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प्रश्न
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?
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उत्तर
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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संबंधित प्रश्न
Answer the following question in 120−150 words:
The peddler believed that the whole world is a rattrap. How did he himself get caught in the same?
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
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?
When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?
Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter?
The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’ behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.
How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
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 a group of four. The group can deal with the given topic. Present the view of your group to the whole class.
The reader’s sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning of the story. Why is this so? Is the sympathy justified?
Discuss the following in a group of four. The group can deal with the given topic. Present the view of your group to the whole class.
The story also focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others.
Discuss the following in a group of four. The group can deal with the given topic. Present the view of your group to the whole class.
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?
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?
If the Christmas spirit is about selflessness, forgiveness and becoming 'better' versions of ourselves amongst other things, Edla Willmansson is the epitome of this spirit. Justify with two points of evidence from The Rattrap.
The iron master accuses the peddler of not being quite honest. What does the peddler say to justify the situation?
Answer the following question in about 40-50 words.
Explain the metaphor of the rattrap.
Answer the following question in about 40-50 words.
Who was Edla Willmansson? Why did she visit the forge at night?
