Literary devices
1. Metaphor – the whole world with its lands and seas, its cities and villages – was
nothing but a big rattrap
2. Simile- to go up to the manor house would be like throwing himself voluntarily into
the lion’s den
3. Symbolism- The rattrap as a symbol of life and the foibles of human nature
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Extract based questions with answers: Very short Answers
Q1. He had naturally been thinking of his rattraps when suddenly he was struck by the idea that the
whole world about him- the whole world with its lands and seas, its cities and villages- 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 enclosed on him, and then everything came
to an end.
i) Who is ‘he’ referred to in the extract?
a) The ironmaster b) The peddler
c) The crofter d) The narrator
Ans: b) the peddler
ii) The purpose of the world is to ………………….
Ans: Set bait for the people
iii) What does the world set as bait for people?
Ans: It offered riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing, exactly as the rattrap
offered cheese and pork
iv) “the whole world with its lands and seas, its cities and villages- was nothing but a big
Rattrap”. Identify the figure of speech in the above line.
Ans: Metaphor
v). “And then everything came to an end”. What is the author referring to?
Ans: The end refers to the end of control exercised by people when they are faced with
temptations.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS:
Q2. To go along up to the manor house and be received by the owner like an old regimental comrade
— that, however, did not please the tramp. ‘‘No, I couldn’t think of it!’’ he said, looking quite alarmed.
He thought of the thirty kronor. To go up to the manor house would be like throwing himself voluntarily
into the lion’s den. He only wanted a chance to sleep here in the forge and then sneak away as
inconspicuously as possible. The ironmaster assumed that he felt embarrassed because of his miserable
clothing. ‘‘Please don’t think that I have such a fine home that you cannot show yourself there’’, He
said... ‘‘Elizabeth is dead, as you may already have heard. My boys are abroad, and there is no one at
home except my oldest daughter and myself. We were just saying that it was too bad we didn’t have any
company for Christmas.
i) “ No, I couldn’t think of it!” he said, looking quite alarmed.”
What do these words reflect about the peddler?
a) Casual b) Anxious
c) Terrified d) Dejected
ii) Why was the peddler not pleased with the idea of going to the manor house?
iii) Which among the following words doesn’t mean inconspicuous?
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a) Unnoticeable b) Ostentatious
c) Undistinguished d) Modest
iv) Select the suitable word from the extract to complete the following analogy:
Embarrassment: uneasy :: pathetic:…………………
v) What did the peddler want to do in the forge?
vi) How did the Ironmaster try to convince the peddler to accept his invitation to come
home?
Q3. I never pretended to be anything but a poor trader, and I pleaded and begged to be allowed to stay
in the forge------
(a) Who is the speaker?
i) Edla ii) Iron master iii) Crofter iv) Peddler
(b) Why was he is in the forge?
(c) What is the character trait shown by speaker when he says the above?
(d) The word ‘pleaded’ in the extract means the same as
i) beseech ii) implore iii) both i & ii iv) None of the above
(e) To whom does the speaker say this?
(f) Why did the speaker react as above?
Q4. It was all a mistake of course, she continued. But,anyway I don’t think we ought to chase away a
human being whom we have asked to come here, and to whom we have promised Christmas cheer --
a) What is the ‘mistake’ being spoken about?
b) ‘Christmas Cheer’ here refers to
i) warmth and happiness shared during Christmas ii) Sharing the joy of the festival
iii) Both i &ii iv) None of the above
c) Who is the speaker defending?
d) ‘we’ in the extract refers to
i) the crofter and the ironmaster ii) the father and the daughter
iii) the peddler and the crofter iv) the blacksmith
e) What would be your reaction if you were in place of the speaker?
Short- Answer Questions
Answer the questions in 40-50 words
(Content-1; Spelling & Grammar-1/2; Coherence of ideas -1/2)
1. Why did he compare the world to a rattrap?
Ans: The peddler compared the world to a rattrap because the world was unkind to him and he
understood that everyone gets tempted and gives in at some point or the other in his life- the
baits could be riches, luxury etc.
2. Why did the peddler leave the highway?
Ans: The peddler left the highway due to fear of being caught after having stolen the thirty kroners
from the crofter.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS:
3. What made the ironmaster send his daughter to persuade the peddler?
4. Why does the iron master agree to not chase the peddler away?
5. Why does Edla stop the peddler from going away though she knew that he was not the captain?
6. What trait of the daughter is brought out when her father talks about her being worse than the
parson?
7. Why does he sign as ‘Captain’?
8. Edla was a keen observant unlike her father. Discuss.
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