CBSE Class 12 English The Rattrap Worksheet Set C

Short Answer Type Questions

Question. How did the peddler of rattraps manage to survive?
Answer: 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.

Question. What idea did he get about the world? What were its implications?
Answer: 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. 

Question. 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?
Answer: The man had put his money in a leather pouch which hung on a nail in the window frame. He picked out three wrinkled ten-kroner bills for his guest to see as he has seemed sceptical. Then he stuffed them back into the pouch.

Question. How did the peddler feel after robbing the crofter? Why did he discontinue walking on the public highway?
Answer: 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.

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

Question. What did the tramp ask? Was his request granted? What did he do then?
Answer: The tramp asked for 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.

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

Question. What did the ironmaster assume to be the reason behind his old comrade’s refusal? How did he try to reassure him?
Answer: 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.

Question. ‘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?
Answer: The stranger declined the ironmaster’s invitation thrice. The ironmaster then told Stjernstrom, 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.

Question. What did the young girl notice about the stranger? What did she conclude? How did she make him feel confidence in her?
Answer: 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.

Question. What impression did the well-groomed guest make? How did the ironmaster react and why?
Answer: He looked truly clean and well dressed. The ironmaster did not seem pleased. He looked at him with a 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.

Question. What arguments did the young girl give in favour of the stranger’s stay there?
Answer: She said that the whole year long, the stranger walked around. He was probably not welcomed 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.

Question. If the world is “nothing but a big rattrap” as the tramp stated in the story ‘The Rattrap’, who might the rattrap peddler be? Discuss.
Answer: He was one of the people facing temptation of the ‘bait’ dangled before him by the crofter in the form of the three knoner notes earned by selling the milk of his cow. Later on by stealing the money he becomes like those who get trapped by the ‘bait’ for example a rat and has to face the consequences of this theft.

Question. What might be the significance of setting the story’s events during Christmas? Justify your opinion
Answer: The Christmas setting of the story highlights the theme of the story, of giving and being charitable during Christmas and the positive effect this can have on the reformation of character.

Question. What did the peddler think about going up to the manor house? How did he react to the ironmaster’s invitation? 
Answer: 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.

Question. The blacksmiths glanced only casually and indifferently at the intruder’, What prompted them to do so?
Answer: Usually poor vagabonds, without any better shelter for the night, felt attracted to the forge by the glow of light 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.

Question. Why did rattrap peddler return and how did he rob the old crofter?
Answer: The rattrap peddler was tempted by the thirty kroners 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.

Question. Sum up the contents of the letter addressed to Miss Willmansson.
Answer: 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. He 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.

Question. How did the ironmaster try to convince his daughter about the stranger?
Answer: 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.

Question. Do you think the story reinforces a stereotype that women are more trusting, forgiving and less practical than men? Comment with reference to Edla’s actions in the story.
Answer: The story does compare the soft and compassionate nature of Edla with the physical and pragmatic nature of the ironmaster who wants to send the peddler away when he realizes that the man was not his old friend Captain Von Stale.

Question. What hospitality did the peddler with rattraps receive from the old crofter?
Answer: 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.

Question. What reason did the ironmaster advance in support of his invitation to the stranger?
Answer: 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.

Question. What did the peddler of rattraps think while he was riding up to the manor house?
Answer: While 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.

Question. “He only stared at the young girl in boundless amazement.” What made the man with the rattraps react in this manner?
Answer: 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.

Question. Despite his philosophical insights, the vagabond fails to resist temptations. What would you attribute this to? Explain with reference to any instance from the text.
Answer: The peddler was an impoverished lonely man, begging around for food and shelter. He needed the money to sustain himself and find suitable shelter. Also, the world had ill-treated him since he was young. He did not feel any qualms in stealing from the crofter.

Question. What observation did the ironmaster make about the stranger? What did he ask him to do?
Answer: The ironmaster saw the stranger in the uncertain light of the furnance 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.

Question. Who was the new guest at the forge? Why had that person come there and how did he/she look? Who accompanied her and why?
Answer: 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 than he himself. She was not at all pretty, but seemed modest and quite shy.

Question. What did the ironmaster threaten to do after knowing the mistake? How did the stranger save himself?
Answer: 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.

Question. Describe the scene at the forge when Edla Willmansson came there.
Answer: 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.

Question. How did the peddler feel while walking through the woods? What did he realise?
Answer: 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 woods. He realised that he had been walking around in the same part of the forest.

Question. Why did the peddler think of the world as a rattrap? What became his cherished pastime?
Answer: 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.

Question. ‘The next day both men got up in good season.’ Why? Who are the men and what did they do after getting up?
Answer: The two men are the old crofter and his guestthe 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.

Question. Why did the blacksmith fail to notice the entry of the peddler in the forge?
Answer: 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 furnance 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 peddler’s entry.

Question. Who was the owner of the Ramsjo Iron Mill? Why did he come to the forge that night?
Answer: 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.

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

Question. ‘The daughter stood there quite embarrassed and hardly knew what to answer.’ What embarrassed her? Why did she intercede for the vagabond?
Answer: The daughter had drawn plans to make things homelike and typical for 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.

Question. How did the peddler look? Was he different from people of his type?
Answer: 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.

Question. ‘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?
Answer: 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 kroner in payment.

Question. Why did Edla plead with her father not to send the vagabond away?
Answer: 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.

Question. What did the ironmaster notice in the forge? How did he react then?
Answer: 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!”

Question. “The young girl sat and hung her head even more dejectedly than usual.” What two reasons forced her to behave in this manner?
Answer: First, she had learned at the 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.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. Imagine that you overhead the following snippet of an interaction between the valet and the housekeeper at the ironmaster’s mansion at the end of the story.
Speaker 1-Trust is difficult choice, which may or may not be rewarded.
Speaker 2–Yes, indeed. Ms Willmansson really believed in that fellow, didn’t she? And he didn’t disappoint. She was so happy reading his letter, oh her tears of joys filled my heart with so much admiration for her . Such a kind wonderful young lady.
Speaker 1–Absolutely. But I wonder, what if that vagabond had run away with the silver spoons? Would you speak so glowingly of Ms. Willmansson then? Our master’s daughter was a bit too gullible. Wouldn’t you say?
Speaker 2–But she did that was right. That must count for something. It’s Christmas, and she helped that poor man. It didn’t matter what he did. Surely the choice of right and wrong does not depend on the outcome.
Speaker 1–Wouldn’t it? I should jolly well think so.
How would you respond to the questions raised in this conversation in relation to the story? Write your response in the form of an entry in your daily journal.
Answer: 26th of Dec., 19XX
My respect for Edla has increased tenfold. I don’t think there are many people like her in this world. The fact that she truly believes in the equality of people is evident. She respects every human being whether a captain or a peddler. It is this non-judgemental attitude of hers that enabled the change in character of the peddler. For the first time the peddler must have felt important, of some consequence and hence did not want to fall back into his thieving ways, hiding from people and being treated as the scum of the Earth. I think Edla did the right thing and I support her act of trusting the peddler. It is because of this a man was redeemed and reclaimed I am sure the peddler will surprise us with his noble behavior in future. That will be the best way to pay Edla for her faith in him and in the innate goodness of human nature.

Question. 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.
Answer:  The peddler doesn’t think kindly of the world and its people. For him the world is a big rattrap to trap the people in. The luxuries of the world are the baits that tempt the people to get trapped. The world has been very unkind to him. So, it gives him a great pleasure to think ill of it. Ironically, he finds himself trapped like a rat when he steals the thirty kroner of the credulous crofter. Subsequently it leads him to Edla’s home where he receives nothing except kindness. It is true that this bitter view of the world is his own subjective one. In fact the world has no dearth of genuinely kind people like the crofter, Edla and even the ironmaster. All treat him kindly. Edla believes in compassion and Christian values and eventually touches the goodness in him and helped him see the world in a positive light.

Question. Voltaire has rightly remarked that ‘Love truth, but pardon error’. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven. Sympathy is a divine virtue. It is indispensable for a philanthropist. Elucidate the dictum taking ideas from the following expressions.
“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—for I do not want you to be embarrassed at this Christmas season by a thief; but you can give back the money to the old man on the roadside...”
Answer: The Bible proclaims that ‘Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy’. Love begets love and hatred begets hatred. People in this world have a reciprocal relationship. They reciprocate the thing they receive. It is a universally accepted aphorism that ‘To err is human, to forgive, divine’. Sympathy has a great power. A sympathetic person receives the blessings of the destitute whom he helps or forgives. People can’t imagine the incredible power of sympathy. A person’s kind acts and words may save many precious lives. One must not forget that those who sympathise with others get inner satisfaction. It awakens the affection of a human heart. It leaves an indelible impression even on the most rugged nature. Its results are better than a king’s power. It helps a man in his endeavour to elevate his fellow human beings from a state of poverty and distress. Dr. Samuel Johnson averred that the wretched have no compassion. When a man suffers himself, it is called misery; when he suffers in the suffering of another, it is called pity. Forgiveness is, undoubtedly, a divine quality. The philanthropists should inculcate the habit of forgiving others in their character. “Sweet mercy is nobility’s true badge”

Question. 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?
Answer: 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 hung it back on the nail.
This 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.

Question. Bring out the contrast in the ironmaster’s attitude and behaviour towards the stranger before and after he realises his mistake.
Answer: 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.

Question. Edla is able to bring about a change of heart in the peddler. Justify this with reference to the story, ‘The Rattrap’. What qualities helped her bring about this transformation?
Answer: Edla is the daughter of the ironmaster. She does not force herself upon the peddler. Instead she tries to persuade him that he should spend Christmas eve with them. Her friendliness wins his trust in humanity. Later she persuaded her father not to send the peddler away because his identity is already revealed to them. Consequently they invite him on the Christmas Eve. Edla also tells him that if he wishes so, he is welcomed again next year on the Christmas Eve. Her kindness and hospitality awakens his conscience. And this brings about a change in the peddler. He is reformed now. The realisation which the peddler experiences is that there is a way out of the trap. Ultimately, he decided to return the thirty kroners of the old crofter.

Question. It is rightly said that the crown and glory of life is character. Alphonse Karr, a French journalist, said, “Every man has three characters: that which he shows, that which he has, and that which he thinks he has.” Substantiate the saying taking ideas from the following expressions:
“…It was quite honest, either. You must admit that, and I should not be surprised if the sheriff would like to have something to say in the matter.”
Answer: The crown and glory of life is character When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; When health is lost, something is lost; When character is lost, everything is lost”. Channing said that the great hope of society is individual character. Character plays a pivotal role in the life of a human being. It is as significant for a man as a crown for a king. It is the glory of a man’s life. Character reflects the traits and personality of a person. A man of character retains moral strength and faces the music of life bravely. A man is judged by his character. A person who has a good character is respected and honoured in society. It is often said that our lot depends on our character.
One rises in life in proportion to the strength of one’s character. Character gives selfsatisfaction to a person. He can lead a happy and contended life. He accumulates wealth in heaven instead of building treasures on the Earth. It is only character that distinguishes man from beasts. Goethe remarked that “Talent is nurtured in solitude; character is formed in the stormy billows of the world.” “Not in the clamor of the crowded street, Not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng, But is ourselves, are triumph and defeat. —Longfellow

Question. How would you compare the peddler’s action in relation to the crofter and Edla? Would you say kindness does not always beget kindness, and that the conditions for receiving kindness are important for it to truly transform people? Elaborate?
Answer: Though both Edla and the crofter showed kindness towards the peddler, he was transformed after meeting the former because of several reasons: Firstly, the crofter had been a lonely man who had invited the peddler into his house and offered him food and shelter and also played and smoked with him but it had not been a completely selfless act because he had benefitted from the peddler too. He had helped the crofter to deal with his loneliness and had to listen to his stories. Moreover the crofter had also shown off his money and thereby tempted the poor impoverished peddler. Edla on the other hand had given him a good time by giving him food and clothes and let him sleep as long as he had wanted. She had pleaded her father to let him stay even though he had appeared to have deceived the family. Most importantly she had treated him with respect and as an honoured guest which had brought about the change in the peddler.

Question. The peddler believed that the whole world is a rattrap. How did he himself get caught in the same?
Answer: The sad and poor life of the peddler makes him bitter. One day when he was thinking of his rattraps, suddenly he was struck by an idea that the whole world is nothing but a big rattrap. It just sets baits for people. The world offers riches, joys, shelter, food and clothing. They are just baits. As soon as anyone touches the bait, the rattrap closes in on him. Then everything comes to an end. Ironically, the peddler himself becomes the rat. The peddler can’t overcome the temptation of stealing the bait of 30 kroners of the hospitable crofter. Again the metaphor of the rattrap comes into his mind when the ironmaster invites him to his manor house. The peddler doesn’t want to go there. It means voluntarily throwing himself into the lion’s den. He surrenders when he is persuaded by Miss Willmansson to go there.
Finally, the peddler feels himself released from the rattrap. It is due to the deep sympathy, kindness, love and understanding shown by Miss Willmansson towards him. He raises himself above petty temptations. He would have been trapped in the world’s rattrap if he had not been raised to a captain. That gave him strength to come out of that trap.

Question. 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?
Answer: 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 kroner. 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 woods. 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.

Question. Do you think the title of the story ‘The Rattrap’ is appropriate? Give reasons to support your answer.
Answer: 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 redemption. Thus, we conclude that the title is apt and significant.

Question. It is rightly said that the crown and glory of life is character. Alphonse Karr, a French journalist, said, “Every man has three characters: that which he shows, that which he has, and that which he thinks he has.” Substantiate the saying taking ideas from the following expressions:
“…It was quite honest, either. You must admit that, and I should not be surprised if the sheriff would like to have something to say in the matter.”
Answer: “The crown and glory of life is character When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; When health is lost, something is lost; When character is lost, everything is lost”. Channing said that the great hope of society is individual character. Character plays a pivotal role in the life of a human being. It is as significant for a man as a crown for a king. It is the glory of a man’s life. Character reflects the traits and personality of a person. A man of character retains moral strength and faces the music of life bravely. A man is judged by his character. A person who has a good character is respected and honoured in society. It is often said that our lot depends on our character.
One rises in life in proportion to the strength of one’s character. Character gives selfsatisfaction to a person. He can lead a happy and contended life. He accumulates wealth in heaven instead of building treasures on the Earth. It is only character that distinguishes man from beasts. Goethe remarked that “Talent is nurtured in solitude; character is formed in the stormy billows of the world.” “Not in the clamor of the crowded street, Not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng, But is ourselves, are triumph and defeat.
—Longfellow

Question. Comment on the ending of the story ‘The Rattrap’.
Answer: 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.

Question. What is the theme of the story ‘The Rattrap’ ?
How has this theme been developed?
Answer: 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 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 kroners 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.

Question. (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?
Answer: The blacksmiths display the typical attitude of manual workers and labourers for whom work is the first priority and parasites on human society are dragged 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.

Question. Honesty is considered the best policy for earning one’s bread and butter. Stealing is a sin and a punishable act. Vagabonds tend to forget this essential goodness. Elucidate the dictum in the light of the following lines: “He made them himself at odd moments, from the material he got by begging in the stores or at the big farms. But even so, the business was not especially profitable, so he had to resort to both begging and petty thievery to keep body and soul together.”
Answer: Honest Means of Livelihood Every human being has to earn his bread and butter. Means vary from person to person, but one has to face many obstacles and odd situations in life. These means can be fair or foul, honest or dishonest. Unfortunately, the modern man hankers after money and has become commercial-minded. People are not afraid of the Almighty. They wish to accumulate riches by hook or by crook. They have no respect for humanity and moral values. The social norms and time-tested principles bemoan somewhere in a corner.
The mortals of this computer age focus only on pecuniary gains. They are desirous of becoming rich overnight. And it is sure that no one can make easy money without resorting to corruption. One should always remember that those who are honest get respect in society and feel themselves satisfied. They don’t have to feel guilty. But those who are corrupt hide themselves behind the veils when caught. A person should always be honest and sincere. The factory workers, farmers, teachers and poor artisans live an honest life and are appreciated everywhere. Freud rightly proclaimed in his letter to Wilhelm Fliess that ‘Being entirely honest with oneself is a good exercise.’ A few honest men are better than numerous bad ones.

Question. What impression do you form of Edla on reading the story ‘The Rattrap’ ?
Answer: 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 persuade 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.

Question. Man is a gregarious animal. Aristotle wrote in Politics, “He who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a god.” Loneliness gnaws a man from within. Write an article on the topic mentioned above in your own words. You can take ideas from the following lines:
“…he knocked on the door to ask shelter for the night. Nor was he refused. Instead of the sour faces which ordinarily met him, the owner, who was an old man. without wife or child, was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness.”
Answer: Loneliness: A Terrible Moment Enduring loneliness requires perseverance and strength of mind. The state of alienation may depress a person. He may become insane. Everybody cannot bear the pangs of leading a lonely life. Seclusion irritates a mortal as it is known to us that man is a gregarious animal. He needs company to share his views and thoughts. It is also said that solitude is the playfield of satan. Man gets diverted and takes recourse to illegal ways. The Bible says that ‘woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.’ An alienated person leads a miserable and pitiable life. Survival at a deserted place becomes next to impossible for a human being. Solitude gives vent to the feelings of enmity against mankind. A depressed person may go to any extent to avenge his seclusion. Solitude and melancholy are synonymous to each other. Mother Teresa has described loneliness in a fitting manner. She said, “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.” Each individual needs love, affection and company. The victims of solitude and loneliness never feel themselves gratified. They never feel themselves the part of the main stream. It breeds negativity and animosity. They become hostile towards the fellow human beings. The repercussions of loneliness are catastrophic and disastrous.