THE RATTRAP

Think as you Read

Q1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?

Ans The peddler was a vagabond who went around selling rattraps made by him. One day, as he was just
thinking about his own rattraps, he was struck by the idea that the world was a big rattrap. Riches, food, joys and
shelter served as baits to tempt people, just like a rattrap offered cheese or meat to tempt rats. As soon as one
was tempted to touch the bait, the rattrap closed and everything came to an end.

Q2. Why was he amused by this idea?

Ans Wherever the peddler went, people were hostile to him and chased him away. So, he was amused by the
idea of the world being a big rattrap. He was also happy that those who chased him away would also be tempted
and caught up in the rattrap one day.

Q3. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?

Ans No, the peddler did not expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter.
Wherever the peddler went, people were hostile to him and chased him away. So, the peddler was surprised
when he knocked on the door of the cottage and the crofter welcomed him and also gave him food and shelter.

Q4. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?

Ans The crofter was talkative and friendly with the peddler because he was an old man with no wife or children
and lived alone in his cottage. He was happy to get someone to talk to and share his feelings with. So, he
welcomed the peddler, gave him food and even played a game of cards with him.

Q5. Why did he show the thirty kronor to the peddler?

Ans The crofter showed the thirty kronor to the peddler because he felt proud that he had earned this money
from selling the cow's milk to the creamery. He thought that the stranger didn't believe him, so he showed him the
money.

Q6. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?

Ans No, the peddler didn't respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter. The crofter had showed him the
thirty kronor which he had earned and where it was kept in a pouch near a window.The next day, when the
crofter had gone out to deliver the cow's milk to the creamery, the peddler came back, broke the window pane,
and stole the thirty kronor from the pouch where it was kept near the window.

Think as you Read

Q1. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
CBSE 2022 Term II

Ans. After stealing the crofter's money, the peddler kept to the woods because he didn't dare to walk on the
public highway for fear of getting identified and caught. It was a big and confusing forest. The peddler lost his
way in it. Suddenly, the truth dawned upon him.
He thought that the forest was a big rattrap in which he had fallen. The thirty kronor were like a bait which had
been set to tempt him, and he had allowed himself to be fooled and caught.

Q2. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?

Ans The ironmaster, the owner of the Ramsjö Ironworks, spoke kindly to the peddler and invited him home
because he mistook the peddler for his old regimental comrade, Nils Olof, who had fallen on evil days. This
happened when the ironmaster came to the mill for inspection and noticed the peddler dressed in rags lying close
to the furnace. Due to the dim light and the peddler's dirty appearance, he mistook him for his former colleague.

Q3. Why did the peddler decline the invitation?

Or Why did the peddler decline the invitation of the ironmaster?

Ans The peddler declined the invitation of the ironmaster because he was carrying the crofter's money which he
had stolen and might have been handed over to the police when the ironmaster discovered his true identity.
Think as you Read
Q1. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson's invitation?

Ans. Edla Willmansson's kindness made the peddler feel that he could trust her and this made hint accept her
invitation. Edla talked to him compassionately assuring him that no harm would come to him and that he would
be at liberty to leave whenever he wanted.

Q2. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?

Ans. When Edla met the peddler, he became afraid. Edla thought that either he had stolen something or he had
escaped from jail. She doubted that he was her father's old regimental comrade. Later she even told her father
that there was nothing about him to show that he was once an educated man.

Q3. When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?

Ans The ironmaster realised his mistake the next day when he saw the peddler in broad daylight with a fine
haircut and a well-shaven face.When the ironmaster had first seen the peddler in the dim light from the furnace,
he had mistaken him for an old colleague. Now he realised that this man was somebody else.

Q4. What did the peddler say in his defence when it was, clear that he was not the person the ironmaster had
thought he was?

CBSE 2022 Term II

Ans. The peddler said in his defence that he had never pretended that he was the ironmaster's friend. He made
no further efforts to deceive the ironmaster. He said that it was not his fault as he had begged to be allowed to
stay on at the mill for the night. He had even declined the ironmaster's repeated invitation. He further said that he
was ready to put on his rags again and go away.

Q5. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?

Ans. Edla still entertained the peddler even after she knew the truth about him as it was Christmas eve and Edla
wanted to keep the spirit of Christmas by providing him with a day of comfort and solace. She justified it as they
had invited him against his will. So she pleaded with her father not to send the vagabond away.

Think as you Read

Q1. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?

Ans. Edla was happy to see the gift left by the peddler because it was unexpected. Earlier Edla was shocked to
learn that their guest was actually a thief. She had pleaded with her father to let the peddler stay. She held
herself responsible for offering shelter to a thief.
But when she found the stolen thirty kronor in a rattrap, she was overjoyed to understand her kindness and
compassion had changed the
Peddler and brought out his essential goodness.

Q2. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?

Ans. The peddler signed himself as Captain von Stahle because he had been treated at the ironmaster's home
like a real captain even after knowing the truth about him.
He wanted to repay Edla for her kindness just as a real captain would have done. It was an indication that he
wanted to retain the dignity and respect accorded to him.

Understanding the Text

Q1. How does the pedaler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and
his daughter?

Ans. Initially, the peddler heartily accepts the crofter's hospitality and generosity but robs him of his hard-earned
money just because it is easy to do so. When the ironmaster mistakes him to be his old regimental comrade, the
peddler does not disclose his true identity in the hope of getting a few kronor. However, when the ironmaster
pesters him, he again feels a sense of entrapment having stolen the money from the crofter and thus declines the
invitation.
However, on Edla's request, he goes to the ironmaster's home. Edla's warmth, sympathy and hospitality
transforms him in the end.
When she elevates him to the status of a captain, it makes him redeem himself from being a petty thief. It stirs
the innate goodness of his heart. He no more feels trapped, but regards her kindness as an act of nobility.

Q2. 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?
Or Compare and contrast the character of the iron master with that of his daughter.
CBSE 2017
Or Edla is a contrast to her father, the ironmaster. Explain. CBSE 2023

Ans The ironmaster was a man of power and ambition. He was so hardwarking, disciplined and sober that he did
rounds in his mills to make sure that everything was working properly. But he was also impulsive and completely
non-persuasive. He invited the peddler home without confirming his identity and even when the pedder refused,
he sent his daughter to convince the latter to come to his home.
The ironmaster is also a realist. He is practical and morally strict. As soon as he sees the
peddlers true identity he orders him to leave.
While he does not show any softness with the peddler, he does so with his daughter whose wishes he accepts.
On the other hand, Edla, the ironmaster's daughter, was a kind and compassionate lady who was really
sympathetic and considerate towards the peddler right from the beginning. She is observant and suspicious of
the peddler's identity.
She treated him with respect and dignity even after knowing that was not a captain. It was her generous attitude
which finally changed the peddler, bringing out the essential goodness of
his nature.

Q3. The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others' behaviour. Pick out
instances of these surprises.
Ans The instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others' behaviour are

(i) The old crofter welcomes the tramp for shelter and food at night. He even reposes his trust in him by
showing him the money and the place where it was kept. The peddler's act of stealing the crofter's
hard-earned 30 kronor is unexpected.
(ii) The peddler seeks refuge in the forge, meets the ironmaster and the latter mistakes him to be his old
regimental comrade. His invitation to the tramp to come for Christmas Eve to the manor house leaves
one astounded.
(iii) The peddler's act of accepting Edla's invitation, in spite of his guilt feeling about the stolen money and
thoughts about
entering the lion's den, is surprising.
(iv)When the peddler, left to himself in the manor house, has every opportunity to slip out with the valuables, he
does not do so.
Even the ironmaster expects something like this to happen. However, the peddler goes away, leaving behind a
small rattrap as a Christmas gift and the thirty kronor he had stolen to be returned to the rightful owner.
This is also unexpected.
(v) The peddler's letter addressed to Edla,
expressing his gratitude for elevating him to the status of captain, giving him a chance to free himself from the
rattrap of the world and redeeming him, also gives us a pleasant surprise.
Thus, the story is replete with instances of unexpected reactions and surprises.

Q4. What made the peddler finally change his ways?

Ans Edla's kindness, compassion and caring behaviour finally made the peddler change his ways. The peddler
believed in giving back to the world what he received from it. He was always treated with contempt and hostility
and so he never did anything good. However, as Edla had treated him with the love and respect befitting a
captain when she knew that he was a poor vagabond, he decided to change his ways and live with dignity and
respect.

Q5. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?

Ans The peddler, in the course of his wandering, suddenly thinks about the whole world as a big rattrap. Just as
cheese and meat are baits in the rattrap, similarly the riches, joy, shelter and food that the world offers are baits
to entrap and ensnare people.
Being an embittered man, shunned by everybody, these thoughts give 'unwonted joy' to the tramp. He thinks of
all the people around him who have fallen into the trap.
The musings of the tramp do have an iota of truth in them. We are tempted by temptations, desires and needs.
We go all out to satisfy them.
In this desire to amass and accumulate more and more, we are entrapped by the world.
Just in case we do not get the things we want, we are plunged into despair and gloom. In this way, the metaphor
of the rattrap highlights the human predicament.
Q6. 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?

Ans The peddler, with his subtle sense of humour, equates the rattraps he makes to the world, which he believes
is a huge rattrap offering baits like comfort, food, shelter and material benefits. One day the rattrap traps us and
there is no way out. The peddler's insistence on staying in the warm forge and refusal to go with the ironmaster
evokes pity. We know that somewhere he is feeling guilty of stealing the crofter's money.
When the ironmaster realises his mistake, the tramp's 'sermon' about the world being a rattrap, temptations and
desires, is really humorous as it seems out of context. The ironmaster's daughter's kind and sympathetic attitude
changes him completely.
Even she realises his human worth and treats him with dignity. The tramp's final act of leaving a token of love,
the rattrap and a letter, signing off as the captain, is also humorous.
Without the tramp's philosophising element of the rattrap and his treatment of it in a humorous way, the story
would have been seeped in seriousness.