THE RAT TRAP -BY SELMA LAGERLOF l ALL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS l UP BOARD ENGLISH 12TH




SHORT ANSWERS
 

1. Who was the rattrap seller ? How did he make them ?

Answer. The rattrap seller  was a poor peddler who sold rattrap of wire, which he used to make himself from the material got by begging in the stores or at big farms.

 
2. What idea about the whole world did strike in his mind once ?
 Answer. Once in his mind, there stroke an idea about that the whole world with its lands and seas, its cities and village-is nothing but a big rattrap.
3.     Who gave him shelter for the night and why?
 An old man, earlier a crofter at Ramsjo ironworks gave him shelter for the night because that told man was living alone in his hut and was happy that somebody came there to give him company and dispel his loneliness.
4. Why did the rattrap seller return to crofter's cottage ?
Answer
The rattrap seller returned to crofter's cottage because he had planned to steal thirty kronors which the crofter showed him last night. 
5.  What happened with the rattrap seller into the woods ?
Answer. 
The rattrap seller was trapped in the forest. The whole forest, with its trunks and branches, its thickets and fallen logs, closed in upon him like an impenetrable prison from which he was not in the condition to escape.
 
6. What sounds did the peddler hear into the forest ? What did he do then ?
Answer. Into the forest, the peddler heard a hard regular thumping sound. Hearing that sound, he raised himself, summoned all his strength, got up, and staggered in the direction of the sound.
 
7. What was Ramsjo ironworks ? What was happening inside it ?
Answer. Ramsjo ironworks was a large plant, with smelter, rolling mill and forge. Inside it, the master smith and his helper sat in the dark forge near the furnace waiting for the pig iron and were ready to start the work.
 
8. How did the ironmaster react seeing the vagabond ( Rattrap seller) inside his forge ?
Answer. The Ironmaster came in the mill for his nightly round of inspection and naturally the first thing he noticed was the tall ragamuffin. Seeing that vagabond, he tore off his slouch hat to get a better view of his face.
 
9.     Why was the vagabond not ready to go with the ironmaster to his house ?
Answer. The vagabond was not ready to go with the ironmaster to his house because he did not have trust on him and he was worried about thirty kronors which he stole and had with him.
 
10. What did the ironmaster do to bring vagabond to his house ?
Answer. To bring vagabond to his house, firstly the ironmaster himself tried to convince him but after getting failed, he decided to send his daughter Edla to make the vagabond ready.
 
11. What did the ironmaster and his daughter decide to do with the guest ?
Answer. The ironmaster and his daughter decided to first of all see that he must get a little flesh on his bones and then they must see that he gets something else to do than to run around the country selling rattraps.
 
12. What mistake had the ironmaster done ? What did he want after identifying the vagabond in broad daylight ?
Answer. The ironmaster had mistakenly identified the peddler as his old acquaintance in the dim light of the furnace. After identifying the vagabond in broad daylight, he wanted the vagabond to go out of his house immediately.
 
13. Why did Edla willmansson want to give hospitality to the vagabond, the stranger ?
Answer. Edla willmansson wanted to give hospitality to the vagabond, the stranger because she had invited him for celebrating Christmas evening by her own side and secondly, except her father and herself own, there was no one to give company to them and no one too to combined celebrate the festival.
 
14. How did the rattrap seller pass his time in ironmaster's home ?
Answer. In ironmaster's house, the rattrap seller passed his time mostly by sleeping. Everytime, whenever he was called for breakfast, lunch or dinner or christmas offerings, he accepted it and went to sleep. It seemed that he might not have slept since years.
 
15. What information did the ironmaster and his daughter receive at the church ?
Ans.
crofters of the ironworks had been robbed by a man who went around selling rattrap.
 
16. What christmas present did Edla receive from the peddler ? Why did she give a little cry of joy ?
Answer. Edla received a little package as a christmas present from the peddler. She gave a little cry of joy because in that package, there found a small rattrap, laid three wrinkled ten kronor bills and a letter for Miss Edla willmansson.

17. Why did the peddler think that the world was a rattrap?
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.
 
18. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rat trap?  
The peddler was wandering in the forest and was unable to find a way out. He recalled his thought of the world being a rattrap. He thought that bait of thirty kronor had lured him like a rat. He felt he had been caught in the trap.
 
19. Why did the man selling rattraps resort to begging and petty thievery?
Ans:
Once upon a time, there was a man who went around selling small rattraps of wire. He made them himself but his business was not profitable. So, he had to beg and steal a bit to survive.
Q.20. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Ans:
No, the peddler did not respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter because the peddler stole those thirty kronors next day by smashing the window pane where the pouch with the thirty kronors was hanging.
 
Q.21. Why did the peddler consider the world as a rattrap?
Or
From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Ans:
The world offers things to lure human beings to bind them in carnal activities. The peddler falls into a line of thoughts and reaches into an interested idea that the whole world around him is nothing but a big rattrap.

22. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?Ans:.The ironmaster spoke kindly to the peddler and invited him home for Christmas because he mistook him to be his old comrade Captain Von Stahle. 

Q.23. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?

Ans:
When the peddler was wandering in the forest finding no way out, he recalled his thoughts about the world and the rattrap. Now his own turn had come. He had let himself befooled by thirty kronors and he had been caught.
 
Q.24. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson's invitation?
Ans:
The peddler accepted Edla Willmansson's invitation because she assured him compassionately that he would be allowed to leave just as freely as he came. Her friendly manner made him feel confidence in her.
 
Q.25. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
Ans:
Edla entertained the peddler even after she knew the truth about him. She wanted that poor hungry wretch enjoy at least a day of peace with them on Christmas.


Long Answers 



1.     Who was the protagonist of the chapter " The rattrap" ? What was his condition and how was he struggling for the survival ? Describe explaining his philosophical thought about the whole world.
पाठ 'The rattrap' का नायक कौन था उसकी क्या हालत थी और वह जीने के लिए कैसे संघर्ष कर रहा था उसके सम्पूर्ण संसार के सम्बन्ध में दार्शनिक विचार को लेते हुए वर्णन कीजिए |
Answer. The protagonist of the chapter 'the rattrap' is the peddler the rattraps seller. His condition was very poor and miserable and for the survival, he was not only selling the rattraps wandering here and there but doing preety thievery time to time. His philosophical thought about the whole world was absolutely different from others.His idea about the whole world was-the whole world with its lands and seas, it cities and villages-was nothing but a big rattrap. It closed in on him, and then everything come to an end.
 
 
2.     Whose cottage did the peddler find along the road ? How was he treated by the owner of the cottage and why ?
सड़क के साथ में फेरीवाले को किसकी कुटिया मिली कुटिया के मालिक के द्वारा उसके साथ कैसे ब्यवहार किया गया और क्यों ?
Answer. Along the road, the peddler found the cottage of an old man who used to live there alone. The owner of the cottage, that old man-treated with him like a guest. He welcomed the peddler and offered him porridge and the supper. Then he carved off a slice from his tobacco roll and gave to the stranger. Finally he got out an old pack of cards and played mjolis with the peddler until bedtime. The old man, the crofter who was the owner of that cottage, treated that peddler. The stranger in such a friendly manner because he was without wife or child, and was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness.
 
3.     What happened when the peddler stole the money from crofter's house ? What difficulty did he face after it and how did he escape ? जब फेरीवाले ने क्रॉफ्टर ( कृषक ) के घर से धन चुराया तब क्या हुआ उसके बाद उसने किस कठिनाई का सामना किया और वह कैसे बचा ?
 Answer. When the peddler stole the money from crofter's house, he walked along with the money in his pocket and felt quite pleased with his smartness. He dared not running continue on the public highway, so he turned into the woods. During his first hours this caused him no difficulty but a later in the day, it became worse, for it was a big and confusing forest which he had gotten into. He escaped when he heard a regular hard thumping sound and staggered into that direction and got shelter in Ramsjo ironwork.
 
4.     Why did the ironmaster come to the forge that night ? What did he observe there and what did he decide then ? How did he fulfil his desire ?
लौह ब्यापारी उस रात्रि कारखाने पर क्यों आया उसने वहाँ क्या निरीक्षण किया और फिर उसने क्या तय किया उसने अपनी इच्छा कैसे पूरी की ?
Answer. That night, the ironmaster came to the forge for his usual nightly round of inspection. Immediately he observed a stranger laying in his forge and when he went close to him and he tore off his slouch hat to get a better view of his face. And seeing the stranger's face, he got surprised and identified him as his old regiment comrade. But seeing his old friend's condition, he decided to bring him home, started to convince him but after too many efforts, he got failed to make his old friend ready to come home.
5.     Who entered inside the forge with a valet ? What did that person do with the stranger ? What was stranger's reaction at that ? कारखाने में नौकर के साथ किसने प्रवेश किया उस ब्यक्ति ने अजनवी के साथ क्या किया उस पर अजनवी की क्या प्रतिक्रिया थी  ?
Answer. In the forge a less preety modest and quite shy girl- ironmaster's daughter 'Edla willmansson' entered with a valet. That person Edla looked at him compassionately, with her heavy eyes and felt sorry for him having such a hard time.She consolated that peddler that he might be sure, that he would be allowed to leave them just as freely as he had come. The stranger's reaction was unexpected, he accepted the fur coat which the valet handed him with a deep bow, threw it over his rags, and followed the young lady out to the carriage and we present.
 
6.     What happened with the stranger at ironmaster's house ? How was he treated by Edla willmansson ?अजनवी के साथ लौह ब्यापारी के घर पर क्या हुआ था उसके साथ एडला विलमेन्सन द्वारा कैसे वर्ताव किया गया ?
Answer. At Ironmaster's house, firstly the stranger was welcomed and bathed and shaved and given ironmaster's suit to him as a christmas present, then in the morning at the breakfast table, his identity cleared and the ironmaster ordered him to go out from his house. But the ironmaster's daughter, Edla stopped him from going and argued with her father for him. She didn't want to disappoint the guest and herself own too. She had prepared good dishes and other offering for that stranger to make him feel homely.That's why Edla treated that stranger as a guest, as a captain and didn't let him go from there even her father's disapproval.
 
7.     What information did the ironmaster and his daughter get at the church ? What was Edla's condition and how did she get relaxed after reaching home ?
चर्च में लौह ब्यापारी और उसकी बेटी को क्या सूचना प्राप्त हुई उसके बाद एडला की क्या स्थिति थी और घर पहुंचने के बाद उसे कैसे तसल्ली हुई ?
Answer. At the church, the ironmaster and his daughter reached for early christmas service. From there, when, at about ten O' clock, they drove back, the young girl, Edla sat and hung her head even more dejectly than usual because at the church, they came to know. Reaching at home, when the valet told that stranger had gone but without taking anything and on the contrary, left behind a little package for Edla as a christmas present, she got relaxed.
Q.9. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
Ans:
In 'The Rattrap', the peddler used to sell rattraps wandering here and there. The rattrap is a common thing, seen by mostly everyone. But that rattrap seller had a very different and unique thought about the rattraps. He thought, "The whole world about him-the whole world with its lands and seas, its cities and villages - was nothing, but a big rattrap. It had never existed for any other purpose than to set baits for people. It offered riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing, exactly as the rattrap offered cheese and pork, and as soon as anyone let himself be tempted to touch the bait, it closed in on him, and then everything came to an end."
 
His this theory works for the human predicament. Today, the condition of mostly human beings are similar to the rats. They wander here and there for more, they are never seemed satisfied with what has been offered to them. So, due to greed of earning and getting more, they indulge in illegal and unauthorized things and acts, and finally they are trapped and everything comes to an end. So, the metaphor of the rattrap serves a lot to highlight the human predicament.
 
Q.10.
Describe the events that follow when the rattrap peddler's real identity is revealed leading to his reformation.
Ans:
In the end the peddler seems to be quite a transformed character. From a seller of small rattraps and a petty thief, he raises himself to the height of a gentleman. The basic human goodness uplifts him. This essential goodness in him is awakened through understanding and love of Miss Edla Willmansson. The peddler finally changes his ways and behaves like a perfect gentleman in the end.
When the truth about him is exposed, the ironmaster can't tolerate his presence any more. But Edla feels sorry for the unfortunate man. She wants to have him enjoy a day of peace with them. She thinks it unethical to chase away a guest. They had invited and promised him 'Christmas cheer'.
It is ironical that the peddler mends his ways when he is thought to be a thief. But that doesn't happen. Edla's human behaviour and kindness have changed him. He leaves thirty kronors to be returned to its rightful owner. He also leaves a Christmas gift for Edla.   
 MCQs
1. Once upon a time there was a man went around selling small rattraps of______________.
(a) plastic
(b) wire
(c) waste materials
(d) none
 
2. The whole world with its lands and seas, its cities and villages was nothing but a big____________.
(a) farm
(b) game
(c) world
(d) rattrap
 
3. The old man was just confidence as with his as generous with his and ___________tobacco.
(a) cards
(b) cow
(c) porridge
(d) kronor
 
4. The whole forest, with its trunks and branches, its thickets and fallen logs, closed in upon him like an ____________ prison from which he could never escape.
(a) invisible
(c) irregular
(b) impenetrable
(d) all of these
 
5. The master Smith and his helper sat in the dark forge near the furnace waiting for the ___________ iron.
(a) raw
(b) solid
(c) bid
(d) pig
 
6. The first thing which the ironmaster saw in the mill was the tall_________.
(a) vagabond
(b) ragamuffin
(c) tramp
(d) rattrap seller
 
7. The ironmaster assumed that he felt ____________ because of his miserable clothing.
(a) ashamed
(b) insulted
(c) humiliated
(d) embarrassed
 
8. Edla entered, followed by a valet, carrying on his arm a big __________coat.
(a) fur
(b) woollen
(c) dark
(d) new
9. While going to the manor's house, the stranger thought that he was sitting in the ___________and will never get out of it.
(a) cage
(b) van
(c) trap
(d) prison
 
10. But although his guest was now so well groomed, the ironmaster did not seem________________.
(a) surprised
(b) angry
(c) thundered
(d) pleased
 
11. "You do preach worse than a ____________," said the ironmaster:
(a) teacher
(b) parson
(c) father
(d) priest
 
12. For the Christmas present, the stranger stared at the young girl in _____________amazement.
(a) boundless
(b) unlimited
(c) unexpected
(d) unforgettable
 
13. The ironmaster and the daughter returned from the Church at about _____________ o' clock.
(a) nine
(b) ten
(c) eleven
(d) twelve
 
14. The young girl opened the__________ which was so badly done up that the contents came into view at once.
(a) packet
(b) package
(c) packing
(d) parcel
 
15. The stranger wrote in his letter, "The rattrap is a Christmas present from a ____________”.
(a) captain
 (b) stranger
(c) rat
(d) friend

 

 
 

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