PRESIDENCY GROUP OF SCHOOLS
Bangalore/ Mangalore
KEY NOTES
SUBJECT- ENGLISH
GRADE – XII
THE RATTRAP
Multiple Choice Questions based on an extract.
…it was a big and confusing forest which he had gotten into. He
tried, to be sure, to walk in a definite direction, but the paths
twisted back and forth so strangely! He walked and walked
without coming to the end of the wood, and finally,
he realized that he had only been walking around in the same
part of the forest. All at once he recalled his thoughts about the
world and the rattrap. Now his own turn had come. He had let
himself be fooled by a bait and had been caught. The whole
forest, with its trunks and branches, its thickets and fallen logs,
closed in upon him like an impenetrable prison from which he
could never escape.
i. How would you characterize the mood of the above extract?
a. mysterious, restful
b. ominous, despairing
c. thoughtful, whimsical
d. philosophical, anguished
ii. By what bait had the peddler been fooled?
a. He had chosen to take the ‘safe’ forest route.
b. He had decided to avoid the public highway.
c. He had stolen money from the trusting crofter.
d. He didn’t realize the power of his rattrap analogy.
iii. The consequence of ‘his own turn’ having come was that the
peddler had ___________
a. got irreversibly lost in the thick, warped forest.
b. been fooled and imprisoned in a hopeless prison.
c. been walking around the same part of the forest.
d. walked the whole forest without finding the end.
iv. The above extract richly employs literary devices. Look at the
table below.
Choose the option that correctly matches the instances/ examples
in Column A with the literary devices in Column B:
a. 1 - (i); 2 – (ii); 3 – (iii); 4 – (iv)
b. 1 – (iv); 2 – (i); 3 – (ii); 4 – (iii)
c. 1 – (iii); 2 – (iv); 3 – (i); 4 – (ii)
d. 1 – (ii); 2 – (iii); 3 – (iv); 4 – (i)
1. If the world is “nothing but a big rattrap” as the tramp stated
in the story ‘The Rattrap’, who might the rattrap peddler be?
Discuss.
Ans. In the story "The Rattrap," if the world is considered "nothing but a
big rattrap," the rattrap peddler could symbolize the individuals who
manipulate and deceive others, trapping them in a cycle of greed and
materialism. He represents the temptations and traps that lead people
astray from genuine human connection and happiness.
2. Despite his philosophical insights, the vagabond fails to resist
temptations. What would you attribute this to? Explain with
reference to any instance from the text.
Ans. Despite his philosophical insights, the vagabond fails to resist
temptations due to his deep-rooted desire for material comfort and
security. This is evident when he succumbs to the allure of money and
steals the banknotes from the ironmaster's house, disregarding his own
principles and succumbing to the temptation of immediate gain.
3. What might be the significance of setting the story’s events
during Christmas? Justify your opinion.
Ans. Setting the story's events during Christmas adds a significant layer
of symbolism. Christmas is a time associated with generosity, compassion,
and the spirit of giving. By placing the events during this holiday, the
author highlights the themes of redemption, kindness, and the potential
for positive transformation, emphasizing that even those who are trapped
in their circumstances can find hope and a chance for change.
4. How does the setting of the remote forest location in 'The
Rattrap' contribute to the overall tone and mood of the story?
Ans. Serves as a significant backdrop for the events that unfold in the
story.
creates a sense of isolation and desolation, emphasizing the
loneliness and despair that the peddler experiences
the harsh winter conditions and the barren landscape add to the
overall tone of melancholy and hopelessness
the forest also represents the metaphorical wilderness of the human
soul, highlighting the struggles and temptations that people face in
their journey through life.
Therefore, the setting plays a vital role in establishing the mood and
atmosphere of the story.
5. Explain how the rattrap symbolises the dual aspects of human
nature. (The Rattrap)
Ans. Dual –
The tendency towards greed and deceit - society, driven by wealth
and gain, ensnares individuals, reducing their existence to a
constant struggle to escape from materialistic enticements.
The potential for redemption through empathy and kindness –
kindness and trust by the ironmaster’s daughter, Edla, inspires the
peddlar to reclaim his essential humanity and escape the identity of
a thief - signified by his decision to return the stolen money and
leaving a note explaining his thoughts about the world being a
rattrap.
6. A mistaken identity led to a discovery of a new one for the
rattrap peddler. How did this impact him?
Ans.
Gave him the power to clear his conscience
Brought out his latent goodness
Lent him the conviction to become a better human/ a chance at
elevating himself from being a thief
7. What did the gift of the rat trap signify?
Ans.
small rat trap with thirty kronor and a note
wishes money to be returned to the crofter
confesses that he had made a mistake
got caught in his own rat trap
thanks for treating him like a real captain
turns over a new leaf
Life is one big rat trap, one gets trapped by own deeds
everyone should get a second chance to improve oneself.
Allowed him the opportunity to behave in a dignified manner
befitting that of a Captain.