Questions-Answers

Q1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Ans: The poor rattrap peddler struggled for his existence. He could not make his
both ends meet, so he had to resort to both begging and petty thievery. Despite this,
his condition was pretty deplorable. Thinking of his miserable plight, 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 it gave him great joy to think ill of it.
This idea became his treasured pastime. He was amused how people let themselves
be caught in the dangerous snare and how others were still circling around the bait,
ready to be trapped.

Q3. How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown
by the crofter, the iron master and his daughter?
Ans: The peddler interpreted the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the
crofter, the iron master and his daughter differently. He was given shelter in a little
cottage by the roadside by a crofter. The crofter gave him food and trusted him by
investing confidence in him. But the peddler cheated the crofter, betrayed his trust
and stole his money. He was suspicious of the kindness shown to him by the
ironmaster and wanted to get a couple of kronor from the iron master as well. But, he
was touched by the kindness, care and intervention that Edla showed to him.

Q4. 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 logical, kind and
thoughtful. In uncertain light he (iron master) mistook the stranger as his old
regiment comrade. He invited him home and took care of his feeding, clothing etc.
When he saw him in broad day light, he called the man dishonest, demanded an
explanation and was ready to call in the sheriff. His daughter was more observant.
She noticed the fear of the stranger and thought that either he was a thief or a run-
away prisoner. Yet, she was gentle, kind and friendly to him. She treated him nicely
even after knowing that he was not her father’s acquaintance.

Q5. 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 friendly gestures shown by the crofter. Yet, the crofter is robbed by his
guest, the rattrap peddler, in return of his hospitality.
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. On realising
his mistake, the ironmaster wants to inform the police, but 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 that he was not her father’s friend.

Q5. What made the peddler finally change his ways?

Ans: Edla, the iron master’s daughter, treated the tramp in a friendly manner. She
was nice and kind to him. 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 compassion and understanding aroused the essential
goodness in the peddler and finally he changed his ways.

Q6. 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 him. The
peddler considered that the whole world was nothing but a big rattrap. None escaped
this trap. The peddler was tempted by thirty kronor of the crofter. When he lost his
way in the woods, he realised he was trapped in his own greed. He was also afraid
to go to the Manor house. The only thing that could turn a person from rat-like ways
was human kindness, something that he received from Edla, that made him a
changed person in the end. He could come out of the rattrap and called himself a rat
who has been spared.

The metaphor of the rattrap highlights the theory of crime and punishment. Crimes,
such as theft or giving in to wrong temptations are compared to a bait and
subsequent imprisonment in a trap. However, human predicament forms the basis of
the story where story of the rattrap serves to bring out a lesson in moral values.

Q7. The peddler comes out as a person with a subtle sense of humour.
Howdoes 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 was able to make an equation
between the rattraps that he made and the world, which he likened to a huge rattrap,
offering a bait and then closing in, round those who fell for them. This was his way of
consoling himself that no matter what, he was better off than those who fell for the
worldly bait of joy, warmth, shelter, and other such comforts. This makes them sad,
the weary and melancholy tramp very human and real. He manages to arouse the
sympathy of the reader despite his thieving ways and his dead conscience for he
makes the reader examine the merits of self-preservation. The peddler’s sense of
humour is also 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.
Additional questions:

Q1. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the
crofter?
Q2. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Q3. Why did he show the thirty kronor to the peddler?
Q4. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Q5. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Q6. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Q7. Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
Q8. What made the peddler accept Edla’s invitation?
Q9. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Q10. When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?
Q11. How did the peddler defend himself against not having revealed his true
identity?
Q12. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth
about him?
Q13. What was the content of the letter written by the peddler to Edla?

Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Q14. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?

3,5,9,12,14