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The Rattrap
Think-as-you-read Questions
Question 1.
From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Answer:
The peddler lived a dull and monotonous life. He had no family, no money and no relatives. He was a vagabond. So, being alone most of the time, he used to go on thinking. While thinking about the rattrap, he suddenly got the idea of the world being a rattrap.
Question 2.
Why was the peddler amused by this idea?
Answer:
The peddler had never been treated well by the world. So he felt happy thinking ill of the world. That is why he was amused by the idea that the whole world around him was nothing but a big rattrap.
Question 3.
Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
Answer:
No, the peddler did not expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter. He was always refused whenever he asked anyone for any kind of kindness. Thus, he had expected the same, but, to his surprise, the crofter treated him very kindly and gave him food and shelter.
Question 4.
Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Answer:
The crofter was a lonely man. He had no one in his house to give him company. He had no wife, no children. So when he saw the peddler, he was very happy to get someone to talk to.
Question 5.
Why did he show the thirty kronor to the peddler?
Answer:
The crofter narrated his story of living a comfortable life and having a good reasonable income that he made due to his extraordinary cow that gave a lot of milk. He told the peddler that he had earned thirty kronor last month. But the peddler expressed his disbelief. In order to make him believe, the crofter opened the pouch and showed the tramp the money.
Question 6.
Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Answer:
No, the peddler did not live up to the confidence reposed in him by the crofter. In fact, he abused the trust of the crofter. He returned after some time, opened the window of the cottage and stole the crofter’s hard-earned money.
Question 7.
What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Answer:
After stealing the crofter’s money, the peddler avoided the road and walked through the forest. Soon the night fell and he could not find his way out. He walked and walked without coming to the end of the wood. He finally realised that he was walking round and round the same spot. This made him frustrated and tired. Now he realised that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap.
Question 8.
Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Answer:
The ironmaster mistook the peddler to be his old acquaintance Nils Olof who was a captain and had resigned from the regiment long back. The ironmaster thought that the man was going through a bad phase in his life and so invited him home, especially as it was Christmas Eve.
Question 9.
Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
Answer:
The peddler declined the invitation, as he had stolen the money and was afraid of being caught. Accepting the invitation would be like throwing oneself voluntarily into a lion’s den.
Question 10.
What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?
Answer:
Edla Willmansson came to invite the peddler with her fur coat and a valet. She spoke in a very friendly manner and he felt confidence in her. She persuaded him to come home and promised him that he would be allowed to leave whenever he would like to.
Question 11.
What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Answer:
Edla noticed that peddler was very scared. She thought he could either be a thief or an escapee from a prison.
Question 12.
When did the ironmaster realize his mistake?
Answer:
When the peddler was given a bath, a haircut and had a shave, the ironmaster realised at the breakfast table that the tramp did not look like his regimental comrade and that he had made a mistake.
Question 13.
Why did Edla entertain the peddler even after she came to know the truth about him?
Answer:
Edla was a kind lady. She empathized with the poor peddler and understood how difficult his life had been. She was able to understand his loneliness and poverty. She entertained him even though she knew who he was. Moreover, it was Christmas eve and she wanted to extend Christmas cheer and goodwill to him.
Question 14.
Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Answer:
Edla was happy to see the gift left by the peddler because it was symbolic of the positive change in the peddler. He had left the stolen thirty kronor in the rattrap along with a letter. He had requested that the money be returned to the crofter. Edla was happy to know he had realised his mistake and made amends.
Question 15.
Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
Answer:
The peddler was accepted and welcomed to the house as Captain von Stahle. Edla gave the peddler a kind treatment and in spite of kowing the reality, she treated him like a captain. This awakened the latent goodness of his heart and he also behaved in a dignified manner and signed himself as Captain von Stahle.
The Rattrap Understanding the Text
Question 1.
How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter?
Answer:
The peddler was a vagabond who had no house, no family. He used to sell rattraps. One evening when he was trudging along the road, he saw a cottage by the roadside. He knocked at the door and asked for permission for night stay at the forge. The owner of the cottage, gave him shelter, food, tobacco and his company and confidences. He even showed him the thirty kronor that he had saved. But the peddler stole the money the next day, violating the trust of the crofter. Later, the peddler thought that the crofter’s hospitality was a bait for him to be trapped.
Similarly, the ironmaster’s hospitality also didn’t impress the peddler much because he was kind to him only because he thought him to be his old acquaintance. But, on the contrary, Edla’s kindness and hospitality stirred up the essential goodness in him because her kindness was without any selfish motive in it like the crofter who wanted company and the ironmaster who wanted to help his old friend. Edla wanted to give some comfort and happiness to the peddler even though she knew that he was a tramp.
Question 2.
What are the instances in the story that show that the character of the ironmaster is different from that of his daughter in many ways?
Answer:
The ironmaster was the owner of Ramsjo Ironworks. He wanted to send good quality iron to the market. He was a very vigilant observer and hardworking and used to visit his mill even at night for supervision. He was kind and sympathetic to the peddler. But his kindness to him is due to the fact that he mistook the peddler to be his old regimental comrade Nils Olof. That is why when he came to know the truth about the peddler, he got angry and threatened to call the sheriff.
On the contrary, Edla is more observant than her father. When she saw the peddler the first time, she thought he was either a thief or a jailbreaker. But she was unlike her father. She had special sympathy for the unfortunate people. When her father, knowing the reality of the tramp, asked him to leave, Edla insisted on him to stay to spend the Christmas with them. She knew that the peddler, didn’t have any place in the world and so she invited him to celebrate Christmas with them. It was only her tenderness and kind behaviour that aroused the essential goodness in the peddler.
Question 3.
The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to another character’s behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.
Answer:
‘The Rattrap’ deals with human emotions. These emotions, at times, give rise to unexpected behaviour. One of the most important unexpected behaviour is of the crofter towards the peddler. When the peddler asked him for shelter in the night, he welcomed him and gave him food, tobacco and company. The crofter bestowed so much confidence in the peddler that he even showed him the thirty kronor that he had saved.
In another instance, the peddler was first persuaded by ironmaster to come to his home and when he realised his mistake he got furious and threatened to call the sheriff. Yet another and the most unexpected reaction is that of Edla Willmansson. When the peddler was asked to leave immediately, Edla closed the door and insisted that the tramp stay at their home for Christmas. She showed extraordinary kindness to him. The most unexpected behaviour was that of the peddler. Edla’s kindness brought out the essential goodness in him and he left the home leaving behind a gift for Edla along with the money he had stolen.
Question 4.
What made the peddler finally change his ways?
Answer:
It was ironmaster’s daughter Edla’s kindness and empathy that changed the peddler. Throughout his life, the peddler had never received such kindness. Initially, when Edla invited him home, she gave him the freedom to leave whenever he wanted.
Later, when the ironmaster realised his mistake, he wanted to call the sheriff but out of kindness allowed him to leave. But Edla closed the door and insisted on him to stay for Christmas. Her kindness brought out the essential goodness in the tramp. Edla not only served him good food and looked after him very well, but she also offered him to come to their house every Christmas. This generous and kind nature worked as a catalyst to bring about a positive change in the peddler. Thus, by returning the stolen money along with a rattrap as a Christmas present along with a note for Edla, the peddler left the house honourably.
Question 5.
How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
Answer:
The story deals with the metaphor of ‘Rattrap’. It refers to the theory that life is one big rattrap. It exists for a purpose to set baits for people. It offers riches and joys, luxuries and comforts, food and shelter, heat and clothing exactly as a rattrap offers cheese and pork. The moment anyone lets himself be tempted to touch the bait, it closes on him and then everything comes to an end. The peddler in the story was caught into the trap by the hospitality received at the crofter. His extreme poverty forced him to steal the money. He was at this moment caught into the trap of his own guilt.
Even at the ironmaster’s house he is caught in his own trap. But it is Edla’s extreme kindness and generosity which enabled him to come out of this trap of his and leave the house as a freeman, after confessing his wrong deed and leaving the stolen money. Thus, the metaphor of rattrap very aptly highlights the fact that if you take something you want wrongfully, you will usually get trapped in life.
Question 6.
The peddler comes out as a person with subtle sense of humour. How does this serve in lightening the seriousness of the theme of the story and also endear him to the reader?
Answer:
The peddler is one of the most interesting characters in this story. His theory of rattrap is an excellent example of humour in the story. The very idea of comparing a man’s greed for money and wealth to a rat which hungrily looks around for food and finally gets in the trap, evokes humour. Moreover, the tramp himself committed the same error by stealing the crofter’s money is so ironical. The peddler’s attempt not to undeceive the ironmaster, in spite of being afraid to accept the invitation, is very comical.
Some of the other funny scenes are when he displayed his smartness after he was recognised by the ironmaster. The display of his anger and frustration at the point when the ironmaster threatened to call the police is also very humorous. In spite of all the things that he did, he came out to be a very lovable character and endears us when he confessed his guilt and left the house in an honourable manner leaving the stolen money, a note and a Christmas gift for Edla.
The Rattrap Talking About The Text
Question 1.
The reader’s sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning of the story. Is the sympathy justified?
Answer:
‘The Rattrap’ is written in the backdrop of industrial revolution in Sweden in the second half of the nineteenth century. Many families were displaced by the growing industiy and some people were reduced to a life of extreme poverty. The peddler in the story was a victim of such an economic change. He managed his life by begging and stealing. The pitiable state in which he was living evokes the sympathy of the reader. Even when he stole the money of the crofter, we don’t consider him to be a criminal. It was taken as a normal reaction of a poor man when he saw so much money easily available to him.
Thus, the peddler’s extreme poverty and the circumstances in which he lived, justifiably make the reader sympathetic to him from the beginning of the story.
Question 2.
‘The Rattrap’ focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Comment.
Answer:
No doubt the story focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. The protagonist of the story, i.e. the peddler, was a vagabond who had no family and led a lonely life. As he had no companion to talk to he was left to his own meditations. The crofter was also a lonely man with no wife or children. When he saw the peddler, he was happy to get someone to talk to. That is why he treated him with good food and tobacco. Moreover, the ironmaster and his daughter Edla too were leading a lonely life. The ironmaster’s wife died long ago and his sons lived abroad. They had no family and friends to celebrate Christmas.
Thus, the story deals with the loneliness of human beings in different situations and their struggle to cope with loneliness.
Question 3.
The story is both entertaining and philosophical.
Answer:
‘The Rattrap’ has both entertaining and philosophical aspects. The very title of the story is metaphorical. It refers to the theory that life is a big rattrap and sets baits for people. Instead of cheese and pork, life offers riches and joys, luxuries, food, shelter, etc. As soon as a human being gets tempted to touch the bait, it closes on him. The peddler got trapped in such a situation when he stole the money of the crofter.
Despite the philosophical aspect of the story, it always remains interesting and binds the reader till the end. The character of the peddler is so entertaining. The very idea of the peddler himself falling into the trap is humorous. The story has a clear and excellent progression of the theme. There is always an element of curiosity. The climax of the story is enthralling. When Edla and ironmaster come back from the church with an idea that the peddler must have taken away all the silver, they find a gift and the stolen money left by him.
Thus the story is narrated in such a style that it entertains the reader, besides providing a philosophical insight into life.
The Rattrap – Solved Question Bank
Reference to Context Questions
Read the extracts given below.
Question 1.
No one can imagine how sad and monotonous life can appear to such a vagabond, who plods along the road, left to his own meditations. But one day this man had fallen into a line of thought, which really seemed to him entertaining. He had naturally been thinking of his rattraps when suddenly he was struck by the idea that the whole world about him—the whole world with its lands and seas, its cities and villages—was nothing but a big rattrap.
Answer the following.
(a) ‘This man’ refers to the __________ .
(b) He compares the world to a __________ .
(c) The vagabond led a monotonous life but his thoughts entertained him. (True/False)
(d) Find from the extract a similar word for ‘tedious’.
Answer:
(a) rattrap seller
(b) rattrap
(c) True
(d) monotonous
Question 2.
The world had. of course, never been kind to him, so it gave him unwonted joy to think ill of it in this way. It became a cherished pastime of his, during many dreary ploddings, to think of people he knew who had let themselves be caught in the dangerous snare, and of others who were circling around the bait.
Answer the following.
(a) The vagabond found pleasure in his own way despite his dreary life. (True/False)
(b) He saved himself from being trapped in the __________ .
(c) Various allurements worked like bait. (True/False)
(d) The vagabond felt that he was better off than __________ in many ways
Answer:
(a) True
(b) rattrap
(c) True
(d) others
Question 3.
The old man was just as generous with his confidences as with his porridge and tobacco. The guest was informed at once that in his days of prosperity his host had been a crofter at Ramsjd Ironworks and had worked on the land. Now that he was no longer able to do day labour, it was his cow which supported him.
Answer the following.
(a) The old man was a __________ man as he shared his secrets even with strangers.
(b) We come to know that the old man had a __________ to support him.
(c) The peddler did not visit the old man with honest intentions. (True/False)
(d) The host was doing well in the past. (True/Faise)
Answer:
(a) simple
(b) cow
(c) False
(d) True
Question 4.
The stranger must have seemed incredulous, for the old man got up and went to the window, took down a leather pouch which hung on a nail to the very window frame, and picked out three wrinkled ten-kronor bills. These he held up before the eyes of his guest, nodding knowingly, and then stuffed them back into the pouch.
Answer the following.
(a) Though the stranger appeared incredulous yet he showed his __________ to him.
(b) These thirty kronors were earned by selling __________ .
(c) The guest cheated the host and fell in the trap. (True/False)
(d) Find out from the passage a word which means ‘unbelieving’.
Answer:
(a) earnings
(b) cow’s milk
(c) True
(d) Incredulous
Question 5.
As he walked along with the money in his pocket, he felt quite pleased with his smartness. He realised, of course, that at first he dared not continue on the public highway, but must turn off the road, into the woods. During the first hours this caused him no difficulty. Later in the day it became worse, for it was a big and confusing forest which he had gotten into.
Answer the following.
(a) The peddler had to take the forest route as he had __________ .
(b) Taking the public highway was not __________ for him.
(c) The phrase that suggests ‘morning’.
(d) The money in his pocket was his earning. (True/False)
Answer:
(a) stolen money
(b) safe
(c) first hours
(d) false
Question 6.
Darkness was already descending over the forest. This increased the danger, and increased also his gloom and despair. Finally he saw no way out, and he sank down on the ground, tired to death, thinking that his last moment had come. But just as he laid his head on the ground, he heard a sound—a hard regular thumping.
Answer the following.
(a) The peddler was in a danger of getting __________ .
(b) The peddler was tired as he had been working long hours. (True/False)
(c) The peddler felt that he was caught in a __________ .
(d) The thumping sound gave him a ray of hope. (True/False)
Answer:
(a) lost
(b) False
(c) Trap
(d) True
Question 7.
The Ramsjo Ironworks, which are now closed down, were, not so long ago, a large plant, with smelter, rolling mill, and a forge. In the summertime long lines of heavily loaded barges and scows slid down the canal, which led to a large inland lake, and in the winter time roads near the mill were black from all the coal dust which sifted down from the big charcoal crates.
Answer the following.
(a) Ramsjo Ironworks was somewhere near the public highway. (True/False)
(b) The crofter worked at the Ironworks. (True/False)
(c) Ramsjo Ironworks was another part of the __________ .
(d) The peddler’s relief was __________ .
Answer:
(a) False
(b) True
(c) trap
(d) short lived
Question 8.
Surely it was nothing unusual for poor vagabonds without any better shelter for the night to be attracted to the forge by the glow of light which escaped through the sooty panes, and to come into warm themselves in front of the fire. The blacksmiths glanced only casually and indifferently at the intruder.
Answer the following.
(a) The poor vagabond here is the __________ .
(b) Blacksmiths were casual because he was like any other __________ .
(c) The intruder was in the hope of getting a job there. (True/False)
(d) Find a word from the passage that means the same as ‘trespasser’.
Answer:
(a) peddler
(b) vagabond
(c) False
(d) intruder
Question 9.
But the stranger said no, and no, and again no, and the ironmaster saw that he must give in.
“It looks as though Captain von Stable preferred to stay with you tonight, Stjemstrom ”, he said to the master blacksmith, and turned on his heel.
But he laughed to himself as he went away, and the blacksmith, who knew him, understood very well that he had not said his last word.
Answer the following.
(a) The peddler did not accept the offer as he knew that he was hiding the __________ .
(b) Captain von Stahle here refers to __________ .
(c) The peddler did not want to take ironmaster’s obligation. (True/False)
(d) Find a word/phrase from the extract which means ‘the final say’.
Answer:
(a) truth
(b) the stranger
(c) False
(d) last word
Question 10.
She entered, followed by a valet, carrying on his arm a big fur coat. She was not at all pretty, but seemed modest and quite shy. In the forge everything was just as it had been earlier in the evening. The master blacksmith and his apprentice still sat on their bench, and iron and charcoal still glowed in the furnace. The stranger had stretched himself out on the floor and lay with a piece of pig iron under his head and his hat pulled down over his eyes.
Answer the following.
(a) ‘She’ here is __________ .
(b) She had come to take __________ .
(c) The stranger expected the girl to come as he knew his friend would not leave him there. (True/False)
(d) Find a word from the extract that means ‘servant’.
Answer:
(a) Edla Willmansson
(b) the stranger
(c) False
(d) Valet
Question 11.
“First of all we must see to it that he gets a little flesh on his bones, ” he said to his daughter, who was busy at the table. ‘And then we must see that he gets something else to do than to run around the country selling rattraps. ”
“It is queer that things have gone downhill with him as badly as that, ” said the daughter.
Answer the following.
(a) They wanted to help the stranger because he was an old acquaintance. (True/False)
(b) Find a word from the extract that means ‘odd’.
(c) Father and the daughter were concerned about the stranger as they thought he was a __________ .
(d) It was __________ time and they were happy to have a guest.
Answer:
(a) False
(b) queer
(c) captain
(d) Christmas
Question 12.
This whole world is nothing hut a big rattrap. All the good things that are offered to you are nothing but cheese rinds and bits of pork, set out to drag a poor fellow into trouble. And if the sheriff comes now and locks me up, then you, Mr. Ironmaster, must remember that a day may come when you yourself may want to get a piece of pork, and then you will get caught in the trap.
Answer the following.
(a) The speaker of these lines is the __________ .
(b) He refers to a sheriff as he has been told that he might be __________ over to the sheriff.
(c) Cheese rinds and bits of pork here are compared to various temptations offered. (True/False)
(d) The world is a rattrap and we all are the rats. (Truc/False)
Answer:
(a) peddler
(b) handed
(c) True
(d) True
Question 13.
When, at about ten o ’clock, they drove back from the church, the young girl sat and hung her head even more dejectedly than usual. At church she had learned that one of the old crofters of the ironworks had been robbed by a man who went around selling rattraps.
“Yes, that was a fine fellow you let into the house, ” said her father. “I only wonder how many silver spoons are left in the cupboard by this time. ”
Answer the following.
(a) The young girl sat with a hung head as they came to know about the stranger that he was a __________ .
(b) They met __________ at the church.
(c) Father was angry with his daughter for letting the stranger stay with them.
(d) Find a word from the extract that means ‘dispirited’
Answer:
(a) thief
(b) a crofter
(c) True
(d) Dejected
The Rattrap Short Questions and Answers
Question 1.
Why did the peddler derive pleasure from his idea of the world as a rattrap?
Answer:
The peddler developed an idea that the world is a rattrap. It offers food, shelter, clothing and luxuries just to entrap us in the same way in which the rattrap entrapped its victims through cheese and pork. The idea appealed and pleased him as he was in a state of abject poverty and had nothing and used to envy those who were in a better position than him.
Question 2.
Who was the peddler? What was the thought that took hold of his fancy?
Answer:
The peddler was a poor vagabond who used to make rattraps to earn his living. One day while making the rattrap, a thought struck him that this world is a rattrap for all the people. Food, clothes and luxuries and comforts work as a bait like cheese and pork.
Question 3.
In what sense was the world a big rattrap, according to the peddler?
Answer:
According to the peddler, the world was a big rattrap as it offered shelter, food, clothing and other comforts for the sole purpose of entrapping us just as the rattrap entrapped its victims through cheese and pork.
Question 4.
Why was the peddler surprised when he knocked at the door of the cottage?
Answer:
The peddler was surprised when he knocked on the door of the cottage and received a warm welcome there. He was not refused shelter. Moreover, he was offered warmth and hospitality. The crofter gave him food and tobacco. He played ‘mjolis’ with him and showed him the thirty kronor that he had earned.
Question 5.
Describe the evening that the peddler spent with the crofter.
Answer:
The peddler was offered warm hospitality at the crofter’s house. The crofter gave him food and shelter for night. He offered him tobacco and played ‘mjolis’ with him. He shared his life’s experiences and secrets. He even showed him the thirty kronor that he had saved.
Question 6.
What were the peddler’s feelings as he drove over to the ironmaster’s house?
Answer:
The peddler had evil forebodings as he drove over to the ironmaster’s house. He regretted to have stolen crofter’s money and felt that he had been trapped and would be found out as a thief.
Question 7.
What was the peddler’s explanation to the ironmaster for withholding his true identify? How did he manage to convince the ironmaster not to bring in the law to sort out the matter?
OR
How did the peddler defend himself against not having revealed his true identify?
Answer:
The peddler said that he had never pretended to be someone other than a tramp. Moreover, he had refused to come to Ironmaster’s house and wanted to stay in the forge. When the ironmaster threatened to call the sheriff, the tramp used his theory of rattrap. He said that’ if the ironmaster would treat him this way, he would also suffer a similar fate.
Question 8.
Why did the peddler knock on the cottage by the roadside? How was he treated by the owner of the cottage?
Answer:
The peddler walked on the road the whole day. He was hungry and felt cold. The night was about to fall and he wanted to take shelter at some place to spend the night. That’s why he knocked on the cottage by the roadside. The crofter, who was the owner of the cottage, treated him with warmth, gave him food and shelter and treated him well.
Question 9.
What were the peddler’s feelings as night fell in the woods?
Answer:
As night fell, the peddler lost his way in the forest. He could not find his way out and realised that he was moving around the same point. He was exhausted and hungry by this time and was feeling cold. At this point he realised that he had been caught in a rattrap with no escape route.
Question 10.
Who did the ironmaster mistake the peddler for? Why did the latter not reveal his identity? How did his true identity come to light?
Answer:
The ironmaster mistook the peddler to be his old acquaintance, Nils Olof, who was his regimental comrade. The tramp did not reveal his identity because he was scared of being caught. Moreover, he thought he might get some money from the ironmaster as his old acquaintance. When the ironmaster and his daughter went to church for Christmas service, they came to know that a vagabond had robbed the crofter. They apprehended that it was none other than the peddler.
Question 11.
What do we learn about the crofter’s nature from the story, ‘The Rattrap’?
Answer:
We learn that the crofter was a talkative and a friendly sort of fellow. He was also lonely and would welcome anyone to share his loneliness. He was hospitable towards his guests.
Question 12.
Who was the owner of Ramsjo ironmill? Why did be visit the mill at night?
OR
Who was the owner of the ironworks and what sort of person was he?
Answer:
The owner of the Ramsjo iron mill was a prominent ironmaster who wanted to ship out good iron to the market. He was very hardworking and supervised his work day and night.
Question 13.
How did the ironmaster react on seeing the stranger lying close to the furnace?
Answer:
When the ironmaster saw the stranger lying close to the furnace, he mistook him to be his old regimental comrade Nils Olof. He invited him to his home to celebrate Christmas.
Question 14.
Why didn’t the stranger tell the ironmaster that he was not Nils Olof?
Answer:
The ironmaster mistook the peddler to be his old acquaintance Nils Olof. The tramp, however, did not tell the ironmaster that he was not Nils Olof because he thought that it might be profitable. He expected that the ironmaster would give him a few kronor taking him to be his old friend.
Question 15.
What was the content of the letter written to Edla by the peddler?
OR
What were the contents of the package left by the peddler as a Christmas gift for Edla?
Answer:
The peddler left behind a packet for Edla. The packet contained a rattrap—a gift for Edla on Christmas. There was a letter and thirty kronor. In his letter, he had thanked Edla for her kindness and hospitality and repented his wrongdoing of stealing old crofter’s money and requested her to return the same to the rightful owner.
Question 16.
What conclusion did the ironmaster reach when he heard that the crofter had been robbed by the peddler?
Answer:
When, at the church, the ironmaster heard that the crofter had been robbed by the peddler, he at once concluded that the peddler was the thief. He apprehended that he would have made away with all their silver by this time.
Question 17.
Why did Edla plead with her father not to send the vagabond away?
Answer:
Edla was a kind-hearted lady. When she came to know the reality of the peddler, she showed her sympathy for him. She knew that he had no home or family. There was no place in the world where he was welcome. Due to her tender and kind nature, she pleaded with her father not to send the stranger away and allow him to stay at home for Christmas.
Question 18.
What did Edla notice about the stranger?
Answer:
Edla noticed that the stranger was very scared. He seemed to be either a thief or a runaway away from prison. She also observed that the stranger did not seem to be an educated person to be a captain.
Question 19.
Why did Edla invite the peddler to stay with her family?
Answer:
dla was told by her father, the ironmaster, to bring the peddler from the ironmill as he believed him to be his old acquaintance Nils Olof. So Edla came to the mill to invite him to stay with her family and celebrate Christmas with them.
Question 20.
‘The man was just as generous with his confidences as with his porridge and tobacco.’ What was the outcome of this?
Answer:
The crofter was overgenerous to the peddler. He not only gave him food and shelter but shared his confidences and showed him the money that he had saved. This tempted the tramp to steal the money. Next morning when they both left the house together, the peddler came back and stole the money.
Question 21.
What were the precautions that the peddler took to remain undetected as a thief?
Answer:
In order to remain undetected as a thief, the peddler left the highway and took the route of the forest. He lost his way in the forest and after some time realised that he was moving around the same point. Moreover, when at the Ramsjo Ironworks, he was invited by the ironmaster to his home, he declined the invitation due to the fear of being caught.
Question22.
Why did the peddler have to keep to the woods after leaving the cottage? How did he feel?
Answer:
The peddler had stolen thirty kronor from the crofter’s house. The fear of being caught kept him away from the highway and made him take a route through the forest. But he lost his way in the forest and, after walking throughout the day, came back to the same point in the forest. He was dead tired and felt hungry and cold. He could not find the way out of the forest and so felt as if trapped. At this time, he felt he was caught in a rattrap, likened to a prison with no escape.
Question 23.
Why did the blacksmith at Ramsjo Ironworks not pay any attention to the peddler?
Answer:
The blacksmith at Ramsjo Ironworks did not pay any attention to the peddler because it was a routine thing for him. Many vagabonds used to come there attracted by the light in order to warm themselves at the forge.
Question 24.
What was the ironmaster’s reaction to the poor condition of the peddler? What light does it throw on the character of the ironmaster?
Answer:
The ironmaster was compassionate, hospitalable and trusting. When he saw the peddler in poor condition, he immediately asked him to come to his home. He had mistaken him for his old regimental fellow Nils Olof. He wanted to help him in his miserable condition.
Question 25.
What was Edla Willmansson’s assessment of the peddler? What rationale did her father give for the coarse ways of the peddler?
Answer:
Edla Willmansson had her doubts about the peddler. She noticed that the peddler was very scared. She thought him to be either a thief or an escapee. She wondered how could her father’s regimental comrade have nothing about him to show that he had once been an educated man. But her father said that circumstances and his harsh experiences had made him so. He believed that once he was treated nicely, given a bath and a shave, he would regain his original personality.
Question 26.
What was the sentiment that urged Edla Willmansson to keep the peddler in their house despite knowing who he really was?
Answer:
Edla was a kind woman. She could realise how difficult a life the tramp must be living with no home or family. It was Christmas and she didn’t want to miss the opportunity to celebrate the spirit of Christmas, i.e. to be benevolent and do charity. So she thought of keeping the peddler at home to give him some comfort and happiness on the Christmas day.
Question 27.
What was the sentiment expressed by the tramp in the letter that he left for Edla? Why had he signed himself as Captain von Stahle? –
Answer:
In his letter to Edla, the tramp had expressed his gratitude to her for treating him with dignity and respect. Her love and respect had brought out the goodness in him and saved him from being caught in the rattrap of the world. He requested her to return the money to its rightful owner. He signed the letter as Captain von Stahle as he had been raised to the status of a captain and had his dignity restored by Edla.
Question 28.
Who was a keen observer: the ironmaster or his daughter? Substantiate your answer with an example from the text.
Answer.
It was Edla Willmansson, ironmaster’s daughter, who was a keener observer than him. The ironmaster had mistaken the tramp for his old regimental comrade, but Edla had her doubts from the beginning. She could see fear in his eyes.
Question 29.
The crofter can be called a “good host”. Why?
Answer:
The crofter exhibits all traits of a good host. He welcomes the tramp warmly. He offers him hot food, gives him tobacoo to smoke and plays mojoli’s with him. He talks to him in a friendly manner and tells him about his prosperity. He even confides in him and shows him his money.
The Rattrap Long Questions and Answers
Question 1.
The peddler thinks that the whole world is a rattrap. This view of life is true only of himself and of no one else in the story. Comment.
OR
The peddler believed that the whole world is a rattrap. How did he himself get caught in the same.
Answer:
It’s true that the peddler thinks that the whole world is a rattrap. According to him, with its lands, cities, seas and villages, it sets baits for the people, offers them riches and joys, shelter, food and clothing exactly as the rattrap offers cheese and pork till a ‘prey’ is caught and then everything comes to an end.
These ideas also stemmed from the fact that the world had not been too kind to the peddler and he had also allowed himself to be caught into this trap by stealing thirty kronor. When he lost his way in the forest with the stolen money in his pocket, he recalled his thoughts and realized that his own turn had come. He had let himself be fooled by a bait and had been caught. So, this view of life was true only of himself and no one else in the story.
Question 2.
How does the peddler respond to the hospitality shown to him by the crofter?
Answer:
The peddler was given warm hospitality by the crofter. He was given food, shelter, tobacco and even company for recreation. The crofter treated him with kindness and was very friendly to him. He narrated his story of survival and even showed him the money that he had saved.
But the tramp did not value his kindness. Next morning after taking leave of the crofter, the peddler came back to his house and stole the thirty kronor from the pouch hung on the window frame by breaking the window. He responded in a very negative way to the hospitality of the crofter and violated the trust that the crofter had bestowed in him.
Question 3.
How did the seller of rattraps realise that he himself was caught up in a rattrap after he left the crofter’s cottage?
Answer:
After the peddler had robbed the crofter of the money, he left with the money in his pocket. He felt very pleased with his smartness. Then he decided to continue on the public highway and moved into the wood so that he was not caught by the police. But after a few hours he got confused in the forest and lost his way.
After walking throughout the day, he realised that he had been walking around the same part of the forest. Now he recalled his thoughts about the world and the rattrap and realised that it was his turn to be caught in the trap. He felt that the entire forest was an impenetrable prison from which he could never escape.
Question 4.
The peddler declined the invitation of the ironmaster but accepted the one from Edla. Why?
OR
Why did the ironmaster invite the peddler to his home? Why did the latter decline it?
Answer:
When the ironmaster of the Ramsjo iron mill was on his nightly visit to the mill, he saw the peddler sleeping near the furnace. He mistook him for his old regimental comrade Nils Olof. He found his old friend to be in a miserable condition and immediately invited him to his house. But the idea did not please the tramp. He was scared and felt that going to the ironmaster’s house would be like throwing oneself voluntarily into the lion’s den. So he firmly refused the ironman’s invitation.
Question 5.
The story ‘The Rattrap’ explores the idea that given the right motivation the human beings possess the innate tendency to redeem themeselves from their dishonest ways. Discuss.
Answer:
The Rattrap captures the basic goodness in a human being in the face of material temptations. In the story, the peddler, a vagabond, used to either sell rattraps made of wire or beg or steal. He had been very badly treated by the world and never received any kindness. Even when the crofter offered him hospitality, and bestowed confidence in him, he was not able to realise its worth.
He betrayed his trust and stole the crofter’s money. But the inner goodness of the peddler is evoked by the warm, gentle and kind treatment given to him by Edla Willmansson. Despite knowing the reality, Edla treated him with respect and kindness with no selfish motives. She was empathetic and wanted to give him some comfort. This transformed the tramp into conscientious human being and the essential goodness in him surfaced.
Question 6.
The story ‘The Rattrap’ exemplifies the notion that the emotional needs of human beings have a direct bearing on their behaviour. Elucidate.
Answer:
No doubt it is the emotional needs of the human beings that have a direct bearing on their behaviour.
In fact, our emotions govern our actions and behaviour. In the story, all the characters depict the same. The peddler’s behaviour is all due to the atrocities he had faced in his life. He is treated badly. Starvation and homelessness have made him emotionally very weak and negative. As a result, when the tramp sees the money of the crofter, he steals it. Similarly, the crofter being lonely with no wife or children, welcomes the peddler and becomes overfriendly with him and, as a result, is cheated.
Even the ironmaster lives a lonely life. His wife is dead and his sons are abroad. He has no family except his daughter or friends. Consequently, he invites the peddler to his house, mistaking him for his old friend. Finally, it is Edla’s emotional generosity to serve and make’ someone happy on Christmas. Her kindness and empathy make her to treat the tramp with respect and kindness which brings out the goodness in the peddler.
Question 7.
How did the peddler feel after robbing the crofter? What course did he adopt and how did he react to the new situation? What does his reaction reveal?
Answer:
After robbing the crofter, the peddler felt guilty and, as a criminal, had a constant fear of being caught by the police. In order to escape, he decided to move through the woods rather than the public highway. Initially, he was pleased with his smartness but later, in the day, he lost his way in the forest.
He realised that he had been walking around the same part of the forest. At this point, he recalled his thoughts about the world and the rattrap and realised that he had let himself be fooled . by a bait. He felt trapped and tried hard to come out of it but failed. He felt completely exhausted and believed that he would die in the forest due to hunger and extreme cold. This shows that he had realised his mistake of stealing the crofter money.
Question 8.
The peddler’s instance speaks of the entire society, calling for a different outlook to those maligned individuals who can be redeemed by compassion and understanding. The rehabilitation programmes at prisons follow the same. In the light of the narrative in ‘The Rattrap’, how do you think society can help individuals, especially juvenile delinquents, from falling prey to petty crimes and bad habits?
Answer:
Human behaviour is in direct proportion to the emotional needs. Nobody is a bom criminal. It is circumstances and situations which force a child into crime. Juvenile delinquents are basically the ones who are ignored or exploited. In order to stop the increasing participation of juveniles in the crime, it is the society which has to play a pivotal role. If these children are treated with compassion and love, then they can be saved.
The society needs to develop an understanding of human nature that it is only due to the lack of the fulfilment of the emotional needs of a person, that he/she gets attracted to bad habits or crimes. We have to be empathetic and show our concern for our fellow beings with a sympathetic attitude for those who have deviated from the right path. With positivity and love, people, specially juvenile delinquents, can be saved from falling prey to petty crimes and bad habits.
Question 9.
The story ‘Rattrap’ describes the effect of generosity and kindness of the crofter and Edla Willmansson on the peddler. The many underprivileged in our society can benefit from little gifts given by the people. The gifts can be anything from funds to providing them with education, etc. Write an article in 120-150 words about the need to lend a helping hand to uplift the underprivileged.
Answer:
Time to Contribute
We all belong to a fast developing society. Technical advancements have made life comfortable and easy for us. But all these facilities are only for the well to do. There are a number of people who are not able to even get the basic amenties of life. They are devoid of education, clean water, clothes and even two meals a day.
The government makes a lot of plans for these people but they reach them in a meagre proportions. It is said that a small step finally leads to the destination. So it is the duty of each and every privileged person to contribute to the uplift of the downtrodden. A small help can make their future better. We can contribute to making someone learn, getting someone medicine, giving our used clothes and books to those who are homeless and live on the streets. These small acts of kindness will bring a smile on the face of these people. Along with that we should give them moral support. However, to change the society we need to first change ourselves.
