The 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.

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.

THINK AS YOU READ

Q1. 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.
Q2. 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.

Q3. 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.

THINK AS YOU READ

Q1. 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.

Q2. 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.

Q3. 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.

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.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.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

Q1. How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by
the crofter, the iron master and his daughter?
Ans: The peddler interprets the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter,
the iron master and his daughter differently. He cheats the crofter as he provides him
company in his loneliness and helps him pass time. He wants to get a couple of kronors
from the iron master and is surprised at the contrasting style of behaviour of father and
daughter. He is touched by the kindness, care and intervention of Edla on his behalf.

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.

TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT

Discuss the following in groups of four. Each group can deal with one topic and
present the views of your group to the whole class.
Q1. The reader’s sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning of the
story. Why is this so? Is the sympathy justified?
Ans: The peddler wins our sympathy for his way of life and how the world treats him. It
is an admitted fact that the underdog always runs away with sympathy, so does the
peddler with the rattraps. He begs the material like wire for his rattraps. His business not
being specially profitable, he resorts to begging and petty thievery to keep body and
soul together.
His life is sad and monotonous. He plods along the road lost in his own meditation. The
world has never been very kind to him and he feels happy in calling it a rattrap.
Whenever, he asks shelter for the night, he meets sour faces. He is an unwelcome,
unwanted and undesirable figure. The blacksmiths at forge glance at him only casually
and indifferently. The master blacksmith nods a haughty consent without honouring him
with a single word.
The old and lonely crofter finds him an enjoyable company. The ironmaster mistakes
him for an old regimental comrade. Only Edla Willmansson behaves with him in a kind,
friendly manner. Her nice treatment arouses the tramp’s goodness. He redeems himself
Hy returning the stolen money and wins our admiration. Thus, we see that the sympathy
is not only well earned but well justified too.

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.

Q3. Have you known/heard of an episode where a good deed or an act of

kindness has changed a person’s view of the world?
Ans: Yes, I know how the kindness of a Bishop transformed a hard-hearted beastly
convict into a man again with faith in God and human values. The story is presented in
the form of a famous play ‘The Bishop’s Candlesticks’
The Bishop provides food and shelter at midnight to a runaway convict who threatens
him with a knife. Long years of imprisonment and harsh treatment in the prisonship has
transformed the man into beast and he is devoid of all human feelings now. The convict
runs away with the Bishop’s silver candlesticks, but is caught by the police.
In order to save the convict from further punishment and torture, the Bishop tells the
police officer that the fellow is his friend and he had himself given him the candlesticks.
This kind act of the Bishop melts the hard heart of the convict. He sobs and weeps. He
promises to be a man again.

Q4. The story is both entertaining and philosophical. Discuss.

Ans: The story entertains us by providing glimpses into human nature and how people
react to various situations. The actions of the peddler after stealing thirty kronor are
quite amusing. The reactions of the blacksmiths to the tramp’s request for shelter show
how casual and indifferent human beings can be.
The U-turn in the ironmaster’s attitude towards the stranger reveal how selfish and
ignorant human beings can be. Mistaking the vagabond for his old regimental comrade,
whom he thinks he has run across unexpectedly, he asks the stranger to accompany
him home and spend Christmas with them. When the stranger refuses to go with him,
the ironmaster sends his daughter. With her better persuasive power she makes him
follow her.
The ironmaster is annoyed on seeing the stranger in broad daylight. But instead of
realising his own mistake, he puts the blame on the man. He talks of handing him over
to the sheriff. The metaphor of the world being a rattrap saves the situation for the
tramp, but the ironmaster wants to turn him out. His daughter’s comments are quite
entertaining and philosophical. She wants the tramp to enjoy a day of peace. Secondly,
she does not want to chase away a person whom they had invited home and had
promised Christmas cheer.