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The Rattrap Class 12, Chapter 4 The Rattrap Exercise Answers & Summary, , Exercise : Solutions of Questions on Page Number : 32, Qi:, Notice these expressions in the text. infer their meanings from the context., , Answer :, , keep body and soul together - to manage to keep alive; to survive, , hunger gleamed in his eyes - feeling so hungry that the expression shows on one’s face, plods along the road - moving along the road slowly but deliberately, to walk with a heavy, feet, , unwonted joy - unusual pleasure or happiness, , impenetrable prison - impassable confinement, , nodded a haughty consent - indifferent agreement, , eased his way - moved himself slowly and carefully, , fallen into a line of thought - agreement of thoughts, , things have gone downhill - to decline or grow worse and worse, , see eee, , Think as you read : Solutions of Questions on Page Number : 34, Qi:, From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?, , Answer :, , During one of his usual plodding, the peddler thought on the subject of rattraps. It, presented him with the idea of the world being a rattrap and he grew fond of thinking, this way., , Q2:, Why was he amused by this idea?
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Answer :, , The peddier was amused by the idea of the world being a giant rattrap because he was, never treated kindly by the world. Therefore, he harboured hard feelings for it and loved, ‘to think ill of it’ by comparing it with a giant rattrap., , Q3:, Did the peddier expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?, , Answer:, , No, the peddler did not expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter., This was because usually he was greeted by ‘sour’ and unfriendly faces whenever he, knocked on doors and requested for shelter., , Q4:, Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddier?, , Answer :, , The crofter was a lonely fellow who lived on his own in a little gray cottage by the, roadside. He had no wife or children, and craved company and friends. So, one day, when the peddier turned up at his doorstep, he was happy to find someone to talk to, to, be relieved of his boredom and monotony. This is the reason he was so talkative and, friendly with the peddier., , Qs:, Why did he show the thirty kroner to the peddler?, , Answer :, , The crofter was a naive and trusting man who craved company more than anything, else. He wanted to share his joy of earning the money with someone. He got his chance, when the peddier came along. Moreover, he thought that the peddler did not believe, him, so he showed the peddler the thirty kronor bills that he kept in a leather pouch.
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Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?, , Answer :, , No, the peddiler did not respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter. In fact, he, betrayed his trust by robbing the thirty kronors from him., , However, later in the story, his conscience was awakened by his stay with the, Willmanssons and he decided to return the money., , Q7:, What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?, , Answer :, , After stealing the money, the peddler tried to escape through the forest but soon got, lost. 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. Similarly,, on his way to the ironmaster's home, he felt himself caught in the trap, , He was again haunted by such thoughts when the ironmaster, on realising the truth, about the peddler, threatened to get him arrested. The rattrap seller expressed himself, strongly realising that the worldly bait had, once more, tempted and trapped him., , Qs:, Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?, , Answer:, , The ironmaster of the RamsjAfAq Ironworks spoke kindly to the peddler because he, had mistaken him for an old regimental comrade, Captain von Stahle., , The ironmaster wanted to help the peddler, not only in regaining his health but also in, taking up a new vocation. Moreover, the ironmaster was a lonely fellow who lived with, his oldest daughter after the death of his wife and the departure of his sons. As he, longed for some company on the Christmas Eve, he invited the peddier to his home., , Qg:, Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
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Answer :, , The peddier was alarmed at the idea of spending the night at the manor of the, ironmaster, of the RamsjAfAgq Ironworks, who was an ex-army man. He had not made, an attempt to correct the ironmaster when he was mistaken for an old acquaintance., Moreover, he was anxious about the fact that he had the stolen thirty kronor bills with, him, and accepting the invitation “would be like throwing himself voluntarily into the, lion's den". Therefore, the peddier thought it better to decline the invitation., , Q10:, What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson's invitation?, , Answer :, , By his frightened look, Edla guessed that the peddler had either stolen something or, has escaped prison. So she hinted an assurance that he would be free to leave, whenever he wanted. Reassured, he accepted the invitation., , Q11:, What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?, , Answer :, , When Edla went to the iron mill to fetch the peddier, she noticed that he was frightened., She had doubts that the peddler had stolen something or had escaped prison. His, appearance and behaviour also left her in doubts whether he was actually an educated, man, as claimed by her father., , Q12:, When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?, , Answer :, , The ironmaster realised his mistake the next day when the peddler turned up at, breakfast. The valet had bathed the peddler, cut his hair, shaved him and given him, clothes. The ironmaster realised that he had been deceived in recognising the person, because of the reflection of the furnace, the previous night.
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Q13:, What did the peddler say in his defence when it was clear that he was not the, person the ironmaster had thought he was?, , Answer :, , To defend himself, the peddler argued that he had never said that he was a captain or, the old comrade of the ironmaster. In fact, he had repeatedly declined the invitation to, spend the Christmas at the manor., , Q14:, Why did Edia still entertain the peddier even after she knew the truth about him?, , Answer :, , Edia had a kind and sympathetic heart that was pained by the plight of the poor peddier., She requested her father to allow him to spend one day with them in peace as a respite, from the struggle he had to endure round the year. Her principles did not allow her to, throw this man out of her house on the Christmas Eve especially when they had already, promised him a “Christmas cheer”. Moreover, she had been in high spirits that morning, thinking of the ways in which she could help the tramp. Therefore, even after knowing, the truth, Edla wanted to entertain the peddiler., , Q15:, Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddier?, , Answer :, , Edla showed great trust in him by letting him stay at their manor on the Christmas Eve., But the news about the robbery had left her dejected. So she was overjoyed when she, reached home to find the package and the letter left by the peddler. This gesture of, appreciation from the peddier made her happy., , Qi6:, Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?, , Answer :, , Throughout his life, the peddler had never known respect. He was always treated coldly, by the world. For the first time in his life, he was honoured and respected as if he were a
