The Rat Trap

Summary :- The Rattrap summary is about a man who is a peddler. He has a pessimistic attitude
towards the world. The peddler has not always been like this and was a fine man before. However,
due to misfortune, he now resorts to selling rattraps, begging and even stealing to survive.
Moreover, he also views the world as a big rat trap. He believes that much similar to the cheese we
put for mice, the world offers us materialistic things to lure us. So, when we fall for these things, it
traps us and takes everything away from us. In this story, a young generous woman takes in the
rattrap seller. Thus, the generosity and kindness she shows changes his pessimistic take on life. This
story teaches us about the essential human goodness we all must possess.

The story begins with a rattrap peddler who is in a rugged condition. He is dressed in rags and is
very frail and looks starved. We learn he has no home and sometimes even begs and steals to
survive in the world. He leads a lonely life with no one to care about him. One fine day, it strikes to
him that this whole world is a rattrap itself. If we touch it, it will trap us and never let us go. He goes
on to think that there are people out there who are already in this rattrap and reaching for the bait.
On one cold evening, he reaches at a cottage to ask for shelter. An old crofter lived in that cottage
who took in the peddler.

The crofter needed company so he welcomes the peddler. He gives him hot food and even tobacco
to smoke. They play cards and start talking. The peddler learns that the crofter got thirty kronor for
selling his cow which he keeps in a pouch on the window frame. The peddler leaves the next day
but after seeing the crofter leave his cottage, he comes back to steal the pouch of money.

After stealing it, he takes the woods to remain unsuspected. In the wood, the peddler meets an
ironmaster who mistakes him to be his old comrade. He invites him over for Christmas but he
refuses. After that, the ironmaster’s daughter, Edla visits him and insists him to stay with them. In
between, he feels sorry for stealing the crofter’s money. They help the peddler get a makeover and
dress him in nice clothes and shave his beard off. After this, the ironmaster realizes he has made a
mistake; the peddler was not his comrade.

Thus, the ironmaster thinks he is a fraud and decides to turn him in. However, Edla insists on letting
him stay and celebrate Christmas with them. Her father agrees, and they celebrate Christmas
together. Next day, the ironmaster and Edla learn that the peddler was a thief through the church
about the incident at the old crofter’s. They head home in a hurry thinking he must have stolen all
the silver. However, to their surprise, the peddler did not steal a thing. He left a note for Edla in the
form a tiny rattrap. There was also a note thanking her for her kindness which saved him from the
rattrap he got caught in. Most importantly, he also left the crofter’s money asking to return it to him.

Conclusion of The Rattrap

To sum up, The Rattrap summary, we learn that we can change the world through kindness and
compassion; in addition, it teaches us that materialistic things never bring inner joy, only love and
respect does.

I. Answer the following questions in not less than 40 – 50 words each :- (Use the points given)
Question 1.
What did the peddler sell? How did he make those things?
Answer:
The peddler sold small rattraps made of wire. He made them himself. He got the material by
begging in the stores or at the big farms.

Question 2.
The peddler was given to thievery and hegging. Why?
Answer:
The peddler made small rattraps and sold them. But his business was not profitable. So he had to
resort to both begging and petty thievery to keep his body and soul together.

Question 3.
Why did the peddler drive pleasure from his idea of the world as a rattrap?
Answer:
The peddler used to sell rattraps. The world had never been kind to him, so it gave him joy to
think ill of it in this way. It became a cherished pastime for him. He thought some people had
already been caught in this rattrap while the others are circling around it.

Question 4.
Why did Edla plead her father not to send the vagabond away?
Answer:
Edla had felt so happy when she thought how she would be going to entertain the stranger on the
Christmas Eve. She could not get away from the idea all at once, and that was why she pleaded
her father for the vagabond. She wanted him to enjoy a day of peace with them in their house.

Question 5.
Why did the crofter welcome the peddler in his cottage?
Answer:
The crofter lived alone in his cottage. He was without wife and child. He welcomed the peddler
to over-come his loneliness.

Question 6.
How can you say that the crofter was a good host?
Answer:
The crofter was indeed a good host. He welcomed the peddler in his cottage. He shared with him
his meal and tobacco. He also played a game of cards with him. All this show that the crofter
was a good host.

Question 7.
What do we learn about the crofter’s nature from the story, “The Rattrap’?
Answer:
The crofter lived alone in his cottage. He welcomed the peddler in his cottage and offered him
meal and tobacco. He also played a game of cards with him. Though the crofter was a good host
yet he entertained the peddler only to overcome his own loneliness.

Question 8.
Why did the crofter show his thirty kronor to the peddler?
Answer:
The crofter was very proud of his cow. He told the peddler that it gave enough milk to support
him. To prove himself true he showed his thirty kronor to the peddler which he had received as a
payment for the milk.
Question 9.
How did the ironmaster react on seeing the stranger lying close to the furnace?
Answer:
The ironmaster saw the peddler at the forge. The ironmaster walked close to him. He thought the
peddler was his one of the regimental acquaintances. He called him by the name of Nils Olof.
The ironmaster felt sorry to see his miserable condition and he invited the peddler to his home.

Question 10.
Why didn’t the peddler tell the ironmaster that he was not Captain Nils Off?
Answer:
The peddler thought that if the ironmaster thought that he was an old acquaintance, he might
perhaps help him with a few kronor. Therefore the peddler didn’t tell the ironmaster that he was
not his old acquaintance.

Question 11.
What did the ironmaster tell the peddler about his family?
Answer:
The ironmaster told the peddler that his wife, Eliza- beth had already died. Both his sons were
abroad. There was no one in the house expect his eldest daughter Edla and himself. He thought it
would be so nice if the peddler came with him and gave them the company at the Christmas Eve.

Question 12.
Why did the peddler keep to the woods after leaving the crofter’s cottage? How did he feel?
Answer:
The peddler had stolen the crofter’s money. He realised that he should not continue walking on
the public highway. Therefore he turned towards the woods. Initially it caused him no difficulty.
Later it became worse for him. He recalled his thought about the world being a rattrap. He
thought now his turn had come and he himself had been caught in this rattrap.

Question 13.
What made the peddler accept Edla’s invitation? How did he feel?
Answer:
Edla Willmansson noticed that the man was quite afraid. She reassured him that she would be
allowed to leave just as freely as freely he came. She said that she only wanted to stay with them
on the Christmas Eve. She said that in such a friendly manner ‘ that the rattrap seller could not
refuse her. She thought that the young girl would behave with him ‘ kindly.

Question 14.
What doubts did Edla had about the peddler? How did she reassure him?
Answer:
Edla doubted that the man was quite afraid. She thought that the peddler had stolen something or
might have escaped from jail. She reassured him that she would be allowed to leave just as freely
as freely he came.

Question 15.
When did the ironmaster realize that the peddler was none of his regimental acquaintances?
Answer:
The valet had bathed the peddler and cut his hair, and shaved him. He was dressed in a good-
looking suit of the ironmaster. Though he was so well groomed, the ironmaster didn’t seem
pleased. He realised his mistake that the peddler was not his old regimental acquaintance.
Question 16.
What did the ironmaster order the peddler?
Answer:
When the ironmaster saw the peddler in the broad daylight, he came to know that the peddler
was none of his regimental acquaintances. Therefore he ordered the peddler to get out of his
house at once.

Question 17.
How did the peddler defend himself?
Answer:
The peddler made no attempt to defend himself. He knew all his splendour had come to an end.
He told the ironmaster that it was not his fault at all. He had not deceived anyone. He projected
himself to be a poor trader. But the ironmaster threatened him to take the matter to the sheriff.

Question 18.
Why did Edla want to entertain the peddler though she knew the truth about him?
Answer:
Edla told her father that the peddler walked and walked whole the year long, and he was not
welcomed anywhere. He was afraid of being arrested and cross examined. Therefore Edla
wanted the peddler to enjoy a day of peace with them in their house.

Question 19.
Why did Edla feel depressed about his decision’to entertain the peddler?
Answer:
At church Edla came to know that a man selling rattraps had robbed the crofter of his thirty
kronor. She had entertained that man in his home nicely. Naturally she felt quite depressed when
she came to know that the peddler was a petty thief.

Question 20.
Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Answer:
At church Edla came to know that a man selling rattraps had stolen the crofter’s thirty kronor.
She was quite dejected and disappointed at her decision to entertain that man in her house. But
when she reached home, she came to know that the man had not taken away anything from their
house rather he had left a small gift for her. On receiving the gift and reading the letter she felt
happy that she was able to free the man from the rattrap of the world.

Question 21.
What was written in the letter that the peddler left for Edla?
Answer:
The peddler wrote, “Since you have been so nice to me all day long, as if I was a captain, I want
to be nice to you, in return, as if I was a real captain.The rattrap is a Christmas present from a rat
who would have been caught in the world’s rattrap if he had not been raised to captain, because
in that way he got the power to clear himself.“Captain von Stahle.”

Question 22.
From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Answer:
One day rattrap seller was going his way along the road. Suddenly an idea struck him. He
compared the whole world with a rattrap. It offered riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and
clothing exactly as the rattrap offered cheese and pork, and as soon as anyone let himself be
tempted to touch the bait, it closed in on him, and then everything came to an end. He thought
some people had already caught in it and some other are circling around the bait.

Question 23.
Why was he amused by this idea?
Answer:
The rattrap seller considered whole the world like a rattrap. He thought some people had already
been caught in it while the others are circling around it. The world had never been kind to him.
He was amused to think about it in this way.

Question 24.
Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
Answer:
No, the peddler had not expected the kind of hospitality he received from the crofter. He was not
welcomed anywhere. He usually met sour faces. But the crofter was living alone. He was happy
to have someone for company.

Question 25.
Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Answer:
The crofter was without wife and any child. He was happy to get someone to talk to in his
loneliness. Therefore, he was so friendly and talkative.

Question 26.
Why did he show the thirty kronor to the peddler?
Answer:
The crofter told the peddler that his cow gave a lot of milk and he sold it to the creamery. He
recently had got thirty kronor as a payment for his milk. However, he thought that the peddler
didn’t believe his story about the thirty kronor. Therefore, he showed them to the peddler.

Question 27.
Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Answer:
The crofter showed his thirty kronor to the peddler believing him to be his friend. But the peddler
did not respect the confidence reposed in him. He was a petty thief and stole with the crofter’s
money.

Question 28.
What made the peddler think that he had in¬deed fallen into the rattrap?
Answer:
The peddler had stolen the crofter’s thirty kronor. He thought that now he had also been caught
in the vicious circle of evil. He considered himself caught in, a rattrap and now he was finding no
way to get out of it.

Question 29.
Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Answer:
The ironmaster saw the peddler at the forge. The ironmaster walked close to him, looked at him
carefully. He thought the peddler was his one of the regimental acquaintances. He called him by
the name of Nils Olof. The iron master felt sorry to see his miserable condition, therefore, he
invited the peddler to his home.
Question 30.
Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
Answer:
The peddler had with him the stolen thirty kronor. He thought that he would land himself in big
trouble by going to the manor house. Therefore, he declined the invitation.

Question 31.
What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?
Answer:
Edla Willmansson told the peddler that her father had asked her to bring him to their home. She
noticed that the man was quite afraid. She thought that the peddler had stolen something or might
have escaped from jail. She reassured him that she would be allowed to leave just as freely as
freely he came. She said that she only wanted to stay with them on the Christmas Eve. She said
that in such a friendly manner that the peddler could not refuse her.

Question 32.
What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Answer:
The peddler was in rags and he was looking very frightened. Edla doubted that the man was not
much educated. She also thought perhaps he had stolen something or had escaped from jail.

Question 33.
When did the ironmaster realize his mistake?
Answer:
The ironmaster saw the peddler in the broad day¬light. Now he was truly clean and well dressed.
The valet had bathed him, cut his hair, and shaved him. He was dressed in a good-looking suit of
the ironmaster. He wore a white shirt and a starched collar and whole shoes. Though he. was so
well groomed, the ironmaster didn’t seem pleased. He realised his mistake that the peddler was
not his old regimental acquaintance.

Question 34.
What did the peddler say in his defence when it was clear that he was not the person the
ironmaster had thought he was?
Answer:
The peddler told the ironmaster that it was not his fault at all. He had not deceived anyone. He
projected himself to be a poor trader. He only wanted that he should be allowed to stay at the
forge.

Question 35.
Why did Edla entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
Answer:
The ironmaster asked the peddler to leave his house immediately. But Edla did not want the
peddler to go. That morning she had felt so happy when she thought how she would be going to
entertain the stranger on the Christmas Eve. She could not get, away from the idea all at once,
and that was why ,she had interceded for the vagabond.

She told her father that the peddler walked and walked whole the year long, and he was not
welcomed anywhere. He was afraid of being arrested and cross examined. The ironmaster’s
daughter wanted him to enjoy a day of peace with them in their house. Quite reluctantly the
ironmaster agreed to that. It showed that the girl was full of compassion.
Question 36.
Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Arts.
Edla and her father came to know at the church that the peddler had stolen crofter’s thirty kronor.
She was quite disturbed. The ironmaster thought that he must have stolen something from their
house when they reached home. But when they reached home, they came to know that the
peddler had not taken anything with him. On the contrary, he had left a small gift for Edla. In the
package left by him, there was a small rattrap, three ten- krona notes and a letter. When she read
the letter she was very happy that she was able to reform the peddler.

Question 37.
Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
Answer:
The peddler was invited to the manor house as a captain. Though every truth was revealed about
him, yet he was treated as if he were a real captain. Therefore, the peddler signed himself as
Captain Von Stahle.

II. Answer the following question in not less than 120 – 150 words – Use the points given.
Question 1.
The peddler believed that the whole world is a rattrap. How did he himself caught in the same?
Answer:
The peddler spent his night at the crofter’s cottage. The crofter showed him the thirty kronor he
had received as a payment for the milk of his cow. In the morning when the peddler went away
to milk his cow, the peddler stole the money and thrust it into his pocket and went away.The
peddler was quite pleased at his smartness. However he realised that he should not continue
walking on the public highway. Therefore he turned towards the woods. Initially it caused him
no difficulty. Later it became worse for him.

The forest was quite confusing. The paths twisted so frequently that he could not understand
where he was going. He walked and walked without coming to the end of the woods and finally
he realised that he had been walking in the same part of the forest. He recalled his thought about
the world being a rattrap. He thought now his turn had come and he himself had been caught in
this rattrap.

Question 2.
The peddler thinks that the whole world is a rattrap. This view of life is true only of himself and
of no one else in the story. Comment.
Ans.
The world had never been kind to the peddler. He used to sell rattraps. He made them himself
and for that he would beg material from stores and farm houses. Even then his business was not
profitable. He had to resort to both begging and thievery to keep his body and soul together. That
man was a tramp and the world had never been kind towards him. Once a sudden idea came into
his mind and he found that idea quite entertaining. He thought that the entire world was nothing
but a big rattrap.

It offered all the comforts to the person, exactly as the rattrap offered cheese and pork, and as
soon as anyone let himself be tempted to touch the bait, it closed in on him, and then everything
came to an end. In this story when he stole the crofter’s thirty kronor he realised that he himself
had been caught in the rattrap of the world. However this view of life is true of himself only. The
other characters of the story were living a comfortable and good life. The crofter though lonely,
had a cow to support him.
The ironmaster were a rich person and he lived in a big manor house. His daughter Edla was a
very kind-hearted girl. It who she who helped the peddler to come out of the rattrap of the world.
This story clearly shows when a person has to face hard times he became pessimistic.

Question 3.
How did the peddler feel after robbing the crofter? What course of life did he adopt and how did
he react to the new situation?
Answer:
The peddler did not respect the confidence that the crofter had shown in him. As soon as the
crofter went to milk his cow, the peddler smashed the win¬dow pane and took away the crofter’s
thirty kronor. He was quite happy at his smartness. The peddler did not feel any prick in his
consciousness due to his act of thievery. But he realised that he must not walk on the public
highway. Therefore he turned to the woods. Initially he did not have any problem. Later in the
day it became very bad.

It was a big and confusing forest. He tried to walk in a definite direction, but the paths twisted
back and forth so strangely. He walked and walked without coming to the ency of the forest.
Finally he realised that he had been walking around in the same part of the forest. All at once he
recalled his thoughts about the world and the rattrap. He thought now his turn had come. He
thought, he had let himself be fooled by a bait and had been caught.

Question 4.
Why did the crofter repose confidence in the peddler? How did the peddler betray that and with
what consequences?
Answer:
The crofter was a lonely man. He lived in a roadside cottage. He shared with the peddler his meal
and tobacco. He also played a game of cards with the peddler. He told the peddler that his cow
supported him, and he received thirty kronor as a payment from the creamery. He showed the
peddler three ten-krona bills.

The peddler stole the crofter’s money as he left the cottage to milk his cow. After stealing the
money he realised that he must not walk on the public highway. Therefore he turned to the
woods. Initially he did not have any problem. Later in the day it became very bad. It was a big
and confusing forest. He tried to walk in a definite direction, but the paths twisted back and forth
so strangely.

He walked and walked without coming to the end of the forest. Finally he realised that he had
been walking around in the same part of the forest. All at once he recalled his thoughts about the
world and the rattrap. He thought now his turn had come. He thought, he had let himself be
fooled by a bait and had been caught.

Question 5.
Why did ironmaster’s daughter more persuasive than his father while dealing with the peddler.
Comment.
Answer:
The ironmaster took the peddler to be one of his regimental acquaintances. He wanted him to
spend Christmas Eve with them. But the peddler declined his invitation. The ironmaster sent his
daughter to bring the stranger to his house. He hoped that she would persuade the tramp to come
to his place. She was followed by a valet, carrying on his arm a big fur coat.
The peddler was lying on the floor with a piece of pig iron under his head and his hat pulled
down over his eyes. As soon as the young girl caught sight of him, she went up and lifted his hat.
The stranger was still awake and he jumped up and seemed to be quite frightened.

The young girl said that her name was Edla Willmansson and her father had asked her to bring
the stranger to their home. She reassured him that he would be allowed to leave just as freely as
freely he came. She said that she only wanted him to stay with them on the Christmas Eve. She
said that in such a friendly manner that the rattrap seller could not refuse her. He accepted the fur
coat, which the valet handed over to him and threw it over his rags, and followed the young lady
out to the carriage.

Question 6.
There is a saying ‘Kindness pays, rudeness never. In the story, The Rattrap’ Edla’s attitude
towards men and matters from her father’s attitude. How are the values of concern and
compassion brought out in this story?
Answer:
Edla’s attitude towards life is very different from that of her father. When the ironmaster came to
know that the peddler was none of his regimental acquaintances he was full of rage. He even
threatened the matter to be taken the sheriff. He ordered the peddler to leave his house at once.

However Edla, the ironmaster’s daughter is a very kind-hearted girl. Though she comes to know
the peddler’s truth she still treats him so well as if he were really a captain. She does not have
any selfish motive in serving the peddler. We can say she proves to be an angel in the peddler’s
life that he decides to give up thievery and lead a meaningful and honest life.

Question 7.
Describe how the story, The Rattrap’ shows that basic human goodness can be brought out by
understanding and love.
Answer:
The protagonist of the story is a peddler. He is a tramp and given to petty thievery and begging.
One day he stole a crofter’s thirty kronor. He reached the Ramsjo Ironworks. This iron mill was
owned by a very prominent ironmaster. He saw the peddler there and took him to be one of his
old regimental acquaintances.

He was full of pity at his miserable condition. The ‘peddler was invited to the ironmas-ter’s
house. But when the ironmaster came to realise his mistake he ordered the peddler to leave his
house. However the ironmaster’s daughter, Edla, did not want the peddler to go. That morning
she had felt so happy when she thought how she would be going to entertain the stranger on the
Christmas Eve. She told her father that the tramp walked and walked whole the year long, and he
was not welcomed anywhere.

He was afraid of arrested and cross examined. The ironmaster’s daughter told her father that she
wanted him to enjoy a day of peace with them in their house. Quite reluctantly the ironmaster
agreed to that. At the ironmaster’s house the peddler was treated as if he were a real captain. In
the end of the story the peddler changed his ways and decided to live a righteous life. This
happened only because of the compassionate and sympathetic treatment of Edla. She brought the
basic human goodness in the peddler out by her kind treatment.

Question 8.
How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the
ironmaster and his daughter?
Answer:
The crofter, the ironmaster and the ironmaster’s daughter all show kindness and hospitality
towards the peddler. The crofter lives by the roadside in a cottage. He lives lonely and is without
wife and child. He is happy to have someone for company when the peddler reaches his cottage.
He entertains the peddler only to overcome his loneliness.

The ironmaster takes the peddler to be one of his regimental acquaintances. He is moved to see
his miserable condition. He wants to help him. There-fore, he invites him to his house. But when
he realises that the peddler is none of his regimental acquaintances, he immediately orders him to
leave his house.

Ironmaster’s daughter comes to know that the peddler is a poor man and not her father’s
acquaintance. Even then she entertains the peddler and treats him very kindly. It is only because
of her that the peddler finally changes his ways.

Question 9.
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?
Answer:
Ironmaster and his daughter are poles apart as far as their character and temperament. The
ironmaster is very practical person. He makes regular visits to the forge to see whether the work
is done properly or not. He mistakes the peddler to be one of his regimental acquaintances. He is
moved to see his miserable condition. He wants to help him. There-fore he invites him to his
home. But when he finds that the man is none of his regimental acquaintances but just a tramp,
he orders him to get out cf his house.

However Edla, the ironmaster’s daughter is a very kind-hearted girl. Though she comes to know
the peddler’s truth she still treats him so well as if he were really a Captain. She does not have
any selfish motive in serving the peddler. We can say she proves to be an angel in the peddler’s
life. It is only because of her that he decides to give up thievery and lead a meaningful and
honest life.

Question 10.
The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to other’s behaviour.
Pick out instances of these surprises.
Answer:
We can say that there are two instances of unexpected reactions from the character’s behaviour.
The first one is the crofter’s behaviour towards the peddler. The peddler had expected that he
would not be welcomed by the crofter. On the contrary the crofter provides him shelter for night,
food and also tobacco. He also plays a game of cards with him.

The second instance is the behaviour of the ironmaster’s daughter towards the peddler. She
comes to know that the peddler is not a former captain but just a mere tramp, even then she goes
against the wishes of her father and entertains the peddler so well as if he were a real captain.

Question 11.
What made the peddler finally change his ways?
Answer:
The peddler was a petty thief. But the kind treatment of the ironmaster’s daughter had great
effect on his heart. He decided to change his ways. While he left the ironmaster’s house he left a
small package as a gift for Edla. When she opened the package, she found in it a small rattrap,
and three ten krona notes. In the rattrap there was a letter also. It said: “Since you have been so
nice to me all day long, as if I was a captain, I want to be nice to you, in return, as if I was a real
captain.

The rattrap is a Christmas present from a rat who would have been caught in the world’s rattrap
if he had not been raised to captain, because in that way he got power to clear himself. “Captain
Von Stahle”.

Question 12.
How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
Answer:
It is the peddler who compares the world to a big rattrap. He thinks the whole world with its
lands ‘and seas, its cities and villages is nothing but a big rattrap. It sets baits for people. It offers
riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing, in the same manner as a rattrap offers pork
or cheese. As soon as anyone is tempted to touch the bait, it closed in on him and then everything
comes to an end.

The peddler says that many people are already have let themselves caught in this dangerous
snare while the others are circling the bait.The world has never been kind to the peddler to-wards
him. He is chased away wherever he goes. It gives him great joy of thinking the world in this
term. In this way, the metaphor of the rattrap serve very well to light the peddler’s predicament.

Question 13.
The peddler comes out as a person with a subtle sense of humour. How does this serve in
lightening the seriousness of the theme of the story and also endear him to us?
Answer:
The peddler is a poor man. He sells rattraps that he makes himself by the begged material. Even
then he is given to thievery and begging to keep his body and soul together. He takes a very
funny view of the world. He compares the world to a rattrap. It sets baits for people. It offers
riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing, in the same manner as a rattrap offers pork
or cheese. As soon as anyone is tempted to touch the bait, it closed in on him and then everything
comes to an end.

The peddler says that many people are already who have let themselves caught in this dangerous
snare while the others are circling the bait. The peddler is a happy-go-lucky fellow. He steals the
crofter’s thirty kronor but he feels no prick in his heart. He knows that the crofter’s hospitality
was nothing but a way to overcome his loneliness. But when he comes in contact with Edla, he
transforms completely.

He knows that the girl is full of compassion and this fact makes him change his ways also. In this
way his humorous idea about the world and his true character that is revealed in the end of the
story endear him to the readers.

Question 14.
The reader’s sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning of the story. Why is this so?
Is the sympathy justified? .
Answer:
The peddler is the protagonist of the story. He is given to thievery only because his business is
not profitable. He has to do that to keep his body and soul together. He considers the whole
world as a big rattrap. He thinks all the riches as mere baits to catch the human beings in the
snare. When he steals the crofter’s money he thinks himself to be caught in the rattrap. He
reaches the forge. The ironmaster takes him to be one of his regimental acquaintances. He invites
him to his house on the Christmas Eve.
When the ironmaster recognises him he realises his mistake and orders him to leave his house at
once. At this juncture his daughter steps in. Though the peddler is totally a stranger for them she
still decides to entertain him. Only because of her the peddler is able to come out of the rattrap he
is trapped in. He writes a letter to her saying, “Since you have been so nice to me all day long, as
if I was a captain, I want to be nice to you, in return, as if I was a real captain.

The rattrap is a Christmas present from a rat who would have been caught in the world’s rattrap
if he had not been raised to captain, because in that way he got the power to clear himself.
Captain von Stahle.” All these incidents endear him to the reader’s mind and he is also able to
have the reader’s sympathy.

Question 15.
The story also focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others?
Answer:
In this story the three main characters suffer from loneliness and they want to have bond with
others. The first one is the protagonist of the story, the rattrap seller. He is just a poor tramp
without any company. He is not welcomed anywhere. The second one is the old crofter. He lives
totally alone in his cottage. He is without wife or any child. When the peddler reaches there, he
finds a way to overcome his own loneliness. He provides the peddler shelter, food and tobacco.
He also plays a game of cards with him.

The third one is the ironmaster. His wife is dead and his sons are abroad. When he sees the
peddler he takes him to be one of his regimental acquaintances. He wants him to spend the
Christmas Eve with him and his daughter, since they have no one else to accompany them.Thus
we can easily deduce that this story focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with
others.

Question 16.
The story is both entertaining and philosophical. Comment.
Answer:
This story is about a peddler who goes around the country selling his rattraps. His business is not
profitable, therefore, he resorts to thievery and begging. The story has a lots of interesting
elements in it. For example, the spending of night in the crofter’s cottage.

The second element is the case of mistaken identity. The ironmaster thinks that the peddler was
one of his regimental acquaintances. He invites him in his house and when he comes to know
about his truth he orders him to leave his house.

The ironmaster also threatens the peddler to take the matter to the sheriff. The dialogues between
the ironmaster and the peddler are very interesting, This story has a couple of philosophical
elements also.. The peddler, like a learned philosopher, considers the whole world to a rattrap.
He thinks that many people have already caught in the snare while the many others are circling
around that rattrap.

The second philosophical element is that the unconditional love and compassion can change
anyone. It is only because of the ironmaster’s daughter’s hospitality and sympathy that the
peddler changes his ways of life and saves himself from falling into the rattrap of the world.

The Rattrap Extra Questions and Answers Extract Based

(Para-1)

The old man was just as generous with his confidences as with his porridge and tobacco. The
guest was informed at once that in his days of prosperity his host had been a crofter at Ramajo
Ironworks and had worked on the land. Now that he was no longer able to do day labour, it was
his cow which supported him. Yes, that bossy was extraordinary. She could give milk for the
creamery every day, and last month, he had received all of thirty comor in payment.

Questions :
(a) What did the old man offer to the paddler and why ?
(b) What was old man’s profession ?
(c) Who supported the old man and how ?
(d) What payment did he receive last month ?
Answers :
(a) The old man offered porridge and tobacco to the paddler because he (the old man) was a
generous man and lived alone.
(b) After hearing the thumbing, he thought that those were the hammer strokes from an iron mill
and there must be people near by.
(c) After having that thought in his mind, he summoned all his strength, got up and staggered in
the direction of the sound.
(d) ‘The Rattrap’ is the chapter and ‘Selma Lagerlof is the writer.

(Para-2)

She looked at him compassionately, with her heavy eyes, and then she noticed that the man was
afraid. “Ei-ther he has stolen something or else he has escaped from jail,” she thought, and added
quickly, “You may be sure, Captain, that you will be allowed to leave as just as freely as you
came. Only please, stay with us over Christmas Eve.”
Questions :
(a) Who looked whom and why ?
(b) What did she think after seeing the paddler ?
(c) Why did she come there ?
(d) Why did she add quickly: ‘You may be Christmas Eve.’
Answers :
(a) The girl, the daughter of the ironmaster, Edla Willmansson looked the paddler assuming him
as a Captain.
(b) After seeing the paddler, she thought, “Either he has . stolen something or else he has escaped
from, jail.”
(c) She came there to carry the paddler with her to their home for celebrating Christmas Eve
because her father wanted to do so.
(d) She added quickly : ‘You may be ‘Christmas Eve’, because she wanted the paddler to
confirm that he would not be bounded to stay at their house for long.
(Para-3)

After that, Christmas Eve at Ramsjo passed just as it always had. The stranger did not cause any
trouble be-cause he did nothing but sleep. The whole forenoon he lay on the sofa in one of the
guest rooms and slept at one stretch. At noon they woke him up so that he could have his share
of the good Christmas fare, but after that he slept again. It seemed as though for many years he
had not been able to sleep as quietly and safely as here at Ramsjo.
Questions :
(a) Why did the stranger not cause any trouble ?
(b) Where was he sleeping continuously ?
(c) What happened at noon ?
(d) Why was he sleeping too much at Ramsjo ?
Answers :
(a) The stranger did not cause any trouble because he, whole day, did nothing but sleep (only).
(b) In one of the guest rooms, on the sofa, he was sleep-ing continuously and at one stretch.
(c) At noon they woke him up so that he could have his share of the good Christmas fare, but
after that he slept again.
(d) It seemed as though for many years he had not been able to sleep as quietly and safely as here
at Ramsjo.

(Para-4)

The wagon had hardly stopped at the front steps when the ironmaster asked the valet whether the
stranger was still there. He added that he had heard at church that the man was a thief. The valet
answered that the fellow had gone and that he had not taken anything with him at all. On the
contrary, he had left behind a little package which Miss Willmansson was to be kind enough to
accept as a Christmas present.
Questions :
(a) What did the ironmaster ask the valet ?
(b) What was the news at church ?
(c) What was the answer of the valet ?
(d) What did the paddler left behind and why ?
Answers:
(a) The ironmaster asked the valet whether the stranger was still there.
(b) At church, there was the news of theft at Crofter’s house and the thief was that paddler who
stayed in ironmaster’s house.
(c) The valet answered that the fellow had gone and that he had not taken anything with him at
all.
(d) The paddler left behind a little package becausd’in this way he wanted to thank Miss
Willmansson and gift her the Christmas present.