What did ironmaster tell his daughter when she pleaded him to let the rattrap seller stay
for Christmas?
(i) she should leave the house immediately.
(ii) she shouldn’t be so compassionate.
(iii) he didn’t want her to regret later over her decision.
(iv) she must not disobey her father’s decision.
chapter - the rattrap class 12th
Answers
lLong Answer Type Questions
ANSWER
Question 1:
There is a saying ‘Kindness pays, rudeness never’. In the story, The Rattrap’ Ed la’s attitude towards men and matters is different from her father’s attitude. How are the values of concern and compassion brought out in the story, The Rattrap?
Answer:
‘The Rattrap’ is a story of a Peddler who used to earn his living by selling small rattraps of wire. As his business was .not profitable, he resorted to petty thievery. Nobody treated him with kindness or respect. The first act of compassion was shown by the Crofter who takes the poor Peddler in. But the Peddler stole his money and ran away.
Later, he was given a place to stay by the noble ironmaster and his daughter. Though she was suspicious of him, they promised him Christmas cheer.
When his truth was discovered, Edla fought with her father for the Peddler. She not only requested’her father to let the Peddler stay for Christmas, but also treated him like a real captain. The Peddler was highly touched by this act of concern and compassion and before leaving the house, left the money he had stolen, besides a rattrap as a present for Edla and a letter explaining his behavior. This shows that goodness is latent in the human heart and can be brought out by love, care and understanding.
Question 2:
The Rattrap’is a story which shows that basic human goodness can be brought out by understanding and love. Do you think this is practical in approach? Why/Why not?
Or
Describe how the story, ‘The Rattrap’shows that basic human goodness can be brought out by understanding and love.
Answer:
‘The Rattrap’ is a story of a Peddler who used to earn his living by selling small rattraps. One day he met a Crofter, who showed him kindness and sympathy, welcoming him in the warmth of his home. However, he also revealed that he had thirty kronor. The Peddler stole his money and ran away.
Later, he was given a place to stay by a young girl against her father’s wish. She showered affection on the Peddler and convinced her father to let him stay with them for Christmas. The Peddler was highly touched by her behavior and before leaving the house, returned the stolen thirty kronor and a small rattrap as a gift.
This shows that the Peddler was not a bad man at heart, but only bound by his poor and unfortunate circumstances, which forced him to steal things. But the love, trust and understanding shown by Edla brought out his basic human goodness.
An answer is an option (ii) she shouldn’t be so compassionate.
- The theme of the chapter Rattrap is that there is essential goodness present in everyone.
- The chapter is about a rattrap seller who earns by begging money, which he uses to make rattraps and sells them.
- But as this is not sufficient for his living, he also indulges in stealing sometimes.
- He realises one day that this world is like a rattrap where wealth and riches are like the bait just as the mouse is a bit to the rattrap.
- One day he steals some money from a man who sheltered him and after escaping, he realises that he also fell into a trap for that money.
- As he was escaping, a mill owner and his daughter Edla invite him over for Christmas thinking he was one of his old friends, but the peddler goes with them without telling them the truth.
- Eventually, the owner realises he wasn't the person he was thinking of and that he had lied and he gets angry.
- But the daughter pleads with her father to let him stay till Christmas and shows him kindness.
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