NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 4 The Rattrap
Summary of Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 4 The Rattrap
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Important Questions of Class 12 English Chapter 4 The Rattrap
Page No. 34
Question 1:
From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Answer
The peddler got the idea from his own experiences of poverty and hardship. While thinking about his life, he compared the world to a big rattrap. He believed that the world offers temptations like wealth, food, shelter, and comfort, just as a rattrap offers cheese to attract a rat. Those who are tempted get trapped in difficulties.
Question 2:
Why was he amused by this idea?
Answer
He was amused because he thought that everyone in the world was trapped by greed and material desires, while he himself was free because he had nothing to lose. This thought gave him great satisfaction and made him laugh at the world.
Question 3:
Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
Answer
No, the peddler did not expect such hospitality. He was used to being treated with suspicion and unkindness. Therefore, he was surprised when the crofter welcomed him warmly, offered him food, shelter, and treated him like an honoured guest.
Question 4:
Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Answer
The crofter was talkative and friendly because he lived alone and enjoyed having someone to talk to. He was happy to get company after a long time and freely shared his experiences with the peddler.
Question 5:
Why did he show the thirty kroner to the peddler?
Answer
The crofter showed the thirty kronor to the peddler because he trusted him completely. He wanted to prove that he had earned the money by selling milk and felt proud of his earnings.
Question 6:
Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Answer
No, the peddler did not respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter. Instead, he betrayed the crofter’s trust by stealing the thirty kronor while the crofter was away and running away with the money.
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 4 The Rattrap
Page No. 37
Question 1:
What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Answer
The peddler felt that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap after stealing the thirty kronor from the crofter. While escaping through the forest, he lost his way and realised that his greed for money had trapped him, just as a rat is trapped by the bait in a rattrap.
Question 2:
Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Answer
The ironmaster spoke kindly to the peddler because he mistook him for his old regimental friend, Captain von Stahle. Believing that his old friend had fallen on hard times, he invited him home to celebrate Christmas and offered to help him.
Question 3:
Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
Answer
The peddler declined the invitation because he was afraid that his real identity would be discovered. Since he had stolen the crofter’s money, he feared that going to the ironmaster’s house would lead to trouble.
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 4 The Rattrap
Page No. 41
Question 1:
What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?
Answer
The peddler accepted Edla Willmansson’s invitation because of her kindness, sympathy, and gentle behaviour. She treated him with respect and assured him that he would be safe and comfortable in their home.
Question 2:
What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Answer
Edla doubted that the peddler was not the person her father believed him to be. His frightened expression and unusual behaviour made her suspect that he had done something wrong and was hiding his true identity.
Question 3:
When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?
Answer
The ironmaster realised his mistake the next morning, when the peddler had been bathed, shaved, and dressed in clean clothes. Seeing him clearly in daylight, he understood that the man was not Captain von Stahle, but an ordinary peddler.
Question 4:
What did the peddler say in his defence when it was clear that he was not the person the ironmaster had thought he was?
Answer
The peddler said that he had never claimed to be Captain von Stahle. He explained that he had tried to refuse the invitation, but the ironmaster himself had mistaken him for his old friend.
Question 5:
Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
Answer
Edla still entertained the peddler because she felt sympathy for him. She believed that everyone deserved kindness and a peaceful Christmas. Since she had invited him as a guest, she did not want to send him away, even after learning the truth about his identity.
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 4 The Rattrap
Page No. 42
Question 1:
Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Answer
Edla was happy to see the gift left by the peddler because it showed that her kindness and compassion had transformed him into a better person. He had returned the stolen thirty kronor, left a rattrap as a Christmas gift, and written a letter expressing his gratitude. This proved that he had become honest and had regained his self-respect.
Question 2:
Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
Answer
The peddler signed himself as Captain von Stahle because Edla had treated him with dignity, respect, and kindness, just as she would have treated a real captain. Her faith in him inspired him to rise above his dishonest life. By signing the letter as Captain von Stahle, he acknowledged the new identity and self-respect that Edla’s kindness had given him.
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 4 The Rattrap
Understanding the text
Question 1:
How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter?
Answer
The peddler interprets the acts of kindness and hospitality in different ways. At first, he takes advantage of the crofter’s kindness by stealing his thirty kronor. He believes that the world is a rattrap and that every act has some hidden purpose. When the ironmaster invites him home, the peddler thinks that it is only because the ironmaster has mistaken him for Captain von Stahle. However, Edla Willmansson’s genuine kindness, sympathy, and respect, shown without expecting anything in return, touch his heart. Her goodness changes him completely and inspires him to return the stolen money and become an honest person.
Question 2:
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 and his daughter Edla Willmansson have very different personalities.
The ironmaster invites the peddler home because he mistakes him for his old regimental friend, Captain von Stahle. When he discovers the truth, he becomes angry, calls the peddler a tramp, and wants him to leave immediately.
In contrast, Edla is kind, compassionate, and understanding. Although she also suspects that the peddler is not Captain von Stahle, she treats him with respect and sympathy. Even after learning the truth, she allows him to stay for Christmas because she believes that everyone deserves kindness and a peaceful Christmas.
Thus, the ironmaster judges the peddler by his identity, whereas Edla judges him by his humanity. Her kindness finally transforms the peddler into an honest and grateful person.
Question 3:
The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’ behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.
Answer
The story contains several unexpected reactions that make it interesting:
(1) The crofter welcomes the peddler warmly and offers him food, shelter, and friendship, even though the peddler is a poor stranger.
(2) The peddler betrays the crofter’s trust by stealing his thirty kronor, despite receiving such kindness.
(3) The ironmaster mistakes the peddler for Captain von Stahle and invites him home with great respect.
(4) The peddler refuses the ironmaster’s invitation, fearing that his real identity will be discovered.
(5) Edla persuades the peddler to come home and treats him with kindness, even though she suspects that he is not the person her father believes him to be.
(6) After discovering the truth, the ironmaster becomes angry and wants the peddler to leave immediately.
(7) Edla, however, still allows the peddler to stay, showing sympathy and believing that he deserves a peaceful Christmas.
(8) The greatest surprise comes at the end, when the peddler returns the stolen thirty kronor, leaves a rattrap as a Christmas gift, and writes a letter signed “Captain von Stahle”. His transformation proves that genuine kindness can change a person’s heart.
Question 4:
What made the peddler finally change his ways?
Answer
The peddler finally changed his ways because of Edla Willmansson’s kindness, compassion, and respect. She treated him as an honoured guest even after knowing that he was not Captain von Stahle. Her trust and generosity made him realise his mistake and awakened the goodness within him. As a result, he returned the stolen thirty kronor, left a rattrap as a Christmas gift, and wrote a letter expressing his gratitude. Thus, Edla’s kindness transformed him into an honest and self-respecting person.
Question 5:
How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
Answer
The metaphor of the rattrap highlights the human predicament by comparing the world to a giant rattrap. Just as a rattrap uses bait to trap rats, the world traps people through temptations such as wealth, money, power, food, and comfort. When people give in to these temptations, they become trapped in greed, dishonesty, and suffering.
The peddler himself becomes a victim of this trap when he steals the thirty kronor from the crofter. His greed leads him into trouble, making him realise that he has fallen into the same rattrap he had imagined for others.
Thus, the story suggests that human beings often become victims of their own desires, but kindness, compassion, and goodness can help them escape this trap and become better individuals.
Question 6:
The peddler comes out as a person with a subtle sense of humour. How does this serve in lightening the seriousness of the theme of the story and also endear him to us?
Answer
The peddler has a subtle sense of humour, which is reflected in his unusual idea that the whole world is a giant rattrap. He humorously compares people to rats that are tempted by wealth, food, shelter, and comfort and get trapped because of their greed. This imaginative comparison adds wit and lightness to an otherwise serious story about poverty, loneliness, and human weakness.
His humorous way of looking at life makes him an interesting and likeable character. Even though he steals the crofter’s money, the reader understands that he is not a hardened criminal but a poor and lonely man who has lost his way. His honesty in admitting that he never claimed to be Captain von Stahle, and his final transformation after receiving Edla’s kindness, further win the reader’s sympathy.
Thus, the peddler’s gentle humour reduces the seriousness of the story while making his character more human, memorable, and endearing.
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 4 The Rattrap
