The Rattrap Important Questions Class 12 English-The Rattrap Important Questions CBSE Class 12 English

4.   The Rattrap By Selma Lagerlof

Book: Flamingo (Class XII) (Notes made by Shish Pal

Chauhan: My YouTube Channel: Shish Pal Chauhan Yamuna Nagar)

A. Short Answer-type Qs (about 30 words each)

Q.1    From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rat trap?

Ans.  The rattrap seller was walking on his way. He was also thinking about his rattraps. Then the idea of the world being a rat trap came to his mind. 

Q.2    How does the peddler compare the world to a rat trap? What explanation does he give?

Ans.  The whole world is a big rat trap for human beings. He offers cheese and pork for rats as bait. But the big rat trap (i.e. the world) offers riches, joys, shelter, food, and many other things as bait for human beings.

Q.3    Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?

Ans.  The crofter lived alone without a wife or child. He had no one to talk to. He was very happy to meet the peddler. So he was talkative and friendly to him.

Q.4    What confidences (secrets) did the crofter share with the peddler?

          Or What did the crofter tell the rattrap seller?

Ans.  He said that once he worked at Ramsjo

Ironworks. His cow supported him. He sold its milk. Last month he got thirty kronor. He also showed that money to the peddler.

Q.5    How did the peddler rob the poor crofter? Why?

Ans.  Thirty kronor notes of the crofter tempted the poor rattrap seller. He broke the window pane. Then he put his hand inside and took out the pouch containing the money.

Q.6    Why did the peddler make his way through the forest?

Ans.  The peddler was afraid of being robbed. He could be chased and caught by someone on the highway. So he took the way which went through the forest.

Q.7    What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rat trap?

Ans.  The peddler lost his way in the forest. He tried his best to find the straightway. He was too tired to walk further. Then he realised that he had indeed fallen into a big trap.

Q.8    Why did the iron master speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?

Ans.  The iron master mistook the peddler for his (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

old acquaintance of the army. It was also Christmas Eve. The iron master felt pity for the miserable (very bad) condition of the peddler. So he spoke kindly to the peddler.

Q.9    Why did the peddler decline (refuse) the iron master’s invitation to come to his home?

Ans.  The peddler had stolen the crofter’s money. It was in his pocket. He was afraid of being exposed. Going to the iron master’s house was putting himself at risk. So he declined the invitation.

Q.10  What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?

Ans.  Edla was very much polite to the peddler. She showed her friendly manners to him. She told him that he could leave her house at his sweet-will. She won his confidence easily. So he accepted her invitation.

Q.11  What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?

Ans.  Edla’s observation about the peddler was very correct She studied his behaviour at once She understood that the peddler had either stolen something or he had escaped from jail. She also understood that he was not educated

Q.12  When did the iron master realise his mistake?

Ans.  The rattrap seller took a bath. His hair was cut and his face was shaved. He was also dressed in a good suit. The iron master saw him in clear daylight. Then he realised that he had done a mistake. The peddler was not his old acquaintance.                                      

Q.13  What explanation did the peddler give for not revealing his identity? How did he defend himself?

Ans. The rattrap seller said that he had not accepted his invitation. He also said that he did not hide his true identity.       He had wished to pass the night at the forge. But he was requested again and again to say yes to staying with them.

Q.14  Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him? Why did she intercede for the vagabond (wanderer)?

Ans.  Edla was very happy that morning. She had planned to make eatables for the poor peddler on Christmas Eve. She knew the peddler’s fault. But still, she interfered with the vagabond (the rattrap seller).

Q.15  Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?

Ans.  Edla had also heard at the church that the rat-trap seller was a thief. She was very disappointed. But she was happy to see the gift. The peddler had left the thirty kronor put in a rat trap. It was really a gift for Edla.

Q.16  Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain Van Stahle?

Ans.  The peddler was mistaken for Captain Van Stable. He visited the iron master’s house as the Captain. While performing the role of a captain, he proved his honesty. He left the stolen money in the house. So he signed as captain Van Stable.

Q.17  What made the peddler finally change his ways?

Ans. It was Edla’s polite behavior and affection that finally changed the peddler’s ways. She also entertained him with food and eatables on Christmas Eve. She was so kind and polite to the peddler. 

 Long Answer Type Questions :

Q1.  The peddler used to commit some thieveries also. In spite of that, the reader has sympathy for him. Justify your answer.

      Or Discuss the character of the peddler, the rattrap seller.

Ans. It is true that the rattrap seller used to commit small thefts sometimes. He used to make rattraps. He had no money to purchase the material to make the rattraps. He had no regular way of earning money. So, he had to beg for food also. He also stole the old crofter’s money. That really makes him a dishonest person. The reader still has sympathy for him. We feel pity for him when he is caught in a difficult situation at the ironmaster’s house. He was insulted and told to go out of the house. But Edla, the ironmaster’s daughter did not let him go. She fed him lovingly with delicious food. It was her good behavior that changed him completely.

 

Q.1.How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament ?  How does the peddler himself succeed in coming out of the big rattrap of the world ? Or ‘theme’

Ans.  The metaphor of ‘rattrap’ serves to highlight the human predicament (difficult situation). The peddler calls this world a big rattrap. People put cheese and pork as bait in the rattraps to catch rats. In the same way, all attractions of the world are baits for human beings. Those attractions are - all lands (countries), villages, cities, seas, joys, riches, food, shelter, heat and clothing. He has also been caught in the big rattrap. He steals the crofter’s money. It puts him into trouble. Finally, Edla’s good nature and his own raised status of a Captain enable him to escape from the big rattrap.

 

Q.2    The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’ behaviour. Pick out instances of their surprises.

Ans.There are some unexpected incidents and reactions of the characters in the story. First, the crofter welcomes the peddler warmly and offers him food and shelter. The peddler robs him of his money. Then the ironmaster thinks him wrongly of his old companion. He offers him to go with him. But the peddler refuses to go with him. After some time, he goes with the ironmaster’s daughter. The next day, the ironmaster looks at him in broad daylight. He realises his mistake of mis-understanding the peddler for his Captain's friend. He ordered the rattrap seller to go out of his house. But Edla stops the peddler. She treats him warmly. She serves him delicious food. It changed the peddler into an honest person. These instances are all unexpected.

     Q. 3 What are the instances in the story that show the characters of the ironmaster and that of his daughter different in many ways ?

OR

          Compare and contrast the characters of the iron master and that of his daughter.

  Ans. The characters of both of these people are quite different. But there is one similarity. Both of them are kind and generous. That was the reason the peddler was brought home. The iron master could not win the peddler’s trust. But Edla could do so. That was the reason the peddler went with her to their house. The ironmaster was impatient. He lost his temper when he learned that the peddler was not his old acquaintance. He ordered him to leave the house at once. But Edla stopped her father from sending the poor person out. She treated him warmly. He fed him delicious food. That changed the peddler’s heart. He became an honest person.

Q.4: How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the iron master, and his daughter?

Ans.  The peddler usually meets people who are not kind to him. He is surprised to meet the crofter. He is given a warm welcome. He talks with the peddler in a friendly way. He gives him both food and shelter. The peddler took the crofter’s hospitality in a light way. He did not feel obliged. Rather, he robbed the crofter of his thirty kronors.

Then the ironmaster was very kind to him. The next morning, the ironmaster realised his mistake. So he ordered him to leave his house at once. The peddler must have thought that the ironmaster’s kindness was based on his selfishness. After that, the ironmaster’s daughter entertained the peddler without showing any selfishness. She shows her politeness, kindness, and generosity to him. It changed the crofter’s heart.