THE RATTRAP – COMPREHENSION WORKSHEET
Introduction
The Rattrap is a thoughtful story about a poor man who makes and sells
rattraps to earn his living. He believes that the world is like a big trap,
where attractions such as money, comfort and safety act as bait to trap
people. One day, he meets a kind old man who welcomes him into his
home and treats him with warmth and trust. Later, the rattrap seller is
mistaken for an old friend by an ironmaster and is invited to celebrate
Christmas with him and his daughter. The love, respect, and kindness
shown to him bring a change in his heart. He feels guilty about his
wrong actions and decides to return the stolen money along with a
small gift. The story clearly shows how kindness and understanding can
change a person’s life.
Theme
The story highlights the theme that compassion can transform even the
most flawed or cynical individuals. When Edla Willmansson shows the
peddler genuine respect and treats him like an equal, she awakens his
conscience, allowing him to redeem himself by returning the stolen
money.
The narrative also highlights the fundamental human need for
connection, empathy and a sense of belonging.
It also highlights that treating someone with trust and dignity can make
them strive to be worthy of that trust.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:
No one can imagine how sad and monotonous life can appear to such a
vagabond, who plods along the road, left to his own meditations. But
one day this man had fallen into a line of thought, which really seemed
to him entertaining. He had naturally been thinking of his rattraps when
suddenly he was struck by the idea that the whole world about him was
nothing but a big rattrap. It had never existed for any other purpose
than to set baits for people. It offered riches and joys, shelter and food,
heat and clothing, exactly as the rattrap offered cheese and pork, and as
soon as anyone let himself be tempted to touch the bait, it closed in on
him, and then everything came to an end.
i. The use of the word 'plods' suggests that the peddler leads a very
_____________ life.
ii. According to the first line of the extract, how does the man feel about
life?
iii. The man had fallen into a line of thought because:
A. he had been walking for a long time.
B. he had been thinking about his rattraps.
C. he had found it entertaining.
D. both B and C
iv. State whether the statement given below is TRUE or FALSE:
The only purpose for the existence of the world was to set baits and trap
people.
v. The baits offered by the world in the story included _____________ .
vi. Baits used in a rattrap include:
A. cheese and pork
B. glory and fame
C. cheese and fame
D. pork and fame