Alchemist

'The Alchemist' is a world famous novel written by Paulo Coelho. It is the story of a boy named Santiago who loved to travel from one place to another. Earlier his parents wanted him to become a priest and thereby a source of pride for a simple farm family who worked hard just to have food and water. He had attended a seminar until he was 16 and studied Latin, Spanish and theology. But he wanted to know the world and this was much more important to him than anything. His purpose in life was to travel. One afternoon, he told his father that he didn't want to be a priest and wanted to travel. Then his father said that people who travel are shepherds. Santiago was ready to be a shepherd. With only three ancient Spanish gold coins that his father gave him, he bought a flock of sheep.

Santiago took the sheep very far and wide to manage grass for them. He visited many places and knew about them and used to comment on them with the sheep. After two years of walking in the Andalusian terrain, he knew all the cities of that region. At the mean time, he met a merchant's daughter in the village .The merchant told him to wait a while , the girl came which was typical of the region of Andalusia with flowing black hair and eyes that vaguely recalled the Moorish conquerors. Slowly he loved talking and living with her (that he often saw the girl in his dreams). He is quite curious to meet that girl. The girl was much surprised that even a shepherd studied books and told stories to her. Her beauty attracted Santiago. So, the boy visited the village. Santiago had the ardent desire to make the girl his wife. He was happy in his dream. He had suddenly remembered that, in tarifa, there was an old women who interrupted his dream.

Possible Question of this chapter

What two advantages could Santiago get if he could read thicker books in the future?

Ans:- The two advantages of thicker books are:-

1)The thicker books would last longer while reading so that he did not have to change.

2) The books could be good pillow for his sleeping.

2) Describe the appearance and beauty of the girl Santiago loved.

Ans:- The girl was a Merchant’s daughter. She had bright eyes. Her eyes reminded him of the family who had come from North West Africa. She was a typical of the region of Andalusia in Spain. She had black hair. She was so cute so that he wanted to stay with her longer time.

3) Why did Santiago decide to be a shepherd?

Ans. Santiago decided to be a shepherd because he wanted to know the world by travelling. As he was poor, travelling was difficult without any business. So being shepherd, he wanted his aim of life. His parents wanted him to become a priest. But ever since he had been a child, he had wanted to know the world, and this was much more important to him than knowing god and learning about man’s sins. His father also supported him.

Santiago decided to be a shepherd because his main incentives was to travel and explore the world. He wanted to go and gain knowledge of a numerous places. As, he was poor ,his father couldn't afford the expenses of his travel. He also wanted to earn money so he decided to be a shepherd in order to fulfil his ardent desire of travelling and also earn wages for his future.

4) If you were Santiago, would you express your love in the way he did or would you express it differently?

Ans: Santiago was not expressing the love in a right way so that I would not express my love in that way if I were him. I would not wait for a year as like me so many other shepherds would come and could win her heart. I would immediately ask her whether she should love me or not.Other rich shepherd might have come and married her.I would express my love openly and try to impress her.

5)Describe Santiago's love for thr Moorish girl.

Ans: Santiago's love fot the Moorish girl was very deep. Hw was very delighted and glad to meet and talk with her. she was equally interested in talking with him .They both loved each other very much .Hw was so much impressed by the girl that he stopped thinking about other women. He was inwardly worried about the girl that she might have forgotten him.