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.
