Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Qa's Rattrap
Qa's Rattrap
Q&A’s
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.
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.
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.
Q4. 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.
Q5. 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.
THINK AS YOU READ
Q1. 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.
Q2. What are the instances in the story that show that the character of the
ironmaster is different from that of his daughter in many ways?
Ans: The ironmaster is impulsive* whereas his daughter is cool, logical, kind and
thoughtful. In uncertain light he (iron master) mistakes the stranger as his old regiment
comrade. He invites him home and takes care of his feeding, clothing etc. When he
sees him in broad day light he calls the man dishonest, demands an explanation and is
ready to call in the sheriff. His daughter is more observant. She notices the fear of the
stranger and thinks that either he is a thief or a run away prisoner. Inspite of that She is
gentle, kind and friendly to him. She treats him nicely even after knowing the mistake in
identity.
Q3. The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to
others’ behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.
Ans: The peddler is surprised at the warm welcome, generous supper, cheerful
company and intimate confidences by the crofter. The ironmaster addresses the peddler
as Captain von Stahle. He is surprised when the ironmaster calls him “Nils Olof. The
ironmaster assumes his declining the invitation a result of embarrassment caused by his
miserable clothing. The peddler’s comparison of the world to a rattrap makes the
ironmaster laugh and he drops the idea of calling in the sheriff.
The peddler looks at Edla in boundless amazement when she tells him that the suit is a
Christmas present. She also invites him to spend next Christmas with them. She does
all this even after knowing the mistake about his identity.The crofter is robbed by his
guest, the rattrap peddler, in return of his hospitality.
Q4. 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.
Q5. 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).
Q6. The peddler comes out as a person with a subtle sense of humour. How7
does this serve in lightening the seriousness of the theme of the story and also
endear him to us?
Ans: The peddler has a subtle sense of humour, which is revealed during his
interactions with the ironmaster and his daughter after the truth about him becomes
known. He is neither afraid of being turned out in cold in rags nor of being sent to
prison. He makes the ironmaster laugh with his metaphor of the rattrap. His letter with
the Christmas present to Edla is a fine example of his capacity to make others laugh at
him. Thus, he lightens the seriousness of the theme of the story and also endears
himself to us.
Q2. The story also focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with
others.
Ans: There are at least three characters in the story who suffer from loneliness and
express the need to bond with others. They represent three strata of the human society
as well. The peddler with the rattraps, the old crofter and the ironmaster all suffer from
loneliness. The peddler is called a tramp, a vagabond and stranger at various points of
the story. He moves wearily from one place to the other. He is lost in his own thoughts.
He seeks shelter for night and people look at him with sour faces. Even the blacksmiths
look haughtily at him and nod consent. The old crofter suffers from loneliness as he has
neither wife nor child with him. Hence, he feels happy when he gets the peddler to talk
to in his loneliness.
The ironmaster is also lonely in his manor house. His wife Elizabeth has died and his
sons are abroad. There is no one at home except his oldest daughter and himself. His
requests to Captain von Stehle to accompany him show his need for human bonding.
He admits frankly that they didn’t have any company for Christmas. The stranger turns
down the request not because he is against bonding with others but because he fears
being caught with stolen money.