Question

3) the story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others' behavior. Pick out instances of these surprises .

Answer 1

The story 'The Rattrap' has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others' behaviour. One dark evening while walking along the road, the peddler ,aw a light gray cottage by the roadside. He knocked on the door to ask for shelter for the night. Usually under such circumstances he would meet "the sour faces'. But unexpectedly the owner of the house, the crofter, an old man without wife or child, welcomed him cheerfully. He showered his best hospitality by serving food, playing cards with him and taking care of him in all the possible manner. Thereafter, the peddler was entrapped in the forest and when he thought that he might not find a way out of the forest, he sought shelter at the Ramsjo ironworks. There unexpectedly the ironmaster came and insisted him to spend the Christmas evening at his home. The ironmaster mistook him as an old regimental comrade. When the peddler declined his offer, quite unexpectedly Edla, the ironmaster's daughter came there and persuaded him to go to their house. There the ironmaster realising that he had mistaken the stranger's identity and asked him to leave his house immediately. But again unexpectedly Elda in a compassionate manner convinced her father to let him stay for the Christmas in the house .

Answer 2

Hi friend,

Your answer:

The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’ behaviour. They are:-

1. The crofter’s hospitality to the peddler. The rattrap peddler and the readers both are surprised at the friendly behavior of the crofter. 

2.The peddlar was also surprised at the sudden invitation given by the ironmaster. 

3. An unexpected reaction, for both the peddler and the ironmaster, is Edla’s intervention to seek peddler’s presence for Christmas. 

4. But for the readers, the most unexpected reaction is from the peddler when he leaves the package and the letter for Edla.

Hope it helps!