What chain of events leads the boy to work at the crystal shop? What does he learn there? Why (not how) is he able to change and improve the shop, which has remained the same for many years? How is he different from the shop's owner?

The question was extracted from a story written by Paulo Coelho called "The Alchemist".

QUESTION1: What chain of events leads the boy to work at the crystal shop?

ANSWER : He was robbed by a thief, which made him loss all his flock of sheep as a shepherd he was before. He needed to have a job, so as to save up money, and buy a new flock of sheep, to restart his business.

QUESTION2: What does he learn there?

ANSWER: Santiago learnt that a much greater goal exist, than just pursing a comfortable life style. That is why he continued in pursuit of his personal legend, which was the trip across the desert to the pyramid in Egypt, instead of going back home to continue his comfort life style of being a shepherd.

QUESTION3: Why (not how) is he able to change and improve the shop, which has remained the same for many years?

ANSWER: Santiago was able to change the shop that has been the same for years, because he was ambitious, and also has foresight. He was always willing to try new things and expand his tentacles.

QUESTION4: How is he different from the shop's owner?

ANSWER: Santiago is different from the crystal shop owner, because he was will to conquer his fears and achieve his dreams, while the crystal shop owner was afraid of not having anything to leave for, if he achieve his dreams of going to Mecca.

Another differents was that Santiago always wants to take the risk and try a new thing to achieve higher, while the shop owner, is always afraid of taking a risk.

the illustration   that would give a reader a clear understanding of the text is a picture of men constructing the frame of a building.the frame is made of iron bars. the text describes the job of blacksmiths'. these were very organised and they had different names: "the driver" and "the heater". the text describes the way in which these men worked ; they worked iron pieces as if they were playing a sport. in fact, the text wants to show the men's skills. the text also puts some emphasis on the use of '' rivets'' in construction. this kind of nails were not always used in the construction of manhattan.

some examples:

"and with an underhand toss he hurled the smoking rivet straight at the catcher, who caught it in mid-air in his catching can." men's skills

"when the driver was ready for a new " the emphasis on the rivet ( special nail used in construction).

" it against a beam to remove any cinders, and jammed it into the waiting hole. " the emphasis on the rivet.