The Crystal Merchant
Urim and Thummim
Mentors and Enemies
100
Where does the Crystal Merchant live?
What is Tangier?
100
Who gave Urim and Thummin to Santiago?
What is Melchizedek, the king of Jeru-Salem.
100
Who is Santiago's mentor?
What is Melchizedek.
200
How long had the Crystal Merchant been in the same place?
What is 30 years.
200
What are the stones supposed to help Santiago do?
What is read omens.
200
Find a piece of textual evidence to show that Melchizedek has a certain affection for Santiago. (see page 33)
What is Answers will vary.
300
What was the good omen that the Crystal Merchant told Santiago?
What is two customers came in while Santiago was working.
300
What did Santiago give the king in exchange for Urim and Thummim?
What is 6 sheep.
300
Who was the enemy that Santiago encountered in Tangiers?
What is the young man Santiago first met in Tangiers.
400
Think about the hero's journey. Do you think the Crystal Merchant is one of Santiago's mentors? Why or why not?
What is Answers will vary.
400
When Santiago discovered a hole in the pouch where he kept Urim and Thummim, he decided not to mend the hole. Why?
What is because he knew the stones could fall through at any moment. He was learning to have faith in omens.
400
How was Santiago fooled into trusting his "new friend" in Tangiers?
What is Santiago was in a new place and wanted help and guidance. Santiago was thinking about omens and the boy appeared, so Santiago thought exactly what he wanted to believe and was fooled.
500
What was Santiago's reaction when he learned that Egypt was thousands of kilometers away? Find a piece of textual evidence and put it in the proper format (see page 47).
What is Answers will vary
500
The second step in the Hero's Journey is THE CALL TO ADVENTURE. Something shakes up the situation, either from external pressures or from something rising up from deep within, so the hero must face the beginnings of change. When do you think this begins for Santiago?
What is his dream of hidden treasure. He knows he must go seek it. He has the same dream twice.
500
One of the steps in the Hero's Journey are TESTS. The hero is tested and sorts out allegiances in the Special World. What was Santiago's first "test" and how did he manage to survive it?
What is his first test was having all of his money stolen when he arrived in the special world (Tangiers). At first he felt like he wanted to die and that he wanted to give up and go back to his sheep. But then he felt the two stones, Urim and Thummim.