Q¹.

The peddler's story speaks on a general level to society, urging for a different outlook towards
those maligned individuals who can be redeemed by compassion and understanding. In the light of
the story 'The Rattrap' mentioned, how do you think society can help individuals, specially juvenile
delinquents, from falling prey to petty crimes and bad habits?

Ans The peddler in the story, The Rattrap', used to earn his living by selling small rattraps. Since his
business was not profitable, he resorted to petty thefts. Nobody treated him with kindness or respect.
But when he was showered with affection and respect by Edla, he was highly touched.

The act of concern and compassion impacted him so much that he left the stolen money at her home.
This shows that goodness is latent in the human heart which can be brought out by love, care and
understanding.

The peddler's instance, thus, urges society to change its outlook towards those maligned individuals who
can be redeemed by compassion and understanding. Society can help such individuals by being
sympathetic and compassionate.

It should treat these individuals, particularly juvenile delinquents, with love and kindness and help them
from falling prey to petty crimes and bad habits. Society should thus develop an empathetic attitude
towards them and try to understand human nature.

Q2 peddler believed that the whole world is a rattrap. How did he himself get caught in the same?

Ans. The peddler in the story "The Rattrap' believed very strongly that this world was a big rattrap. It
offered comforts and joys just like the rattrap offered food to a rat. As soon as a rat was tempted to
touch the bait, it trapped him. In the same way things like food, joys and shelter served as baits to tempt
people who get trapped thereafter.

But one day peddler himself was caught in such a trap.

One day when he sought refuge at a crofter's house, he came across a bait. The old crofter showed him
the money which he had earned. The crofter's hospitality served as a bait for the peddler as, the next
morning, he stole the money and fled into the forest.

He got lost there and felt the forest was a big rattrap into which he had fallen. Later, he again gets
caught the Edla invites him home with the assurance of cheer. Devoid of happiness, food and shelter,
the peddler repeatedly surrenders to worldly temptations.

Q3 To be grateful is a great virtue of a gentleman How did the peddler show his gratitude to Edla?

Ans It is truly said that a gentlemen shows the virtue of gratefulness. This statement stands true for the
character of the peddler in the story 'The Rattrap' wherein the peddler transforms into a gentleman due
to the compassion and kindness shown by Edla. Edla knew that her father was mistaken whe he invited
the peddler home thinking he was his long lost friend. Later, it was revealed tha he was a complete
stranger and not her father's acquaintance. Despite this Edla beggar her father not to send him away on
Christmas Eve. She invited him home and gave him food. shelter and clothes. Her kindness, compassion
and sympathy bring out the goodness in the peddler.

He leaves a packet for her as a Christmas gift which contains a rattrap and three ten kronar notes stolen
from the crofter. It also contained a letter in which he signs himself as a captain and requests her to
return the stolen money to the crofter. Hence, by transforming himself into a dignified gentleman the
peddler showed his gratitude to Edla and her care and concern

Q4 The people we meet in life leave an impression on us. How is the rattrap seller affected by meeting
the crofter and Edla?

Ans It is true that the people we meet in life leaves an impression on us. In the story. The Rattrap', the
peddler comes across two people who change his life for the better.

The Crofter He was the first person that the peddler found to be hospitable. He treated him like a guest,
gave him food and entertained him by playing a game of cards with him after dinner. The crofter also
shared his secrets with the peddler, but the peddler robbed him of his money. Thus, the crofter's
hospitality did not affect the peddler's behaviour although, later on, the peddler's conscience pricked
him for robbing the crofter's money.

Edla She persuaded him to come home for Christmas and treated him with dignity and respect befitting
a captain and a guest even after realising the truth that he was not the person her father thought him to
be. She was kind and compassionate, spread Christmas cheer and gave him gifts. All this finally brought
about a change in the peddler. He decided to change his ways and live with dignity and respect. When
he got the chance to show his goodness, he returned the stolen money with a note to give it back to the
crofter. He also left a rattrap for Edla as a Christmas present.

Q5. A good deed or an act of kindness can change a person's view of the world. What characteristics
of Edla's conduct inspire the peddler to redeem himself and change his ways?

Ans There is great transforming power in the act of kindness. There are many fictional and real life
stories which reveal us how compassion and kindness changed bad people into good human beings;
these stories teach us the lesson of being kind. Edla's empathy and kindness changed the life of the
vagabond rattrap seller. Edla restored his dignity and self-worth and treated him like a Captain of the
army though she was aware that he was a common tramp. She was empathetic towards the peddler and
the kindness and concern she showed towards the peddler touched the core of his heart and
transformed his way of thinking. Her kindness and caring nature transformed the unscrupulous
vagabond into a good human being.

This shows that the peddler was not a bad man at heart, but was only bound by his poor and
unfortunate circumstances which forced him to steal things. But the love, trust and understanding
shown by Edla brought out his basic goodness.

Q6 'The Rattrap' focuses on human loneliness and need to bond with others. Comment
Ans All the characters in the story, "The Rattrap', suffer from loneliness and are dreary souls. First of all,
the tramp appears to lead a sad, monotonous existence, left to his own musings. He is always greeted by
sour faces and cold words wherever he goes.

Next, the old crofter lives all alone in a cottage by the roadside. He is happy to get someone to talk to
and get over his sense of loneliness. That's the reason why he is so generous and hospitable as a host.

Then, the ironmaster and his daughter Edla also have no company for Christmas. The ironmaster takes
tramp home, mistaking him to be his old comrade. He, with his daughter, is happy to play the perfect
host to his former colleague. Thus, all of them have a strong desire for bonding and comradeship. The
crofter is happy to be friends with the peddler, although only for a night. Similarly, the ironmaster and
his daughter have an opportunity to practice their Christian virtues of kindness, sympathy and
hospitality. The compassion and sincerity shown by Edla changes peddler into a man who is one of the
members of society.

Q7 In the lesson The Rattrap' the narrator takes an empathetic approach towards the rattrap seller.
Considering the above statement, discuses the narrator's portrayal of the peddler.

Ans It is true the narrator takes an empathetic approach towards the rattrap seller who leads of live of
deprivation. When we first see the rattrap peddler, we find him to be a tall man who had his own
imagination and mediation. However, to meet his livelihood, he had to resort to petty thievery and
begging. He wore rags and hunger gleamed in his eyes. He went round selling self-made small rattraps
of wire. Mostly he came across sour faces and was a victim of his cruel circumstances. People would not
talk to him respectfully or kindly let alone give him shelter or work so that he could live an honest life.

The peddler is so affected by his situation that he even philosophies his existence. His philosophy takes
him to understand the world as a big rattrap. According to him all the riches, joys, food clothing and
shelter are just baits. Anyone who touches the bait, the rattrap closes on him. He himself becomes
entrapped in this rattrap. His behaviour which could have been seen as immoral now receives sympathy
from the readers who understand that he is product of his situation. He could only change when he
comes across compassion and kindness which happens when he meets Edla. The latter's presence, had a
significant impact on the peddler. He changes for the better. Hence, throughout the story, we cannot
help but sympathise with the peddler just as the narrator had expected us too.