Ch. 4 The Rattrap, # Class XII # CBSE # Core English # MCQ

Ch 4 The Rattrap Flamingo English

By Selma Lagerlof

NOTES

·         ‘The Rattrap’ is a story that underlies a belief that essential goodness in human beings can be aroused through sympathy, understanding and love.

·         Once a man went around selling small rattraps but he took to begging and thievery to keep his body and soul together.

·         One day he was struck with the idea – the whole world is a big rattrap and it offers riches as bait.

·         People let themselves be tempted to touch the bait then it closes in on them bringing an end to everything.

·         One dark evening the rattrap peddler sought shelter in an old crofter’s roadside cottage.

·         The old man gave him food, tobacco they enjoyed the card game too.

·         Next morning the peddler stole away his thirty kroners.

·         The rattrap peddler escaped into a big confusing forest and got lost.

·         While resting on the ground he recollected his idea that the world is a rattrap and thought his end was near.

·         Hearing a thumping sound he reached Ramsjo ironworks for a night shelter.

·         The owner came on his nightly rounds and noticed the ragged wretch near the furnace.

·         He took him as an old acquaintance ‘Nils Olof.’

·         He invited him to stay with them for Christmas but the stranger declined the offer.

·         His daughter Edla Willmansson persuaded to go home with him.

·         She requested him to stay for Christmas Eve only.

·         On his way to the Manor House the peddler thought that he had thrown himself into the lion’s den.

·         The next day in broad day light the iron master realized the stranger was not captain and threatened to call the sheriff.

·         Edla pleaded for him and asked him to stay back.

·         Christmas Eve at Ramsjo was as usual and the stranger slept and slept.

·         She made him understand that if he wanted rest and peace he would be welcome next Christmas also. This had a miraculous effect on him.

·         Next morning they went for early church service leaving behind the guest who was asleep.

·         They learnt at church that a rattrap peddler had robbed an old crofter.

·         Edla becomes very upset.

·         They reach home immediately and learn that the peddler had already left but had not taken anything at all with him. Instead, he had left a small packet for the young girl as a Christmas present.

·         She opens the packet and finds a rattrap, three wrinkled ten-Krona notes and also a letter with a request to return the Kroners to the crofter.

 

Page No: 32

1. Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meanings from the context.

keep body and soul together: to manage to keep alive; to survive
hunger gleamed in his eyes: feeling so hungry that the expression shows on one’s face
plods along the road: moving along the road slowly but deliberately, to walk with a heavy feet
unwonted joy: unusual pleasure or happiness
impenetrable prison: impassable confinement
nodded a haughty consent: indifferent agreement

eased his way: moved himself slowly and carefully
fallen into a line of thought: agreement of thoughts
things have gone downhill: to decline or grow worse and worse

 

Page No: 34

Think As you Read

1.1 From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap? 
Select the correct answer

A.     He got the idea from his friends while talking about his rattraps.

B.     He got the idea from the friendly Crofter while visiting him.

C.     He got the idea from a local daily while taking tea at a tea stall.

D.     He was struck by the idea all of a sudden while thinking about his rattraps.

1.2 What was the idea that struck his mind?

A. The world is a big rattrap.

B. Riches, shelter and food are the baits.

C. Once a person touches the bait, he gets trapped.

D. all the above.

2.1 Why was he amused by this idea?

A. The world had always been harsh to him but he wanted to be very kind.

B. The world had never been kind to him so it gave unwonted joy to think ill of it.

C. The world had given him an opportunity to make rattraps.

D. All the above.

3. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?

A. It was Christmas Season so the peddler expected hospitality.

B. No he did not expect, because people refused him shelter and drove him away taking him as a thief.

C. Yes. He was always a welcome guest.

D. None of these.

4.1 How did the crofter behave  with the peddler?

A. He talked a lot in a very friendly manner.

B. He gave him a cold shoulder and turned him away.

C. He met the peddler with a sour face.

D. none of these.

4.2 Why did the crofter behave in the way he did?

(a)  He was an old and lonely man in need of company. (b)  He was a very social person who talked with every one in the town. (c)  he was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. (d) He always wanted to dine with someone.

Answer:  A. a and b   B. a and c    C. a, b and c.  D. b, c, and d.

5. Why did the crofter show the thirty kroner to the peddler?

Answer:

A.      The old man was very generous with his confidences.

B.      The old man wanted to keep on talking.

C.      His bossy was extraordinary.

D.      None of these

6. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?

A. Yes, the peddler did respect the confidence reposed in him.

B. No, the old man did not respect the confidence reposed in him.

C.  Yes, the peddler only wanted to test his new found philosophy of life.

D. None of these.

Page No: 37

1. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Answer:

A.      When he found no way out from the forest after walking round and round he realized  being caught into a rattrap.

B.      When he thought  how smart he was to befool the world.

C.      When he thought he should hide himself from the law.

D.      None of these.

2. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?

Answer:

A.      He thought that the peddler was Nils Olof, his old friend from the regiment, who had resigined.

B.      He thought that the peddler was in need of food and shelter.

C.      He thought that the peddler was Captain von Stahle from the same regiment they worked together.

D.      None of these.

3. Why did the peddler decline the invitation given by the ironmaster?

(a) The idea of being treated like an old regimental comrade did not please him.

(b) He thought of the thirty kronor , and felt it would be like throwing himself  into the lion’s den.

(c) He felt embarrassed because of his miserable clothing.

(d) He was never given such an invitation by a rich person.

Answer:

A.      (a) and (b)

B.      (b) and (c)

C.      (c) and (d)

D.      All of these

Page No: 41
1. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?

A.      She told that her father missed his friend and wanted to spend some time with him.

B.      She told that there was no one else to be invited for the Christmas season.

C.      She invited him in such a friendly manner that the peddler must have felt confidence in him.

D.      None of these.

2. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?

(a) She doubted whether she would be able to convince the peddler or not.   (b) Edla thought that he must have stolen something.  (c) Edla thought he must have escaped from prison

Answer:

A.      All the above

B.      (a) and (b)

C.      (b) and (c)

D.      None of these

3. When did the ironmaster realize his mistake?

A. When he saw the peddler that night at dinner table.

B. The next day, at breakfast when he saw the clean, properly shaved peddler in a good looking suit.

C. The ironmaster realized his mistake when the peddler himself disclosed the fact.

D. None of these.

4. What did the peddler say in his defence weh it was clear that he was not the person the ironmaster had thought he was?

A. He told that it wasn’t his fault, and he had pleaded to let him stay at the forge.

B. He told that he could still change into his rags and leave for good.

C. Both A and B are correct.

D. Only A is correct.

5. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?

A. It was her desire to entertain someone, she was very happy to be of service to the poor hungry wretch.

B. She wanted to impose her goodness in order to mould the peddler.

C. She wanted to prove that poor hungry people are not bad.

D. She was very stubborn and mean who intended to send the peddler to the prison.

Page No: 42
1. Why was Edla happy t see the gift left by the peddler?

A.      Edla had learnt at the church that the peddler was a thief. Her angry father had told her bitterly that it was her fault to entertain a thief at home who might have escaped with precious things. So when she saw a gift left by the peddler she was filled with joy.

B.      Edla loved gifts so when she saw a gift for herself left by the peddler she was filled with joy.

C.      Edla liked the poor peddler and insisted father to let him stay, so when the paddler left the gift she was overjoyed.

D.      Edla knew in her heart that the peddler was not a thief and the one who had stolen 30 kroner so when she saw the gift left by the peddler she was overjoyed.

2. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?

A. no one can say for sure, why he signed himself as Captain von Stahle.

B. His name was Captain von Stahle so he signed the same at the end of the letter to Edla.

C. The peddler was received by Edla as a Captain, which had touched his heart, he realized his mistake and in order to reciprocate the love, kindness and respect shown by Edla he added ‘Captain’ to show that he was a changed person fit to receive the hospitality of Edla.

D. The type of life the peddler was leading , had made him forget that he too had once served in the army where he followed high moral behaviour. Now was the time to show Edla who he really was.