THE RATTRAP

Questions for homework

1.       What is the message of the story? 

2.       What line of thought did the peddler strike one day? 

3.       Why did the peddler derive pleasure seeing one caught in the trap?

4.       How did the peddler pay back the goodness of the old crofter?  

5.       What & when did the peddler get his realization? 

6.       What splendour was dawned on the peddler? 

7.       What was the difference of understanding about the peddler’s not going to the iron master’s house? 

8.       What did Edla understand seeing the peddler? 

9.       Why did Edla succeed in convincing the peddler whereas the ironmaster failed to do so? 

10.    When did the splendour of the peddler come to an end? 

11.    What is the turning point in the peddler’s life? 

12.    What does the letter of the peddler mean? 

13.    Why did the peddler sign as Captain Von Stahle? 

14.    The peddler got two chances to steal , once in the crofters house and the other when Edla and her father went to the church for service. Why did he resist the chance of stealing in Edla’s house? 

15.    What made the peddler finally change his ways?

16.     How does the metaphor of the Rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?

17.      Why is the daughter’s decision to let the peddler stay a turning point in the story? 

18.    The story exemplifies the truth that essential goodness of human beings can be awakened through understanding and love. Discuss.

19.    The readers sympathise with the peddler initially. Why?

20.    Edla was a combination of keen observation and unconditional benevolence. Elaborate. 

21.    This story is both entertaining and philosophical. Explain. 

22.    The story focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Explain with reference to the crofter as well as that of Edla and her father.

23.     What values do we find in Edla which help the peddler tunr over a new leaf?

24.    Discuss the gift left by the peddler and the salutation of the letter as Vaptain von Stahle.

25.    From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a Rat trap?

26.    Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the Crofter?

27.    Why did the peddler decline the invitation?

28.    When did the ironmaster realize his mistake?

29.    Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?