know or even find it, but the importance of the rainbow is the rainbow itself.

6. Santiago’s Journey: In the end, Santiago realizes what his journey was all about. He realized that the journey wasn’t about the treasure at the end, but the experiences and lessons that came along with the it. The point of his quest, was to experience his personal legend first hand, he had to travel all the way across the desert, just to realize his treasure was right at home. Santiago learned that all of his hard works and struggles, will always payoff, with or without him knowing it. “ It’s true; life really is generous to those who pursue their Personal Legend, the boy thought.” (166) When you work hard in school like Santiago did on his journey across the desert, it will payoff. Hard work in school is a perfect example of how someone’s work can really pay off. For example good grades can get you a well paying job, a nice house, and maybe even buried treasure just like Santiago.