CBSE Class 12 English Chapter 4 The Rattrap Important Question Answers of 1, 2, and 5 Marks from Flamingo Book
The Rattrap Question Answers – Here are the important questions for CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo Book Chapter 4 The Rattrap. The important questions we have compiled will help the students to brush up on their knowledge about the subject. Students can practice Class 12 English important questions to understand the subject better and improve their performance in the board exam. The solutions provided here will also give students an idea about how to write the answers. Take Free Online MCQs Test for Class 12
The Rattrap Question Answers Video
Click here to take a free test of MCQs of Class 12 The Rattrap
Click here for The Rattrap Summary, Explanation, and Question Answers
Click Here for The Rattrap Explanation Video
Click here for the MCQ video of The Rattrap
The Rattrap Important Question Answers (2 marks) – 30 to 40 words
Q1. How was the peddler received in the cottage?
or
How did the crofter entertain the peddler?
A. The crofter was kind to the peddler. He offered him shelter in his cottage, gave him porridge for supper. Then he cut a big slice from the tobacco roll which was sufficient for both of them and offered it to him. He also confided in the peddler and shared his secrets.
Q2. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
A. The crofter lived all alone and wanted someone to talk to. When he saw the peddler, he was happy to get company. He was a generous host and served the peddler porridge, tobacco and also played a card game with him. He even shared his secrets with the peddler.
Q3. In what sense was the world a big rattrap according to the peddler?
Or
Explain the metaphor of the rattrap in context of the story by Selma Lagerlof.
A. The rattrap seller believes that the worldly pleasures are like a bait in the rattrap. They attract us. The one who gets attracted towards the bait, gets trapped. He has to commit all types of misdeeds in order to achieve worldly pleasures. This marks the end for him.
Q4. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
Or
Why did Edla plead with her father not to send the Vagabond away?
A. Edla was a trusting and compassionate person. She wanted the peddler to enjoy himself and remain at peace. As it was Christmas Eve, she did not want to turn away the guest. She reasoned that they had insisted upon the man to visit their home for Christmas Eve. It was her kind gesture that reformed the peddler.
Q5. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Or
Why was the ironmaster kind to the peddler? Where did he invite him to and why?
A. The ironmaster mistook the peddler for an old comrade. He was happy that he had found his comrade with whom he could spend Christmas eve. He was lonely and so he was desperate to invite the man home. Despite opposition from the peddler, the ironmaster and his daughter convinced him to spend Christmas eve with them. He was eager to take the man home because of the miserable condition which he had found him in.
Q6. Why was the peddler amused at the idea of the world being a rattrap?
A. The peddler was amused when he saw other people getting trapped In the metaphorical rattrap. The thought of other people being trapped, because of the temptations amused him. He was happy because he remained free from the rattrap. He felt joyous to think ill of the world in this way.
Q7. What was the content of the letter written by the peddler to Edla?
A. The peddler wrote that since she had treated him like a captain, he wanted to be nice to her in return. He did not want to embarrass her with the thought that she had invited a thief over for Christmas. He returned the thirty kroners of the crofter and requested her to return the stolen money. The letter read that the rattrap was a Christmas present from a rat who would have been caught in the world’s rattrap if he had not been raised to the status of a captain which motivated him to reform himself.
Class 12 English Important Links
The Rattrap Important Questions of 5 Marks – 120 to 150 words
Q1. Why did the crofter repose confidence in the peddler?
How did the peddler feel after betraying the crofter?
A. The crofter had been hospitable towards the peddler. Despite this the peddler was ungrateful and betrayed him. The crofter welcomed him in his house when he asked for shelter. He took good care of him, served him supper, shared his tobacco, and played a card game ‘mjolis’ with him until bedtime.
He was also generous with his confidence and told the peddler that he had been a crofter at the Ramjso ironworks and now he had earned 30 kroners by selling the milk of his cow. The crofter did all this because he had been lonely and became happy when he got a company of the peddler. However, the peddler stole the 30 kroners from the crofter’s house. Soon thereafter he felt guilty of cheating the nice man. He felt that the money was bait that had lured him into committing theft.
Q2. How does the story ‘The Rattrap’ highlight the importance of community over isolation? support your rationale with textual evidence.
Or
The Rattrap focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Comment.
A. Man is a social animal and he cannot live in isolation. In every field of life we interact with humans. In case a person does not socialize and shirks the company of friends, he becomes a recluse. The story ‘The Rattrap’ highlights this fact.
Initially we come to know that the rattrap seller was a lonely man who used to make rattraps and was left to his own meditations. One day when he knocks on a cottage, he meets a crofter who welcomes him and entertains him. The crofter is also a lonely man and is glad to get the company of the peddler.
Then we also find that the ironmaster and his daughter are lonely. They live in a big house but have nobody else for company, so, they insist that the peddler should spend Christmas eve with them.
Q3. What made the peddler finally change his ways?
Or
What miracle did Edla perform in the peddler’s life?
Or
How did Edla bring about a change in the peddler?
A. Edla believed that the peddler was her father’s comrade from the Army. She treated him like a gentleman. She gave him a lot of respect and spoke with kindness. She wanted the peddler to stay with them for Christmas and share the Christmas cheer.
Even when they came to know that the peddler was not the person that Edla’s father had mistaken him to be, Edla’s behaviour towards him remained unchanged. All this moved the peddler. He became a true gentleman and gave up the wrong ways of life. He was thankful to Edla for being so good to him and for transforming him into a true gentleman.
Q4. The peddler believed that the whole world is a rattrap. How did he himself get caught in the same?
A. The peddler gets tempted and trapped when he gets easy access to the crofter’s money. He realizes that he is caught in the trap when he loses his way in the forest, with the few kroners in his pocket. He gets caught in the trap another time when Edla assures him Christmas cheer.
He knows also that the ironmaster is mistaking him for someone else but does not clarify this because he is lured by the attraction of the Christmas cheer. He repeatedly surrenders to the worldly temptations and realizes that the world is a rattrap and the riches, joys, and shelters are worldly temptations.
Q5. How did the seller of rattrap realize that he himself was caught up in a rat trap after he left the crofter’s cottage?
A. The rattrap seller was a habitual thief. Despite the kindness of the crofter, the peddler betrayed him. He stole the money from his house. In order to prevent being caught, he avoided the highway and went into the woods. He got confused and lost his way.
He seemed to move in a circle as the paths seemed to twist back and forth. When he was trapped in the woods he realized that the 30 kroners were bait. He felt that the forest was closing upon him like a prison and he had been trapped.
The Rattrap Subjective Questions
Q1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
or
Why was the peddler amused by the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Important Point-
– While pondering over the traps made by him
– Comforts of riches, shelter, food, and clothing were baits
– Once trapped everything comes to an end.
– was never treated kindly
– world ensnares all those who succumbed to temptations of riches and joys
Q2. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
or
Why did the peddler keep to the woods after leaving the crofter’s cottage? how did he feel?
Important Point-
– in order to escape being caught
– being nervous lost his way in the maze
– by giving in to temptation, had fallen into a rattrap
Q3. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
or
Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
Important Point-
– knew him to be a homeless tramp
– didn’t feel cheated when my identity revealed
– felt bad for him
– thought it to be wrong to break a promise
– humane and compassionate treatment by Edla
– by returning money, tried to behave as a true captain
Q4. Give examples from the story, The Rattrap’ to show how the ironmaster is different from his daughter.
or
Compare and contrast the character of the ironmaster with that of his daughter.
There is a saying ‘ Kindness pays, rudeness never.’ In the story, “ The Rattrap”, Edla’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?
Important Point-
Ironmaster:
– ambitious and arrogant
– mistook peddler for his old regimental comrade
– had more pride than sympathy and empathy
– called peddler dishonest and threatened to call sheriff
– worried about his own silverware
Edla:
– kind and compassionate
– sympathetic and considerate towards the peddler right from the beginning
– treated peddler with dignity and respect even after knowing the truth
– changed peddler’s attitude
Q5. How did the peddler feel after robbing the crofter? What course did he adopt and how did he react to the new situation? What does his reaction reveal?
Important Point-
– was quite pleased with his smartness
– fear of getting caught haunted him
– avoided the public highway, turned to woods
– big and confusing forest, darkness approaching
– lost his way, got exhausted moving around the same place
– filled with despair
– felt forest to be a big rattrap, thirty kronor like bait tempted him
– felt guilty, heart filled with remorse
– hated his act of weakness
Q6. The story, The Rattrap’ is both entertaining and philosophical.
Do you agree with this statement? Why/Why not?
Important Point-
Elements of entertainment:
– past paced narrative, generous use of dialogue
– characters with different mindsets and locales make the story interesting
Elements of entertainment:
– suspense maintained till the end
-peddler’s refusal to ironmaster and acceptance to Edla, iron master’s realization of mistake,
– Edla’s sympathy and generosity make the story gripping
Element of philosophy:
– peddler’s theory of the world being a rattrap
– one feels caught up like a rat in the entrapping of the world
– as humans, we are not above temptations
Q7. The story focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Explain.
Important Point-
– characters in the story suffer from loneliness and are dreary souls
– the tramp appears to lead a sad, monotonous existence, left to his own musings. He is always greeted by sour faces and cold words
– bereft of his wife and children, crofter is happy to have visitors
– Edla and ironmaster have no company for Christmas
– characters have a strong desire for bonding and comradeship
Q8. For years together, why did the vagabond stick to a life of dishonesty and a total disregard for his conscience? What brought about a sudden and total transformation in his life?
Important Point-
– lived an unpleasant life as a vagabond, governed by dishonesty for years
– only aim to keep body and soul together by hook or by crook
– society indifferent towards him
– developed a defiant attitude and flouted the social norms
– never came across any angelic soul
– was never understood, sympathized, loved, or guided
– that is why neither the crofter’s hospitality nor the iron master’s friendliness made any impact on him
Q9. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
Important Point-
– in the face of difficult situations that pursuit of joys and luxuries land him in.
– all aims and ambitions of attaining great heights remain unfulfilled
– one finds oneself incapable of wriggling out of pettiness and trivialities
– one not aware of having been trapped
– bait of cheese and pork tempt and trap a rat
– got tempted at crofter’s cottage and ran helter-skelter to escape being caught
– world itself a big rattrap, cannot escape
Q10. What message do you draw from the story of the rattrap peddler?
Important Point-
– inherent goodness in each one of us
– a latent spark of values can be inflamed back through love, understanding, and compassion
– weak moments make us succumb to temptations
– greed makes us weak enough to touch the tempting bait
– think twice before judging or criticizing
– urge to survive traps us all as was the peddler
– got changed by kind-hearted treatment
– passive values got revived
Q11. What effect is created by the style of the narrative followed in “The Rattrap”?
Important Point-
– narrated as a fairy tale
– has a philosophy, humor and wit
– style imparts a convincing tone to the story
– though fiction, has a noble message
– appropriate words chose to show different aspects
– nothing unwanted added by the writer
– language according to the characters
Q12. Justify the title of the story “ The Rattrap”.
Important Point-
– well-chosen title
– about a rattrap seller
– world compared to a big rattrap
– a title used as a metaphor to highlight the human predicament
– rat be fooled by the bait planted
– humans material benefits
– title expresses thematic concerns, introduces the intended theme
EXTRA QUESTIONS FROM THE INTERNET ASKED FROM THE CHAPTER “THE RATTRAP”
- In the Rattrap, how does the story begin?
ANSWER
The story The Rattrap begins with the introduction of the ratrap seller. The author elaborates upon the the life and routine of the poor man who is a vagabond and roams on the streets, selling rattraps made from the material he gets by begging in the stores or at the big farms. In order to sustain himself, he resorts to beggary and thievery too.
- What is the summary of the Rattrap?
ANSWER
Summary given on post – The Rattrap
- What was the Rattrap seller’s view about his rattraps?
ANSWER
The Rattrap seller was a melancholy person and had evil thoughts about the world. He considered the world to be a big rattrap which set baits for people in the form of materialistic things. As one got lured, he got trapped in the rattrap. Thinking like this gave him pleasure and he considered all the wealthy people to be trapped in this worldly rattrap.
- The title “The Ratrap” is a symbolic representation. Justify.
Answer
The title “The Ratrap” is a metaphor that the writer uses to equate the the world to a rattrap. Through the main character, the writer Selma Lagerlof suggests that we fix pork and cheese as bait for the rat and once attracted, the rat gets trapped. Similarly, the worldly things and pleasures are bait for men and as soon as one gets lured, he is trapped in the world.
Thus, we conclude that the writer has drawn a meaningful similarity between a rattrap and the world.
Class 12 English Important Question Answers