Rattrap class12 english
Important questions
Rat trap is a story by Selma lagerlof in which she talks about the essential goodness of a man can be awakened by understanding and love.
Some important questions for this chapter are as follows
Long answer type questions
Q. What made the peddler finally change his way?
Or
How does the story The rattrap show the redemptive power of love and compassion?
Or
Describe how the story The rattrap shows the basic human goodness can be brought out by understanding and love.
Ans. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness only light can do ,hate cannot drive out hate only love can do that said Martin Luther King junior".Trust and compassion provide a healing touch to the distracted souls and bring out best in man." The kind, trusting and compassionate behaviour of the ironmaster's daughter, Edla Willmansson awakens the basic human goodness in the peddler. Edla with her persuasive skills belied the peddlers apprehensions gave him assurance convinced him , brought him home and became instrumental in awakening goodness and total transformation in him She pleaded with her father not to send the peddler away even after s wanted to provide the poor vagabond with a day of comfort and solace. knew the truth about him. She took the peddler by the hand up to the table and served him Christmas fish and porridge to eat. She gave him her father's suit as a Christmas present. She also invited him to spend the next Christmas eve with them. Her goodness had paid off and the peddler had transformed. In his letter, he showed his gratitude for her kindness and for treating him like a real captain, He did not want her to be embarrassed at the Christmas season and returned the stolen money. He thanked her for bringing about a change in him, in reforming him and offering him true friendship and high regard.
Que2. How are the attitudes of the ironmaster and his daughter different support your answer from the text?
Or
Delineate the character of ironmaster and his daughter Edla Willmansson
Ans. We must have courage to do what is morally right that is proved by iron masters daughter Edla Willmansson in the story The Rattrap. Edla is very loving caring kind and thoughtful person she shows a lot of generousness magnanimous and observant behaviour and shows true Christian spirit.
She is very observant she notices that peddler is a flat concludes that he has stolen something escaped from jail then she is a better power of persuasion persuasion she was able to convince the peddler to accompany her to the manor house she assures him that she can leave as freely as he comes and in the end even after knowing the truth argues with her father to be kind and generous and to allow the peddler to stay with them in this way she succeeded in transforming the peddler.
Ironmaster appears to be a loving father he is very impulsive and doubting and he is a poor judge of character. Initially he showed a lot of kindness by asking his old acquaintance to come to his house.
Later when he realised that he is not acquaintance it had turned him to handing over to the sheriff and asks him to leave his house as fast as he could.
He was a very ambitious person he watches his work in the mill both day and night make slightly down software inspection and devoted to his work for Ramsjo Iron mill.
About The Lesson
The Rattrap is a wonderful story. It gives voice to the writer’s conviction that no man is criminal by birth.
Secondly, every sinner has a trace of goodness in him which can be awakened through love and understanding. Loving care can change a thief into a decent fellow. This is the theme of the story.
The man in rags was a poor vagabond. He used to beg as well as steal. But he had a thinking brain and
skill to make rat traps. He was a peddler. The wire made rattrap gave him an idea that the whole world was like a trap. It offered the bait of riches , shelter , food etc to innocent people to entrap them first and then get them punished by law.
The protagonist/hero of the story was tired and hungry and in need of a shelter for the night. He found a generous old man/a crofter in a cottage. He was tempted to steal the host’s money. He was caught in
the trap himself. He lost his way in a forest. He took shelter in an iron forge. The ironmaster mistook him for his old comrade , a captain. He sent his daughter to bring the captain home to celebrate Christmas . The hospitality and the sympathy of the hosts changed his view of the world. He was touched deeply by the goodness of the young lady. It proved a turning point in his life. He left the stolen money at the Ironmaster’s home to be returned to the old man and started a new life.
Characters in the story :
Rattrap seller/ peddler/ vagabond /intruder/ tramp/ tall ragamuffin/ guest / stranger / Von Stahle
The old man/ crofter
Iron master/ owner of Ramjso Ironworks
Edla Willmansson /daughter of Iron master
Captain Nils Olof Von Stahle/ an old acquaintance of iron master
The valet / servant at manor
house
Sheriff/ Police officer / official
Master Blacksmith and his helper who sat in the dark forge near the furnace
Elizabeth -wife of Iron master who is no more
Very short answer type questions:
What is the theme of the story ?
Ans. Loving care can change a thief into a decent fellow.
How did the peddler earn his livelihood?
Ans. By making and selling rattraps.
What kind of life did he live ?
Ans. Sad and miserable like a thief or a beggar
What strange idea about the world struck the peddler?
Ans. The whole world was a big Rattrap.
From where did the peddler get the idea of
world being a rattrap ?
Ans. From his Rattraps.
Why was he amused by this idea?
Ans. World was not kind to him.
Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler ?
Ans. As he was alone , he was happy to have someone
Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Ans. No, he stole 30 kronors.
Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to peddler and invite him home ?
Ans. Mistook him for an old acquaintance.
What doubts did Edla have about the peddler ?
Ans. Either stolen something or escaped from jail.
When did iron master realise his mistake?
Ans. After he got the peddler wear new clothes after being bathed and shaven.
Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even
after she had known the truth?
Ans. Invited and promised to stay and celebrate
Christmas
What did Edla and her father hear at the
church?
Ans. Rattrap seller stole 30 kronors from an old
man.
Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by
the peddler ?
Ans. Her trust was not broken
Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain
Von Stahle ?
Ans. Raised himself to the level/stature of Captain.
Short answer type questions:
Why does the peddler think that the world was a rattrap?
Ans. While going round selling his rattraps, he strikes an idea that the whole world around him is nothing but arattrap. It offers riches , joy , shelter, food etc to the people as the rattrap offers cheese and pork for the
rats . It also reflects his thinking ability.
The crofter can be called a good host . Why ?
Ans. He not only gave shelter to the peddler for a night but also served him supper. He welcomed the peddler
with a smiling face . He played cards with him.
What brought about a change in the life of the peddler ?
Ans. It was Edla’s kind , sympathetic behaviour and hospitality . She did not think it better to chase away a
man whom they had invited.
Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler ?
Ans. The letter had words of praise for Edla’s kindness and hospitality . She was happy to see the gift which
was a reward of his goodness. Her trust was not broken.
Long answer type questions: (Character Sketches)
● Rattrap Peddler
Vagabond/Tramp
Makes living by selling rattraps
Business not profitable
Has to beg and steal
Strikes an idea one day
Whole world is a rattrap
Stays at old man’s house one night
Steals his 30 kronor
Lost his way in woods
Reached an iron mill
Stays at the house of iron master
Influenced by Edla’s loving care
Raised himself to real Captain
Starts living a happy life finally
● Edla Willmansson
Daughter of iron master
Kind, compassionate, shy, modest ,
humble
A great host
Keen observer with a sharp intelligence
Persuades the tramp to accompany her
Requests her father to let the peddler stay
Receives the gift of a rattrap with a letter
and 30 kronors
Brings out the hidden but inherent
goodness of the peddler
● Crofter
Old man without wife or child
Lives in a cottage by roadside
Happy to get someone to talk to in his
loneliness
Simple , generous and hospitable
Gives rattrap seller shelter for the night.
Serves porridge , offers big slice from
tobacco roll and plays cards
Tells/trusted rattrap seller about his past
Proud of his cow which supports him,
earns 30 kronors
Shows the pouch hung at window frame
