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

Ans: The peddler had been thinking of his rattraps when suddenly he was struck by
the idea that the whole world was nothing but a big rattrap. It existed only to set
baits for people. It offered riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing
in the same manner as the rattrap offered cheese and pork. As soon as someone let
himself be tempted to touch the bait, it closed in on him, and then everything came
to an end.

Q2. Why was he amused by this idea?

Ans: His own life was sad and monotonous. He walked laboriously from place to
place. The world had never been kind to him. So, during his gloomy ploddings, this
idea became his favourite pastime. He was amused how people let themselves be
caught in the dangerous snare and how others were still circling around the bait.

Q3. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the
crofter?
Ans: The crofter served him porridge for supper and tobacco for his pipe. He also
played a game of cards with him till bed time. This hospitality was unexpected as
people usually made sour faces when the peddler asked for shelter.

Q4. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Ans: The crofter�s circumstances and temperament made him so talkative and friendly
with the peddler. Since he had no wife or child, he was happy to get someone to
talk to in his loneliness. Secondly, he was quite generous with his confidences.

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

Ans: The crofter had told the peddler that by supplying his cow�s milk to the
creamery, he had received thirty kronor in payment. The peddler seemed to doubt it.
So, in order to assure his guest of the truth he showed the thirty kronor to the
peddler.

Q6. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Ans: No, the peddler did not respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter.
At the very first opportunity that he got, he smashed the window pane, took out the
money and hung the leather pouch back in its place. Then he went away.

Q1. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Ans: The peddler realised that he must not walk on the public highway with the
stolen money in his pocket. He went into the woods. He kept walking without coming
to the end of the wood. Then he realised that he had fallen in the rattrap. He had
let himself befooled by a bait and had been caught in.

Q2. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Ans: The ironmaster walked closely up to the peddler. In the uncertain reflection
from the furnace, he mistook the man as his old regimental comrade, Captain Von
Stahle. He addressed the stranger as Nils Olof, spoke very kindly and invited him
home.

Q3. Why did the peddler decline the invitation?

Ans: The peddler knew that the ironmaster had mistaken him for his old regimental
comrade. Secondly, he had stolen money�thirty kronor�on him. Going to the
ironmaster�s residence would be like entering the lion�s den. So, he declined the
invitation.

Q1. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson�s invitation?

Ans: Miss Edla Willmansson looked at the peddler quite compassionately. She noticed
that the man was afraid. She assured him that he would be allowed to leave just as
freely as he came. She requested him to stay with them over Christmas Eve. Her
friendly manner made the peddler feel confidence in her and accept her invitation.
Q2. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Ans: As Edla lifted the peddler�s hat, he jumped up abruptly and seemed to be quite
frightened. Even her kind looks, disclosure of her name and purpose of visit failed
to calm him. From his fear, she thought that either he had stolen something or he
had escaped from jail.

Q3. When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?

Ans: Next morning, the stranger was cleaned and well-dressed. The valet had bathed
him, cut his hair and shaved him. He was led to the dining room for breakfast. The
ironmaster saw him in broad daylight. It was impossible to mistake him for an old
acquaintance now. Then the ironmaster realised his mistake and threatened to call
the Sheriff.

Q4. How did the peddler defend himself against not having revealed his true
identity?
Ans: The peddler explained that he had not tried to pretend as his acquaintance. He
was not at fault. All along he had maintained that he was a poor trader. He had
pleaded and begged to be allowed to stay in the forge. No harm had been done by his
stay. He was willing 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 did not think it proper on their part to chase away a human being whom
they had asked to come to their house and had promised him Christmas cheer. She
understood the reality of the peddler�s life and wanted him to enjoy a day of peace
with them. Hence, she still entertained the peddler even after knowing the truth
about him.

Q1. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Ans: As soon as Edla opened the package of the gift, the contents came into view.
She found a small rattrap with three wrinkled ten kronor notes and a letter
addressed to her. The peddler wanted to be nice in return as she had been so nice
to him all day long. He did not want her to be embarrased at the Christmas season
by a thief.

[Link] did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?

Ans: The ironmaster has invited the peddler to his house mistaking him for Captain
von Stahle. He was welcomed there and looked after as captain even after the
reality became known. The peddler got a chance to redeem himself from dishonest
ways by acting as an honourable Captain.

Q1. How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by
the crofter, the iron master and his daughter?
Ans: The peddler interprets the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the
crofter, the iron master and his daughter differently. He cheats the crofter as he
provides him company in his loneliness and helps him pass time. He wants to get a
couple of kronors from the iron master and is surprised at the contrasting style of
behaviour of father and daughter. He is touched by the kindness, care and
intervention of Edla on his behalf.

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?
Ans: The ironmaster is impulsive* whereas his daughter is cool, logical, kind and
thoughtful. In uncertain light he (iron master) mistakes the stranger as his old
regiment comrade. He invites him home and takes care of his feeding, clothing etc.
When he sees him in broad day light he calls the man dishonest, demands an
explanation and is ready to call in the sheriff. His daughter is more observant.
She notices the fear of the stranger and thinks that either he is a thief or a run
away prisoner. Inspite of that She is gentle, kind and friendly to him. She treats
him nicely even after knowing the mistake in identity.

Q3. The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to
others� behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.
Ans: The peddler is surprised at the warm welcome, generous supper, cheerful
company and intimate confidences by the crofter. The ironmaster addresses the
peddler as Captain von Stahle. He is surprised when the ironmaster calls him �Nils
Olof. The ironmaster assumes his declining the invitation a result of embarrassment
caused by his miserable clothing. The peddler�s comparison of the world to a
rattrap makes the ironmaster laugh and he drops the idea of calling in the sheriff.
The peddler looks at Edla in boundless amazement when she tells him that the suit
is a Christmas present. She also invites him to spend next Christmas with them. She
does all this even after knowing the mistake about his [Link] crofter is
robbed by his guest, the rattrap peddler, in return of his hospitality.

Q4. What made the peddler finally change his ways?

Ans: Edla Willmansson treated the tramp in a friendly manner. She was nice and kind
to her. She interceded on his behalf when her father was about to turn him out. She
still entertained the peddler even after knowing the truth about him. She offered
him the suit as Christmas present and invited him to spend the next Christmas with
them. Her love and understanding aroused the essential goodness in the peddler and
finally he changed his ways.

Q5. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
Ans: The world entices a person through the various good things of life such as
riches and joy, shelter and food, heat and clothing. These were just like the baits
in the rattrap. Once someone is tempted by the bait, the world closed on [Link]
peddler was tempted by thirty kronor of the crofter. It makes him hide himself. He
walks through the wood. He is afraid to go to the Manor house. He gets peace only
after returning the bait (money).

Q6. The peddler comes out as a person with a subtle sense of humour. How7 does this
serve in lightening the seriousness of the theme of the story and also endear him
to us?
Ans: The peddler has a subtle sense of humour, which is revealed during his
interactions with the ironmaster and his daughter after the truth about him becomes
known. He is neither afraid of being turned out in cold in rags nor of being sent
to prison. He makes the ironmaster laugh with his metaphor of the rattrap. His
letter with the Christmas present to Edla is a fine example of his capacity to make
others laugh at him. Thus, he lightens the seriousness of the theme of the story
and also endears himself to us.

Q1. The reader�s sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning of the
story. Why is this so? Is the sympathy justified?
Ans: The peddler wins our sympathy for his way of life and how the world treats
him. It is an admitted fact that the underdog always runs away with sympathy, so
does the peddler with the rattraps. He begs the material like wire for his
rattraps. His business not being specially profitable, he resorts to begging and
petty thievery to keep body and soul together.
His life is sad and monotonous. He plods along the road lost in his own meditation.
The world has never been very kind to him and he feels happy in calling it a
rattrap. Whenever, he asks shelter for the night, he meets sour faces. He is an
unwelcome, unwanted and undesirable figure. The blacksmiths at forge glance at him
only casually and indifferently. The master blacksmith nods a haughty consent
without honouring him with a single word.
The old and lonely crofter finds him an enjoyable company. The ironmaster mistakes
him for an old regimental comrade. Only Edla Willmansson behaves with him in a
kind, friendly manner. Her nice treatment arouses the tramp�s goodness. He redeems
himself Hy returning the stolen money and wins our admiration. Thus, we see that
the sympathy is not only well earned but well justified too.

Q2. The story also focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others.
Ans: There are at least three characters in the story who suffer from loneliness
and express the need to bond with others. They represent three strata of the human
society as well. The peddler with the rattraps, the old crofter and the ironmaster
all suffer from loneliness. The peddler is called a tramp, a vagabond and stranger
at various points of the story. He moves wearily from one place to the other. He is
lost in his own thoughts. He seeks shelter for night and people look at him with
sour faces. Even the blacksmiths look haughtily at him and nod consent. The old
crofter suffers from loneliness as he has neither wife nor child with him. Hence,
he feels happy when he gets the peddler to talk to in his loneliness.
The ironmaster is also lonely in his manor house. His wife Elizabeth has died and
his sons are abroad. There is no one at home except his oldest daughter and
himself. His requests to Captain von Stehle to accompany him show his need for
human bonding. He admits frankly that they didn�t have any company for Christmas.
The stranger turns down the request not because he is against bonding with others
but because he fears being caught with stolen money.

Q4. The story is both entertaining and philosophical. Discuss.

Ans: The story entertains us by providing glimpses into human nature and how people
react to various situations. The actions of the peddler after stealing thirty
kronor are quite amusing. The reactions of the blacksmiths to the tramp�s request
for shelter show how casual and indifferent human beings can be.
The U-turn in the ironmaster�s attitude towards the stranger reveal how selfish and
ignorant human beings can be. Mistaking the vagabond for his old regimental
comrade, whom he thinks he has run across unexpectedly, he asks the stranger to
accompany him home and spend Christmas with them. When the stranger refuses to go
with him, the ironmaster sends his daughter. With her better persuasive power she
makes him follow her.
The ironmaster is annoyed on seeing the stranger in broad daylight. But instead of
realising his own mistake, he puts the blame on the man. He talks of handing him
over to the sheriff. The metaphor of the world being a rattrap saves the situation
for the tramp, but the ironmaster wants to turn him out. His daughter�s comments
are quite entertaining and philosophical. She wants the tramp to enjoy a day of
peace. Secondly, she does not want to chase away a person whom they had invited
home and had promised Christmas cheer.

Q1. How did the peddler of rattraps manage in survive?

Ans:He made rattraps of wire and went around selling them. He got material for
making them
by begging in the big stores or at big farms. Since his business was not quite
profitable, he would beg or steal in order to survive.

Q2. How did the peddler look? Was he different from people of his type?
Ans: He was a man with a long beard, dirty, ragged, and with a bunch of rattraps
dangling on his chest. His clothes were in rags, his cheeks were sunken, and hunger
gleamed in his eyes. No, he looked like the way people of his type usually did.

Q3. What idea. did he get about the world? What were its implications?
Ans: He got the idea that the whole world was only a big trap. It sets baits for
people exactly as the rattrap offered cheese and pork. It offered riches and joys,
shelter and food, heat and clothing as baits. It closed on the person who let
himself be tempted to touch the bait. Then everything came to an end.

Q4. Why did the peddler think of the world as a rattrap? What became his cherished
pastime?
Ans: The world had never been kind to the peddler. So, he got unusual joy to think
ill of the world. His pastime was to think of people he knew who had let themselves
be caught in the dangerous snare of the world, and of others who were still
circling around the bait.

Q5. What hospitality did the peddler with rattraps receive from the old crofter?
Ans: The old crofter served the peddler hot porridge for supper and gave him
tabacco for his pipe. He entertained his guest by playing cards with him. He also
informed him about his prosperous past life and how his cow supported him in his
old age now.

Q6. �The old man was just as generous with his confidences as with his porridge and
tobacco�. What personal information did he impart to his guest ?
Ans: The old man told his guest that in his days of prosperity he had been a
crofter at Ramsjo Ironworks. Then he worked on the land. Now he was unable to do
physical labour. His cow supported him now. He supplied her milk to the creamery
everyday. Last month he had received thirty kronor in payment.

Q7. Where had the old man put his money? Why did he hold it up before the eyes of
his guest and what did he do later on?
Ans: The man had put his money in a leather pouch which hung on a nail in the
window frame. He picked out three wrinMed ten-kronor bills for his guest to see as
he has seemed sceptical. Then he stuffed them back into the pouch.

Q8.� The next day both men got up in good, season.� Why? Who are the men and what
did they do after getting up?
Ans: The two men are the old crofter and his guest-the peddler with, the rattraps.
The crofter was in a hurry to milk his cow. His guest did not want to stay in bed
when the host had risen. They left the cottage at the same time. The crofter locked
the door and put the key in his pocket. The peddler bade him goodbye and thanked
him. Then each went his own way.

Q9. Why did rattrap peddler return and how did he rob the old crofter?
Ans: The rattrap peddler was tempted by the thirty kronors he had seen in the
leather pouch of the old crofter. He returned half an hour later, smashed a window
pane, stuck in his hand and got hold of the pouch. He took out the money and thrust
it into his own pocket. Thus, he robbed the old crofter.

Q10. How did the peddler feel after robbing the crofter? Why did he discontinue
walking on the public highway?
Ans:At first he felt quite pleased with his smartness. Then he realised the danger
of being caught by the police with the stolen money with him. He decided to
discontinue walking on the public highway and turn off the road, into the woods.

Q11. Why did Edla plead with her father not to send the vagabond away? [All India
2014]
Ans: Edla was kind and sympathetic. She was much pained by the plight of the
peddler. Edla requested her father to spend a day with them in peace as a respite
from the struggle.

Q12. How did the peddler feel while walking through the wood? What did he realise?
Ans: During the first hours the woods caused him no difficulty. Later in the day,
it became worse as it was a big and confusing forest. The paths twisted back and
forth. He kept on walking but did not come to the end of the wood. He realised that
he had been walking around in the same part of the forest.

Q13. What do you learn about the Ramsjo Ironworks from �The Rattrap�?
Ans: The Ramsjo Ironworks used to be a large plant, with smelter, rolling mill and
forge. In the summer time long fines of heavily loaded barges and scows slid down
the canal. In the winter time, the roads near the mill were black from charcoal
dust.

Q14. Why did the blacksmith fail to notice the entry of the peddler in the forge?
Ans: The forge was full of many sounds. The big bellows groaned and the burning
coal cracked. The fire boy shovelled charcoal into the maw of the fumance with a
great deal of clatter. A water fall roared outside. Sharp north wind made the rain
strike the brick-tiled roof. Due to all this noise the blacksmith failed to notice
the peddlar�s entry.

Q15. �The blacksmiths glanced only casually and indifferently at the intruder�,
What prompted them to do so?
Ans: Usually poor vegabonds, without any better shelter for the night, felt
attracted to the forge by the glow of fight which escaped through the sooty panes.
They came in to warm themselves in front of the fire. The intruder looked like
other people of his type usually did.

Q16. What did the tramp ask? Was his request granted? What did he do then?
Ans: The tramp asked permission to stay. The blacksmiths hardly deigned to look at
him. The master blacksmith nodded a haughty consent without uttering a word. The
tramp too did not say anything. He had come there only to warm himself and sleep.
So, he eased his way close to the furnace. �

Q17. Who was the owner of the Ramsjo Iron Mill? Why did he come to the forge that
night?
Ans: The owner of that mill was a very prominent ironmaster. His greatest ambition
was to ship out good iron to the market. He insisted on quality and kept a watch on
the work both night and day. He came to the forge on one of his nightly rounds of
inspection.

Q18. What did the ironmaster notice in the forge? How did he react then?
Ans: The ironmaster noticed a person in dirty rags lying quite close to the
furnace. Steam rose from his wet rags. The ironmaster went near him and looked at
him very carefully. Then he removed his slouch hat to get a better view of his
face. He thought that he was an old acquaintance of his and said : �But of course
it is you, Nils Olof!�

Q19. Why did the man with the rattraps not want to undeceive the ironmaster all at
once?
Ans: The peddler thought that if the fine gentleman thought he was an old
acquaintance, he might perhaps throw him a couple of kronor. So he did not want to
undeceive him all at once.

Q20. What observation did the ironmaster make about the stranger? What did he ask
him to do?
Ans: The ironmaster saw the stranger in the uncertain fight of the fumance and
mistook him for his old regimental comrade. He said that it was a mistake on his
part to have resigned from the regiment. If he had been in service at that time, it
would never have happened. He asked the stranger to go home with him.

Q21. What did the peddler think about going up to the manor house? How did he react
to the ironmaster�s invitation?
Ans: The peddler looked quite alarmed. He still had the stolen thirty kronor on
him. Going up to the manor house would be like throwing himself voluntarily into
the lion�s den. He did not feel pleased to go there and be received by the owner
like an old regimental comrade. So he declined the invitation.

Q22. What did the ironmaster assume to be the reason behind his old comrade s
refusal? Hoiw did he try to reassure him?
Ans: The ironmaster assumed that his old regimental comrade felt embarrassed
because of his miserable clothing. He said that his house was not so fine that he
couldn�t show himself there. He lived there only with his daughter as his wife
Elizabeth was dead and his sons were abroad.

Q23. What reason did the ironmaster advance in support of his invitation to the
stranger?
Ans: He said that they didn�t have any company for Christmas. He thought it was
quite bad. He requested the stranger to come along with him and help them make the
Christmas food disappear a little faster.

Q24. �The ironmaster saw that he must give in.� What made him give in? What did he
say? What did the blacksmith think about the ironmaster?
Ans: The stranger declined the ironmaster�s invitation thrice. The ironmaster then
told Stjemstrom, the blacksmith that Captain von Stahle preferred to stay with him
that night. He laughed to himself as he went away. The blacksmith, who knew the
ironmaster, understood very well that he had not said his last word.

Q25. Who was the new guest at the forge ? Why had that person come there and how
did he I she look�? Who accompanied her and why?
Ans: The new guest was the ironmaster�s daughter. She drove in there in a carriage
along with a valet who carried on his arm a big fur coat. She had been sent there
by her father hoping that she had better powers of persuasion that he himself. She
was not at all pretty, but seemed modest and quite Shy.

Q26. Describe the scene at the forge when Edla Willmansson came there.
Ans: The master blacksmith and his apprentice sat on a bench. Iron and charcoal
glowed in the furnace. The stranger had stretched himself out on the floor. He lay
with a piece of pig iron under his head and his hat pulled down over his eyes.

Q27. What did the young girl notice about the stranger? What did she conclude? How
did she make him feel confidence in her?
Ans: The stranger jumped up abruptly and seemed to be quite frightened. She looked
at him sympathetically, but the man still looked afraid. She concluded that either
he had stolen something or else he had escaped from jail. She spoke to him in a
very friendly manner to make him feel confidence in her.

Q28. What did the peddler of rat traps think while he was riding up to the manor
house?
Ans: Whfie he was riding up to the manor house he had evil forebodings. He
questioned himself why he had taken that fellow�s money. He thought that he was
sitting in the trap and would never get out of it.

Q29. Why did the peddler derive pleasure from his idea of the world as a rattrap?
[Delhi 2014]
Ans: The peddler was very happy with the idea of the world as a rattrap because he
was never given kindly treatment by the world. He had quite different feeling for
it and loved to think ill of it by comparing it to a rattrap.

Q30. How did the ironmaster try to convince his daughter about the stranger�?
Ans: He asked his daughter to have some patience. She would see something different
as soon as the stranger got clean and dressed up. Last night he was naturally
embarrassed. He asserted that tramp manners would fall away from him with tramp
clothes.

Q31. What impression did the well-groomed guest make? How did the ironmaster react
and why?
Ans: He looked truly clean and well dressed. The ironmaster did not seem pleased.
He looked at him with contracted brow. It was because he had made a mistake in
identifying the person in uncertain light at night. He demanded an explanation from
the man.

Q32. What did the ironmaster threaten to do after knowing the mistake? How did the
stranger save himself?
Ans: The ironmaster threatened to call in the sheriff. The stranger told him that
the Sheriff might lock him up for dissembling. He reminded the ironmaster that a
day might come when he might get tempted, and then he would be caught in the big
rattrap of the world. The metaphor amused the ironmaster. He dropped the idea of
sending for the sheriff, but asked the stranger to leave at once.

Q33. �The daughter stood there quite embarrassed and hardly knew what to answer.�
What embarrassed her? Why did she intercede for the vagabond?
Ans: The daughter had drawn plans to make things homelike and typical of Christmas,
for the poor hungry wretch. She could not get away from this idea at once. She felt
embarrassed when her father asked the man to get out. She interceded for the
vagabond to persuade her father to let him stay for Christmas.

Q34. What arguments did the young girl give in favour of the stranger�s stay there?
Ans: She said that the whole year long, the stranger walked around. He was probably
not welcome or made to feel at home even at a single place. He was chased away
wherever he turned. He was always afraid of being arrested and cross-examined. She
wanted him to enjoy a day of peace with them-just one in the whole year.

Q35. �He only stared at the young girl in boundless amazement.� What made the man
with the rattraps react in this manner?
Ans: The young girl told him after the Christmas dinner that the suit he wore was
to be a Christmas present from her father. He did not have to return it. If he
wanted to spend next Christmas Eve peacefully, without any evil befalling him, he
would be welcomed back again. This amazed him.

Q36. �The young girl sat and hung her head even more dejectedly than usual.� What
two reasons forced her to behave in this manner?
Ans: First, she had learned at church that one of the old crofters of the ironworks
had been robbed by a man who went around selling rattraps. Second, her father
taunted her and held her responsible for letting that �fine fellow� into the house.

Q37. Sum up the contents of the letter addressed to Miss Willmansson.

Ans: The stranger did not want her to be embarrassed at the Christmas season with a
thief. As she had been nice to him as if he were a captain, he would be nice to her
as if he were a real captain. She asked her to return the money to the old crofter.
The rattrap was a present from a rat who would have been caught in the world�s
rattrap if he had not been raised to captain. It was as captain that he got power
to clear himself.

Q1. What is the theme of the story �The Rattrap� ? How has this theme been
developed?
Ans: The theme of the story is that most human beings are prone to fall into the
trap of material benefit. However, every human being has an essential goodness that
can be awakened through understanding and love. A human being has the tendency to
redeem himself from dishonest ways.
The theme is developed with the help of the metaphor of the rattrap. The peddler of
rattraps calls the world a big rattrap. The material benefits like riches and joys,
shelter and food, heat and clothing are temptations that that allure a person to
fall into the rattrap of the world exactly as the bait of cheese and pork attract a
rat to fall into the rattrap. Once someone takes the bait, the world closes in on
him and then everything is lost.
The peddler is tempted by the thirty kronors of the old crofter. He steals the
money. Now he is afraid of being caught and moves through the woods. It is the
kind, sympathetic, loving and generous treatment given by Edla Willmansson that
helps him get himself free from the rattrap of the world.

Q2. Give an account of the peddler�s meeting with the old crofter. How does the
peddler conduct himself? What light does this episode throw on human nature?
Ans: One dark evening the peddler reached a little gray cottage by the roadside. He
knocked on the door to ask shelter for the night. The owner, an old man without
wife or child, welcomed him. He was happy to get someone to talk to in his
loneliness. He served him hot porridge for supper and gave him tobacco for his
pipe. Then he played cards with him till bed time.
The host told the peddler that in his days of prosperity, he worked on land at
Ramsjo Ironworks. Now his cow supported him. He sold her milk at the creamery
everyday. He showed the peddler the thirty kronor notes he got as payment that
month. Then he hung the leather pouch on a nail in the window frame. Next morning
the crofter went to milk the cow, and the peddler went away. However, he returned
after half an hour, broke the window pane, took the money out of the leather pouch
and hang it back on the [Link] episode shows that in loneliness, human beings
crave for company, for social bonding. Secondly, temptations can overpower the
greatest philosopher. The peddler who calls the world a rattrap is himself tempted
by thirty kronor.

Q3. How did the peddler feel after robbing the crofter? What course did he adopt
and how did he react to the new situation? What does his reaction highlight?
Ans: Having robbed his generous host, the peddler felt quite pleased with his
smartness. He did not feel any qualms of conscience that he had abused the
confidence reposed in him by the crofter. The selfish wretch thought only of his
own safety. He realised the danger of being caught by the police with the stolen
thirty kronor on his person. Hence, he decided to discontinue walking on the public
highway and turn off the road, into the woods.
During the first few hours the woods caused him no difficulty. Later on, it became
worse as it was a big and confusing forest. The paths twisted back and forth. He
kept on walking but did not come to the end of the wood. He realised that he had
only been walking around in the same part of the forest. The forest closed in upon
him like an impenetrate prison from which he could never escape.
The reaction of the peddler highlights the predicament of human nature. Temptations
lead to evil. The fruits of evil seem pleasant at first, but they deprive man of
his goodness and push him into the maze of the world which holds a vice-like grip
on him.

Q4. (i) �The blacksmiths glanced only casually and indifferently at the intruder.�
(ii)�The ironmaster did not follow the example of the blacksmiths who had hardly
deigned to look at the stranger * What do these attitudes reveal? How does the
forge-episode help to develop the story? What is its implication?
Ans: The blacksmiths display the typical attitude of manual workers and labourers
for whom work is the first priority and parasites on human society are drags on the
fruit of their labour. The master blacksmith nods a haughty consent without
honouring the intruder with a single word. Evidently, he regards the tramp as
insignificant.
The ironmaster, who is on his nightly round of inspection, behaves differently. He
walks closely up to him and looks him over carefully. Then he removes his slouch
hat to get a better view of his face. In the uncertain light of the furnace he
mistakes the stranger for his old regimental comrade and requests him to go home
with him. When the stranger declines the invitation, the ironmaster sends his
daughter to persuade him to spend Christmas Eve with them. Thus the forge episode
helps to develop the story.
The episode highlights the difference in the reactions of various persons to the
same set of circumstances. This reveals the shades of human nature. It shows that
even the person with best discernment may commit an error of judgement.

Q5. Bring out the contrast in the ironmaster�s attitude and behaviour towards the
stranger before and after he realises his mistake.
Ans: The ironmaster is moved to see his old regimental comrade in a pitiable state.
He considers it a mistake on his part to have resigned from the regiment. He
insists that his old comrade will go home with him. As the stranger declines the
invitation, he thinks that the man feels embarrassed because of his miserable
clothing. He explains that he does not have such a fine home that he cannot show
himself there. He requests the stranger to provide company to him and his daughter
for Christmas. When the stranger refuses thrice, he sends his daughter, with a big
fur coat to persuade him. Just before breakfast on Christmas Eve, he thinks of
feeding him well and providing him same honourable piece of work.
His behaviour undergoes a U-turn when he looks at the well-groomed stranger and
realises his mistake. He expresses his displeasure with a wrinkled brow and demands
an explanation from the man. Though the peddler defends himself well saying he
never pretended to be someone else, the ironmaster calls him dishonest and
threatens to hand him over to the sheriff. When the metaphor of world being a
rattrap softens him a bit, he asks the peddler to quit at once.

Q6. What impression do you form of Edla on reading the story �The Raitrap� ?
Ans: Miss Edla Willmansson is the eldest daughter of the owner of the Ramsjo
Ironworks. She is not pretty, but modest and quite shy. She is quite obedient and
visits the forge at the behest of her father. She has a wonderful power of
observation and takes quick judgement. From the stranger�s frightened looks, she
concludes that he is either a thief or a runaway convict. She uses her skills of
persuasion to make the stranger agree to accompany her home. Her compassionate
looks, friendly manner and polite way of address help her. She tells her father
that nothing about the man shows that once he was an educated man.
She believes in the spirit of Christmas and intercedes on behalf of the stranger to
per suade her father to let him stay and be happy. She first makes a passionate
plea and then argues that they should not chase away a person they had invited
themselves and promised him Christmas cheer.
Her dejection on learning that the peddler with rattraps was a thief reflects her
sensitiveness. The gift of the captain makes her happy. It is her noble action that
helps a thief redeem himself. In short, she is an intelligent, affectionate and
kind young girl.

Q7. Comment on the ending of the story �The Rattrap�.

Ans: The story �The Rattrap� has a very beautiful ending. It helps us to realise
that all is not lost for human beings who are prone to fall into the trap of
material benefits. It is the protagonist of the story�the peddler with the
rattraps�who coins the metaphor of the rattrap, falls
himself in it on being tempted and ultimately redeems himself by renouncing the
temptation. His admission that he had been the thief, and the treatment he got as a
captain, show how love and understanding can transform even a depraved soul. The
story thus comes a full circle with the ending. All questions are answered and no
loose tags remain hanging.
The ending also pays tribute to the goodness of humanity here exhibited through
Miss Edla Willmansson. The happy ending also arouses our optimism and belief in the
essential goodness of man and other human virtues. Thus it serves to inspire the
readers to do noble acts.

Q8. Do you think the title of the story �The Rattrap� is appropriate? Give reasons
to support your answer.
Ans: The story has an appropriate and suggestive title. It at once draws our
attention to the central theme�the whole world is a big rattrap. This metaphor
helps us to understand the human predicament. All the good things of the world are
nothing but baits to tempt a person to fall into the rattrap. Through the character
of the peddler, the writer drives home the idea that most human beings are prone to
fall into the trap of material benefits.
The story begins with rattraps and ends with a rattrap as a present for someone who
has helped a rat to get free from�the rattrap. Even the middle of the story
revolves round the rattrap. The actions of the peddler after he steals thirty
kronor of the old crofter reveal the inner conflicts, tensions and lack of peace of
a person who touches the bait of temptation. Renunciation of the temptation helps
in [Link], we conclude that the title is apt and significant.

CHARACTER SKETCH OF PEDDLER - The protagonist and central character of the story is
an unnamed man who lives as a tramp wandering the countryside and selling rattraps,
which he makes out of wire in his spare time. Because he does not make enough money
from this to survive, the rattrap peddler also engages in petty thievery and
begging�though even with this he still wears only rags and is constantly on the
verge of starvation. At the start of the story, the peddler is cynical and
opportunistic. He has a difficult lot in life, and takes whatever he can get and
trusts no one. He even steals money from the crofter after the old man offers him
his hospitality. Indeed, it seems that the peddler�s only pleasure in life comes
from thinking of the world as one large, cruel rattrap, and ruminating on other
people he knows who have been ensnared. After experiencing true kindness from Elda
Wilmansson, however, the peddler seems to change his mindset. He returns the stolen
money and declares that he wants to �be nice,� having been freed from the �rattrap�
of life by Edla�s compassion and generosity. The peddler�s transformation shows
Lagerl�f�s idea of the latent potential for goodness in all human beings.

CHARACTER SKETCH OF IRONMASTER - The man who owns Ramsj� Ironworks, and Edla
Wilmansson�s father. Described as a �very prominent ironmaster,� he stops by to
watch the work at his forge every day and night and inspect the quality of his
products. The ironmaster was in the military in his younger days, as he mistakes
the peddler for his �old regimental comrade,� Captain von Stahle.

CHARACTER SKETCH OF CROFTER - An old man who lets the peddler spend the night at
his house. The old man is clearly lonely and glad to have company, and provides the
peddler with food, tobacco, and conversation. He used to be a crofter (someone who
rents and works a small farm) at Ramsj� Ironworks, but now survives by selling the
milk from his �extraordinary� cow. The old man is kind and generous, but the
peddler repays his generosity by stealing thirty kronor from him after the crofter
shows him where he keeps the money.