MP Board Question Bank English Lesson 04 Question Answer
The
Rattrap ( Author : Selma Lagerlof )
Question
Answer
Q1.
From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Ans:
The peddler had been thinking of his rattraps when suddenly he was struck by
the idea that the whole world was nothing but a big rattrap. 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 and pork. As soon as
someone let himself be tempted to touch the bait, it closed in on him, and then
everything came to an end.
Q2.
Why was he amused by this idea?
Ans:
His own life was sad and monotonous. He walked laboriously from place to place.
The world had never been kind to him. So, during his gloomy ploddings, this
idea became his favourite pastime. He was amused how people let themselves be
caught in the dangerous snare and how others were still circling around the
bait.
Q3.
Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the
crofter?
Ans:
The crofter served him porridge for supper and tobacco for his pipe. He also
played a game of cards with him till bed time. This hospitality was unexpected
as people usually made sour faces when the peddler asked for shelter.
Q4.
Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Ans:
The crofter’s circumstances and temperament made him so talkative and friendly
with the peddler. Since he had no wife or child, he was happy to get someone to
talk to in his loneliness. Secondly, he was quite generous with his
confidences.
Q5.
Why did he show the thirty kronor to the peddler?
Ans: The crofter had told the peddler that by supplying his cow’s milk to the creamery, he had received thirty kronor in payment. The peddler seemed to doubt it. So, in order to assure his guest of the truth he showed the thirty kronor to the peddler.
Q6.
Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Ans:
No, the peddler did not respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter.
At the very first opportunity that he got, he smashed the window pane, took out
the money and hung the leather pouch back in its place. Then he went away.
Q7 .
What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Ans: The peddler realised that he must not walk on the public highway with the stolen money in his pocket. He went into the woods. He kept walking without coming to the end of the wood. Then he realised that he had fallen in the rattrap. He had let himself befooled by a bait and had been caught in.
Q8.
Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Ans:
The ironmaster walked closely up to the peddler. In 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, spoke very kindly and invited
him home.
Q9.
Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
Ans:
The peddler knew that the ironmaster had mistaken him for his old regimental comrade.
Secondly, he had stolen money—thirty kronor—on him. Going to the ironmaster’s
residence would be like entering the lion’s den. So, he declined the
invitation.
Q 10.
What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?
Ans:
Miss Edla Willmansson looked at the peddler quite compassionately. She noticed
that the man was afraid. She assured him that he would be allowed to leave just
as freely as he came. She requested him to stay with them over Christmas Eve.
Her friendly manner made the peddler feel confidence in her and accept her
invitation.
Q 11.
What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Ans: As
Edla lifted the peddler’s hat, he jumped up abruptly and seemed to be quite
frightened. Even her kind looks, disclosure of her name and purpose of visit
failed to calm him. From his fear, she thought that either he had stolen
something or he had escaped from jail.
Q 12.
When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?
Ans: Next morning, the stranger was cleaned and well-dressed. The valet had bathed him, cut his hair and shaved him. He was led to the dining room for breakfast. The ironmaster saw him in broad daylight. It was impossible to mistake him for an old acquaintance now. Then the ironmaster realised his mistake and threatened to call the Sheriff.
Q 13.
How did the peddler defend himself against not having revealed his true
identity?
Ans:
The peddler explained that he had not tried to pretend as his acquaintance. He
was not at fault. All along he had maintained that he was a poor trader. He had
pleaded and begged to be allowed to stay in the forge. No harm had been done by
his stay. He was willing to put on his rags again and go away.
Q 14.
Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about
him?
Ans:
Edla did not think it proper on their part to chase away a human being whom
they had asked to come to their house and had promised him Christmas cheer. She
understood the reality of the peddler’s life and wanted him to enjoy a day of
peace with them. Hence, she still entertained the peddler even after knowing
the truth about him.
Q15.
Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Ans: As
soon as Edla opened the package of the gift, the contents came into view. She
found a small rattrap with three wrinkled ten kronor notes and a letter
addressed to her. The peddler wanted to be nice in return as she had been so
nice to him all day long. He did not want her to be embarrased at the Christmas
season by a thief.
Q 16.Why
did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
Ans:
The ironmaster has invited the peddler to his house mistaking him for Captain
von Stahle. He was welcomed there and looked after as captain even after the
reality became known. The peddler got a chance to redeem himself from dishonest
ways by acting as an honourable Captain.
Q 17.
What made the peddler finally change his ways?
Ans:
Edla Willmansson treated the tramp in a friendly manner. She was nice and kind
to her. She interceded on his behalf when her father was about to turn him out.
She still entertained the peddler even after knowing the truth about him. She
offered him the suit as Christmas present and invited him to spend the next
Christmas with them. Her love and understanding aroused the essential goodness
in the peddler and finally he changed his ways.
Q 18.
How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
Ans:
The world entices a person through the various good things of life such as
riches and joy, shelter and food, heat and clothing. These were just like the
baits in the rattrap. Once someone is tempted by the bait, the world closed on
him.The peddler was tempted by thirty kronor of the crofter. It makes him hide
himself. He walks through the wood. He is afraid to go to the Manor house. He
gets peace only after returning the bait (money).
Q 19.
How did the peddler look? Was he different from people of his type?
Ans: He
was a man with a long beard, dirty, ragged, and with a bunch of rattraps
dangling on his chest. His clothes were in rags, his cheeks were sunken, and hunger
gleamed in his eyes. No, he looked like the way people of his type usually did.
Q 20.
What do you learn about the Ramsjo Ironworks from ‘The Rattrap’?
Ans:
The Ramsjo Ironworks used to be a large plant, with smelter, rolling mill and
forge. In the summer time long fines of heavily loaded barges and scows slid
down the canal. In the winter time, the roads near the mill were black from
charcoal dust.
Q 21.
What is the theme of the story ‘The Rattrap’ ? How has this theme been
developed?
Ans:
The theme of the story is that most human beings are prone to fall into the
trap of material benefit. However, every human being has an essential goodness
that can be awakened through understanding and love. A human being has the
tendency to redeem himself from dishonest ways.
The
theme is developed with the help of the metaphor of the rattrap. The peddler of
rattraps calls the world a big rattrap. The material benefits like riches and
joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing are temptations that that allure a
person to fall into the rattrap of the world exactly as the bait of cheese and
pork attract a rat to fall into the rattrap. Once someone takes the bait, the
world closes in on him and then everything is lost.
The
peddler is tempted by the thirty kronors of the old crofter. He steals the
money. Now he is afraid of being caught and moves through the woods. It is the
kind, sympathetic, loving and generous treatment given by Edla Willmansson that
helps him get himself free from the rattrap of the world.
Notice
these expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context,
Answer:
(i)
keep body and soul together : Stay alive
(ii)
hunger gleamed in his eyes : he was so hungry that the feeling of his being
hungry shone with dim light from his eyes itself.
(iii) unwonted
joy : means the unaccustomed or unusual joy.
(iv)
nodded a haughty consent : gave a nod of acceptance in an arrogant manner.
(v)
fallen into a line of thought : started thinking of a single significant
thought.
(vi)
things have gone downhill: the situation or the conditions of his life have
been badly deteriorated.
(vii)
plods along the road : moving along the road slowly but deliberately, to walk
with a heavy feet.
(viii)
impenetrable prison : means a prison or a jungle that cannot be entered, passed
through or seen through.
(ix) eased his way : his way was made less unpleasant by coming close to furnace.
