Unit-4 Rattrap

Summary
The story is told in the manner of a fairy late and starts with ‘once upon a time there was a poor man who sold
rat-traps of wire’. His income from the traps was not enough. So he also begged and stole petty things at times.
Once an idea struck him that the world was like a rat-trap full of temptations to trap men. Man is tempted by the
baits of wealth; power like a rat is tempted by the cheese in a rat trap. The man selling rat-traps lived a poor life
without enough food or proper shelter. So he looked upon the world like this in the light of his own sufferings.
Once he took shelter in the house of a man who had been a crofter in Ramsjo Iron-Works. The man was without
any family and lonely. He welcomed the peddler.
The crofter was friendly and generous. He was offered supper and tobacco. They also played a game of cards told
him about his life and showed him the thirty kroner that he kept near the window. The peddler stole the money
and left. Initially, he was happy to get the money but very soon fearing detection, he avoided the highway. He
then saw the forge of the Ramsjo Iron-Works and went there to spend the night near the forge. At that time, the
iron-master, the owner of the factory, came in. The iron-master mistook him to be his old friend, Nils Olof, with
whom he had served in the regiment. To help his friend who he perceived had fallen into bad days, he invited the
peddler to his house. The peddler realized that the iron-master was making a mistake but he did not correct him
in the hope that he might give him some money.
He did not want to go to the ironmaster’s house as he feared that he might be detected. The iron-master sent his
daughter when he failed to convince the peddler. The kind-hearted daughter of the iron-master, Edla Willmansson,
was compassionate and loving. She suspected that the man might have committed some crime. But she ignored
that and thought that the man, haunted by fear, must have lived a miserable life. She wanted to give him at least
a night’s peace and security. She assured the peddler that in her house, he would be safe and he would be free to
leave anytime. She persuaded him to be her guest on Christmas Eve. The genuine compassion Edla showed gave
the man a sense of peace and security. He slept as if he wanted to make up for the sleepless nights he had spent
throughout his life. The following morning, on Christmas Eve, the ironmaster and his daughter discussed how to
help the peddler. The ironmaster planned to help him regain his health and also to assist him in finding a vocation
for himself. The peddler was bathed, shaved and given a haircut. When he presented himself to his host. The
ironmaster realised that it was not his comrade. He threatened to call the sheriff but Edla intervened. She
persuaded her father to let him stay and not to chase away a person who had been promised good cheer by the
ironmaster. The daughter gave him the suit that he was given to wear and she invited him next Christmas also and
assured him of secrecy and security. The peddler was overwhelmed. The next morning, he left the manor house.
But before leaving, he left the packet containing the thirty kroner of the crofter. He wrote a letter to Edla asking
her to return the money to the crofter. He wrote that she had treated him with respect as if he were a real captain.
She had treated him as a man and not as a thief. That genuine regard had induced him to be a better man and give
up stealing. The genuine compassion and kindness of Edla changed the life of a thief and turned him into a better
man.

MCQ
[Link] peddler’s rattraps were made of
(a) wood (b) aluminium (c) wire (d) plastic
[Link] rattrap peddler used to resort to
(a) thievery and begging (b) teaching (c) counselling (d) preaching
[Link] vagabond compared the whole world to a
(a) planet (b) universe (c) space (d) rattrap
[Link] peddler often thought about people who
(a) had caught rats (b) who had been tempted to touch the bait
(c) were thieves (d) were priests
[Link] old man in the grey cottage
(a) welcomed the peddler (b) shooed away the peddler
(c) fought with the peddler (d) got into an argument
[Link] old man and the peddler played a game after supper. The game was
(a) rummy (b) moulds (c) Snakes and ladders (d) Ludo
[Link] old man was very generous with his
(a) confidence (b) money (c) food (d) guest
[Link] old man told the peddler that he had been an
(a) milkman (b) crofter (c) carpenter (d) Goldsmith
[Link] crofter had received a payment of
(a) forty kroner (b) thirty kroner (c) twenty-five kroner (d) ten kroner
[Link] was the mistake made by the old man when the peddler was in his house?
(a) he asked his address (b) called the police
(c) showed him where he had kept his thirty kroner (d) abused him
[Link] rattrap peddler returned to the man’s house in order to
(a) steal the thirty kroner (b) say thanks to the old man
(c) take the bag he had left behind (d) note down the address of the old man
[Link] did the peddler realize when he walked and walked in the forest without coming to the end of the wood?
(a) felt sorry for himself (b) felt very foolish at his decision
(c) he realized he had only been walking around in the same part of the forest
(d) he had to call up home now
13. He felt he had been fooled by a
(a) prankster (b) bait (c) crofter (d) policeman
14. The peddler heard some hard thumping sounds coming from
(a) an iron mill (b) a thresher (c) a harvester (d) a windmill
15. The peddler entered the gate of the iron mill with the intention of
(a) asking for food (b) meeting the master smith
(c) shelter from rain and cold (d) chatting with his friends
16. Who came to the iron-mill on a round of inspection?
(a) the policeman (b) the ironmaster
(c) the caretaker (d) the security guard
17. The ironmaster mistook the rattrap peddler for
(a) an old regimental comrade (b) an old servant
(c) an old employee (d) an old cousin of his wife
18. The peddler was invited by the ironmaster to stay at his house. This made the peddler
(a) jump up with joy (b) feel uncomfortable
(c) feel guilty (d) feel alarmed
19. The ironmaster lived in the manor with his
(a) sons (b) wife (c) oldest daughter (d) old mother
20. Who was finally able to convince the peddler to go to the ironmaster’s house as a guest during Christmas?
(a) the blacksmith (b) the apprentice
(c) the ironmaster’s daughter (d) the guard at the iron mill
21. The name of the ironmaster’s daughter was
(a) Emily Dickinson (b) Edla Willmansson
(c) Sophia Loren (d) Mary
22. The young girl first suspected the peddler to be a
(a) smart young man (b) foolish fellow
(c) thief (d) insane person
23. The purpose of her visit to the iron-mill was to
(a) persuade the rattrap seller to spend Christmas Eve at their house
(b) propose to him
(c) counsel him
(d) advise him to give up stealing
24. What made the peddler agree to go with the girl?
(a) Her beautiful looks (b) Soft voice
(c) Stern expression (d) Friendly manner
25. The girl had brought with her the following article to make him feel warm
(a) A blanket (b) A woollen shawl (c) A sweater (d) A fur coat
26. Sitting in the carriage with the young girl, the rattrap seller was deep in thought. He felt
(a) guilty at having stolen the crofter’s money (b) ashamed at coming with the girl
(c) nervous and tense (d) confident
27. The first move of the ironmaster was to make sure that the guest could
(a) gain some flesh on his bones (b) have verification done
(c) be given some money (d) be given some clothes
[Link] second thing of priority for the rattrap seller was to
(a) make him sleep comfortably (b) take him to a doctor
(c) get him a better job (d) to marry him to someone
29. What did the ironmaster feel when he saw the rattrap seller after he was well groomed by his valet?
(a) Not pleased (b) Very happy (c) Suspicious (d) Angry
30. The reason for his unhappiness was that
(a) he looked ugly now (b) he came to know he was a thief
(c) he had made a mistake in recognizing him (d) he hated the way he looked
31. The stranger’s reaction to the ironmaster was
(a) he made no attempt to hide his feelings (b) he was angry
(c) he denied it completely (d) he started screaming
32. The tramp argued with the ironmaster saying that
(a) he could just go back (b) he was smarter than them
(c) he could celebrate Christmas (d) he did not want to marry Edla
33. The rattrap peddler gave the ironmaster a lecture on
(a) how the world is a rat trap (b) how to be honest
(c) how to be ethically correct (d) how to be professional
34. The reaction of the ironmaster to the peddler’s lecture was that
(a) he shouted at him (b) he made fun of him
(c) he laughed (d) he slapped him
35. What did the ironmaster’s daughter say when the peddler was about to leave?
(a) she asked him to stay for that day only
(b) she said she wanted to go with him
(c) she told him not to mind what her father had said
(d) she asked him to leave after 2 days
36. The daughter wanted the peddler to stay so that he could
(a) enjoy at least Christmas with them (b) eat a meal with them
(c) play cards with them (d) play a game of poker with them
37. The rattrap peddler spent most of his Christmas Eve
(a) laughing (b) singing (c) playing (d) sleeping
38. Where did the ironmaster and his daughter learn that the peddler was a thief?
(a) at the church (b) at the market
(c) at a play (d) in the house of a friend
39. What did the package left for Edla contain?
(a) a small rattrap with 30 kroner on it (b) a small bangle
(c) a necklace (d) a diamond ring
40. The rattrap peddler left a note with the package. The note was signed as
(a) the peddler (b) the thief (c) the tramp (d) captain Von Stahle

Question answers
1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world is a rat trap?
Ans. The tramp went around selling small rattraps made of scrap wire. One day he was struck by the idea that
the whole world was nothing but a big rat trap. 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. As soon as someone let
himself be tempted to touch the bait, it closed in on him and then everything came to an end.

2. Why was he amused by this idea?

Ans. His own life was sad and monotonous. He was a vagabond, lonely and isolated from me any family life. The
world had treated him harshly. So it gave him some joy to think of the world this way. It became a pastime for
him to think of people letting themselves being caught in the dangerous trap of others who were still circling
around the bait.
3. Did the rattrap maker expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
Ans. The peddler was surprised at the kind of hospitality that he received at the crofter’s home. He was invited
inside with a smile and he was made to feel quite welcome instead of the usual hostile and sour faces that he met.
He was served hot porridge for supper and the crofter shared his pipe tobacco with him. They also played a game
of moulds. Thus the tramp was treated well by the crofter.
4. What made the man think that he had fallen into a rat trap?
Ans. After stealing the money from the crofter, the tramp turned into the forest. He wanted to avoid walking on
the road. Confused and disoriented by the trees in the forest and the narrow twisting paths, he realized that he was
lost. Tired and cold, he lay down in despair feeling that the forest had transformed into a rattrap. He felt guilty as
if he was caught by the bait.
5. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Ans. The peddler betrayed the trust that the crofter had on him by breaking the window pane and removing the
thirty boners from the leather pouch. He had seen the crofter keeping the money in the pouch and hanging it on a
nail near the window frame.
6. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rat trap?
Ans. After having stolen thirty kroner from the crofter, the peddler realized that he could not walk on the public
highway and so he turned off the road into the woods. It was a big and confusing forest and the paths twisted back
and forth. He walked for a long time without coining to the end of the woods. He finally realized that he had been
walking around in the same part of the forest. Recalling his thoughts about the world, and the rattrap he realized
that he had let himself be fooled by a bait and had been caught.
7. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Ans. The ironmaster walked closely up to the peddler and looked him over very carefully. Due to 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 and invited him home to spend the Christmas with him and his daughter.
8. Why did the peddler decline the invitation of the ironmaster?
Ans. The peddler was aware of the fact that the ironmaster had extended an invitation to his comrade Captain
Von Stahle. He also knew that after stealing the crofter’s money, he was at a risk of getting caught. So, he declined
the invitation.
9. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?
Ans. Edla’s ability to persuade and convince the peddler to stay on made him accept the invitation. She was
compassionate and friendly. She asked him not to be afraid and assured him that he could go away freely after
Christmas dinner. She begged him to join them for Christmas. Her sincerity and friendly nature made the peddler
accept the invitation.
10. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Ans. Just as Edla lifted the peddler’s hat he jumped up abruptly and seemed to be quite frightened. Her kind looks,
her compassionate and friendly nature could not calm him. She perceived that it looked as if he had stolen
something or had escaped from jail.
11. When did the ironmaster realize his mistake?
Ans. The ironmaster realized his mistake when he met the stranger the next morning. The valet had bathed him,
cut his hair and shaved him. Moreover, he was dressed in a suit which belonged to the ironmaster. He wore a
white shirt, a starched collar and whole shoes. When the ironmaster saw him in broad daylight it was impossible
to mistake him for an old acquaintance. The ironmaster threatened to hand him over to the sheriff.
12. How did the peddler defend himself against not having revealed his true identity?
Ans. The peddler explained that he had made no pretensions regarding his true identity. He was not at fault. All
along he had maintained that he was a poor trader. He had requested to be allowed to stay alone. He was willing
to put on his rags again and go away.

13. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
Ans. Edla did not think it proper to chase away a human being whom they had invited to their house and promised
Christmas cheer. She understood the reality of the peddler’s life and wanted him to enjoy a day with them. Hence
she still entertained the peddler even after knowing the truth about him.
14. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Ans. Edla was happy to see the gift left by the peddler. It was a small rattrap in which lay three wrinkled ten
kroner notes. There was also a letter written in a large jagged handwriting. It was a confession made by the
peddler. He did not want to embarrass her in the Christmas season by his deeds.
15. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain Von Stable?
Ans. The ironmaster had invited the peddler to his house mistaking him for Captain Von Stahle. He was welcomed
there and looked after as a Captain, even after the reality became known. The peddler got a chance to redeem
himself from his dishonest ways by acting as an honourable Captain. He did so by gifting Edla a small rattrap
with three wrinkled ten kroner notes and a letter saying that he did not want her to be embarrassed in the Christmas
season by a thief and he wanted to behave as if he were a real Captain.
16. Why did the blacksmith fail to notice the entry of the peddler in the forge?
Ans. The forge was a noisy place. The big bellows groaned and the burning coal made cracking sounds. The fire
boy was shovelling charcoal into the furnace noisily. A waterfall roared outside. The sharp north wind made the
rain strike the brick-tiled roof. Hence the blacksmith did not notice the peddler entering the forge.
17. What two plans did the ironmaster reveal to his daughter at breakfast on Christmas Eve? How did the
daughter react?
Ans. The ironmaster firstly decided that the old regimental comrade (the peddler) had to gain some flesh on his
bones. Then he must choose a different profession and not run around the country selling rattraps. The daughter
reacted by saying that the previous night there was no indication to show that he had once been an educated man.
18. Why did the crofter show the thirty kroner to the peddler?
Ans. The crofter had told the peddler that by supplying coins milk to the creamery, he had received thirty kroner
in payment. The peddler gives an expression of disbelief. In order to reassure the peddler, the crofter showed him
the corners.
19. What were the contents of the letter addressed to Miss Willmansson?
Ans. The peddler did not want Edla to be embarrassed at the Christmas season with a thief. As she had been nice
to him as if he were a captain, the former would be nice to her as if he were a real captain. He asked her to return
the thirty kroners 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 in his capacity of a captain that he got power to clear
himself.
20. The peddler thinks that the whole world is a rat trap. This view of life is true only of himself and of no
one else in the story. Comment.
Ans. 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 great pleasure to think ill of it. Ironically, he finds himself trapped like a rat when
he steals the thirty kronor 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.
21. Why didn’t the stranger tell the ironmaster that he was not Nils Olof?
Ans. The ironmaster mistook the peddler to be his old acquaintance called Nils Olof. The tramp, however, did
not tell the ironmaster that he was not Nils Olof because he thought that it might be profitable. He expected that
the ironmaster would give him a few honour taking him to be his old friend.
Z22. Why did peddler derive pleasure from his idea of the world as a rat trap?
Ans. The peddler developed an idea that the world is a rat trap. It offers food, shelter, clothing and luxuries just
to entrap us in the same way in which the rattrap entrapped its victims through cheese and pork. The idea appealed
and pleased him as he was in a state of abject poverty and had nothing and used to envy those who were in a
better position than him.

23. Why did Edla plead with her father not to send the vagabond away?
Ans. Edla was a kind-hearted lady. When she came to know the reality of the peddler, she shows her sympathy
for him. She knew that he had no home or family. There was no place in the world where he was welcome. Due
to her tender and kind nature, she pleaded with her father not to send the stranger away and allow him to stay at
home for Christmas.
24. Why did the peddler knock on the cottage by the roadside? How was he treated by the owner of the
cottage?
Ans. The peddler walked on the road the whole day. He was hungry and felt cold. The night was about to fall and
he wanted to take shelter at some place to spend the night. That’s why he knocked on the cottage by the roadside.
The crofter, who was the owner of the cottage, treated him with warmth, gave him food and shelter and treated
him well.
25. Who was peddler? What was the thought that took hold of his fancy?
Ans. The peddler was a poor vagabond who used to make rattraps to earn his living. One day while making the
rattrap, a thought struck him that this world is a rat trap for all the people. Food, clothes and luxuries and comforts
work as bait like cheese and pork.
26. Describe the evening that the peddler spent with the crofter.
Ans. The peddler was offered warm hospitality at the crofter’s house that night. The crofter gave him food and
shelter for the night. He offered him tobacco and played `majlis’ with him. He even shared his life’s experiences
and secrets. He even showed him the thirty kronor that he had saved.
27. ‘The man was just as generous with his confidences as with his porridge and tobacco.’ What was the
outcome of this?
Ans. The crofter was over-generous to the peddler. He not only gave him food and shelter but shared his
confidence and showed him the money that he had saved. This tempted the tramp to steal the money. Next
morning when they both left the house together, the peddler came back and stole the money.
28. What were the precautions that the peddler took to remain undetected as a thief?
Ans. In order to remain undetected as a thief, the peddler left the highway and took the mute of the forest. He lost
his way in the forest and after some time realised that he was moving around the same point. Moreover, when at
the Ramsjo Ironworks, he was invited by the ironmaster to his home. He declined the invitation due to the fear of
being caught.
29. Why was the peddler surprised when he knocked at the door of the cottage?
Ans. The Peddler was surprised when he knocked at the door of the cottage and received a warm welcome there.
He was not refused shelter. Moreover, he was offered warmth and hospitality. The crofter gave him food and
tobacco. He played ‘majolis’ with him and showed him the thirty kronor that he had earned.
30. Why did the peddler have to keep to the woods after leaving the cottage? How did he feel?
Ans. The peddler had stolen thirty kronor from the crofter’s house. The fear of being caught kept him away from
the highway and made him take a route to the forest. But he lost his way in the forest and, after walking throughout
the day, came back to the same point in the forest. He was dead tired and felt hungry and cold. He could not find
the way out of the forest and so felt as if trapped. At this time, he felt he was caught in a rat trap, likened to a
prison with no escape.
31. What were the peddler’s feelings as night fell in the woods?
Ans. As the night fell, the peddler lost his way in the forest. He could not find his way out and realised that he
was moving around the same point. He was extremely exhausted and hungry by this time and was feeling cold.
At this point, he realised that he had been caught in a rat trap with no escape route.
32. Who did the ironmaster mistake the peddler to be? Why did the latter not reveal his identity? How did
his true identity come to light?
Ans. The ironmaster mistook the peddler to be his old acquaintance, Nils Olof, who was his regimental comrade.
The tramp did not reveal his identity because he was scared of being caught. Moreover, he thought he might get
some money from the ironmaster as his old acquaintance. When the ironmaster and his daughter went to church
for Christmas service, they came to know that a vagabond had robbed the crofter. They apprehended that it was
none other than the peddler.
33. What was EdlaWillmansson’s assessment of the peddler? What rationale did her father give for the
coarse ways of the peddler?
Ans. EdlaWillmansson had her doubts about the peddler. She noticed that the peddler was very scared. She
thought him to be either a thief or an escapee. She wondered how could her father’s regimental Comrade have
nothing about him to show that he had once been an educated man. But her father said that the circumstances and
his harsh experiences had made him like that. He believed that once he was treated nicely, given a bath and a
shave, he would regain his original personality.
34. What was the peddler’s explanation to the ironmaster for withholding his true identity? How did he
manage to convince the ironmaster not to bring in the law to sort out the matter?
Or
How did the peddler defend himself against not having revealed his true identity?
Ans. The peddler said that he had never pretended to be someone other than a tramp. Moreover, he had refused
to come to Ironmaster’s house and wanted to stay in the forge. When ironmaster threatened to call the sheriff, the
tramp used his theory of rattrap. He said that if the ironmaster would treat him this way, he would also suffer a
similar fate.
35. What was the sentiment expressed by the tramp in the letter that he left for Edla? Why had he signed
himself as Captain von Stahle?
Ans. In his letter to Edla, the tramp had expressed his gratitude to her for treating him with dignity and respect.
Her love and respect had brought out the goodness in him and saved him from being caught in the rattrap of the
world. He requested her to return the money to its rightful owner. He signed the letter as Captain von Stahle as
he had been raised to the status of a captain and had his dignity restored by Edla.
36. The Rattrap is a story where a good deed or an act of kindness changes a person’s view of the world.
Discuss with reference to the theme.
Ans. ‘The Rattrap’ is an entertaining and philosophical story that reveals the theme of the human tendency to
redeem oneself from dishonest ways. The tramp proves the idea that the essential goodness of human beings can
be awakened through understanding and love. Circumstances had forced the peddler to indulge in petty crimes.
Even though he used to sell rattraps made from scrap metal, his poverty had brought out the worst in him, making
him bitter and killing his conscience.
The tramp’s view of the world was a cynical one: he envied those who were better off than him. He believed the
world to be like a rat trap that offered temptations like shelter and food for entrapping victims. The peddler did
not hesitate to steal money from the crofter even though he enjoyed his hospitality and warm welcome. Pangs of
guilt troubled him when he lost his way in the forest. His bitter and hardened temperament received a chance for
repentance when he encountered the ironmaster and his daughter.
The author brings an effective twist in the story to show that innate goodness exists in all human beings. It takes
a little love, understanding and an act of friendship to bring it to the fore. The iron master’s daughter showed him
sympathy, honour and respect and gave him a sense of dignity. This touched a chord in the heart of the peddler
who at once felt that he was no longer the nameless tramp that he had been all his life but somebody with an
identity. He redeemed himself by returning the stolen money as he had felt motivated by Edla’s kindness.
37. The peddler believed that the whole world is a rat trap. How did he himself get caught in the
same?
Ans. 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 rat trap. 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 kronor 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 released from the rat trap. 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 the strength to come
out of that trap.