( Synopsis

The peddler went around selling small rattraps of wire. He made them himself from
the stores the material he got
or
big farms. But even so, the business was not especially by beeein.
profitable, so he had to resorr to
both ging n
petty thievery to keep body and soul
together. begeino. and
One day the
peddler had naturally been thinking of his rattraps when suddenly he struck
big rattrap. "The world was full of temptations. It offered riches and by shelter that the whal.
world was nothing but was the idea
a
and clothing,
cxactly as the raturap offered cheese and pork. When somcone was joys, and food.
him, and then tempted to touch the bait, it heat
everything came to an end. The world had never been very kind to him, it closed inon .
think ill of it. It became a cherished so
gave him unwonted
pastimne of the peddler to think of people who had been caught in the iou.to
The peddler knocked on the door of the
cottage to ask shelter for the night. The owncr of the
dangerous s
snare.
without wife or child. So he was cottage was an old m
him supper; then he
happy to
get someone to talk to in his loneliness. He
proved to be good host. He oman
a
gave him tobacco to smoke. He played cards with his gave
guest until bedtime. The peddler had
whom he met refuscd to give shelter and made sour not cxDec.
such kind of hospitality from the cerofter.
Ordinarily
The old man informed that he had been a crofter at
people faces,
cted
which supported him. When the
Ramsjo Ironworks. Now he was no longer able to do
day labour; it
peddler seemed incredulous, he showed the peddler the thirty kronor that he hadwas his c

payment for the creamery, to convince the peddler. The

not continue on the
peddler stole the pouch with the thirty kronor and went away.received He da
public highway, but turned into the forest. He walked and walked without
coming to the end of
and finally he recalled his
thoughts about the world and the rattrap. He had let himself be fooled by bait and had been fore
a
the
The peddler reached the cauchr
ght
Ramsjo iron mill. The blacksmith did not notice that the peddler had opened the
the forge because of the noise of waterfall and a gate and entered
sharp north wind. Secondly, it was nothing unusual tor vagabonds t
take shelter for the
night. He glanced only casually at the peddler. Unlike the blacksmith, the ironmasterpoor walked
to the
peddler, looked him over very carefully to know his identity. He mistook the close un

Olof. The peddler did not reveal himself. If the peddler as an old acquaintance, Ni
ironmaster thought he was an old
him a couple of kronor. The ironmaster acquaintance, he might perhaps give
felt sorry to see him in rags. So he spoke kindly to him and invited him
Christmas eve. The peddler had stolen the home
thirty kronor from the old crofter. He felt that going up to the manor houseon
or

would be like throwing himself

voluntarily into the lion's den. He declined the ironmaster's invitation.
The ironmaster assumed that he felt
embarrassed because of his miserable clothing. He said that Elizabeth was
sons were abroad, and there was
dead. hic
no one at home
except his oldest daughter and himself. He requested him to come and
celebrate Christmas with them. The ironmaster sent his
She was kind and
daughter, Edla Willmansson as she had better powers of persuasion.
compassionate. She noticed that the man was afraid. She had doubts about him either he had
-
something or else he had escaped from jail. She assured him to leave freely as he came. She requested him to stay with stolen
over Christmas Eve. The
them
peddler felt confidence in her and accepted her invitation.
The valet bathed the peddler, cut his hair and shaved him. He was dressed in a
good-looking suit. The ironmaster
at him
carefully and he understood that he had mistaken the stranger for an old acquaintance. He threatened to handlooked him
over to the Sheriff if he did not leave
immediately. Edla pleaded with her father not to send the vagabond away. She wanted
to keep the
spirit of Christmas. Secondly, she wanted to provide the poor vagabond with a day of comfort and solace. She
was
justified because they had invited him on Christmas eve against his will. So they should not chase away a human
whom they had promised Christmas cheer. Edla also invited him to being
spend the next Christmas Eve with them.
Next morning, at the Church Edla learned that one of the old crofters of Ramsjo Ironworks had been robbed by a
vagabond who went around selling rattraps. The ironmaster and Edla concluded that the man whom they had entertained
was a thief. The ironmaster
got angry wich Edla for letting him into the house. He assumed that the peddler must have
stolen their silver spoons and other valuables. Edla regretted that she would have to sufter
criticisms for trying to help a
thief. They returned home and found that the peddler had left a
package Edla as a Christmas present. The
for
package
contained a small rattrap, and in it three ten kronor notes and a letter. In his letter, he showed his gratitude to Edla for
her kindness and treating him like a real captain. He thanked her for
reforming him and offering true and high
regard. Edla was happy to see the gift left by the peddler as her trust was not broken by the peddler. Herfriendship
goodness had paid
off and the peddler had transformed.
 SA Short Answer
Type Questions (2 marks)
--

Q1 What did the rattrap

Ans. The
peddler do for a living?
peddler went around selling small rattraps of wire. He made them himself from the material
in the stores he got bv bezpne
or
big farms. But even so, the business was not especially
begging and pety profitable. So he had to resort w
bo
thievery to keep body and soul together. His clothes were in
rags, his cheeks were sunken.
hunger gleamed in his eyes. ai
 I n w h a t s e n s e as the world a
big rattrap
this idea according peddler? From where did he get this idea? Why was he
to
usd by NCERT)
he poddler had naturally becn
d was nothing but a big rartrap thinking of his rattraps when suddenly he was struck by the idea that the
w ow o r l d as it had existed
for only tor people. The worla
temptations. it otferod hchs and joys. shelter and food. purpoe - baits for
pe
one to set

h e n someone tempted touch the bait. dosed inheat and clothing, cucty the rartra offcrad cheee
was to
as

him. and then verything

it on
ing camc to an
cn
wwrid had
never been very kind to him.
so it
gave him unwonted jov to think ili of it in this way. e a
stime of the peddier to think of people who had it oa
been caught in the
around the bait.
still circling
snare, and ot dangerous D
h ydid
Ath
the peddler knock on the door of the
by cottage the roadside? Why the crofter
friend with the peddler? Did the peddler expect the kind was so
talkative an
of hospitality from the crofter NCERT)
T * poidier Hler knocked on
ot the the door
cottage to ask shelter for the wz5 an old
ut wife or child. So he was happy to get someone to talk tonight.
in hisThe owner of the cot
loneliness. ottage
He prowed to oc a
hst. Immediately
enmediately he
he put the porridge pot on the fire and gave him supper: then he gave him tobacco to smoke.
I he got out an old pack of cards and plaved
Finall mjolis with his guest until bedtime. The peddicr had not cpected
SAh
kind pitality from the crofter.
of hospita Ordinarily people whom he met refused to give sheciter and made sour taces.
did che Crofter show the thirty kronor to the peddler? Did the the confidence
peddler respect reposed in
Crofter?
him by the NCERT
Crofter was tr
was trusting He was generous with his confidences. He informed the peddler that he had been
Crofter
The
t at Ramsjo
Ironworks. Now he was no
longer able to do dav labour: it was his oow which supported him
hen the peddler seemed incredulous, he showed the peddler the thirty kronor that he had received as payment tor
convince the peddler.
creamer. to
the
No. the pedler did not respect the crofter's confidence but betrayed his trust. He stole the pouch with the thirty

kronor and
went away.

was the ironmaster's reaction

the peddler different from that
to
of the Blackmith?
05 How
The mith did not notice that the peddler had opened the gate and entered the
blacksmit ge because ot the noise of
waterfall.a sharp north wind. erc. Secondly, it was norhing unusual for poor vagabonds to take shelrer for the night
to warm themselves in tront of the fire. The blacksmith glanced only casually and indiferently at the peddler. The
peddler asked permission to stay, and the blacksmith nodded his consent without honouring him with a single
word. Unlike the blacksmith, the ironmaster of the Ramsjo iron mill walked close up to the peddler. looked him
over very caretully to know his identitv
O6 Why did the peddler not want to undeceive him all at once when the ironmaster mistook him as an old
acquaintance?
es When the ironmaster mistook the peddler as an old acquaintance, Nils Olof. the peddler did not want to undeceive
him all at once because it occurred to him that if the fine gentieman thought he was an old acquaintance. he might
perhaps give him a couple of kronor.
0 Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home? Why did the peddler decdine the
invitation? (NCERT
The ironmaster ofthe Ramsjo iron mill thought that the peddler was his old regimental comrade. Nils Olot. He felt
sorry to see him in rags. So he spoke kindly to him and invited him home on Christmas eve.
The peddler had stolen the thirty kronor from the old crofter. So he felt that going up to the manor house would be
like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion's den. So, he declined the ironmaster's invitation.
Q8 What efforts did the ironmaster make to invite the peddler on Christmas eve?
Aas. The ironmaster asumed that the peddler felt embarrassed because of his miserable clothing. He said that Elizabeth
was dead, his sons were abroad, and there was no one at home except his oldest daughter and himself. They did not
have any company for Christmas. So he requested him to come and celebrate Christmas with them.
Q9 What made the peddler accept Edla's invitation? What doubts did Edla have about the peddler? NCERT)
ka Edla Willmansson had better
powers of persuasion than the ironmaster. She
was

a the peddler compassionately. She assured him that he would be allowed o leave just as freely as he came. She
modest
and quite shy. She looked
requested him to stay with them over Christmas Eve. The peddler felt confidence in her and acoepted her invitation.
 Edla noticed that the man was afraid. She had doubts about him cither he had stolen
escaped from jail. something or clse he
had
Q.10 When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?
Ans. When the ironmaster saw the
him,
peddler next day, clean
his hair and shaved him. He was dressed
cut
and well-dressed, he realised his
mistake. The valet had
(NCERT)
barhed
puckered brow and he
in a
good-looking suit.
understood that in the dim lighr he had mistaken the
The ironmaster looked at
him wil
stranger for an old acquaintance
with
Q.11 How did the peddler
interpret the acts of
his daughter? kindness
and hospitality shown
by the crofter, the ironmaster, and
nd
Ans.According to the peddler, the acts of kindness and hospirality shown by the crofter, the
ironmaster, and his
nothing but tempting baits to trap him in the world's ratrap. The world was full of
were daughte.
riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and temptations. offered
I
dothing, exactly the rattrap offered cheese and pork. When
as
Was
temptcd to touch the bait, it closed in on him, and then everything came somcone
ne
end. to an

Q.12 What did the ironmaster and Edla learn about the peddler at the Church? How did
Ans. At the Church, the ironmaster and Edla learned that one of
they react?
the old crofters of Ramsjo Ironworks had
becn robbed
by a vagalbond who went around selling rattraps. The ironmaster and Fdla concluded that the man whom
entenaincd was a thicf. The ironmaster got angry with Fdla for they had
letting him into the house. He assumed thar the
peddler must have stolen their silver spoons and othcr valuables and must have gone away from the manor
Edla regreucd that she would have to suffer criticisms for house
trying to hclp a thief.
Q.13 What were the contents of the package left by the
was the content of the letter
peddler as a Christmas gift for Edla Willmansson? or What
written by the peddler to Edla?
Ans. The package left
by the pcddler as a Christmas prescnt for Edla contained a small rattrap, and in it three ten
notes and a letter. In his
letter, he showed his gratitude to Miss Edla Willmansson for her kindness and for kronor
him like a real treating
captain. He thanked her for bringing about a change in him, in reforming him and
oftering
friendship and high regard. He did not want her to be embarrassed at Christmas eve. He returned the stolen
him true
money
Q.14 Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Ans. Edla gave a little cry of
joy to see the gift left by the peddler. She was happy as her trust was nor broken
(NCERT
peddler. Her goodness had paid off and the peddler had transformed. She would not have to suffer criticism by the
trying to help a thief. for

Q.15 Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
Ans. The peddler's attitude was refined by Edla's
(NCERT
understanding and compassion. Despite her knowing that he was not a
real captain, she treated him he also wished
as a
captain, so to respond to her in the same way and signed himself as
Captain von Stahle. He felt that he was like a rat who would have been caught in the world's rattrap if he had nor
been raised to
captain, because in that way he got power to clcar himself.

Long Answer Type

LA Questions (5 marks)

Q.1 Why did Edla plead with her father not to send the vagabond away? Was she justified in doing so? (NCERT
Ans. Edla pleaded with her father not to send the vagabond away even after she knew the truth about him because of her
kind, trusting and compassionate behaviour. It was Christmas eve and she wanted to keep the spirit of Christmas.
Secondly, she wanted to provide the poor vagabond with a day of comfort and solace. Moreover, she was lonelv
and wanted to do something special on Christmas eve. She said that she was
going to make things for the poor
hungry peddler on Christmas eve. She could not get away from the idea all at once. So she had interceded for poor
vagabond. The peddler walked and walked the whole year long, and there was probably not a single place in the
whole country where he was welcome and could feel at home. Wherever he turned he was chased
away. He was always
afraid of being arrested and cross-examined. So he should enjoy at least a day of with them in the whole vear.
peace
Edla was justified because they had invited him on Christmas eve against his will. So they should not chase away a
human being whom they had promised Christmas cheer.
 adethe
a d e
t h e peddler finally change his ways?
ped.
(NCERT
hat
compasion provide bealing touch to the distracted souls
ssion provide a
and bring out best in
tt ionate behaviour ot the ironmaster's daughter, Fdla Willmanson man. kind, trusting
|onShc pleaded with her father not to send the pcdller away even afterawakens
she
the
knew
basic human goodne
truth albour him. She
t h ep e d d l e
the >
he P toprovide the poor vagabond with day of comfon and solace. a
d
wantcd

he peddler by the hand up to the table and served him Christmas fish and
p n d d l eo
w a n t e
t nl. 6,

S h et o o k

she her's suit

fathers porridge
suit as a Christmas present. She also invited him to spend the next Christmas
eat. he
cve with them. gave
The
to

himher

nly stared at her in boundless anmazement.

c had paid oft and the
peddler had ransformed. In his letter, he showed his
Her 1ting him like real
gratitude for her kindnes
a
captain. He did not want her to be
embarrassed at the Christmas scason and
nd
rturned
the stolen moncy. He thanked her for bringing about a change in him, in reforming him and offering him
friendship and high regard.

T h e Rattrap' focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Discuss.
The story T h c

survive but not live in 1s0lation. " The peddler was a lonely man, who went around sclling rattraps. Hc walkcd
Man
MALod the whole year long. and there was probably not a single place in the whole country where he could fecl
valkedthe
and
He wandered trom place to place, making small rattraps with material begged from stores or big farms.
at hon
at er was an old man without wife or child. When the peddler knocked on the door to ask shelter for the
ofter was an

h e crofter was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness.

night.
The
nmaster also bonds with the peddler without confirming his true identity. Edla Willmansson who had
i r o n m a s t e r

hts about the peddier that either he had stolen something or else he had escaped from jail, still sheinvites him
Christmas Eve as the
stav
with them
w
over
lonely family needed some guest to celebrate Christmas with. When
the

ironmaster
ironmaster wanted to chase away the peddler after he knew the truth about him, Edla with her tather plcaded
chase him away. She had felt so happy when she thought how homelike and Christmassy she was going to
e things for the guest. She could not get away from the idea all at once. So she said they should not chase away
mak

a human being to who they had promised Christmas cheer.

what are the instances in the story that show that the character ofthe ironmaster is different from that of his
ways?
daughter in many
Theironmaster spoke to the peddler for some time, still he mistook him as an old acquaintance, whereas, his
within minutes, observed that either the had stolen something or else he had
daughter Edla Willmansson, man

cscaped from jail.

the
The ironmaster could
not persuade the poor vagabond to come to the manor house on the Christmas eve. On
had better powers of persuasion than he himself. She looked at him compassionately and
ather hand. his daughter
invitation.
that the peddler felt confidence in her and accepted her
spoke to him in such a friendly manner
ironmaster wanted to hand him over to the sheriff but his daughter
After knowing the truth about the peddler, the the poor
was more compassionate.
She pleaded with her father not to send the peddler away. She wanted to provide
of comfort and solace.
vagabond with a day
ironmaster assumed that the peddler
At church, learned that the rattrap peddler had robbed the crofter. The
they house.
must have stolen their silver spoons
and other valuables. He blamed his daughter for letting him in the
Edla had paid off and the peddler had transformed. He
However, the trusting and compassionate behaviour of
returned the stolen money.