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Question
How did the peddler feel after robbing the crofter? What course did he adopt and how did he react to the new situation? What does his reaction reveal?
Solution
Immediately after robbing the cobbler, the peddler was very pleased with his own smartness.
He made his escape through the forest for he dared not take the public highway. However, he soon got lost in the woods and realised that he had been walking around in the same area. Left in despair, he recollected his own thoughts on the world being a giant rattrap. A sudden realisation came to him that he had finally got himself caught in the rattrap because he allowed himself to be tempted by the bait, the thirty kronor bills.
This reveals that the rattrap peddler was not a downright evil character. He was a victim of his situation. His conscience was not dead as yet. He had to resort to beggary and stealing because his business was not profitable enough to make both ends meet. His condition of penury does not allow him to be fully righteous.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
Answer the following in 125-150 words:
How did the peddler feel after robbing the crofter? What course did he adopt and how did he react to the new situation? What does his reaction reveal?
Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meanings from the context.
- keep body and soul together
- hunger gleamed in his eyes
- plods along the road
- unwonted joy
- impenetrable prison
- nodded a haughty consent
- eased his way
- fallen into a line of thought
- things have gone downhill
Why was he amused by this idea?
Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?
Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter?
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?
The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’ behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.
The peddler comes out as a person with a subtle sense of humour. How does this serve in lightening the seriousness of the theme of the story and also endear him to us?
Discuss the following in groups of four. Each group can deal with one topic. Present the views of your group to the whole class.
The story is both entertaining and philosophical.
The man selling rattraps is referred to by many terms such as “peddler, stranger” etc. Pick out all such references to him. What does each of these labels indicate of the context or the attitude of the people around him?
Mistaken identity led to a discovery of a new one for the rattrap peddler. How did this impact him?
In Edla's dealing with the peddler, she was compassionate and generous. Discuss with reference to the story "The Rattrap".
What Christmas present did the peddler give Edla? Explain its significance.
Answer the following question in about 40-50 words.
How does the setting of the remote forest location in 'The Rattrap' contribute to the overall tone and mood of the story?
Answer the following question in about 40-50 words.
Who was Edla Willmansson? Why did she visit the forge at night?
