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The Rattrap Important Questions, Question 1., Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle? (All India 2009), Answer:, Edla Willmansson had been rather nice to the peddler and had treated him with the honour that was, due to a Captain. The peddler, through this mistaken identity, got an opportunity to raise himself, and get above the petty temptations of the world. So he signed himself as Captain von Stahle., Question 2., Why did the peddler think that the world was a rattrap? (All India 2009), Answer:, The peddler considered the whole world as a big rattrap, its sole purpose being to set baits for, people. The joys and riches of this world are nothing but tempting baits and anyone who is tempted, by them was captured by the rattrap which completely closed in on him., Question 3., Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler? (All India 2010), Answer:, Edla was happy to see the gift left by the peddler as he had respected her faith in him. Edla had, retained him in her house even after knowing his real identity and he, in turn, had shown her that, the guest she had honoured was as honourable as the Captain. The latent goodness of his heart had, been awakened and he had been able to overcome the bait of the rattrap., Question 4., Which act of the crofter surprised the peddler? Why? (Comptt. Delhi 2010), Answer:, The peddler was always shunned away wherever he went. No one treated him with kindness and so, he had lost all hope of being shown any kind of warmth. But when he approached the crofter’s, roadside cottage he was surprised by the latter’s warm welcome and generous hospitality., Question 5., How was the peddler treated at the crofter’s cottage? (Comptt. All India 2010), Answer:, At the crofter’s cottage the peddler was welcomed warmly and received generous hospitality. The, crofter was an old and lonely man and the prospect of getting the peddler’s company overjoyed him., So he poured all his warmth and friendly courtesy on the peddler., Question 6., Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler? (Delhi 2011), Answer:, The crofter was lonely. He lived alone in his cottage without a wife, a child or any companion. Since, he suffered from acute loneliness he was extremely happy when he got the peddler’s company. That, is why he was so talkative and friendly with the peddler., Question 7., Why was the peddler surprised when he knocked on the door of the cottage? (All India 2011), Answer:, At the crofter’s cottage the peddler was welcomed warmly and received generous hospitality. The, crofter was an old and lonely man and the prospect of getting the peddler’s company overjoyed him., So he poured all his warmth and friendly courtesy on the peddler.
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Question 8., What made the peddler finally change his ways? (All India 2011), Answer:, The peddler was touched by Edla’s kind treatment. She treated him like a Captain in spite of knowing, his real identity. This awakened the latent goodness of his heart because he wanted to show Edla he, was worthy of the honour she had given him. So he finally changed his ways., Question 9., Why did the peddler keep to the woods after leaving the crofter’s cottage? How did he feel? (All, India 2011), Answer:, The peddler discards the public highway and keeps to the woods after leaving the crofter’s cottage, because he wants to avoid being caught with the thirty kronors that he had stolen from the crofter’s, house. He walks through mazes of forest paths but lands nowhere. When he realizes he has been, trapped he feels extremely tired and sinks to the ground in despair., Question 10., Did the stranger agree to go to the ironmaster’s house? Why or why not? (Comptt. Delhi 2011), Answer:, Initially the stranger declined the ironmaster’s invitation. He had the stolen thirty kronors on him, and thought it was like going into the lion’s den. But then he accepted the ironmaster’s invitation, because Edla’s sympathy and compassion allayed his fears and her friendly manner made him to, have confidence in her., Question 11., Why did the peddler decline the invitation of the ironmaster? (Delhi 2012), Answer:, The peddler declined the ironmaster’s invitation because he had the stolen thirty kronors on him. He, feared that he would be caught there for stealing the crofter’s money. For the peddler going to the, manor house of the ironmaster would be like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion’s den., Question 12., Why was the crofter so friendly and talkative with the peddler? (Delhi 2012), Answer:, The crofter was lonely. He lived alone in his cottage without a wife, a child or any companion. Since, he suffered from acute loneliness he was extremely happy when he got the peddler’s company. That, is why he was so talkative and friendly with the peddler:, Question 13., Who was the owner of Ramsjo iron mills?, Why did he visit the mills at night? (All India 2012), Answer:, The ironmaster was the owner of the Ramsjo iron mills. He was very particular about the quality of, his products. So he made nightly rounds of inspection to his mill to inspect the quality control., Question 14., How did the ironmaster react on seeing the stranger lying close to the furnace? (All India 2012), Answer:, When the iron master saw the stranger lying close to the furnace he walked up to him and looked
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him over carefully. Mistaking him for an old acquaintance, a comrade from his regiment, he got very, excited and invited him to come to his cottage., Question 15., Why didn’t the stranger tell the ironmaster that he was not Nils Olof? (All India), Answer:, When the ironmaster mistakes the stranger for Captain Nils Olof, an old regimental comrade, the, stranger decides not to correct him as hopes to get a couple of kronors from the ironmaster. So he, does not want to undeceive him all at once., Question 16., Why was the crofter happy when the peddler knocked on his door? (Comptt. All India 2013), Answer:, The crofter was very lonely. He lived alone in his cottage without a wife, a child or any companion., Since he was suffering from acute loneliness he felt very happy when the peddler knocked on his, door. He treated the peddler in the most kind and hospitable manner., Question 17., How was the crofter ‘generous with his confidences’ when he spoke to the peddler? (Comptt. All, India 2013), Answer:, The crofter was generous not just with his porridge and tobacco but also with his confidences with, the peddler. He informed the peddler that he had been a crofter but now his cow supported him., She would give milk for the creamery every day, and last month he had even received thirty kronors, as payment., Question 18., What did the peddler do to keep his body and soul together? (Comptt. All India 2013), Answer:, The peddler made and sold rattraps but his business was not really profitable so he had to resort to, both begging and petty thievery to keep his body and soul together., Question 19., Why did the peddler derive pleasure from his idea of the world as a rattrap? (Delhi 2014), Answer:, The world had never been kind to the peddler so it gave him unwanted joy to think ill of it by, considering it as a rattrap. It became his cherished pastime to think of people he knew who had let, themselves be caught in the dangerous snare and of others who were still circling around the bait in, the rattrap., Question 20., Why did Edla plead with her father not to send the vagabond away? (All India 2014), Answer:, Edla pleaded with her father not to send the vagabond away as it was Christmas eve and she wanted, to keep the spirit of Christmas alive. She wanted to provide the vagabond with a day of comfort and, solace. She justified that they had invited him against his will and since he was lonely she wanted to, do something special for him on Christmas eve.
