THE RAT TRAP

THE RAT TRAP

1. From where did the peddler get the idea of this world being a rattrap?

While the peddler was plodding along the road, left to his own meditations, he was struck by the idea that this world around him with its lands and cities is a big rattrap. It had never existed for any other purpose than to set baits for its people. As soon as someone let himself be tempted to touch the bait, it closed in on him and everything came to an end.

2 Why was he amused by this idea?

The life of peddler was sad and monotonous. The world had never been kind to him. He was full of bitterness and malice against it. He peddler experienced unwonted joy at everyone else’s discomfort. It gave him sadistic delight to see some are caught in the snare and others are circling around the bait.

3 Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?

No, the peddler never expected that kind of hospitality. He was accustomed to being greeted by sour faces or better still be refused help of any kind if he approached someone. The crofter, on the contrary, was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. The crofter served him with porridge for supper and tobacco. He also played a game of cards with him.

4 Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?

The crofter was an old man without a wife or child. He was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. He valued the presence of the peddler so much that he shared his confidences generously with him. It was probably a way for the crofter to infuse a sense of joy in his otherwise dreary life.

5 Why did he show the thirty kronor notes to the peddler?

The crofter told the peddler that he had earned a reasonable sum of money from his cow every day and had earned thirty kronor last month. The peddler seemed incredulous to acknowledge this piece of information.

So, in order to assure his guest of the truth, he showed thirty kronor to him.

6 Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?

·         No, the peddler didn’t respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter who offered him hospitability and shared his secrets. he  showed him the money that he had earned from his cow, and the next morning the peddler smashed window panes and stole the notes.

7 What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?

When the peddler realized that he had been walking around in circles in the forest, he recalled his thoughts about the world and the rattrap. He felt that now his own time had come and the forest was like an impenetrable prison, a rattrap. Since he had taken the bait, the thirty kronor, he was caught and escape may not be possible.

8Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?

The ironmaster mistook the peddler for his old acquaintance, the regimental comrade, Captain von Stahle. He was shocked to see that his old comrade had fallen on bad days. So, he invited him to his own house to give him company at Christmas and to make his future secure.

9 Why did the peddler decline the invitation?

The peddler declined the invitation as he was afraid of being detected as a thief. He felt that by accepting the invitation to go to the ironmaster’s house, he was voluntarily walking into lion’s den. He only wished to sleep in the forge and sneak away as inconspicuously as possible.

10 What made the peddler accept Edla’s invitation?

Edla’s kindness, persuasive nature, friendly and compassionate manner allowed the peddler to have confidence in her. Her assurance that he would be just as free to leave as he came left him with no option but to accept the invitation.

11What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?

When Edla approached him and lifted his hat the man jumped up abruptly and seemed to be quite frightened. She noticed that the man was afraid as if he had either stolen something or escaped from jail. Next morning she went on to express her reservations about the man and told her father that he did not seem educated at all.

12 When did the ironmaster realize his mistake?

When the stranger had been bathed, shaved and had his hair cut by the valet, he appeared truly clean and well dressed. The ironmaster looked at him with puckered brow, and it was easy for him to understand that when he had seen the strange fellow in the uncertain reflection from the furnace he might have made a mistake.

13 What did the peddler say in his defence when it was clear that he was not the person the ironmaster had thought that he was?

The peddler insisted that it had not been his fault for he never pretended to be anything but a poor trader, and begged to be allowed to stay in the forge. He offered to put on his rags and go away.

14. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?

Edla did not think it proper to chase away a human being whom they had invited to their house and had promised him Christmas cheer. She also felt pity for the peddler, who she felt had no place to rest without the fear of being chased away. She wanted him to have a day of peace and rest with them. She wanted the peddler to enjoy the Christmas festivities with them. Hence she still entertained the peddler even after knowing the truth about him.

15Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?

Edla was happy to see the gift left by the peddler. Her father didn’t have a regard for him. At the church they heard that the crofter had been robbed by a rat trap seller. When the peddler had left the thirty kronor to be returned to the crofter, she felt that she was able to convert a soul into good ways.

16 Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain Von Stahle?

The peddler signed the letter as Captain Von Stahle to vindicate his stand and prove that it was Edla’s kindness and compassion which enabled him to behave in a manner worthy of her trust. Signing his name as Captain Von Stahle was an acceptance of the exalted stature of the captain that the peddler had been placed at.

17 How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter?

Answer: Legerlof's first scene of compassion is from the old man's hospitality. Despite the fact that he did not know the peddler, the old man still opened his arms and acted charitable by providing food and shelter. Showing scant regard to the crofter’s generosity and violating the trust the old man reposed in him, he stole thirty kronors from his house. Feeling no regret about robbing him of his hard earned money, the peddler thought he had acted very smartly.

As the peddler pondered on the road of guilt, he soon received a second action of care from the ironmaster’s hospitality which also did not touch the peddler’s heart. When the iron master mistook him as an old acquaintance he did not clear his doubt in hope of getting a couple of kronor notes. When he was invited by the ironmaster to his house to celebrate Christmas, he felt a sense of entrapment and thus, declined the invitation. On realizing his real identity when the ironmaster showed him the door, the ungrateful vagabond retorted rudely that he too might be ensnared in the rattrap of theworld.

However Edla’s warmth, friendliness and hospitality touched him. When the girl treated him like a Captain, he spontaneously behaved like a real Captain. He left a rattrap as a Christmas gift for Edla and enclosed a letter of thanks and confession in it. Leaving behind the stolen money to be restored to the owner, he redeemed himself from his dishonest ways and emerged an altogether transformed person.

18 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?

Answer: The ironmaster misunderstood the peddler for an old acquaintance, whereas his daughter could make out that the man was afraid, which was suggestive of him having stolen something. Though the father and the daughter express compassion for the vagabond both do so for different reasons .The ironmaster was sure to help the vagabond get over his tramp manners because he had mistaken the latter for his old comrade. The daughter however wishes to feed him and welcome him inspite of knowing that he was not Captain Von Stahle. The father acts impulsively and casually and invites him without confirming the stranger’s identity. On realizing his mistake he recklessly wants to hand him over to the sheriff. Edla on the other hand shows a strong sense of observation. She rightly judges him to be a tramp without any education. She persuades her father to let him stay because they had promised him Christmas cheer. When the ironmaster’s daughter infects the protagonist with her true altruism the peddler's inner soul experiences a rapid transformation form an ugly rat to gentle captain.

19 The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’ behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.

Answer: The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others. Used to being greeted by sour faces the crofter seems taken aback at the peddler’s request for accommodation for the night. Then the peddler’s act of stealing does not match the reader’s expectations. The breach of trust comes as a bit of a shock. Then the ironmaster’s sudden invitation to the tramp comes as the next surprise. The peddler’s vehement refusal to accompany him and later on accepting the invitation at Edla’s insistence all generate surprise. Edla’s readiness to entertain the peddler even after knowing his reality was quite unexpected.The most unexpected of gestures is when the peddler leaves for Edla a Christmas gift, a letter of thanks and the stolen money to be returned to the old crofter. His transformation is that which completes the chain of unexpected reactions.

20 The story “The Rattrap” focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Comment.

‘The Rattrap’ tells us the story of a lonely peddler who has nothing and no one to call his own. He wanders from place to place mistreated and mistrusted by the world.

Then we come across the old crofter who leads a solitary life and hungers for company. He accords a warm reception to the peddler as he views him as someone to talk to and pass a few lonely hours with. It is his need to bond that makes him trust the peddler and show him his money.

Similarly, the ironmaster shows his eagerness for the peddler’s company mistaking him for an old aquaintance. His wife is no more, his sons are abroad, and he has no one but his eldest daughter at home. He offers his hospitality to the peddler wanting some suitable company to ward off his loneliness. Even his daughter, a shy and modest girl, persuades the peddler to stay with them on Christmas Eve as she has no one to look after and make comfortable except her father. She looks forward to some company to make the occasion more festive. Finally the peddler is also enticed by the kindness of the ironmaster’s daughter and the proposition of peace, rest, good food and excellent company for a change. The theme of loneliness and the need to bond is projected strongly in all the characters in the story.

23. What made the peddler finally change his ways?

The peddler had been living a despicable life of poverty, despair and frustration without ever coming across any soul to understand, sympathize, love and guide him. Neither the crofter’s hospitality nor the ironmaster’s invitation to the manor house made any impact on him. In fact he repaid the crofter by stealing his earnings and the ironmaster by giving a piece of his mind when the latter talked of taking the matter to the sheriff.

However , the meeting with the ironmaster’s daughter was the turning point in his life. The kindness , the concern and the understanding that she showed him touched the core of his heart and transformed his way of thinking. The ironmaster’s daughter understood that he needed security and succor and convinced her father to allow him to stay on in their house to share the Christmas cheer. She restored his dignity and self-worth. She treated him like a captain of the army though she was aware that he was a common tramp.

When the girl treated him like a Captain, he spontaneously behaved like a real Captain. He left a rattrap as a Christmas gift for Edla and enclosed a letter of thanks and confession in it. Leaving behind the stolen money to be restored to the owner, he redeemed himself from his dishonest ways and emerged an altogether transformed person.

24. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?

The author Selma Lagerlof tells a universal theme through all her stories. One cannot imagine how dull and sad a vagabond might be walking slowly along the roads for his bread. The metaphor of the rattrap struck on one such occasion. He was plodding along the road, duly lost in his own meditations. The whole world about him- the whole world with its lands, seas, cities and villages was nothing but a big rattrap. The world had never existed for any other purpose than to set baits for people to trap them. The world offered riches, joys, food, shelter and clothing like a bait offering cheese and pork in a rattrap for the rats. As soon as anyone is tempted and he to touches the bait, it closes on him and then everything came to an end for him in life.

The peddler remembered his thoughts about the world and the rattrap when he was lost in a huge , confusing forest , with the stolen money in his pocket. He felt now his turn had come. He had let himself befooled by bait. Now he had been caught and there was no escape. Once again the metaphor of rattrap gets relevant in connection with the peddler’s encounter with the ironmaster. The ironmaster invited the peddler to his house. He refused to go there thinking that going up there would mean throwing himself into the lion’s den.

Whenever a person finds himself at the crossroads of temptation and righteousness, the mirage of materialism fools him and he gets entrapped in the world’s dangerous snare. This is where human predicament follows suit.

The metaphor of a rattrap reveals man’s helplessness in pursuit of life’s ambitions. The world thus becomes a huge rattrap. Though one can’t see the bars and wires yet one gets firmly entrenched in the quagmire of situations and circumstances. The pettiness and triviality of life’s situations pull an individual deeper into the abyss of loss with no scope for deliverance.