My Mother at Sixty-six-Qs-Ans-Explanation- Kamala Das-Summary-English for Class XII

 Poem 1: Book: Flamingo: Class XII (Notes by Shish Pal Chauhan)

My Mother at Sixty-six by Kamala Das

Summary

The poetess Kamala Das is an Indian poet. She tells us about her deep love for her mother. She never thought of being separated from her not only in her childhood but also in her adulthood. She used to feel pain in her stomach due to the fear of being separated from her mother. Once she was going to Cochin airport with her mother in a car. Then she had a chance to see her mother closely. She saw that her mother’s face was as pale as death. Then she felt the same old pain. But she diverted her thoughts at once. After the security check-up, she just said ‘ See you soon Amma.’

A.     Questions & Answers

Q1. What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?

Ans. It was the same kind of pain that she used to feel in her childhood. It was caused by her fear of being separated from her mother.

Q2.Describe why the young trees are described as sprinting?

                                        Or

What does the poet want to convey to us when she describes the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’?

Ans. The poetess wants to create contrast between the old age and the young age. The mother is pale and weak. But the children are joyful and full of energy. Childhood period is full of joy and energy while the old age lacks in all this.

Q3. Why has the mother been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’?

Ans. The poetess compares her mother’s face to a waning winter moon. The late winter’s moon looks pale and it suggests decay and death.

Q4. Where was the poet going? Who was with her? What did she observe about the person who was going with her in the car?

Ans. The poetess, Kamala Das was going to Cochin airport. Her mother was with her. She observed that paleness was spread on it. She also thought that her mother was not going to live for more time. She feared separation from her mother.

Q5. What were Kamala Das’ fears as a child? Why did they surface when she was going to the airport?

Ans. Kamala Das did not want to be separated from her. The idea about her mother’s separation from her always pained her. She looked at her closely and found paleness on her face. She feared that her mother would not survive for more time.

Q6. What painful thoughts come to the poet’s mind? How does she drive them off?

Ans. The poetess noticed (saw) her mother’s face closely. She found paleness on her face. Such paleness is found on a dead body’s face. Then she looked outside the car to change her thoughts.

Q7.  What does the poetess see when she looks outside the car while going to the Cochin airport in a car?

Ans. She looked at the young trees. They were young. It seemed they were running fast in the opposite direction.  She also saw the happy children. They were also running out of their homes.

Q8. What happens when the poetess reaches the airport?

Ans. The poetess reaches the airport. After the security check, the poet looked again at her mother’s face. It was still pale. She again had the pain that comes out of the fear of losing her mother. Then she uttered hopefully “see you soon, Amma”.

Facts to learn

1.  The poet is ‘My Mother at Sixty-six the poetess is ‘Kamala Das.

2.         The poetess was going to Cochin Airports.

3.         The poetess’s mother looked as pale as death.

4.         She realised that she won’t live long.

5.         The poetess looked out at young trees.

6.         She put away the thoughts about her mother’s pale and aged face.

7.         The young sprinting trees signify here -vitality of youth / young age.

8.         Sprinting means running very fast.

9.         The poet compares her mother’s pale face to ‘late winter’s moon’.

10.       The poet feels pain/ache to see her mother’s pale face.

11.       The poetess say ‘See you soon Amma’ to her mother.

12.       The poet feels regret that she could utter a few words to her grandmother. She did only smile, smile and smile .....                                 

Stanzas for Comprehensions:  Stanza 1.

“…but after the airport’s/ Security check, standing a few yards

Away, I looked again at her, wan,/ Pale/ As late winter’s moon and felt that/ Old/ Familiar ache, my childhood’s fear/ But all I said was, see you soon,/ Amma,/ All I did was smile and smile and/Smile…”

Questions:

Q1.Name the poem and its poet. Ans. The poet is Kamala Das and the title of the poem is ‘ My Other at Sixty-six’.

Q2. Who is ‘I’ in the above stanza?   Ans. The poetess/poet Kamala Das.

Q3.What was the familiar childhood ache the poet felt now?

Ans. That pain troubled her again when she thought that her mother would not survive for more time.

Q4. What were the parting words spoken by the poet. What did they suggest?

Ans. She said, “See you soon, Amma,”. These words suggested hope.

 Q5. What poetic device has been used in the line, I looked again at her, wan, Pale /As late winter’s moon’?    Ans. Simile has been used here.

Q6. Give a synonym for the word ‘wan’.   Ans. Pale

Stanza 2

“…but soon/ put that thought away, and/looked out at young/ trees sprinting, the merry children spilling/ out of their homes,…”

Q1. Which thought does the poet put away?  Ans. She puts away the thought that her mother would not survive for long time.

Q2. What poetic device does the expression ‘sprinting trees’ stand for? What do the sprinting trees add to the poet’s description of her mother?

Ans. The device used in the expression ‘sprinting trees’ is personification. This expression adds contrast to the poet’s description about her mother’s old age.

Q3. What do the “…the merry children spilling
out of their homes…” symbolize?   Ans. ‘The merry children’ symbolize energy and youth. The word ‘spilling’ signifies the flow of energy.

Q4. What do you mean by ‘sprinting’?   Ans. It means ‘running fast’

Stanza 3  but after the airport's/ security check, standing a few yards
away, I looked again at her, wan,/ pale/ as a late winter's moon and felt that/ old familiar ache, my childhood's fear,/ but all I said was, see you soon,/Amma,/all I did was smile and smile and/ smile.

Q1. Who is “I” in the above stanza?  Ans. “I” is the poet Kamala Das.

Q2. Who is ‘you’ in the above lines?   Ans. ‘You’ is the poet’s grandmother.

Q3, Where are both of them standing?  Ans. They are standing at the Cochin airport.

Q4. Which poetic device has been used in “wan, pale as a late winter's moon”?

Ans. Simile has been used here.

Q5. Explain the words: ”… old familiar ache, my childhood's fear…”

Ans. In her childhood, the poet used to feel some pain when her mother was away from her. Now, she suffers the fear of losing her mother as she is in her extreme old age.

Q6. What does the word ‘all’ suggest in the lines “all I said was, see you soon, Amma,/all I did was smile and smile and smile.”?

Ans. The word ‘all’ suggests that she could not express all her feelings to her mother.

Q7. Why did the poet repeat the word smile in the line ‘smile and smile and smile’?

Ans. It shows a long smile.

 

 

 

 

Indigo-Questions-Answers-Lous Fischer-English for Class XII

                                  Indigo by Louis Fischer

(I)                             Short Answer-type Questions (word Limit 30-40 words)

Q1. Who was Rajkumar Shukla? What impression do you make about him from the text?

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla was one of the sharecroppers from Champaran. He was illiterate but his determination was par excellence. It was his strong will- power that brought him to Lucknow to meet Gandhiji and it was his patience that forced Gandhiji to give him a fixed date to reach Champaran

Q2. Why did Rajkumar Shukla want to meet Gandhiji? How would you prove that he was a man of strong willpower?

Ans. The condition of the sharecroppers in Champaran was not good. So Rajkumar Shukla came to meet Gandhiji to acquaint him with the injustice done to the poor peasants by the landlords in Bihar. Gandhi ji did not agree to go with him immediately. But Rajkumar Shukla followed Gandhiji wherever he went until he got a fixed date. It showed his great patience and willpower.

Q3.How did Rajkumar Shukla succeed in persuading Gandhiji to visit Champaran?

Ans. Gandhiji had no time to accompany Raj Kumar Shukla to Champaran at once as he had several prior appointments. Rajkumar Shukla was not in a mood to go back, so he followed Gandhiji wherever he went. Then he requested Gandhiji for a fixed date for his visit. Such determination, patience, and willpower impressed Gandhiji. After that Gandhi ji gave him a date for his arrival in Calcutta and made further line of action on reaching there.

Q4. What happened when Rajkumar took Gandhiji to the house of Rajender Prasad in Patna?

Ans. The servants in Dr. Rajender Prasad’s house knew Rajkumar Shukla as a poor sharecropper, who used to come to visit their master. So they also thought Gandhiji was one of the sharecroppers like Rajkumar Shukla. They let Rajkumar Shukla stay and pass the night on the grounds with his companion. Gandhiji was also not permitted to draw water from the well so that it might not get polluted.

Q5.  Why was Gandhiji not allowed to draw water from the well of Dr. Rajender Prashad?

Ans. In those days,  untouchability, one of the social evils, was spread.  Dr. Rajender Prasad was out of the station and the servants in the house could not recognize Gandhiji. They thought him to be a companion of Rajkumar Shukla. So they did not permit Gandhiji to draw water from the well.

Q6.Why did Gandhiji decide to go to Muzzafarpur? Where did he stay there?

Ans. Muzzafarpur was on the way to Champaran. So Gandhiji thought of first going to Muzaffarpur. He wanted to get the full and real information about the sharecroppers of Champaran. He stayed there at Professor Malkani, a teacher in a Govt. school.

Q7. Why did Gandhiji call his staying at Mr. J.B. Kripalani’s house an extraordinary affair?

Ans. Gandhiji says that it was an extraordinary thing for a professor to harbor (stay) a man like Gandhi, an advocate of home rule in India. People in small localities were afraid of showing sympathy.

Q8. What did the lawyers do Mujaffarpur till Gandhiji about themselves? Why did Gandhiji chide them?

Ans. The lawyers at Mujaffarpur told Gandhi that they frequently represented the peasants in courts. They also told him about the size of fees they took from the peasants. Gandhiji chided them for taking hefty fees from the poor peasants.

Q9. What did Gandhiji advise the lawyers of Mujaffarpur about the peasants?

Ans. Gandhiji told the lawyers that taking the peasants’ cases to courts would not serve any purpose because the peasants were very crushed and fear-stricken. The real relief to them would come when they became free from fear.

Q10. What was the ‘long-term’ compromise between the sharecroppers and the English landlords?

Ans. There were large estates of Englishmen in the Champaran district. The main commercial crop was indigo. There was a long-term contract between the tenants and the Englishmen. According to the contract, the landlords forced the tenants to plant indigo in three twentieths or 15 percent land as rent for the land. That was according to a long-term agreement.

Q11. What was the dispute between the sharecroppers and the English landlords at present? What thing was irksome for the peasant?

Ans. Presently, Germany had developed synthetic indigo. So the landlords obtained agreements from the sharecroppers to pay them compensation for releasing them from the agreement of the 15 percent arrangement. That agreement was irksome to the peasants because it was not justifiable for them to pay any money to them as they were not breaking the contract.

Q12. Describe Gandhiji’s meeting with the secretary of the British landlord’s association.

Ans. First of all, Gandhiji visited the secretary of the British Landlords’ Association. The secretary told Gandhi ji that they could not give information to an outsider. Gandhiji answered emphatically (by laying stress) that he was not an outsider.

Q13. Describe Gandhiji’s meeting with the commissioner of the Tirhut division.

Ans. After meeting the secretary of the British landlord’s association, Gandhi ji met the commissioner of the Tirhut division in which the district of Champaran lay. The commissioner tried to bully (terrorize) Gandhi ji and advised him to leave Tirhut.

Q14. When did the police superintendent’s messenger say to Gandhiji on his way to Champaran receive a notice from? What did Gandhiji write on the notice?

Ans. Gandhiji was on his way to a village when a messenger overtook him and ordered him to return to the town in his carriage. Gandhiji did not resist and sat in the carriage and came to his place. Then the messenger served him with an official notice to quit (to leave) Champaran immediately. On its receipt, Gandhiji wrote that he would disobey it.

Q13. How was the situation went out of control at the court where Gandhiji was to appear for disobeying the orders of the district administration?  How did Gandhiji help them? What did it all show to the British officials?

Ans. People in thousands crowded around the courthouse. The officials felt powerless without Gandhiji’s cooperation. He helped them regulate the crowd. He was polite and friendly. Gandhiji showed to the British officials that their might (power) although it was absolute (complete/full/unquestioned) could be challenged by the Indians.

Q14. What did the British officials think about Gandhiji while serving him notices to leave the place or bullying him?

Ans. They thought Gandhiji was an ordinary Mahatma, who had come to create troubles for the authorities. They did not know Gandhiji’s track record in South Africa.

Q15. What homework did Gandhiji at Motihari before appearing in the court?

Ans. At night Gandhiji remained busy. He telegraphed Dr. Rajendra Prasad to come from Bihar with influential friends. He also sent instructions to the Ashram and a full report to the Viceroy.

Q16. How did the people come to support Gandhiji in front of the court at Motihari? What was its result?

Ans. People in thousands thronged (crowded) around the courthouse. Its result was manifold. First, the officials felt powerless and they had to take Gandhiji’s help in regulating the crowd. Second, the prosecutor requested the judge to postpone the trial.

Q17. What did the Judge speak when Gandhiji read a statement pleading himself guilty of breaking the law?

Ans. The judge said that he would pronounce the judgment after a two-hour recess and asked Gandhi to furnish (supply) bail for those 120 minutes. Gandhiji refused and the judge released him without bail. Later on, the case against Gandhiji was dropped.

Q18. What did Gandhiji do when he understood that the judge was delaying the proceedings in the court?

Ans. Gandhiji protested against the delay. So he read a statement pleading himself guilty. He also told the court that he did not want to set a bad example by breaking the law, but he had come to Champaran to render the ‘humanitarian and national service’. He disregarded the order to leave Champaran and, so, he asked for the penalty due.

Q19. What did the local advocates decide to do after consulting separately among themselves?

Ans. The lawyers held a separate meeting among themselves. They also decided to help Gandhiji in his struggle. They also decided to go to jail along with Gandhiji.

Q20. How was the first civil disobedience won in Champaran? How did it start?

Ans. Gandhiji started the first civil disobedience in Champaran. He was being bullied and forced by the local administration to leave the place immediately. But Gandhiji wrote on the receipt of the orders that he will disobey it. After that, the people from nearby places also reached the courthouse to build pressure on the authorities. As a result, the case against Gandhiji had to be dropped. Thus the first civil disobedience won in Champaran.

Q21. What arrangements did the lawyers do in preparation for the Official inquiry into the grievances of the sharecroppers?

Ans. Now the lawyers proceeded to conduct an inquiry into the grievances of the farmers. Depositions (Affidavits) by about ten thousand peasants were written down. Documents were collected. The whole area was full of the activity of the investigators and the protests of the landlords.

Q22. Who did the Commission of Inquiry consist of?

Ans. The commission consisted of landlords, government officials, and Gandhi as the sole representative of the peasants.

 Q23. Initially, Gandhiji was adamant about getting 50% of the refund of money for the sharecroppers. But, later on, he agreed to accept only 25% of the refund? Why?

Ans. Gandhiji explained later on that the amount of the refund was not so important as the fact that the landlords had to surrender the part of the money which had become their prestige issue. As a result, the peasants got the courage and came to know that they had their defenders.

(II) Long Answer-type Questions & Answers (Essay type Qs.)

Q1. Why did Gandhiji consider the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life? (Sample Paper and 2011)

Ans. : In Champaran,  Gandhiji had a new experience. He came to know the real problems of the peasants there. He became the spokesperson of thousands of the sharecroppers at Champaran. He raised the issue of injustice done to the poor farmers to the British high officials. He was given the orders to leave the place Tirhut. But, he defied them. Again he received the orders to leave Champaran immediately. But he wrote on the notice that he would disobey the orders. In the court, in front of the judge, he gave sound reasons as to why he disobeyed the orders. He said that he had to disobey in protest of the injustice being done to the poor farmers of Champaran. Thousands of the people assembled there in support of Gandhiji. The situation became out of control for the British officials and they had to take Gandhiji’s help in controlling them. The Govt. had to drop the case against Gandhiji as they understood Gandhiji’s power. Thus, the whole episode of Champaran proved to be a turning point because the dread of the Britishers started declining in the minds of the Indians after it. Thus, for the first time, civil disobedience had won in modern India.

Q2. What did Gandhiji do in respect of the cultural and social backwardness in the Champaran villages?

Ans. Gandhiji saw cultural and political backwardness in the villages of Champaran district. He wanted to do something immediately. Several teachers like Mahadev Desai and Narhari Parikh and two young had joined Gandhiji as his disciples and their wives volunteered (came forward themselves) for work. Several more came from the other parts of the country. Gandhiji’s youngest son, Devadas, arrived from the Ashram and so did Mrs. Gandhi. Primary schools were opened in six villages. Kasturba Gandhi taught the ashram rules about personal cleanliness and community sanitation to the village folk.

In the villages of the district Champaran, the health conditions were miserable. Gandhi Ji engaged a doctor to volunteer his services for six months. Three medicines like castor oil, quinine, and sulfur ointment were made available and distributed to people suffering from malaria and skin diseases.

The women of the villages were not aware of their personal hygiene. Gandhi ji told Kasturbai to talk to them about washing clothes also.

Q3. What do you know about Rajkumar Shukla? How did he take Gandhiji to Champaran and why?

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla was one of the sharecroppers from Champaran. The condition of the sharecroppers in Bihar was very bad. Someone told him to meet Gandhiji in this regard. So he came to Gandhiji to make a complaint about the injustice done to the sharecroppers by the landlord system in Bihar.

Raj Kumar Shukla was illiterate but his determination was par excellence. It was his strong will- power that brought him to Lucknow to meet Gandhiji. Gandhiji had not heard about Champaran before. It was in the foothills of the towering Himalayas, near the kingdom of Nepal.

Rajkumar Shukla requested Gandhiji to visit his district Champaran. Gandhiji told him that he had an appointment in Cawnpore (now Kanpur) and after that, he would have to go to some other places of the country. Shukla was resolute to get a fixed date from Gandhiji. So he did not return to Champaran. Rather he went with Gandhiji everywhere he went. He also accompanied Gandhiji to his Ashram, near Ahmedabad. Here he requested Gandhiji to give him a fixed date of his visit to Champaran. Gandhiji was very much impressed with Shukla’s patience and strong willpower He told Shukla that he would come to Calcutta on a certain date and then he would accompany him to Champaran.

After some months, Gandhiji came to Calcutta and Rajkumar Shukla accompanied Gandhiji to Patna by train.

Value-based Question: It is said that cleanliness is next to God. Gandhiji started a cleanliness drive in the villages of Champaran. In the same way, suggest the ways to make it practicable today in your village of city. What contribution the youth can give to the movement like ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

                                                                  The End

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q. Why do you think Gandhiji considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life?

Ans.

1.      How was Gandhiji able to influence lawyers? Give reasons.

2.      What was the attitude of the average Indian in smaller localities towards advocates of ‘home rule’?

3.      How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?

4.      Why did Rajkumar Shukla go to meet Gandhiji?

                                         Or

Why did Rajkumar Shukla want to take Gandhiji to Champaran?

5.      How did Rajkumar Shukla succeed in persuading Gandhiji to visit Champaran?

6.      Why did Gandhji agree to the planters’ offer of a 25 per cent refund to the farmers?

7.      How was Gandhiji able to influence the lawyers?

8.      How did Gandhiji help the peasants of Champaran?

A.      Some other Questions:

Q2. Why did the servants at Rajender Prasad’s house think Gandhiji to be another peasant?

Q3. Why did Gandhiji decide to go to Muzzafarpur? Where did he stay there?

Q4. Why did Gandhiji chide the lawyers and what conclusion did he come to?

Q5. What did the landlords compel the peasants to do as per the terms of a long term contract?

Q6. What did the British planters try to do when they came to know that synthetic indigo had been developed by Germany?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A.     Essay type Qs.

Q1. Why did Gandhij consider the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life? (Sample Paper and 2011)

1.      Ans. : In Champaran,  Gandhi ji had a new experience. He came to know about the real problems of the peasants there. He became the spokesperson of the thousands of the sharecroppers at Champaran. He raised the issue of injustice done to the poor farmers to the British high officials. He was given the orders to leave the place Tirhut. But, he defied the orders. Again he received the orders to leave Champaran immediately. But he wrote on the notice that he would disobey the orders. In the court, in front of the judge, he gave sound reasons as to why he disobeyed the orders. He said that he had to disobey in protest of the injustice being done to the poor farmers of Champaran. Thousands of the people assembled there in support of Gandhiji. The Govt. had to drop the case against Gandhiji. Thus, the whole episode of Champaran proved to be a turning point because the dread of the Britishers started declining in the minds of the Indians after it. Thus, for the first time civil disobedience had won in modern India.

 

Q2. What did Gandhiji do in respect of the cultural and social backwardness in the Champaran village?

Ans. Gandhiji saw cultural and political backwardness in the villages of Champaran district. He wanted to do something immediately. Several teachers like Mahadev Desai and Narhari Parikh and two youngmen had joined Gandhiji as his disciples and their wives volunteered for work. Several more came from the other parts of the country. Gandhiji’s youngest son, Devadas, arrived from the Ashram and so did Mrs. Gandhi. Primary schools were opened in six villages. Kasturba Gandhi taught about the ashram rules about personal cleanliness and community sanitation to the village folk.

In the villages of the district Champaran, the health conditions were miserable. Gandhi ji engaged a doctor to volunteer his services for six months. Three medicines like castor oil, quinine and sulphur ointment were made available and distributed to the people suffering from malaria and skin diseases.

The women of the villages were not aware about their personal hygiene. Gandhi ji told Kasturbai  to talk to them about washing clothes also.

Q3. What do you know about Rajkumar Shukla? How did he take Gandhiji to Champaran and why?

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla was one of the sharecroppers from Champaran. The condition of the sharecroppers in Bihar was very bad. Someone told him to meet Gandhiji in this regard. So he came to Gandhij to make a complaint about the injustice done to the sharecroppers by the landlord system in Bihar.

Raj Kumar Shukla  was illiterate but his determination was par excellence. It was his strong will- power that brought him to Lucknow to meet Gandhiji. Gandhiji had not heard about Champaran before. It was in the foothills of the towering Himalyas, near the kingdom of Nepal.

Rajkumar Shukla requested Gandhiji to visit his district Champaran. Gandhiji told him that he had an appointment in Cawnpore (now Kanpur) and after that he would have to go to some other places of the country. Shukla was resolute to get a fixed date from Gandhiji. So he did not return to Champaran. Rather he went with Gandhiji  everywhere he went. He also accompanied Gandhiji to his Ashram, near Ahamdabad. Here he requested Gandhiji to give him a fixed date of his visit to Champaran. Gandhij was very much impressed with Shukla’s patience and strong will-power He told Shukla that he would come to Calcutta on a certain date and then he would accompany him to Champaran.

After some months, Gandhiji came to Calcutta and Rajkumar Shukla accompanied with Gandhiji to Patna by a train.

 

The Rattrap-Questions-Answers-Selma Lagerlof-English for Class XII

4. The Rattrap (Selma Lagerlof)

Very Short Ans/Questions (Useful for Comprehension Passages)

1.       The name of the writer of ‘The Rattrap’ is

Ans.   Salma Lagerlof

2.       The man-made rattraps from the material he got by begging.

3.       He made his living by begging and thieving and selling rat traps.

4        What gleamed through the man’s eyes?

Ans.   hunger

5.       His business of selling rattraps has not been profitable

6.       The crofter was without a wife or child.

7.       He served the rattrap seller porridge in super.

8.       He played ‘majlis’ (a game of play card) with the rattrap seller.

9.       He also shared confidences and showed him (the rattrap seller) his thirty kronor (three wrinkled ten kronor notes)

10.     The rattrap seller did not expect the kind of hospitality which he received from the crofter.

11.     The crofter lived alone. He had no one to talk to. So he was talkative and friendly with the peddler.

12.     The crofter thought that the peddler was not believing about 30 kronor. So he showed them to him.                                                            

13.     The peddler did not respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter. He robbed him of his thirty kronor.

14.     The crofter did not go on the public highway. He was afraid of being caught.

15.     He entered the Ramsjo ironworks to pass the night.

16. Master Smith gave him a haughty consent without honouring him with a word.

17.     The ironmaster mistook the peddler for his old acquaintance.

18.     Iron master’s daughter Elizabeth is dead, his boys are abroad; he lives with his oldest daughter -Edla Williamsson.

19.     The name of a master blacksmith is Stjernstorm

20.     The name of the old acquaintance of the ironmaster is captain Von Stable.

21.     Edla Williamson came in a carriage to take the peddler with her. Her valet was also with her.

22.     She was not at all pretty, but seemed modest and shy.

23.     The peddler was used to sleeping with one eye open.

24.     Edla guessed that the peddler had either stolen something or escaped from jail.

25.     Edla gave her fur coat to the peddler and he wore it on his rags.

26.     The valet bathed the peddler, cut his hair, and shaved him.

27.     He was also dressed in a good-looking suit of the ironmaster.

28.     The ironmaster at once ordered him to leave his house as he was not the real captain.

29.     Edla didn’t let him go.

30.     For the whole forenoon he lay slept on the sofa.

31.     In the evening, he ate Christmas fish and porridge.

32.     At Church, Edla came to know that the rattrap seller had robbed the old crofter.

33.     He left a small rattrap with three wrinkled ten kronor notes and also a letter.

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

Ans.   The idea of the world being a rat-trap came to his mind suddenly while walking on his way, he started thinking about his rat-traps.

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

Ans.   The peddler says that the whole world is a rat-trap. It is a big rat-trap for human beings. The small rat-trap cheese and pork for rats as bait. But the big rat-trap (i.e. the world) offers riches, joys, shelter, food, and all its worldly things as bait for human beings. Once a person touches it, he is caught in it.

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?

Ans.   The crofter told the peddler about his confidences. He said that he worked once at Ramsjo Ironworks. Now he was unable to do hard labour. His cow supports him. He sells its milk. Last month he got thirty kronor. He stood up and showed that money to the peddler.

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

Ans.   The business of the peddler was not giving him a livelihood. So the thirty kronor of the crofter tempted him. The peddler broke the window pane. Then he put his hand inside and took out the pouch containing the money.

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

Ans.   The peddler was afraid of being caught. He might be chased and caught 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 walked and walked and ultimately came to the same place. He was too tired to walk further. Then he realised that he had indeed fallen into a .big rattrap.

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

Ans.   The ironmaster mistook the peddler for his old acquaintance of the army. It was also Christmas eve. The ironmaster felt pity for the miserable 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 Willimans?

Ans.   Edla’s was very much polite to the peddler. She showed her friendly manners to him. She told him that he could leave her house according to his sweet-will. Moreover, being a lady, 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 one 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 ironmaster realise his mistake?

Ans.   The iron master’s valet had bathed him, cut his hair, and shaved him. 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.   He explained (said) that he did not pretend to be anybody but a poor trap-trader. Moreover, he did not accept his invitation to stay in his house.  He had requested the iron master again and again for not compelling him. He had wished to pass the night at the forge.

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 Although she knew the peddler’s fault, she interfered with the vagabond.

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 stable?

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.   The peddler’s identity became known to the ironmaster and his daughter. The ironmaster ordered him to leave his house at once. But his daughter did not let the peddler go. She also entertained him with food and eatables on Christmas Eve. She was so kind and polite to the peddler. This made him finally change his ways.

 

Long Answer Type Questions :

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

Ans.   The rattrap seller was the metaphor of ‘rattrap’ to highlight the human predicament. The peddler calls his world a rattrap. To catch rats, people put cheese and park as bait in the rattraps. In the same way, this world is a big rattrap. 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. The peddler always thinks ill of others. He believes that the world has been very unkind to him. His business of selling rattraps is not profitable for him. So he does begging and petty stealing to keep himself alive. It is his past time to enjoy gloomy thoughts about to people whom he knows. He knows who has already been caught or is about to be caught in this big trap. He steals the crofter’s money in thirty kronor. It puts him into trouble. At last, 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.   We find some unexpected reactions from the characters in this story. The crofter’s behaviour to the peddler is unexpected. He never thought that he would get shelter at the crofter’s house so easily and happily. The crofter’s face was not sour. He gives him both food and shelter. But the peddler robs him of his thirty kronor. This surprises us. Then at the blacksmith’s workshop, he is given a haughty consent for shelter. The ironmaster mistakes the peddler for his old acquaintance. He wants to take him to his house. But the peddler did not want to go with him. Then, unexpectedly, he sends his daughter to take him with her. After a few hours, the true identity of the peddler becomes known to the ironmaster. He, at once, orders him to leave the house. But the ironmaster’s daughter does not let him go. She entertains him with food and eatables at Christmas Eve. Finally, the peddler also surprises us with his unexpected behaviour. While leaving the house, he puts thirty kronor in a rattrap along with a letter. This is a sweet surprise for Edla and the readers.

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 ironmaster and that of his daughter.

Ans.   The characters of both these persons are quite different. But there is one similarity.  Both of them are kind and generous. The ironmaster mistakes the peddler for his old acquaintance. He is full of pity for his miserable condition. So he wants to take him to his house. But the peddler does not go with him. Then he sends his daughter to persuade him. He does so become he really wants to help the person. But, when the truth about the peddler becomes known, he orders him to go at once. Here, he is a practical man. He does not want to keep a stranger in his house anymore. On the other hand, his daughter does not blame the peddler for that situation. Moreover, she is full of human kindness. She wants to serve a hungry man on Christmas Eve. She does not care for her father’s warnings to her. She behaves politely to the peddler. Finally, it is her politeness which ultimately changes the poor person.

Q.4    How does the peddler interprets the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster, 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. But the peddler takes it otherwise. He thinks that the crofter was alone. So he gave him shelter and talked to him in a friendly way. The peddler took the crofter’s hospitality in a light way. He did not feel obliged. Rather, he robbed the crofter of his thirty kronor. Then the ironmaster was very kind to him. His hair was cut. He is bathed and his clothes are changed. Then the ironmaster realised his mistake. The peddler was not his old acquaintance. So he orders 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 any selfishness. She shows her politeness, kindness, and generosity to him.