The Rattrap

1. Who was the owner of Ramsjö ironmill? Why did he visit the mill at night? Or  Who was the owner of the ironworks and what sort of person was he?

The owner of the Ramsjö iron mill was a prominent ironmaster who wanted to ship out good iron to the market. He was very hardworking and supervised his work day and night.

2. How did the ironmaster react on seeing the stranger lying close to the furnace?

When the ironmaster saw the stranger lying close to the furnace, he mistook him to be his old regimental comrade Nils Olof. He invited him to his home to celebrate Christmas.

3. Why did the peddler derive pleasure from his idea of the world as a rattrap?

The peddler developed an idea that the world is a rattrap. It offers food, shelter, clothing and luxuries just to entrap us in the same way in which the rattrap entrapped its victims through cheese and pork. The idea appealed and pleased him as he was in a state of abject poverty and had nothing and used to envy those who were in a better position than him.

4. What conclusion did the ironmaster reach when he heard that the crofter had been robbed by the peddler?

When, at the church, the iron master heard that the crofter had been robbed by the peddler, he at once concluded that the peddler was the thief. He apprehended that he would have made away with all their silver by this time.

5. What did Edla notice about the stranger?

Edla noticed that the stranger was very scared. He seemed to be either a thief or a runaway away from prison. She also observed that the stranger did not seem to be an educated person to be a captain.

6. Why did Edla invite the peddler to stay with her family?

Edla was told by her father, the ironmaster, to bring the peddler from the ironmill as he believed him to be his old acquaintance Nils Olof. So Edla came to the mill to invite him to stay with her family and celebrate Christmas with them.

7. ‘The man was just as generous with his confidences as with his porridge and tobacco.’ What was the outcome of this?

The crofter was overgenerous to the peddler. He not only gave him food and shelter but shared his confidences and showed him the money that he had saved. This tempted the tramp to steal the money. Next morning when they both left the house together, the peddler came back and stole the money.

8. What were precautions that the peddler took to remain undetected as a thief?

In order to remain undetected as a thief, the peddler left the highway and took the route of the forest. He lost his way in the forest and after some time realised that he was moving around the same point. Moreover, when at the Ramsjö Ironworks, he was invited by the ironmaster to his home, he declined the invitation due to the fear of being caught.

9. Why was the peddler surprised when he knocked at the door of the cottage?

The peddler was surprised when he knocked on the door of the cottage and received a warm welcome there. He was not refused shelter. Moreover, he was offered warmth and hospitality. The crofter gave him food and tobacco. He played ‘mjölis’ with him and showed him the thirty kronor that he had earned.

10. Why did the blacksmith at Ramsjö Ironworks not pay any attention to the peddler?

ANS:      The blacksmith at Ramsjö Ironworks did not pay any attention to the peddler because it was a routine thing for him. Many vagabonds used to come there attracted by the light in order to warm themselves at the forge.

11.What was the ironmaster’s reaction to the poor condition of the peddler? What light does it throw on the character of the ironmaster?

ANS:      The ironmaster was compassionate, hospitalable and trusting. When he saw the peddler in poor condition, he immediately asked him to come to his home. He had mistaken him for his old regimental fellow Nils Olof. He wanted to help him in his miserable condition.

12. How does the peddler respond to the hospitality shown to him by the crofter?

The peddler was given warm hospitality by the crofter. He was given food, shelter, tobacco and even company for recreation. The crofter treated him with kindness and was very friendly to him. He narrated his story of survival and even showed him the money that he had saved. But the tramp did not value his kindness. Next morning after taking leave of the crofter, the peddler came back to his house and stole the thirty kronor from the pouch hung on the window frame by breaking the window. He responded in a very negative way to the hospitality of the crofter and violated the trust that the crofter had bestowed in him.

13. The peddler declined the invitation of the ironmaster but accepted the one from Edla. Why?                                                                       Or Why did the ironmaster invite the peddler to his home? Why did the latter decline it?

When the ironmaster of the Ramsjö iron mill was on his nightly visit to the mill, he saw the peddler sleeping near the furnace. He mistook him for his old regimental comrade Nils Olof. He found his old friend to be in a miserable condition and immediately invited him to his house. But the idea did not please the tramp. He was scared and felt that going to the ironmaster’s house would be like throwing oneself voluntarily into the lion’s den. So he firmly refused the ironman’s invitation.

14. The story ‘The Rattrap’ explores the idea that given the right motivation the human beings possess the innate tendency to redeem themeselves from their dishonest ways. Discuss.

ANS:      The Rattrap captures the basic goodness in a human being in the face of material temptations. In the story, the peddler, a vagabond, used to either sell rattraps made of wire or beg or steal. He had been very badly treated by the world and never received any kindness. Even when the crofter offered him hospitality, and bestowed confidence in him, he was not able to realise its worth. He betrayed his trust and stole the crofter’s money. But the inner goodness of the peddler is evoked by the warm, gentle and kind treatment given to him by Edla Willmansson. Despite knowing the reality, Edla treated him with respect and kindness with no selfish motives. She was empathetic and wanted to give him some comfort. This transformed the tramp into conscientious human being and the essential goodness in him surfaced.

15. The story ‘The Rattrap’ exemplifies the notion that the emotional needs of human beings have a direct bearing on their behaviour. Elucidate.

ANS:      No doubt it is the emotional needs of the human beings that have a direct bearing on their behaviour. In fact, our emotions govern our actions and behaviour. In the story, all the characters depict the same. The peddler’s behaviour is all due to the atrocities he had faced in his life. He is treated badly. Starvation and homelessness have made him emotionally very weak and negative. As a result, when the tramp sees the money of the crofter, he steals it. Similarly, the crofter being lonely with no wife or children, welcomes the peddler and becomes overfriendly with him and, as a result, is cheated. Even the ironmaster lives a lonely life. His wife is dead and his sons are abroad. He has no family except his daughter or friends. Consequently, he invites the peddler to his house, mistaking him for his old friend. Finally, it is Edla’s emotional generosity to serve and make someone happy on Christmas. Her kindness and empathy make her to treat the tramp with respect and kindness which brings out the goodness in the peddler.

16. The peddler thinks that the whole world is a rattrap. This view of life is true only of himself and of no one else in the story. Comment.

ANS:      It’s true that the peddler thinks that the whole world is a rattrap. According to him, with its lands, cities, seas and villages, it sets baits for the people, offers them riches and joys, shelter, food and clothing exactly as the rattrap offers cheese and pork till a ‘prey’ is caught and then everything comes to an end. These ideas also stemmed from the fact that the world had not been too kind to the peddler and he had also allowed himself to be caught into this trap by stealing thirty kronor. When he lost his way in the forest with the stolen money in his pocket, he recalled his thoughts and realized that his own turn had come. He had let himself be fooled by a bait and had been caught. So, this view of life was true only of himself and no one else in the story.

17. The story ‘Rattrap’ describes the effect of generosity and kindness of the crofter and Edla Willmansson on the peddler. The many underprivileged in our society can benefit from little gifts given by the people. The gifts can be anything from funds to providing them with education, etc. Write an article in 120–150 words about the need to lend a helping hand to uplift the underprivileged.

ANS:      Time to Contribute  We all belong to a fast developing society. Technical advancements have made life comfortable and easy for us. But all these facilities are only for the well to do. There are a number of people who are not able to even get the basic amenities of life. They are devoid of education, clean water, clothes and even two meals a day.  The government makes a lot of plans for these people but they reach them in a meagre proportions. It is said that a small step finally leads to the destination. So it is the duty of each and every privileged person to contribute to the uplift of the downtrodden. A small help can make their future better. We can contribute to making someone learn, getting someone medicine, giving our used clothes and books to those who are homeless and live on the streets. These small acts of kindness will bring a smile on the face of these people. Along with that we should give them moral support. However, to change the society we need to first change ourselves. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< End >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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Empowerment Rules the World