Question: In the class 12 lesson The Rattrap, elaborate on the

journey of positive transformation in the rattrap seller.

Ans. The rattrap seller leads a very poor life as his earnings are very low. He has to resort to
thievery and begging to make both ends meet. He is alone in this whole world and leads a miserable
life. He sees the world with a cynical philosophy, viewing the riches and luxuries as cheese inside
the rattrap to trap people. He comforts himself by mocking the rich people for being trapped in the
rattrap.​
He comes across a small cottage where a lonely, old crofter resides. His loneliness lowers his guard,
and he welcomes the rattrap seller inside with an air of transparency and generosity. The rattrap
seller is enticed by the temptations the old man provides and steals the money in the leather pouch.
He runs to the woods to avoid the public areas but gets lost. Scared and lost, he feels frustrated that
he fell for the temptation of riches and is now trapped in the rattrap. He regrets his actions.​
Fortunately, he reaches Ramsjo Ironworks, and sits in front of the fire. The owner or ironmaster
mistakes the rattrap seller to be Captain von Stahle and invites him to a warm Christmas celebration
at his house. The rattrap seller again gets tempted and trapped inside the rattrap. The ironmaster
takes care of the rattrap seller and gets him cleaned up. However, when he realises the true identity
of his guest, he threatens to call the sherrif. The ironmaster’s daughter, Edla was the one who
doubted the rattrap seller’s integrity and identity. However, she can see the regret and guilt in the
peddler. She takes pity on him and his cynical philosophy and asks her father to let him stay for one
Christmas. Edla’s kindness despite his past actions and critical thinking shatters the rattrap seller’s
cynical philosophy.​
Most people are either indifferent and harsh to him, especially after they get to know everything
about him. However, Edla turns out to be completely different, which invokes a profound sense of
gratitude and duty in the vagabond. He returns the stolen money and writes a heartwarming letter to
convey his gratitude. He signs off as Captain von Stahle to showcase his appreciation for a chance
to be a dignified man. His transformation from a vagabond to a dignified captain is the journey of
positive transformation in the rattrap seller.

Question: In The Rattrap, how does the peddler interpret the

acts of kindness and hospitality shown by Edla?
Ans. The cynic softens at the unconditional kindness displayed by Edla. The cynic in question is the
protagonist, the rattrap seller, who sees the world as a rattrap. He sees rich people as rats who are
trapped in a rattrap due to the temptation of riches and luxuries. However, because of his vagabond
lifestyle and poverty, he himself fell into the rattrap many times in the chapter. Edla is the daughter of
the owner of the Ramsjo Ironworks. When she finds out his true intentions and cynical viewpoint,
she feels sympathy for the peddler and convinces her father to let him stay at their mansion. Seeing
someone give him a chance even after knowing his identity and past actions surprises the peddler.
He is amazed by her invitation for him to celebrate Christmas with them next year as well. The
gentle treatment softens the cynic and encourages him to not only return the stolen money but to
redeem himself as a dignified, honourable man
Question: How does the story “The Rattrap” portray the concept
of gratitude and redemption in the rattrap seller? How does it
show the redemptive power of love and compassion?
Ans. “Gratitude can be a driving force for redemption for a criminal.” The statement portrays that
gratitude is a powerful emotion that can motivate a criminal to redeem themself and become a more
respectable individual. In the chapter “The Rattrap”, we see that Edla’s kindness, despite the
peddler’s actions, invokes gratitude in the peddler. He is so amazed by the comfortable stay and the
invitation to come back next year makes the peddler thankful to Edla. He shows his gratitude
through his redemption. He returns the stolen money, does not steal anything from the ironmaster,
and signs off as “Captain von Stahle” to show his reformation.​
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Question: How does “The Rattrap” highlight the power of

kindness and human transformation?
Ans. The Rattrap highlights the power of kindness and human transformation through Edla’s
kindness and the rattrap seller’s redemption. The rattrap seller has never been shown unconditional
kindness. When people get to know the truth about him, they become harsh and indifferent, similar
to the ironmaster. However, Edla allows him to stay at their manor house and requests her father to
fulfill the promise he made to the peddler to give him a warm and comfortable stay for Christmas.
Edla expresses her desire to give the peddler a peaceful rest, where he does not have to fear being
arrested or cross-examined. Edla ensures that the peddler gets ample amount of food, rest, and
even provides a suit for him. The kindness, generosity, and faith in him is a powerful force that
makes him grateful. This gratitude leads him to try to be a respectable and honourable man, by
returning the stolen money and leaving a rattrap as a Christmas present for her.​
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Question: In what way in the Class 12 story The Rattrap does

the character of the Ironmaster differ from that of his daughter?
Ans. The ironmaster and his daughter, Edla Willmansson play a pivotal role in the lesson. However,
both differ greatly in terms of personality and attitude. We see that they both were doubtful of the
peddler’s integrity, but at two different times. Edla was doubtful before she knew the truth, but the
ironmaster had complete faith in him then. In complete contrast, the ironmaster became distrustful
after he became aware of the peddler’s true identity and intentions, but Edla showed kindness and
decided to give him a chance to redeem himself. Therefore, we see that the ironmaster is
compassionate to those he knew and trusted, whereas Edla is compassionate regardless of a
person’s past actions.​
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Question: In the class 12 lesson “The Rattrap”, what was the

philosophy of the peddler about his life?
Ans. The peddler has a cynical philosophy about his life. He views the world as a giant rattrap
containing riches and luxuries as baits that lure people into it. He has seen that every person in the
world is enticed by money, comforts and happiness. Once they get tempted, people get caught in the
trap from which they cannot escape. The cynical philosophy is comforting to the peddler who is
poverty-stricken and feels bitter about his vagabond lifestyle.​
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Question: How is the concept of ‘bait’ illustrated through the

character of the peddler in the story “The Rattrap”? Explain with
the help of instances given in the story.
Ans. The character of the peddler in the story “The Rattrap” believes that the world to be a giant
rattrap in which money and comforts are baits to lure people in. This concept of bait is illustrated in
the story when the peddler himself falls into his own metaphorical rattrap. The peddler takes
advantage of the crofter’s confidence in him and steals his thirty kronor. Therefore, by getting
tempted and stealing the money, the peddler does not have a choice but to run into the woods. He
cannot go out in public because he might get caught. As he runs through the woods, he gets lost. He
walks for hours and hours, trying to find a place to stay. The night falls and the woods become
colder. He hasn’t eaten, drunk water, or rested for a long time. He then realises that he himself has
fallen into the rattrap by stealing the crofter’s money. He then regrets stealing money and faces the
consequences of his actions, making him feel guilty. Therefore, it shows that people get lured by bait
not just out of greed but also out of poverty-driven desperation.

Question: Compare and contrast the crofter and Edla.

Ans. The crofter and Edla are good samaritans but with contrasting attitudes. The crofter is gullible
and foolishly confided his secrets to a stranger and his kindness was taken advantage of. Edla is a
good samaritan but also cautious. She welcomes the peddler only when she knows the complete
truth about his life and intentions. Compared to the crofter, she was smart and wise but
compassionate and understanding.​
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Question: What is the theme of the story “The Rattrap”?

Ans. “The Rattrap” is centered around the power of unconditional kindness to the needy. The
chapter is centered around the changes brought by unconditional kindness and generosity of the
crofter and Edla to the needy and lonely people. Even though the ironmaster’s daughter, Edla
Willmansson, is doubtful of the peddler’s integrity before, she wishes to give the poor man a
comfortable and safe place and she requests her father to let him stay. This invokes the emotion of
amazement and gratitude in the peddler. Gratitude is the driving force for motivation, transformation,
and redemption. Edla’s kindness despite the peddler’s actions invokes gratitude in the peddler. The
peddler is given unconditional kindness which shatters his cynical and pessimistic point of view. He
feels the need to redeem himself in the eyes of the ironmaster and the crofter and take
accountability for his past actions. This leads to a positive transformation in the peddler, from a
ruthless vagabond to a dignified man. We can see his redemption when he returns the stolen money
and signs off the note he left behind as “Captain von Stahle”.