The Rattrap
Important Questions & Answers
CBSE Board Exam Preparation
1. Short Answer Type Questions (2-3 Marks Each)
Q1. Why did the peddler compare the world to a rattrap?
✅ Answer:
The peddler believed that the world was like a rattrap because it offered material possessions like wealth and luxuries as bait to trap people. Once someone was tempted, they got caught in the trap of endless struggles and misfortunes, just like a rat in a rattrap.
Q2. How did the ironmaster mistake the peddler for an old acquaintance?
✅ Answer:
The ironmaster saw the peddler in dim light and mistook him for an old regimental comrade. The peddler's unkempt appearance further misled the ironmaster into believing he was a former soldier.
Q3. Why did the peddler decline the ironmaster’s invitation initially?
✅ Answer:
The peddler feared that if the ironmaster realized his true identity in better light, he might get into trouble. Hence, he politely refused the invitation.
Q4. What made the peddler accept Edla’s invitation?
✅ Answer:
Unlike her father, Edla spoke kindly and gently to the peddler. She showed trust and respect, making the peddler feel safe and valued. Her hospitality moved him, and he decided to accept her invitation.
Q5. What did the peddler do after stealing the crofter’s money?
✅ Answer:
After stealing the 30 kronors, the peddler avoided the main road and took a forest route to escape. However, he lost his way in the dense woods and later felt trapped, just like in a real rattrap.
Q6. How did the peddler’s heart change at Edla’s house?
✅ Answer:
The warmth and kindness shown by Edla made the peddler realize the importance of trust and compassion. He decided to change his ways and left a gift along with a letter, proving his transformation.
2. Long Answer Type Questions (5-6 Marks Each)
Q7. How does The Rattrap highlight the impact of kindness and compassion?
✅ Answer:
The story emphasizes that kindness and compassion have the power to transform even the most hardened individuals. Initially, the peddler was a thief and a liar, believing that the world was a rattrap full of deception. However, when Edla treated him with respect and warmth, he felt valued as a human being. This emotional experience sparked his inner goodness and led him to leave the stolen money behind, proving that love and trust can bring about change in people.
Q8. How does the peddler’s experience at the ironmaster’s house bring about his transformation?
✅ Answer:
The peddler was used to being treated with suspicion and hostility. However, at the ironmaster’s house, Edla’s genuine kindness and hospitality made him feel human again. Her unwavering faith in him touched his heart, making him rethink his dishonest ways. He left a gift and letter for Edla, addressing himself as a “captain” in gratitude. This act of self-respect and honesty marked his complete transformation from a petty thief to a redeemed man.
Q9. How does the story The Rattrap reflect the theme of materialism vs. human values?
✅ Answer:
The peddler believed that people get trapped in the materialistic world, just like rats in a rattrap, by chasing money and possessions. However, Edla’s kindness teaches him that human values like trust, love, and compassion are more powerful than material wealth. His final act of leaving the stolen money and embracing honesty proves that human goodness triumphs over greed.
Q10. Explain the significance of the title The Rattrap.
✅ Answer:
The title is a symbolic representation of the central theme of the story. The peddler views life as a rattrap where materialistic desires act as bait, trapping people in suffering. His own life experience—stealing money, getting lost, and eventually transforming due to kindness—reinforces the idea that the world can be a rattrap, but love and compassion can free a person from it. The title perfectly captures the moral lesson and theme of the story.
3. Value-Based & Creative Thinking Questions
Q11. “No one is born a criminal; circumstances make a person one.” How does this statement relate to the story The Rattrap?
✅ Answer:
The peddler in The Rattrap was not a born thief but was forced into stealing due to poverty and loneliness. He had no means of survival and was mistreated by society. However, Edla’s compassion transformed him, proving that kindness can change a person. This highlights that people are shaped by their circumstances, but given the right environment, they can change for the better.
Q12. Imagine you are the peddler. Write a diary entry expressing your thoughts on your transformation.
✅ Answer:
"Today, for the first time in my life, I felt like a respected man. Edla treated me as a guest, not as a thief. Her kindness made me realize that there is still goodness in this world. I do not want to live as a rat anymore, trapped in lies and deceit. I am leaving this house as a new man, grateful and changed. I hope to live a life of honesty from now on."
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