1. The crystal merchant refused to fulfil his dream of going to Mecca.

Give
reasons.
Ans- The crystal merchant refused to go to Mecca because he feared that once this
obligation is fulfilled there would be nothing left to live for. It was the thought
of going to Mecca that kept him alive. He also said that unlike Santiago, he does
not want to fulfil his dream.
2. Explain Santiago’s idea to bring in more customers to the crystal shop.
Ans- At first Santiago came up with the idea that they must keep a display case
outside the shop in order to attract customers. Later, he also came up with the
idea of serving tea in the crystal glasses, to people who climb up the hill which
would eventually increase the sale.
3. Elaborate on “The Master Work”.
Ans- “The Master Work” according to the Englishman is the ultimate goal of all the
alchemists. Everyone wants to achieve it and the Englishman too was seeking it. The
Master Work has a solid part that is, the Philosopher’s Stone, which converts all
metals to gold, and a liquid part, the Elixir of Life that can cure all illnesses.
4. Briefly describe the meeting of the camel driver and Santiago.
Ans- Santiago on meeting the camel driver came to know about how once the camel
driver maintained an orchard, was living a content life, having fulfilled all the
obligations of his religion till one day the earthquake and flood swept away every
possession of his. But he did not give up. The importance of overcoming one’s fear
of the unknown and surging forward is the lesson learnt by Santiago from the camel
driver. The camel driver also invokes the word “maktub” to stress on the
inevitability of fate, and his overriding belief in the interconnectedness of the
world.
5. Explain “the principle that governs everything”.
Ans- The principle that governs all things refers to the positive force of the
world that works for the betterment of all animate and inanimate objects. The
Englishman also highlighted that in alchemy it was termed as the Soul of the World.

6. What is the Emerald Tablet?

Ans- The Englishman also told Santiago about the Emerald Tablet that was considered
to be one of the historic trade secrets of alchemy. He told Santiago that the
Emerald Tablet was a single emerald on which the instructions to achieving the
Master Work was written but to understand the inscription was not an easy task.
7. In the novel, the camel driver seemed not very concerned about the war. Provide
the reason for the same.
Ans- The camel driver was not much concerned about the war as he believed that
living in the present was more important than thinking about the future and
remembering the past. He was of the thought that if he had to fight the battle in
the desert, he would do that and would even die. He also said that if one focuses
on the present one would experience happiness and bliss.
8. Highlight on the alchemist’s response to the arrival of the caravan to the
oasis.
Ans- The alchemist watched the arrival of the caravan consisting of numerous
people, animals and the leader but nothing mattered to him. He had seen people and
caravans come and go and also witnessed the consistency of the desert. It had
remained as it was. He enjoyed seeing the happiness of people but his complete
concentration was on finding the person in the caravan to whom he had to teach his
secrets as the omens had told him.
9. Describe Santiago’s first meeting with Fatima.
Ans- Santiago realized that each challenge he faced on the way to his destination
formed a part of God’s plan. Rather than worry about a schedule he couldn’t
control, he was contented by the fact that he had to stay at the oasis and could
experience new things.Santiago then met Fatima. As soon as Santiago approached her,
he noticed her beauty, and he fell instantly in love with her. Once the two began
speaking, the delay at the oasis allowed them to become friends, and Santiago even
started to worry that one day he will have to leave. He came to recognize time as a
part of his journey rather than an obstacle, suggesting that fate predestined the
delay.
10. Discuss briefly about Santiago’s vision that he had in the desert.
Ans- Santiago was observing a pair of hawks attacking each other and had a vision
of armies riding through the oasis and attacking the people. Santiago remembered
Melchizedek’s advice to heed omens, so he told the camel driver about his vision.
The Camel driver takes Santiago’s warning seriously because he believed that all
people can penetrate to the Soul of the World and advices him to inform the chief
of the tribes.
11. Give a brief character sketch of Fatima.
Ans- Fatima was defined by her beauty and her willingness to wait for Santiago
while he pursued his Personal Legend. She lived at the Al-Fayoum oasis, where her
primary duty in life consisted of gathering water from the local well, and she was
of the view that as a woman of the desert she realized that men must leave the
women they love for long periods.When Santiago hesitated to leave Fatima and the
oasis, she convinced him to go. She had confidence that he will return if he loved
her.
12. Did Fatima distract Santiago from his dream in ‘The Alchemist’?
Ans- Fatima both distracted Santiago from his dream and empowered him to pursue
it.When Santiago first met Fatima at the well, he realized immediately that he was
in love. He considered giving up his Personal Legend and dream to stay with her.
During the time they spent together, Santiago learnt more about the culture of the
desert tribes as Fatima reassured him that women of the desert were accustomed to
seeing their men go off. She set him free to pursue his dreams and let him know
that she would be okay, whatever be the consequences.
13. In what ways did the alchemist serve as a guide who provided occasional help
and encouraged Santiago to learn independently?
Ans-In the novel, the alchemist filled the archetypal role of mentor or scientist.
To Santiago, the alchemist was a guide who provided occasional help and encouraged
him to learn independently. This is seen, for instance, when the alchemist told
Santiago that nearly everything he needed to know lies within. He encouraged the
boy to immerse himself in the desert and listen to his heart, but he never
explained the precise steps for doing so. The alchemist took this approach as he
says, “There is only one way to learn. It's through action.” By being more of a
guide, the alchemist empowered Santiago to figure out how to do things on his own.
This guidance assisted Santiago's character development and realising his destiny.
14. Describe the role of nature in ‘The Alchemist’.
Ans- In ‘The Alchemist’, nature played the role of teacher and guide to Santiago,
who turned to his outdoor environment time and again for insight and awareness. For
example, just before he saw the hawk attack, Santiago was sitting in the desert,
soaking up his surroundings and contemplating his journey. The desert helped him
make sense of it all. It calmed his mind so he could figure out and prepare himself
for the next part of his journey.This contemplative time also enabled him to notice
and read the omen of the hawks in the sky. The sand, the wind, and the sun all work
together to help Santiago to transform himself into the wind and make him realise
that everything is one whole.
15. Santiago describes his heart as a traitor. Justify.
Ans-Santiago referred to his heart as a traitor not long after he and the alchemist
set out across the desert. At this point, he was feeling a great deal of fear—fear
of the armed tribesmen they continue to pass along the way, fear of not finding his
treasure, and fear that leaving the woman he loves, Fatima, to pursue his dream is
the wrong decision. "My heart is a traitor," he says. The alchemist, in turn,
helped Santiago come to trust his heart, explaining that fear was a normal reaction
to pursuing a dream and was the reason mostpeople never realize their Personal
Legends. The alchemist explained Santiago that fear of suffering is worse than
suffering itself and that once the heart’s desire of fulfilling the dreams is
accomplished it would be satisfied.

16. Describe Santiago’s character on the basis of his actions in ‘The Alchemist’?
Ans- Throughout ‘The Alchemist’, Santiago comes across as an honest, adventurous,
passionate, and highly thoughtful young man in search of his Personal Legend. He
challenges himself, taking a number of risks and never choosing the easy way out.
Time and again, he refuses to return to his life as a shepherd in Andalusia.
Santiago has a strong sense of perseverance, a quality that comes across when he
decides to stay on and work for the crystal merchant in a foreign country, even
though he has enough money to return home. He makes a similar choice when he opts
not to stay with Fatima at the oasis of Al-Fayoum. Instead, he ventures into the
dangerous desert to pursue his dream. All of these actions provide insight into
Santiago's character as the protagonist or hero and paint a picture of a
courageous, reflective young man intent on finding the meaning of life—and living
his own life to the fullest.

1.How is Santiago different from the shop’s owner?

2.What is the Englishman searching for?

3. Based on the conversation between Santiago and the Englishman, does it appear
that the two have anything to learn from each other?

4.Why do you think the Crystal Merchant speaks the word "maktub"-loosely translates
into "it is written"-when he and Santiago part ways as Santiago moves ahead in his
journey?
5.On the contrary, he places Santiago in the centre of an apparently dangerous
situation when he tells the chief and his men that Santiago is an alchemist who can
turn himself into the wind. If he is supposed to be a mentor to Santiago, why does
he do this?
6. Although Santiago asks the desert, the wind, and the sun to help him, none of
them know how to turn a man into the wind. Where does the boy find the answer? What
is the larger significance of the answer and the outcome he gets?
7.Highlight on the significance of his Santiago's entire journey.