CBSE Class 12 English The Rattrap Worksheet Set D

Question. “Edla sat and hung her head even more dejectedly than usual.” Which two reasons forced her to behave in that manner?
Answer : Edla was sad and upset as she had heard that a crofter of ironworks had been robbed. This led her to think that the peddler to whom she gave shelter was responsible for this misdeed. Her father also added to her doubts by saying that he had heard the peddler was a thief.

Question. Why was the peddler surprised when he knocked on the door of the cottage?
Answer : The peddler was surprised as he was not only welcomed at the night time but was also provided food and shelter. He was treated like a guest and not as a beggar. The crofter was a lonely man, he also needed company.

Question. What made the peddler finally change his ways?
Answer : The peddler changed his way of living because of the love and hospitality shown by Edla, daughter of the ironmaster. He lived a pathetic life but when he was respected and cared, he changed his way of life. He began to live with dignity and respect.

Question. Why did the peddler keep to the woods after leaving the crofter’s cottage? How did he feel?
Answer : The peddler kept to the woods after leaving the crofter’s cottage because he wanted to avoid police. He was afraid as he had stolen the crofter’s money. If he took to the road he might be caught or seen by policemen or the crofter.

Question. Who was the owner of Ramsjö iron mills? Why did he visit the mills at 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 round the clock. He came to the forge on one of his night rounds of inspection.

Question. How did the ironmaster react on seeing the stranger lying close to the furnace?
Answer : The ironmaster adjusted his hat to see the stranger very carefully. He seemed to him as one of his acquaintances. He offered to take him home.

Question. Why didn’t the stranger tell the ironmaster that he was not Nils Olof?
OR
How did the peddler react when he saw that the ironmaster had recognised him as Nils Olof, an old regimental comrade?
Answer : The peddler was mistaken by the iron master to be an old acquaintance from the regiment. He assumed that the ironmaster would hand him a few kronors and therefore made no attempts to deny the reference being made. He replies by saying that things had gone down hill for him. However, when the ironmaster said that he should not have resigned and suggested that “Nils Olof ”, accompany him to the manor, he flatly refused to do so, for fear of being recognised.

Question. Why did Edla invite the peddler to stay with her family?
Answer : Edla was a kind and compassionate young lady. It was Christmas and she wanted the peddler to be a guest for the occasion and share all the goodies that were prepared for Christmas. She had also sensed his fear but she wanted him to spend some time in her house without any fear and relax in comfortable security.

Question. Why did the peddler think that the world was a rattrap?
Answer : The peddler was a very poor man. He earned his living by selling rattraps made out of material bought by begging. Suddenly he realised that the whole world was a rattrap. The riches and luxuries and comforts are the baits. Like rats, people allow themselves to be tempted by these baits. Once caught, everything is lost and even struggles would not let anyone escape.

Question. What did the gift of the rat trap signify?
Answer : In the story ‘The Rattrap’ the peddler leaves a small rat trap with thirty kronors and a note for Edla. He confesses his mistake and asks Edla to return the money to the crofter. He admits that he got caught in his own rattrap. He also thanks her for treating him as a real captain and for giving him another chance. Life is one big rat trap, one gets trapped by own deeds. The gift of the rattrap signified that the peddler was releasing himself from the trap he had very nearly got into. It was an expression of gratitude to Edla, for enabling him get out if it became of her behaviour towards him. It is important that everyone gets a second chance to improve oneself, and Edla had given him his chance.

Question. Why was the peddler amused at the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Answer : The peddler believed that the world with all its riches and joys, food and shelter appears as a rattrap to tempt people. He was amused to think of many other people he knew, who were already caught in the trap, and some others who were circling around the bait.

Question. What hospitality did the peddler receive from the crofter?
Answer : The peddler was surprised as he was not only welcomed at the night time but was also provided food and shelter. He was treated like a guest and not as a beggar. The crofter was a lonely man, he also needed company.

Question. What do we learn about the crofter’s nature from the story, ‘The Rattrap’?
Answer : The crofter was lonely and trusting. He was hospitable and gullible. Without any doubt on the peddler, he invites the peddler inside his house at night and shares not only his food but also the whereabouts of his hard earned money. He was friendly and talkative. He felt proud of his cow that gave him enough milk to support him and talks a lot about it.

Question. Why did the Crofter show the thirty kroner to the peddler?
Answer : The crofter felt proud of the cow that gave him enough milk to support him. So he told the peddler that he had got thirty kronors from the creamery as the payment of previous month’s supply. However, he felt that the peddler did not believe him. Thus, he showed the money to convince him.

Question. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Answer : The iron master mistook the peddler to be “Nils olof ”, his old regimental comarade. He goes on to tell him that he would not have allowed him to resign if he had been in service. As if to make amends for what had happened, the ironmaster tells the peddler to accompany him to the manor, so that he can be received honourably like an old regimental comrade.

Question.
Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meanings from the context.
Answer :
- keep body and soul together - to manage to keep alive; to survive
- hunger gleamed in his eyes - feeling so hungry that the expression shows on one's face
- plods along the road - moving along the road slowly but deliberately, to walk with a heavy feet
- unwonted joy - unusual pleasure or happiness
- impenetrable prison - impassable confinement
- nodded a haughty consent - indifferent agreement
- eased his way - moved himself slowly and carefully
- fallen into a line of thought - agreement of thoughts
- things have gone downhill - to decline or grow worse and worse

Question. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Answer : During one of his usual plodding, the peddler thought on the subject of rattraps. It presented him with the idea of the world being a rattrap and he grew fond of thinking this way.

Question. Why was he amused by this idea?
Answer : The peddler was amused by the idea of the world being a giant rattrap because he was never treated kindly by
the world. Therefore, he harboured hard feelings for it and loved 'to think ill of it' by comparing it with a giant
rattrap.

Question. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
Answer : No, the peddler did not expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter. This was because usually he was greeted by 'sour' and unfriendly faces whenever he knocked on doors and requested for shelter.

Question. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Answer : The crofter was a lonely fellow who lived on his own in a little gray cottage by the roadside. He had no wife or children, and craved company and friends. So, one day when the peddler turned up at his doorstep, he was happy to find someone to talk to, to be relieved of his boredom and monotony. This is the reason he was so talkative and friendly with the peddler.

Question. Why did he show the thirty kroner to the peddler?
Answer : The crofter was a naive and trusting man who craved company more than anything else. He wanted to share his joy of earning the money with someone. He got his chance when the peddler came along. Moreover, he thought that the peddler did not believe him, so he showed the peddler the thirty kronor bills that he kept in a leather pouch.

Question. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Answer : No, the peddler did not respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter. In fact, he betrayed his trust by robbing the thirty kronors from him.
However, later in the story, his conscience was awakened by his stay with the Willmanssons and he decided to return the money.

Question. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Answer : After stealing the money, the peddler tried to escape through the forest but soon got lost. Left in despair, he recollected his own thoughts on the world being a giant rattrap. A sudden realisation came to him that he had finally got himself caught in the rattrap because he allowed himself to be tempted by the bait, the thirty kronor bills. Similarly, on his way to the ironmaster's home, he felt himself caught in the trap.
He was again haunted by such thoughts when the ironmaster, on realising the truth about the peddler, threatened to get him arrested. The rattrap seller expressed himself strongly realising that the worldly bait had, once more, tempted and trapped him.

Question. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Answer : The ironmaster of the Ramsj ö Ironworks spoke kindly to the peddler because he had mistaken him for an
old regimental comrade, Captain von Stahle. The ironmaster wanted to help the peddler, not only in regaining his health but also in taking up a new vocation.
Moreover, the ironmaster was a lonely fellow who lived with his oldest daughter after the death of his wife and
the departure of his sons. As he longed for some company on the Christmas Eve, he invited the peddler to his home.

Question. Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
Answer : The peddler was alarmed at the idea of spending the night at the manor of the ironmaster, of the Ramsjö
Ironworks, who was an ex-army man. He had not made an attempt to correct the ironmaster when he was mistaken for an old acquaintance.
Moreover, he was anxious about the fact that he had the stolen thirty kronor bills with him, and accepting the invitation "would be like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion's den". Therefore, the peddler thought it better to decline the invitation.

Question. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson's invitation?
Answer : By his frightened look, Edla guessed that the peddler had either stolen something or has escaped prison. So she hinted an assurance that he would be free to leave whenever he wanted. Reassured, he accepted the invitation.

Question. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Answer : When Edla went to the iron mill to fetch the peddler, she noticed that he was frightened. She had doubts that the peddler had stolen something or had escaped prison. His appearance and behaviour also left her in doubts whether he was actually an educated man, as claimed by her father.

Question. When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?
Answer : The ironmaster realised his mistake the next day when the peddler turned up at breakfast. The valet had bathed
the peddler, cut his hair, shaved him and given him clothes. The ironmaster realised that he had been deceived
in recognising the person because of the reflection of the furnace, the previous night.

Question. What did the peddler say in his defence when it was clear that he was not the person the ironmaster had thought he was?
Answer : To defend himself, the peddler argued that he had never said that he was a captain or the old comrade of the ironmaster. In fact, he had repeatedly declined the invitation to spend the Christmas at the manor.

Question. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
Answer : Edla had a kind and sympathetic heart that was pained by the plight of the poor peddler. She requested her father to allow him to spend one day with them in peace as a respite from the struggle he had to endure round the year. Her principles did not allow her to throw this man out of her house on the Christmas Eve especially when they had already promised him a “Christmas cheer”. Moreover, she had been in high spirits that morning thinking of the ways in which she could help the tramp. Therefore, even after knowing the truth, Edla wanted to entertain the peddler.

Question. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Answer : Edla showed great trust in him by letting him stay at their manor on the Christmas Eve. But the news about the robbery had left her dejected. So she was overjoyed when she reached home to find the package and the letter left by the peddler. This gesture of appreciation from the peddler made her happy.

Question. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
Answer : Throughout his life, the peddler had never known respect. He was always treated coldly by the world. For the first time in his life, he was honoured and respected as if he were a captain. Even after the truth was exposed, the daughter continued to treat him in a similar way. The way he was treated encouraged him to behave in a like manner. He signed the letter as Captain von Stahle so as to underline the impact of Edla's goodness on him.

Question. How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter?
Answer : The different ways in which the peddler repaid the three people corresponds to the way he interpreted the kindness of the three people. The peddler realised that for the crofter it was his craving for company that led him to offer his hospitality. The ironmaster's hospitality apparently is limited to his acquaintances. It was only the daughter who genuinely offered warmth and goodness to the peddler. He was touched by Edla's kindness and it made him want to act differently. He repaid her good treatment with a gesture of true gratitude.

Question. Discuss the following in groups of four. Each group can deal with one topic. Present the views of your group to the whole class.
The reader's sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning of the story. Why is this so? Is the sympathy justified?
Answer : From the beginning, the rattrap seller is shown as a victim of his situation and not a downright evil character. The peddler had to resort to beggary and stealing because his business is not profitable enough to make both ends meet. His condition of penury does not allow him to be fully righteous. Moreover, we find that he lacks friends and guide to steer him in the right path. The sympathy is justified because in the end we find out that the peddler is capable of appreciating genuine goodness and hospitality. When he is treated with respect and kindness, he reciprocates the same in the best way he can.

Question. The man selling rattraps is referred to by many terms such as "peddler, stranger" etc. Pick out all such references to him. What does each of these labels indicate of the context or the attitude of the people around him?
Answer :

Question. What are the instances in the story that show that the character of the ironmaster is different from that of his daughter in many ways?
Answer : Edla and her father had different natures. She had more convincing power than the father and was able to persuade the peddler to accept the invitation. We also find that the ironmaster's hospitability was limited to his old comrade. But, the daughter was pained by the plight of the peddler and continued to treat him well even after the truth about his identity was revealed. Again, after finding about the robbery of the crofter's money, while the ironmaster was more concerned with the possibility of the peddler robbing them as well, the daughter is more pained by the betrayal of her trust. We also find that while the father was impulsive and reckless in nature, the daughter's behaviour was more mature and controlled.

Question. The story also focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others.
Answer : The Rattrap deals with the issues of human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Not only the peddler but also other characters like the crofter, the ironmaster and Edla emphasise this fact. The peddler's conscience had left him because he had been lonely in his predicament, for a long time. But Edla's kindness and hospitality changed him. The crofter, on the other hand, is a lonely fellow whose craving for company leads him to give shelter to a vagabond, and he ends up getting robbed. Even, the ironmaster and his daughter suffer from loneliness. They crave company on Christmas Eve and are excited when they get the opportunity to serve a guest.

Question. You came across the words, plod, trudge, stagger in the story. These words indicate movement accompanied by weariness. Find five other such words with a similar meaning.
Answer : Other words are lurch, stumble, slog, hike, clump, traipse and stomp.

Question. The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others' behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.
Answer : The first instance is that of the crofter's hospitality to the peddler. The rattrap peddler, used to being shooed away, was surprised at the friendly behaviour of the crofter. The peddlar was also surprised at the sudden invitation given by the ironmaster, who was himself shocked to realise his mistake in recognising the peddler, the next day. Another unexpected reaction, for both the peddler and the ironmaster, is Edla's intervention to seek peddler's presence for Christmas. However, the most unexpected reaction is from the peddler when he leaves the package and the letter for Edla, showing gratitude to the girl's hospitality and respect for him.

Question. Have you known/heard of an episode where a good deed or an act of kindness has changed a person's view of the world?
Answer : Directions: Think of any incident or a story where your perspective changes due to some act of kindness from someone. Or, think about someone whose perspective changes because of a good deed by someone else. Discussing this with the group will help. After finalising the incident, write about the reason the person had a negative perspective towards life. Then describe the episode where someone bestowed kindness on him. Finally, explain what effect it had on the person on whom it was bestowed and how his perspective of the world changed.
(Directions have been provided for a student's benefit. It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.)

Question. What made the peddler finally change his ways?
Answer :
The experience of the peddler at the manor of the Willmanssons made the peddler change his ways. Earlier he had never known a true sympathiser or well-wisher. He had no friend to steer him on the right path. Though the
crofter was hospitable to him and even the ironmaster had almost offered him help, they failed to leave any impact on him. It was Edla who, through her genuine care and understanding, was finally able to change the peddler for the better.

Question. The story is both entertaining and philosophical.
Answer : The story is told in the form of a fairy tale with a happy ending. The narrative is interesting with many surprises and attention-grabbing dialogues. The twists and the unexpected reactions of the characters often astonish the reader making the story entertaining. However, the author has carefully managed to weave philosophical elements into the storyline. The rattrap peddler's comparison of the whole world with a giant rattrap makes this an interesting commentary on how such people end up getting trapped in the giant chasm. The story also makes an observation on the inherent goodness of people. It also showcases how goodness and kindness shown by some people can change others' perspective.

Question. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
Answer : The metaphor of the rattrap signifies that the world exists only to trap people by setting baits for them. Whenever someone is tempted by the luxuries, he ends up being caught in a dangerous trap. The author, thus, makes a much deeper comment on the woeful plight of those in pursuit of the worldly pleasures, which often lead them to unfortunate situations. The story helps in realising the importance of general goodness and kindness. The peddler is saved from the snare of the huge rattrap called world only when he appreciates the kindness to him by Edla.

Question. The peddler comes out as a person with a subtle sense of humour. How does this serve in lightening the seriousness of the theme of the story and also endear him to us?
Answer : The peddler doesn't come across as a humorous person, although one can locate a subtle sense of humour in the way he thinks about the world as being a giant rattrap. He is singularly pleased by this thought of his because it provides him with the opportunity of thinking 'ill' of the world that is not kind to him. It is clearly visible that whenever he gets caught unaware, in the web of deceit spun by his scheming mind, he hides behind the thought that the world is a rattrap and he merely a prey. Thus, he lightens the mood and theme of the story and makes us endear him.

Question. Notice the words in bold in the following sentence.
"The fire boy shovelled charcoal into the maw of the furnace with a great deal of clatter". This is a phrase that is used in the specific context of an iron plant.
Pick out other such phrases and words from the story that are peculiar to the terminology of ironworks.
Answer : Other such phrases could be as follows:
1. 'a hard regular thumping'
2. 'hammer strokes'
3. 'a large plant with smelter, rolling mill and forge'
4. 'pig iron'
5. 'coal dust'
6. 'put on the anvil'

Question.
1. He made them himself at odd moments.
2. He raised himself.
3. He had let himself be fooled by a bait and had been caught.
4. … a day may come when you yourself may want to get a big piece of pork.
In 1 and 4 the reflexive pronouns "himself" and "yourself" are used to convey emphasis. In 2 and 3 the reflexive pronoun is used in place of personal pronoun to signal that it refers to the same subject in the sentence.
Pick out other examples of the use of reflexive pronouns from the story and notice how they are used.
Answer : 

Question. Mjolis is a card game of Sweden.
Name a few indoor games played in your region. 'Chopar' could be an example.
Answer : Some indoor games are chess, ludo, table tennis, playing cards, billiards, etc.

Question. A crofter is a person who rents or owns a small farm especially in Scotland. Think of other uncommon terms for 'a small farmer' including those in your language.
Answer : Some other terms are peasant, plower, cultivator, krishak, kisan etc 

Question. Describe the events which led to the change in the peddler’s way of life.
Answer : The peddler had been living a despicable life of poverty, despair and frustration. His only aim in life was to accomplish things in life. He did not care about the means he chose to acquire the material substances in life. Be it beggary, theft or cheating someone, he did not shy away from anything. His view towards the society was in fact shaped by the apathetic and indifferent attitude of the society towards him. He was never shown any understanding, respect or kindness by anyone. He did not have any respect for any one and viewed the whole world as a rattrap. He felt that the riches and luxuries of life were baits to entice people into a vicious cycle of struggles, from which there was no escape.
Neither the crofter’s hospitality nor the ironmaster’s invitation to his house brought about any change in him. It was only when he met the ironmaster’s daughter, Edla that his outlook towards life changed. Edla’s warmth, kindness, compassion and genuineness touched him. He left a rattrap as a Christmas gift for Edla and enclosed a letter thanking her for her kindness. He also confessed to stealing money from the crofter and left the money to be restored to the owner. This way, he redeemed himself from his dishonest ways and emerged as an altogether transformed person. In this transformation process he behaved like a real captain, the way Edla addressed him.

Question. Do you think the title ‘The Rattrap’ is appropriate? Give examples from the text in support of your view.
Answer : Selma Lagerlof gives a very apt and logical title to the story. The metaphor of the rattrap is very effectively used. The whole world is nothing but a big rattrap. All riches, joys, food and shelter are just baits. These baits make people restless, helpless and powerless. The moment anyone touches the bait, the rattrap closes in on him. Then everything comes to an end.
The story revolves around the vagabond, who, though philosophises about the world being a rattrap, falls into its trap. Though the crofter shows him kindness by offering him food and shelter, he robs him. His greed for money makes him fall in the rattrap. Further, when the ironmaster mistakes him to be an old friend, he does not correct him. He decides to cheat him of his money. So even though the peddler tries hard not to fall into the rattrap or worldly riches and materialistic benefits, he ultimately falls into one.

Question. Attempt a character-sketch of the peddler in the story ‘The Rattrap’.
OR
The peddler enjoys the sympathy of readers right from the beginning of the story. Draw a character sketch of the peddler justifying the sympathy he generates among the readers.
Answer : Selma Lagerlöf draws the character of the peddler with all sympathy and understanding. Selma wants to give a definite message. The peddler represents some human weaknesses. He is in fact the product of circumstances. But he is never devoid of basic human goodness. Only it lies in hibernation for some time. The essential goodness in him is awakened through love and understanding of Miss Edla Willmansson.
The peddler is so many things, all rolled in one. He is a vagabond cum beggar cum a petty thief. At moments he can raise himself to a philosopher. He philosophises life and compares the world to a big rattrap. Finally, he transforms himself into a ‘gentleman’.
The peddler is a pragmatist. He finds his business not quite profitable. He doesn’t mind resorting to both begging and petty thievery. Nor is he above temptations. He steals 30 kronors of his generous host, the old crofter.
The peddler raises himself above petty worldly temptations in the end. His essential human qualities raise him to heroic heights. He is witty and humorous. He knows how to deal with men and tricky situations. He thanks Miss Edla for her kindness and hospitality. She gives a little cry of joy when he decides to return 30 kronors to the rightful owner. She is requested to return the money to its rightful owner, the old crofter. The readers forgive him for his little human weaknesses. They develop sympathy and appreciation for him.

Question. Describe the peddler’s meeting with the ironmaster. Why did he decline his invitation?
Answer : It was by chance that the peddler found himself at the Ramsjö Ironworks. It was a dark evening before Christmas. The peddler opened the gate and stood close to the furnace. It was nothing unusual for poor vagabonds to have night shelter in the winter in front of the fire. The ironmaster noticed the peddler. He walked close up to him and looked him over very carefully. He mistook him for Captain Stahle, an old comrade of his regiment. He felt sorry that he had resigned from the regiment long ago. The ironmaster invited the peddler home as their special guest on Christmas. The peddler was not amused. He didn’t want to be received by the owner like an old regimental comrade. He looked quite alarmed and declined the invitation.
Going to the manor house appeared like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion’s den. He didn’t want to go there. He only wanted to spend the night in the forge. He wanted to sneak away in the morning unnoticed. Then he thought of the thirty kronors. They were a bait and he couldn’t resist the temptation. Now again the bait had been thrown at him. He had to resist the temptation and decline the invitation. The ironmaster only assumed that the peddler felt embarrassed because of his miserable clothing.

Question. Edla proved to be much more persuasive than her father while dealing with the peddler. Comment.
OR
The peddler declined the invitation of the ironmaster but accepted the one from Edla. Why?
Answer : The peddler was afraid as he was carrying stolen money with him. The peddler knew that the ironmaster had mistaken him for an old regimental comrade and feared that the ironmaster would send him to the police. He felt as if he was walking into a lion’s den. He didn’t want to go there. He only wanted to spend the night in the forge. He wanted to sneak away in the morning unnoticed. Then he thought of the thirty kronors. They were a bait and he couldn’t resist the temptation. However he accepted Edla’s invitation as she spoke kindly to him. She realised that he was afraid. Therefore, she assured him that no harm would come to him and he was at liberty to leave whenever he wanted. The compassionate manner of the daughter won the confidence of the peddler who agreed to go to her home.

Question. Why did the crofter repose confidence in the peddler? How did the peddler betray that and with what consequences?
OR
How did the peddler betray the confidence reposed in him by the crofter in ‘The Rattrap’?
Answer : The peddler did betray the confidence reposed in him by the Crofter. He considered this world nothing but a big rattrap. It sets baits for people. The peddler unwillingly allowed himself to be tempted to touch the bait. Those thirty kronors which the Crofter stuffed into the pouch proved to be bait. He stole the money. By doing so he committed a breach of trust. It was nothing but simple moral degeneration.
One dark evening as he was walking along the road, he saw a gray cottage by the roadside. He knocked on the door to ask shelter for the night. He was well received there. The owner was an old man (crofter) without wife or child. He was happy to find a man to talk to in his loneliness. The old crofter served him supper, gave him tobacco and played a game of cards with him. The old man went to the window and took down a leather pouch. He counted thirty kronors and put it into the pouch. It provided a big bait. The peddler was tempted to steal them. In this way, he betrayed the confidence that was reposed in him by the host.

Question. The story ‘The Rattrap’ focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Explain.
OR
The story also focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others.
Answer : In this story, the author tells us that as normal human beings, we always like to share something with others, be it joy or sorrow. It means that humans do not want to be lonely and they want company of others. In this story, first the peddler is lonely and to overcome this, he sells rattraps. The crofter is lonely, so he welcomes the peddler to have a conversation with him. The ironmaster and his daughter are also lonely. They are rich and have a big house, but they do not have anybody to give them company. Hence, they request the peddler to spend Christmas eve with them. The author has very subtly focused on the loneliness of humans and how they strive hard to get a good companion.

Question. How can we transform and clean an evil doing person? Give example from the story.
OR
Have you known/heard of an episode where a good deed or an act of kindness has changed a person’s view of the world?
Answer : The writer has highlighted a universal theme in this story. It is that we can arouse the goodness in the life of a man by love, understanding, sympathy and respect. Once upon a time, there was a man who went around selling self-made small rattraps of wire. His condition was too miserable to beg and do petty thefts. He was in rags with sunken cheeks and hungry eyes.
One day an idea flashed into his mind. He thought that the whole world around him was a big rattrap. It offered riches, joys, food, shelter, clothing like a bait offering cheese and pork in a rattrap for the rats. Those who were tempted to touch the bait, fell, it closed on them bringing an end to everything. One dark evening while staying at the crofter’s cottage, he was given food and lodging. But the next morning the tramp stole his thirty kronor. He kept on walking the same path in the forest. On hearing the sound of hammer strokes, he reached the iron mill and lay near the furnace.
The ironmaster mistook him to be his old acquaintance and invited him for Christmas cheer but he refused. He sent his daughter Edla, who persuaded him to their house. After having him well dressed, the ironmaster found that he mistook him as Captain ‘Nils Olof.’ So he ordered him to get out at once. The young girl interceded for him and said that she wanted him to stay as they promised him Christmas cheer. He was treated like a real captain with food. In their absence, when they were at church, he left. In the church they learnt that the rattrap seller had robbed the old crofter. So they became worried.
When they returned, the valet told that he had taken nothing with him and had rather left behind a Christmas gift for Miss Willmansson. She found a small rattrap, thirty kronor and a letter in it. The letter stated that she had taken him as if he were a captain, so he would be nice to her as a captain. It had given him power to cleanse himself.

Question. Greed is the greatest evil force that has tempted man into doing a lot of misdeeds. It is greed that has led to so much corruption, violence and mayhem in the world. The peddler in ‘The Rattrap’ is not conscientious nor does he think twice before robbing a crofter. Bearing these thoughts in mind, write an article discussing the qualities that are required for overcoming the Evil of Greed in 100 words.
Answer : Value Points:
Greed is the greatest evil that paralyses the goodness of man.
It spreads like wildfire and makes a man immune to goodness and kindness.
Money, fame, power and property acquired by unfair means is like a vicious cycle—never lets anyone rest in peace.
The consequences of greed are deep and never-ending.
Meditation, consultations, keeping the company of good and honest people can keep the bridle on such men.
It is most important that the desire to overcome greed should come from within.