The Rattrap

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.

Q7. 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.

Q8. 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.

Q9. 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.

Q10. 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.

Q11. 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.

Q12. 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.

Q13. 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.

Q14. 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.

Q15. 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.

Q16.Why 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.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

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 identity.The 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 him.The 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.

TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT

Discuss the following in groups of four. Each group can deal with one
topic and present the views of your group to the whole class.
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.

Q3. 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?
Ans: Yes, I know how the kindness of a Bishop transformed a hard-
hearted beastly convict into a man again with faith in God and human
values. The story is presented in the form of a famous play ‘The Bishop’s
Candlesticks’. The Bishop provides food and shelter at midnight to a
runaway convict who threatens him with a knife. Long years of
imprisonment and harsh treatment in the prison ship has transformed the
man into beast and he is devoid of all human feelings now. The convict
runs away with the Bishop’s silver candlesticks, but is caught by the
police. In order to save the convict from further punishment and torture,
the Bishop tells the police officer that the fellow is his friend and he had
himself given him the candlesticks. This kind act of the Bishop melts the
hard heart of the convict. He sobs and weeps. He promises to be a man
again.

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.

Q5. 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.

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