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.
