THE RATTRAP

THE RATTRAP

1. What did the peddler sell and how did he make those things?

Ans. The peddler used to sell small rattraps of wire. He made them att odd moments. He used to get the material which he got by begging in the stores or at the big farms.

2. Why was the peddler indulged in begging and petty thievery?
                   or 

Did the rattrap peddler earn enough money to keep his body and soul together?
Ans. The peddler used to sell small rattraps of wire to earn his living. But his business was not profitable. He could not earn enough to keep his body and soul together. So he was often indulged in begging and petty thievery.

3. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Ans. Thee peddler used to sell small rattraps of wire. Naturally his mind was occupied with the rattraps. One day while plodding his way, an idea came to him. He thought the whole world was nothing but a big rattrap. Some had already been caught in the it and the others were still circling round the bait.

4. How did the peddler like his idea of the world being a rattrap and why?
Ans. The world had never been very kind to him. He often faces sour faces. No body in the cared for him. People often chased him away. So he liked his idea of the world being a rattrap. It gave him great joy.

5. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament? 

Ans. In the lesson ‘The Rattrap’ the metaphor of the rattrap has been used to highlight the human predicament. Rattraps have baits for rats. The rattrap of the world has baits in them. It offers riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing exactly as the rattrap offers cheese and pork. As soon as one feels tempted by these things, the rattrap of the world closes in on him and everything comes to an end.

6. Where did the peddler seek shelter one evening? 

Ans. The peddler kept wandering selling small rattraps of wire. He himself made them at odd moments. One day he took shelter with a lonely old man who lived in a little cottage by the roadside without wife of child.

7. How was the peddler received by the old crofter? 

Ans. The old crofter lived alone in his cottage. He had no wife or child. So when the peddler knocked on the door of his cottage and asked shelter for the night, he was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. He at once put the porridge pot on the fire and gave him supper. He also gave him a roll of tobacco for his pipe. He also played ‘mjolis’, a game of cards, with him.

8. Why was the peddler surprised when he knocked on the door of the cottage? 

Ans. The peddler had never been treated kindly by the world. Nobody cared for her. He always met ‘sour faces’ when he knocked for shelter and food, and was usually turned away. But he was surprised when the crofter greeted him with warmth and hospitality. The crofter gave him not only shelter but food also. He also played a game of cards with him.

9. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
Ans. No, the peddler did not expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter. The peddler was often not welcomed anywhere. He was always chased away. It was only sour looks that greeted him. But the old crofter showed him unusual generosity. It was something unexpected for the peddler.

10. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Ans. The old crofter lived alone in his cottage. He had no wife or child. So when the peddler knocked on the door of his cottage and asked shelter for the night, he was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. That was why he was so talkative and friendly with the peddler.

11. What confidences did the crofter share with the peddler?
                         Or 

What did the crofter tell the peddler about his days of prosperity?

Ans. The crofter told the peddler that in his days of prosperity, he worked on the land of Ramsjo Ironworks. But now he was no longer able to do day labour. He had only a cow to support him. The cow gave milk for the creamery every day. The previous month, he had received thirty kronor in payment. He even showed this money to the peddler.

12. Why did the crofter show his thirty kronor to the peddler? 

Ans. The crofter told the peddler that his bossy (cow) was extraordinary. She gave milk for the creamery every day. And last month, he had received thirty kronor in payment. The crofter felt that the peddler did not believe in what he said. That was why he showed him his thirty kronor.

13. How did the peddler rob the poor crofter?
Ans. The peddler knew where the crofter had kept his thirty kronor. As soon as the crofter left his cottage, the peddler came back. He went up to the window and smashed the windowpane. Then he got hold of the pouch with the thirty kronor, removed the money from it and thrust it into his own pocket.

14. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Ans. No, the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter. The crofter had himself shown the peddler the money kept in his pouch. He had in a way shown him the bait laid in a rattrap. The peddler was tempted by the bait and he was caught in the trap.

15. Why did the peddler take his way through the forest?
Ans. The peddler had the crofter's stolen money in his pocket. He thought that if he continued to walk on the public highway, he might be chased and caught. That was why he decided to take his way through the forest to avoid any danger of being caught.

16. How did he feel when he took the way through the forest? 

Ans. In the beginning he faced no difficulty. But soon he realized that it was a confusing and big forest. He walked and walked but could not find the end of the forest. At this time he recalled his thoughts of the world being a rattrap. He realized that he had indeed become a victim of it.

17. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Ans. In order to escape being caught, the peddler had walked into a big and confusing forest. He walked and walked but could not find the way out. Now he was tired to death. At once the thought of the world being a rattrap came to his mind. He thought that now his own turn had come.

18. How did the peddler reach the Ramsjo Ironworks? 

Ans. The peddler tried his best to find the way out of the forest but he could not do so. He was tired to death. He thought that his last moments had come. Just then he heard the regular thumping of a heavy hammer. He at once got up and followed the direction of the sound. Thus he reached the Ramsjo Ironworks.

19. Who was the owner of Ramsjo iron mills? Why did he visit the mills at night? (All India 2012)
Answer.The owner of the Ramsjo iron mills was an ex-army man and an ambitious and prominent ironmaster. He was very particular about the quality of his products, and visited the mills even at night to make sure that good iron was shipped out from his mills.

20. How did the ironmaster react on seeing the stranger lying close to the furnace?
Ans. The ironmaster saw the stranger in rags lying close to the furnace. He went near him and removed his slouch hat to get a better view of his face. Due to dim light in the forge and the peddler’s dirty appearance, he mistook him to be Nils Olof, an old acquaintance of his regiment. He was delighted to see him and invited him home for Christmas.

21. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home? 

Ans. The ironmaster looked at the peddler in the dim light of the forge. He mistook him for his old regimental comrade. He moved to pity over his miserable condition. It was Christmas Eve and he was to be nice to a poor hungry man. So he invited him to his home.

22. Why did the stranger not tell the ironmaster that he was not Nils Olof? 

Ans. The stranger did not tell the ironmaster that he was not Nils Olof because he thought that if the gentleman believed that e was an old friend or acquaintance of his, then he might take pity on him and help him with some money.

23. What did the ironmaster tell the peddler about his own family? 

Ans. The ironmaster told the peddler that his wife Elizabeth was already dead. His sons were living abroad. And there was no one at his home except his eldest daughter, Edla Willmansson and himself.

24. Why did the peddler decline the ironmaster's invitation to come to his home? 

Ans. The peddler had the crofter's stolen money in his pocket. When the ironmaster invited him to come to his home, he thought of the thirty kronor. He thought that going up to the manor house would be like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion's den. That was why he declined the invitation.

25. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson's invitation?
                           Or 

Why did the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?

Ans. Edla was the ironmaster’s youngest daughter. When the ironmaster failed to bring the peddler home, he sent her to persuade him to bring home. She looked at him compassionately. Her manner was very friendly. She told him that he would be free to leave the place whenever he liked. Thus she won the peddler's confidence and made him accept her invitation.

26. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?

Ans. From the peddler’s looks and behaviour, Edla had some doubts about him. She thought that either he had stolen something or he had escaped from jail. It also seemed to her that he could not have been an educated man.

27. When did the ironmaster realize his mistake? 

Ans. It was day broad light. The peddler opened the door and came into the dining room. Now he was fully well groomed. When the ironmaster looked at the peddler in the day broad- light, he at once realized his mistake. He thought that when he had seen the strange fellow in the uncertain reflection from the furnace he might have made a mistake. Now the ironmaster could clearly see that the tramp was none of his old friend.

28. How did the peddler defend himself against not having revealed his true identity? 

Ans. The peddler said that he had never pretended to be a former captain. He had shown himself only as a poor trader. He also said that he had only asked for permission to stay in the forge. So it was none of his fault that he was mistaken.

29. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him? 

Ans. Edla was a very noble-hearted girl. She was certain that it was none of the peddler's fault. She had planned to entertain the poor hungry man on Christmas Eve. She had made great preparations for it. She did not want to let away the joy all at once. So she entertained the peddler even after she knew the truth about him.

30. What conclusion did the ironmaster reach when he heard that the crofter had been robbed by the peddler?
                      Or 

What did the ironmaster hear at the church? What did the ironmaster think?

Ans. The ironmaster and her daughter heard at the church that one of the crofters of the ironworks had been robbed by a peddler who went round selling small rattraps. The ironmaster at once concluded that the peddler would probably have stolen all his silver spoons in their absence, and had run away.

31. “Edla sat and hung her head even more dejectedly than usual.” Which two reasons forced her to behave in that manner? 

Ans. First, Edla had shown kindness to the peddler even after knowing that he was not a captain. But at the church, she came to know that the peddler whom she had sheltered was actually a thief. Secondly, she also felt dejected because the peddler had shattered the faith which she had shown in him.

32. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Ans. Edla felt very dejected when she heard at the church that the peddler was a thief. But the gift left by the peddler restored her faith in him. After receiving her gift and reading the letter kept in it, she came to know the man really was a gem. Naturally she was very happy.

33.What made the peddler finally change his ways? 

Ans. The world had never been kind to the peddler. He felt a great joy to think ill of it. He was always treated with contempt. However, Edla’s kind and caring behaviour finally changed him. She had treated him with love and respect like a captain, even after knowing that he was a poor vagabond. The trust that Edla showed in him made him change his ways and he decided to live with dignity and respect.

34. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle? 

Ans. In spite of knowing the truth about him, Edla treated the peddler as if he were really a captain. It was in this role that he was able to save himself from falling into the rattrap of the world. That was why he signed himself as a captain.

35. What was the content of the letter written by the peddler to Edla?
Ans. In the package the peddler had left a letter for Edla. The letter was written in large and jagged characters. In it he had written that since Edla had treated him like a captain, he wanted to be nice to her in return. He did not want her to be embarrassed at Christmas by a thief. He had requested her to give back the crofter’s money that he had stolen. He further wrote that the rattrap was a Christmas present from a rat who would have been caught in the world’s rattrap, if he had not been raised to the status of captain.

36. What were the contents of the package left by the peddler as a Christmas gift for Edla Willmansson? 

Ans. The package left by the peddler as a Christmas gift for Edla Willmansson comprised a small rattrap with three wrinkled ten kronor notes in it, which the peddler had robbed from the crofter. It also contained a brief letter for Edla explaining the peddler’s conduct.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q. How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter?

Ans. The peddler was a man who went round round selling small rattraps of wire.. He was leading a hard, monotonous, dull and lonely life of a vagabond. While moving along the road, it became dark. He knocked at the door of the cottage of a crofter. The crofter served him generously the whole night.  But while leaving in the morning, the peddler robbed him of his thirty kronor placed in a leather pouch.

The ironmaster took him for his old regimental acquaintance. Seeing his miserable condition, he wanted to take him to his home and wanted to help him out of his misery. But the peddler declined the invitation. He felt that to accept the invitation would be like throwing voluntarily into the lion’s den. However on Edla’s invitation he did go there. When the ironmaster came to know of his mistake, he at once asked him to get out of his house.

The ironmaster’s daughter was the only person who showed real sympathy for the peddler. She served him with no selfish reason. Her only motive was to make the poor hungry man feel at home on the Christmas Eve.  In the end, her nice treatment, kindness, and hospitality awoke the essential goodness in him. She moved the peddler so much that he left a Christmas gift for her. 

Q. 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? 

                                        Or

Compare and contrast the character of the ironmaster with that of his daughter.

                                        Or

Give examples from the story ‘The Ramap’ to show how the ironmaster is different from his daughter.

Ans. The character of the ironmaster is different from that of his daughter in many ways. 

The ironmaster does not possess as much persuasive power as his daughter. He tries his best to take the peddler to his home but he fails. But his daughter persuades the peddler very easily and takes him to her home.

Unlike his daughter, he is not a keen observer. He sees a stranger at his mill and takes him for an old regimental acquaintance. He offers to take a home for the night.  He also wants to do something to help him out of his misery. But on the other hand his daughter, being a keen observer, tells her father that the stranger does not look an educated man and looks frightened as if he had been a thief or ran out from a jail.

Edla possess more human feelings than her father. When the ironmaster realizes his mistake, he is awfully angry.  He at once asks the peddler to get out of his house. But Edla sees that the peddler is in no way to blame. She takes him to the breakfast table and makes him enjoy the Christmas food.

Thus we see that there is difference of poles between the ironmaster and in his daughter. 

Q. The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters of others’ behavior. Pick out the instances of these surprises.

Ans. The story ‘The Rattrap’ has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters of others’ behavior.

In the first instance, we take the rattrap seller. He sells his self made rattraps to keep his body and soul together but on the other hand he possesses a philosophical attitude towards life and the people. He considers the whole world a big rattrap.

Then he goes to the crofter’s cottage. The peddler is disliked and chased wherever he goes. But the old crofter is happy to receive him. He serves his as best as he can. He gives him food and talks to him in a friendly manner. But the peddler robs him of his thirty kronor which seems very unexpected.

Then the peddler meets the smiths at the Ramasjo Ironworks. At first they pay no attention to him but when the peddler asks them for permission to stay there, they give him a haughty consent.

Then there is ironmaster. He mistakes the peddler for his old regimental comrade. He invites him to come to his home. But when he realizes his mistake he asks the peddler to get out of his house.

Thus except the ironmaster’s daughter, the reactions of almost all the characters in the story can be said to be unexpected.   

Q. What made the peddler finally change his ways?  

Ans. The iromaster mistakes the peddler for his old regimental acquaintance and invites him to come to his home.  But when he realizes his mistake, he is awfully angry.  He at once asks the peddler to get out of his house. But here Edla plays a significant role. She intercedes for the peddler and at once comes to his rescue. She says that it is none of the peddler’s fault. She says that the peddler hardly finds a single home where he is welcome. He is always chased away. She advocates to let him enjoy a day of peace in their company. She even does not think it a nice to chase away a man whom they have themselves invited for Christmas cheer. She tries her bet to make the poor hungry man feel at home. She makes him enjoy the Christmas food in their company. Her nice treatment, kindness, and hospitality awoke the essential goodness in him. While leaving in the morning he leaves a small packet for her as a Christmas gift. It contains a small rattrap, a letter and three wrinkled ten kronor notes. The letter says that he would have been caught in the world’s rattrap if he had not been raised to a captain.

Q. Describe how the story, 'The Rattrap, shows that basic human goodness can be brought out by understanding and love.  (2009)

Ans. The peddler is a rattrap seller. In the beginning he seems to be a man with no principles in life.  He is an ungrateful person and a petty thief. But he is basically a nice fellow.  It is the world that has never been very kind to him and makes him a petty thief.  But the ironmaster's daughter proves an angel in his life. 

The iromaster mistakes the peddler for his old regimental acquaintance and invites him to come to his home.  But when he realizes his mistake, he is awfully angry.  He at once asks the peddler to get out of his house. But here Edla plays a significant role. She intercedes for the peddler and at once comes to his rescue. She says that it is none of the peddler’s fault. She says that the peddler hardly finds a single home where he is welcome. He is always chased away. She advocates to let him enjoy a day of peace in their company. She even does not think it a nice to chase away a man whom they have themselves invited for Christmas cheer. She tries her bet to make the poor hungry man feel at home. She provides him good food and a nice place to sleep on. Her nice treatment, kindness, and hospitality awoke the essential goodness in him.

Thus we see that the basic human goodness can be brought out by understanding and love.  

Q. The story ‘The Rattrap’ focuses on the human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Explain.

Ans. The story ‘The Rattrap’ focuses on the human loneliness and the need to bond with others. All the characters in this story suffer from loneliness. First take the peddler. He lives a life of loneliness. He has no one in this world whom he can call his own. He lives a sad, dull, hard and lonely life of a vagabond.

Then there is the old crofter. He also lives all alone in a cottage by the roadside without wife or children. He is only too happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. That is the reason why he is so generous and hospitable as a host.

As the plot moves further, we have the ironmaster and his daughter. They also feel alone as they have no company for Christmas. The ironmaster’s wife is dead and his sons have gone abroad.

The story also focuses on the need to bond with others. All the characters in the story have a strong desire for bonding. A great change comes in the peddler when he feels a human bond with the ironmaster’ daughter. The crofter is happy to be friends with the peddler although only for a night. The ironmaster takes the peddler for his old friend and take him to his house. He and his daughter develop a bond of humanity with the peddler and served him on the Christmas Eve.  

Q. The story ’The Rattrap’ by Selma Lagerlof is both entertaining and philosophical. Discuss.

Ans. The story ’The Rattrap’ by Selma Lagerlof is both entertaining and philosophical. The fast paced narrative in the third person, the generous use a dialogue by the author and different characters belonging to different mindsets make the story interesting.

In the beginning, the peddler’s idea of being the world as a big rattrap is quiet interesting. Then the crofter's invitation to the tramp interests us. What's more interesting is the tramp's attitude of walking away with the thirty kronor. The peddler comes across as a poor, pathetic soul but we never thought he is dishonest too. The incidents in the forge, with the ironmaster coming at midnight also hold our attention. The peddler's incessant refusals to the ironmaster’s invitation but accepting Edla's invitation in one go, make the story gripping.

The reader is pleasantly surprised when the ironmaster realizes his mistake and ask the person to go whom he himself has invited. The story moves on and Edla's sympathetic attitude and dignity towards the peddler transform him. One feels really overwhelmed and relieved when the peddler is moved by Edla's virtues of generosity, kindness, hospitality and sympathy, and leaves behind a Christmas gift for her.

Thus there are a number of events in the story which never make us lose our focus on the story.

While all the above events make the story interesting, there is also an element of philosophy in the story. Somewhere, the peddler's theory of the world being a rattrap is true. One feels caught up like a rat in the world like rattrap. Once people fall into this trap never come out of it again. 

Q. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?

Ans. Greed is the worst thing in a man’s life. It overpowers him and consequently the more he gets, the more he becomes greedy to get material things in his life and he remains unhappy and unsatisfied the whole life. We all know about this trap, yet we voluntarily fall into it. This is the human predicament. In order to highlight this predicament, the writer has used the metaphor of rattrap in this story.

The peddler is a man who goes round selling small rattraps of wire. One day an idea strikes him. He is thinking about his rattraps. Suddenly he feels that the whole world is nothing but a big rattrap. The riches, joys, shelter and food are nothing but mere baits. When one touches the bait, the rattrap closes in on him. No one can ge out of the trap of the world. The peddler himself robs the crofter of his thirty kronors who serves him food and provides shelter at night. Those thirty kronors prove to be a bait. He has befooled himself by a bait. Thus he is caught in the world like rattrap. A little later when the ironmaster invites him to come to his house, he does not disclose his true identity and goes to his house in the hope of getting something more from the ironmaster.