The Rattrap
A. Very Short Answer Questions
1. Who is the author of “The Rattrap”?
Answer: “The Rattrap” was written by Selma Lagerlöf.
2. What did the peddler sell?
Answer: He sold small wire rattraps.
3. How did the peddler earn his living?
Answer: He earned his living by selling rattraps, begging and sometimes stealing.
4. What idea did the peddler have about the world?
Answer: He believed that the whole world was a giant rattrap.
5. What were the baits in the world’s rattrap?
Answer: Riches, food, shelter, comfort and worldly pleasures.
6. Why did the peddler enjoy thinking about the world as a rattrap?
Answer: The idea amused him because he believed people were easily trapped by worldly temptations.
7. Who was the crofter?
Answer: The crofter was a lonely old man living in a roadside cottage.
8. Why was the crofter happy to see the peddler?
Answer: He was lonely and wanted someone to talk to.
9. How much money did the crofter show the peddler?
Answer: Thirty kronor.
10. Where did the crofter keep the thirty kronor?
Answer: In a leather pouch hanging near the window.
11. What did the peddler do with the crofter’s money?
Answer: He stole the thirty kronor.
12. Why did the peddler avoid the public highway?
Answer: He feared being caught after stealing the money.
13. Where did the peddler lose his way?
Answer: In a forest.
14. Why did he think he had fallen into a rattrap?
Answer: He felt that the stolen money had acted as bait and the forest had trapped him.
15. Where did the peddler finally take shelter?
Answer: At the Ramsjö Ironworks.
16. Who was the owner of the ironworks?
Answer: The ironmaster.
17. Whom did the ironmaster mistake the peddler for?
Answer: Captain von Stahle.
18. Why did the peddler refuse the ironmaster’s invitation at first?
Answer: He feared that going to the manor house might lead to his arrest.
19. Who persuaded the peddler to go to the manor house?
Answer: Edla Willmansson.
20. What did Edla notice about the peddler?
Answer: She noticed that he looked frightened and suspicious.
21. When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?
Answer: The next morning in clear daylight.
22. Why did Edla allow the peddler to stay?
Answer: She believed that a guest invited for Christmas should be treated with kindness and dignity.
23. What did the peddler leave behind for Edla?
Answer: A rattrap, the stolen thirty kronor and a letter.
24. How did the peddler sign the letter?
Answer: He signed it “Captain von Stahle.”
25. What is the central theme of “The Rattrap”?
Answer: Kindness and compassion can awaken the goodness in a person and bring about redemption.
B. Short Answer Questions
1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Answer:
The peddler made and sold small wire rattraps. While thinking about his trade, he suddenly imagined that the whole world worked in the same way as a rattrap. He believed that worldly pleasures and comforts acted as bait and trapped people who were tempted by them.
2. Why was he amused by this idea?
Answer:
The peddler found the idea amusing because it gave him a cynical way of looking at people and life. He took pleasure in imagining that everyone who chased wealth, comfort or pleasure was like a rat caught by bait.
3. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality he received from the crofter?
Answer:
No. The peddler was used to being turned away or treated with suspicion. Therefore, the crofter’s warm welcome, food, tobacco, conversation and companionship surprised him.
4. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Answer:
The crofter lived alone and had no family with him. He was lonely and longed for company. Therefore, he was happy to have the peddler as a guest and eagerly talked to him.
5. Why did the crofter show the thirty kronor to the peddler?
Answer:
The crofter wanted to prove that he had really earned money by selling milk from his cow. He proudly showed the three ten-kronor notes without suspecting that the peddler might steal them.
6. Did the peddler respect the crofter’s trust?
Answer:
No. Although the crofter treated him kindly and trusted him completely, the peddler returned after leaving, broke the window pane and stole the thirty kronor.
7. What made the peddler think that he had fallen into a rattrap?
Answer:
After stealing the money, the peddler avoided the highway and entered the forest. There he lost his way and kept wandering in circles. He then realised that the money had been the bait and that he himself had been caught in the trap.
8. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Answer:
In the dim light of the forge, the ironmaster mistook the peddler for his old regimental comrade, Captain von Stahle. Believing that his former friend had fallen on hard times, he invited him home for Christmas.
9. Why did the peddler decline the ironmaster’s invitation?
Answer:
The peddler knew that he was not Captain von Stahle and had stolen money in his pocket. He feared that going to the manor house would expose him and lead to his arrest. Therefore, he refused the invitation at first.
10. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?
Answer:
Edla spoke gently and assured him that he would be free to leave whenever he wished. Her sincere kindness and calm manner made him trust her, and he finally agreed to go with her.
11. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Answer:
Edla noticed that the peddler looked frightened and uneasy. She suspected that he might have stolen something or escaped from prison. She also doubted whether he was really the captain her father believed him to be.
12. When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?
Answer:
The ironmaster realised his mistake the next morning when he saw the peddler clearly after he had been washed, shaved and dressed properly. In daylight, he understood that the man was not Captain von Stahle.
13. What did the peddler say in his defence?
Answer:
The peddler said that he had never claimed to be a captain or the ironmaster’s friend. He reminded the ironmaster that he had initially refused the invitation and had only come because they insisted.
14. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler after learning the truth?
Answer:
Edla felt that it would be wrong to send him away after inviting him for Christmas. She wanted him to enjoy one peaceful day and treated him with kindness and respect despite his true identity.
15. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Answer:
Edla was happy because the peddler had returned the stolen thirty kronor and left a grateful letter. His action proved that her kindness had awakened his honesty and self-respect.
16. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
Answer:
Edla had treated him with the dignity of a respectable man. Her goodness inspired him to behave like the captain she had believed him capable of being. Signing as Captain von Stahle symbolised his moral transformation.
C. Understanding the Text
1. How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and Edla?
Answer:
The peddler reacts differently to each person’s kindness.
The crofter’s hospitality surprises him, but he does not respond morally. Instead, he betrays the crofter’s trust by stealing his money.
The ironmaster’s kindness makes him suspicious because it is based on a mistaken identity. He fears that the invitation may become another trap.
Edla’s kindness is different because it remains genuine even after she knows the truth about him. Her respect, sympathy and trust awaken his conscience. Because of her, he finally changes his ways and returns the stolen money.
2. How is the ironmaster different from his daughter Edla?
Answer:
The ironmaster is impulsive and his kindness is conditional. He warmly invites the peddler only because he believes him to be Captain von Stahle. When he learns the truth, he quickly becomes angry and wants to send him away.
Edla, however, is compassionate, perceptive and consistent. She treats the peddler kindly even after learning his true identity. She believes in human dignity and keeps her promise of Christmas hospitality. Her unconditional kindness finally transforms him.
3. Mention some unexpected reactions in the story.
Answer:
The story contains several surprising reactions. The crofter warmly welcomes a stranger, though the peddler later robs him. The ironmaster unexpectedly mistakes the peddler for an old friend. Edla invites the peddler despite her doubts about him. Most surprisingly, the peddler returns the stolen money and leaves a grateful letter. These unexpected actions make the story engaging and meaningful.
4. What made the peddler finally change his ways?
Answer:
Edla’s genuine kindness, trust and respect changed the peddler. She treated him like a human being of worth even after learning that he was not a captain. Her compassion awakened his dormant goodness and self-respect. As a result, he returned the stolen money and tried to become worthy of the respect she had shown him.
5. How does the metaphor of the rattrap highlight the human condition?
Answer:
The rattrap metaphor represents the way human beings are tempted by wealth, comfort and pleasure. Just as a rat is attracted by bait and gets trapped, people may be lured by worldly temptations and end up in trouble.
The peddler himself becomes an example when he steals the crofter’s money and later gets lost in the forest. Yet the story also shows that a person can escape such a trap through kindness, self-awareness and moral change.
6. How does the peddler’s sense of humour lighten the seriousness of the story?
Answer:
The peddler’s idea of the world as a giant rattrap is dark but also amusing. His cynical observations and witty way of explaining human weakness add humour to an otherwise serious story about poverty, loneliness and crime. This humour makes him more human and prevents the story from becoming too gloomy.
D. Long Answer Questions
1. Describe the peddler’s meeting with the old crofter. How did he repay the crofter’s kindness?
Answer:
One evening, the peddler knocked at the door of an old crofter and asked for shelter. Unlike most people, the crofter welcomed him warmly. Being lonely, he was glad to have someone to talk to.
He gave the peddler supper, tobacco and companionship. They talked and played cards. The crofter proudly told him that his cow earned him good money and even showed him thirty kronor kept in a leather pouch.
The next morning, the peddler left. However, tempted by the money, he returned to the cottage, broke the window pane and stole the thirty kronor.
Thus, instead of respecting the crofter’s generosity, he betrayed his trust. The incident also proves his own theory about the world as a rattrap because he himself was caught by the bait of money.
2. Discuss Edla Willmansson’s role in transforming the peddler.
Answer:
Edla is the most important force behind the peddler’s transformation. Unlike the crofter and the ironmaster, her kindness is unconditional.
When she first meets the peddler, she notices his fear and speaks to him gently. She assures him that he may leave whenever he wants. Even after the ironmaster discovers that the peddler is not Captain von Stahle, Edla insists that he should stay for Christmas because they had invited him.
She gives him food, comfort and dignity without demanding anything in return. For perhaps the first time in his life, the peddler feels genuinely respected.
This experience awakens his conscience. Before leaving, he returns the stolen thirty kronor, leaves a rattrap as a gift and writes a letter thanking Edla. He signs himself “Captain von Stahle” because her kindness has helped him rise morally to the level of an honourable man.
Thus, Edla proves that compassion and respect can bring out the hidden goodness in a person.
3. Explain the significance of the title “The Rattrap.”
Answer:
The title “The Rattrap” is highly appropriate because the rattrap is the central metaphor of the story.
The peddler believes that the world is like a giant rattrap. Wealth, food, comfort and pleasure are the bait. Once people are tempted, they get caught in trouble just as rats are caught in a trap.
Ironically, the peddler himself falls into such a trap when he steals the crofter’s thirty kronor. The money becomes the bait and his theft leads him into fear and danger.
However, the story does not end in despair. Through Edla’s kindness, the peddler escapes the moral trap and changes himself.
Thus, the title symbolises both human weakness before temptation and the possibility of redemption.
4. “The Rattrap” is a story of transformation. Discuss.
Answer:
“The Rattrap” is fundamentally a story of moral transformation.
At the beginning, the peddler is poor, lonely, cynical and dishonest. He believes that the world is a trap and does not hesitate to betray the crofter’s trust by stealing his money.
His attitude begins to change when he meets Edla. Unlike others, she treats him with respect and kindness without judging him. Even after learning that he is not Captain von Stahle, she allows him to stay for Christmas.
This unexpected compassion awakens his better nature. By the end, he returns the stolen money and writes a grateful letter. He signs himself as Captain von Stahle, showing that he has accepted a more honourable identity.
Therefore, the story shows that kindness and trust can transform even a person who has lost faith in society.
5. Compare the characters of the ironmaster and Edla Willmansson.
Answer:
The ironmaster and Edla differ greatly in temperament and attitude.
The ironmaster is impulsive and somewhat superficial. He invites the peddler home because he mistakes him for an old army friend. Once he discovers the truth, his generosity disappears and he becomes angry.
Edla is more perceptive and compassionate. From the beginning, she suspects that something is wrong, yet she treats the peddler gently. Even after his identity is exposed, she continues to respect him.
The ironmaster judges the peddler by identity and social status, while Edla judges him as a human being deserving dignity. Ultimately, it is Edla’s kindness, not the ironmaster’s hospitality, that reforms him.
6. How does the story deal with loneliness and the human need for companionship?
Answer:
Loneliness is an important theme in the story.
The peddler lives a rootless and isolated life. His lack of human warmth contributes to his cynical view of the world. The crofter is also lonely and welcomes the peddler mainly because he wants companionship.
The ironmaster and Edla too are happy at the thought of having a guest for Christmas.
The story suggests that human beings need connection, sympathy and understanding. Edla’s companionship and compassion have the deepest effect because they restore the peddler’s faith in human goodness.
E. Talking About the Text
1. Why does the reader sympathise with the peddler?
Answer:
The reader sympathises with the peddler because he is poor, lonely and treated harshly by society. Although he steals, the story also shows that he is not completely bad. His later transformation proves that he still possesses moral goodness. His difficult circumstances and his ability to change make him a sympathetic character.
2. How does the story focus on human loneliness?
Answer:
The peddler, the crofter and even the ironmaster’s household experience loneliness in different ways. The crofter’s loneliness makes him talkative, while the peddler’s isolation makes him cynical. Edla’s kindness shows how genuine human contact can heal loneliness and restore self-respect.
3. How can an act of kindness change a person?
Answer:
A sincere act of kindness can make a person feel valued and respected. This may awaken self-respect and a desire to behave better. In the story, Edla’s kindness makes the peddler ashamed of his dishonesty and inspires him to return the stolen money.
4. Why is the story both entertaining and philosophical?
Answer:
The story is entertaining because of its unusual characters, mistaken identity, ironic situations and the peddler’s humorous rattrap theory. At the same time, it is philosophical because it explores temptation, morality, loneliness, human dignity and the power of kindness.
F. Working with Words
1. Different terms used for the peddler
Peddler — refers to his occupation as a wandering seller.
Stranger — shows that he is unknown to the people he meets.
Tramp — reflects his homeless, wandering life.
Vagabond — suggests his rootless existence.
Ragged fellow — points to his shabby appearance and poverty.
2. Words showing tired or heavy movement
Lurch — move suddenly and unsteadily.
Stumble — lose balance while walking.
Slog — walk with heavy effort.
Clump — walk heavily and noisily.
Traipse — walk tiredly or reluctantly.
G. Thinking About Language
1. Terms related to ironworks
Answer:
Some terms related to ironworks are:
-
Furnace
-
Hammer strokes
-
Smelter
-
Rolling mill
-
Forge
-
Pig iron
-
Coal dust
-
Anvil
These words belong to the technical setting of an iron plant.
2. Name some indoor games.
Answer:
Chess, carrom, ludo and cards.
3. What is a crofter?
Answer:
A crofter is a person who owns or rents a small farm, especially in Scotland.
H. Important Additional Questions
1. Why did the ironmaster mistake the peddler for Captain von Stahle?
Answer:
The light in the forge was dim and uncertain. Looking at the peddler’s face and appearance from a distance, the ironmaster wrongly imagined that he was an old regimental acquaintance.
2. What did Edla notice at the forge?
Answer:
She noticed that the peddler was frightened and did not behave like a confident former army captain.
3. What was Edla’s real Christmas gift to the peddler?
Answer:
Her real gift was dignity, trust and unconditional kindness.
4. What did the peddler leave as a Christmas present?
Answer:
He left a small rattrap containing the stolen thirty kronor and a letter for Edla.
5. How did the peddler redeem himself?
Answer:
He returned the stolen money, expressed gratitude and chose to behave honestly after being treated with kindness.
6. What does the crofter episode reveal about the peddler?
Answer:
It reveals his weakness before temptation and his willingness to betray trust when he sees an opportunity.
7. What does Edla represent in the story?
Answer:
Edla represents compassion, understanding and the power of human goodness.
8. What does the forest symbolise?
Answer:
The forest symbolises confusion, fear and the moral trap into which the peddler has fallen.
9. What does the rattrap gift at the end symbolise?
Answer:
It symbolises the peddler’s awareness of his old way of life and his escape from that moral trap.
10. What is the main message of the story?
Answer:
The story teaches that no person is beyond redemption and that kindness and respect can awaken goodness even in someone who has gone astray.
I. MCQs — 20
1. Who wrote “The Rattrap”?
A) Selma Lagerlöf
B) Anees Jung
C) William Douglas
D) Alphonse Daudet
Answer: A) Selma Lagerlöf
2. What did the peddler sell?
A) Shoes
B) Rattraps
C) Books
D) Tools
Answer: B) Rattraps
3. How much money did the crofter show the peddler?
A) Twenty kronor
B) Forty kronor
C) Thirty kronor
D) Fifty kronor
Answer: C) Thirty kronor
4. Whom did the ironmaster mistake the peddler for?
A) A shopkeeper
B) A worker
C) A farmer
D) Captain von Stahle
Answer: D) Captain von Stahle
5. Why was the crofter friendly with the peddler?
A) He was lonely
B) He wanted money
C) He knew him already
D) He needed work
Answer: A) He was lonely
6. What did the peddler steal?
A) Food
B) Thirty kronor
C) A coat
D) A horse
Answer: B) Thirty kronor
7. Where did the peddler lose his way?
A) On the highway
B) At the ironworks
C) In the forest
D) Near the manor
Answer: C) In the forest
8. Who persuaded the peddler to come to the manor?
A) The crofter
B) The sheriff
C) The ironmaster
D) Edla Willmansson
Answer: D) Edla Willmansson
9. What did the peddler compare the world to?
A) A rattrap
B) A cage
C) A market
D) A prison
Answer: A) A rattrap
10. What was the main bait that trapped the peddler?
A) Food
B) Money
C) Clothes
D) Shelter
Answer: B) Money
11. When did the ironmaster discover his mistake?
A) At night
B) In the forge
C) The next morning
D) After Christmas
Answer: C) The next morning
12. Why did Edla let the peddler stay?
A) She feared him
B) She wanted his money
C) She thought he was a captain
D) She believed in treating him kindly
Answer: D) She believed in treating him kindly
13. What changed the peddler’s behaviour?
A) Edla’s kindness
B) The crofter’s anger
C) The ironmaster’s threat
D) The forest
Answer: A) Edla’s kindness
14. What did the peddler leave in the rattrap?
A) Food
B) The stolen money
C) A ring
D) A key
Answer: B) The stolen money
15. The crofter kept the money in—
A) a box
B) a drawer
C) a leather pouch
D) a tin can
Answer: C) a leather pouch
16. What is the main theme of the story?
A) War
B) Adventure
C) Wealth
D) Redemption through kindness
Answer: D) Redemption through kindness
17. What was Edla’s strongest quality?
A) Compassion
B) Pride
C) Anger
D) Suspicion
Answer: A) Compassion
18. Why did the peddler refuse the ironmaster at first?
A) He disliked Christmas
B) He feared being caught
C) He was ill
D) He wanted to sleep
Answer: B) He feared being caught
19. What does the forest mainly symbolise?
A) Freedom
B) Wealth
C) Confusion and entrapment
D) Celebration
Answer: C) Confusion and entrapment
20. How did the peddler sign his letter?
A) The Rattrap Seller
B) The Stranger
C) The Vagabond
D) Captain von Stahle
Answer: D) Captain von Stahle
Teacher Generate Question Answer
The Rattrap
1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Ans: The peddler earned his living by selling small rattraps. While thinking about them one day, he suddenly developed the idea that the entire world was like a giant rattrap. According to him, the world offers various temptations such as wealth, comfort, food and shelter just like bait placed in a trap. When people become attracted to these temptations, they get trapped in difficulties and suffering, just like rats caught in a rattrap.
2. Why was he amused by this idea?
Ans: The peddler found this idea amusing because it allowed him to look at life in a philosophical way. He believed that people were easily tempted by the pleasures and riches of the world and eventually suffered because of them. Thinking about the world as a rattrap helped him make sense of his own difficult and lonely life, and this thought entertained him.
3. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
Ans: No, the peddler did not expect such warm hospitality from the crofter. Usually, people greeted him with suspicion or unpleasant expressions. However, the crofter welcomed him kindly, offered him food and tobacco, and even played a game with him. The crofter was happy to have someone to talk to and share his loneliness.
4. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Ans: The crofter lived alone without any family members. Because of his loneliness, he was eager to have someone to talk to. When the peddler arrived at his cottage, the crofter happily welcomed him and engaged in friendly conversation. His talkative nature was mainly due to his desire for companionship.
5. Why did he show the thirty kronor to the peddler?
Ans: The crofter proudly showed the thirty kronor to prove that he was not poor and could earn money through his cow’s milk. He took out the money from a pouch and showed it openly in front of the peddler before putting it back. This act unknowingly tempted the peddler and later led him to steal the money.
6. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Ans: No, the peddler did not respect the crofter’s trust. Although the crofter had treated him kindly and offered him food and shelter, the peddler later returned to the cottage, broke a window pane, and stole the pouch containing the thirty kronor. This act showed that he betrayed the crofter’s confidence.
7. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Ans: After stealing the money, the peddler entered a forest to avoid being caught. As he wandered there, he realised that he had lost his way. At that moment, he remembered his earlier thought about the world being a rattrap. He felt that the stolen money had acted as bait, trapping him in trouble just like a rat caught in a trap.
8. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Ans: The ironmaster mistook the peddler for an old acquaintance whom he had known during his military days. Believing him to be Captain von Stahle, he treated him kindly and invited him to his house for Christmas. The ironmaster also hoped that the guest would bring some company to his lonely home during the festival.
9. Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
Ans: The peddler refused the ironmaster’s invitation because he feared being exposed as an impostor. He thought that going to the manor house would be dangerous, like entering a trap. Since he had already stolen money from the crofter, he did not want to risk getting caught.
10. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?
Ans: Edla Willmansson approached the peddler with kindness and understanding. She spoke to him politely and requested him to spend Christmas Eve at their house. Her sincere and compassionate attitude made the peddler feel respected and comfortable. Because of her gentle persuasion, he finally agreed to accept the invitation.
11. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Ans: Edla observed the peddler carefully and felt that something about him was unusual. She suspected that he might not be the person her father thought he was. She even wondered if he might have stolen something or escaped from prison. Despite these doubts, she still treated him kindly.
12. When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?
Ans: The ironmaster realised his mistake the next morning when he saw the peddler clearly in daylight. At that moment, he understood that the man was not his former acquaintance. Feeling deceived, the ironmaster became angry and felt that he had been cheated.
13. What did the peddler say in his defence?
Ans: When the truth was revealed, the peddler explained that he had never pretended to be anyone else. He had not claimed to be the ironmaster’s acquaintance. He said that he was only a poor peddler and was ready to leave quietly without causing any trouble.
14. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
Ans: Even after discovering the truth, Edla believed that the peddler deserved kindness. She felt it would be wrong to turn away a guest whom they had invited for Christmas. Out of sympathy and respect for human dignity, she allowed him to stay and enjoy the festive meal.
15. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Ans: Edla was pleased to discover that the peddler had left the stolen thirty kronor along with a letter and a small gift for her. By returning the money, he proved that he had changed and was not truly dishonest. This act of honesty and gratitude made Edla happy and relieved.
16. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
Ans: The peddler signed himself as Captain von Stahle as a way of honouring the respect and kindness he had received at the ironmaster’s house. Edla’s sympathy and trust inspired him to behave like a noble person. By returning the stolen money and leaving a gift, he tried to prove that he could rise above his past actions.
Understanding the Text
1. How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter?
Ans: The peddler reacts differently to the kindness shown by each person. The crofter treats him warmly and offers him food and shelter, but the peddler betrays this kindness by stealing his money. When the ironmaster invites him home, the peddler becomes suspicious and thinks it might be a trap.
However, Edla’s genuine kindness and sympathy deeply affect him. Her respectful treatment awakens his sense of honesty and self-respect. Because of her compassion, he decides to return the stolen money and behave like a responsible person.
2. What are the instances in the story that show that the character of the ironmaster is different from that of his daughter?
Ans: The ironmaster and his daughter Edla have very different personalities. The ironmaster is practical and quick to become angry when he discovers the truth about the peddler. He feels cheated and immediately asks him to leave.
In contrast, Edla is kind, compassionate and understanding. She believes that the peddler should still be treated with respect because he was invited as a guest. Her sympathy ultimately inspires the peddler to change his behaviour.
3. Mention some unexpected reactions in the story.
Ans: The story contains several surprising events. The crofter unexpectedly welcomes the peddler and treats him kindly, but the peddler later betrays him by stealing his money. Another surprise occurs when the ironmaster mistakes the peddler for an old acquaintance and invites him home.
The greatest surprise appears at the end of the story when the peddler returns the stolen money and leaves a gift for Edla. This act shows that he has changed and proves that kindness can transform a person.
4. What made the peddler finally change his ways?
Ans: The peddler changes because of Edla Willmansson’s kindness and understanding. She treats him with dignity even after discovering his true identity. Her compassion awakens his inner goodness and inspires him to act honestly. As a result, he returns the stolen money and expresses his gratitude through a letter and a gift.
5. How does the metaphor of the rattrap highlight the human condition?
Ans: The rattrap metaphor represents the way people become trapped by worldly temptations. Just like a rat is lured into a trap by bait, humans are attracted by wealth, comfort and pleasure. Once they give in to these temptations, they may find themselves caught in problems and suffering. Through this idea, the story shows the dangers of greed and the importance of self-control.
6. How does the peddler’s sense of humour lighten the seriousness of the story?
Ans: The peddler’s humorous way of thinking about the world as a giant rattrap adds a light and thoughtful tone to the story. Even though he lives a difficult life, he manages to see life from a philosophical and sometimes amusing perspective. His witty remarks make the story more engaging while also helping readers reflect on deeper truths about human life.
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