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Short Answer Type Questions [3 Marks], wny did the peddler derive pleasure from his, idea of the world as a rattrap?, (5.) what conclusion did the ironmaster reach, when he heard that the crofter had been, robbed by the peddler?, Delhi 2014 (Modified), Compartment 2014, Ans When the ironmaster heard that the crofter had, been robbed by the peddler, he concluded that the, peddler would probably have stolen all the silver, cutlery in the ifonmaster's home and run away., AuS The world had never been kind to the poor, peddler. Wherever he went, he was greeted with, sour faces and was turned or chased away., Therefore, he derived pleasure from thinking ill, of the world in this way. Moreover, he perhaps, envied those whose lot was better than his, and, was rather amused to think that some day they, too would be tempted by the bait, and be caught, in the rattrap., 6. Why did the peddler knock on the cottage by the, roadside? How was he treated by the owner of, the cottage?, Ans The peddler knocked on the cottage by the, roadside' to seek shelter for the night. Since, the, owner of the cottage, a crofter, was living alone, he, was happy to have company. He treatéd the, peddler as a guest, giving him food, playing cards, with him and putting him up for the night., Compartment 2014, did Edla plead with her father not to, send the vagabond away?, All India 2014 (Modified), or, Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even, after she knew the truth about him?, Ans Edla had always thought the peddler to be a, poor, homeless tramp. Therefore, she didn't feel, cheated when his true identity was revealed., Instead, she felt very bad for him and his, miserable condition, and pleaded on his behalf., She and her father had promised him Christmas, cheer, and she felt that it would be wrong to send, NCERT, From where did the peddler get the idea of the, NCERT, world being a rattrap?, HOTS, or, In what sense was the world a big rattrap,, according to the peddler? Compartment 2014, Ans The peddler was a vagabond, who went around, selling rattraps. One day, as he was simply, thinking about his own rattraps, he was struck by, the idea that the world was a big rattrap. The, riches, food, joys and shelter served as baits to, tempt people just as a rattrap offered cheese or, meat to tempt rats. As soon as one was tempted to, touch the bait, the rattrap closed and everything, came to an end., him away., What was the content of the letter written by, the peddler to Edla?, Ans The contents of the letter written by the peddler, to Edla were that, as he had been treated as if he, was a captain, he wanted to be nice to them in, return. He did not want them to be embarrassed, by a thief; thus he requested the crofter's money, (left with the note) to be returned to him. He, wrote that he had left the rattrap as a Christmas, present from a rat who would have been caught, in this world's rattrap if he had not been raised, to the status of a captain, because this inspired, him to reform himself., Foreign 2014, 8Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly, with the peddler?, NCERT; Delhi 2012, Ans The crofter was an old man. He had no wife or, children and lived alone in his cottage. He was, happy to get someone to talk to and share his, feelings with. So, he welcomed the peddler in, gave, him food and even played a game of cards with him., Besides, the peddler was quite a patient listener,, and had ample time to give company to the crofter., What were the contents of the package left by, the peddler as a Christmas gift for Edla, Willmansson?, 9. Why did he show the thirty kronor to the, peddler?, Ans The crofter informed the peddler that in his days, of prosperity he worked at Ramsjö Ironworks., Now, his cow supported him., Compartment 2014, Ans The package left by the peddler as a Christmas, gift for Edla Willmansson contained a rattrap,, thirty kronor in crumpled notes (robbed from, the crofter) and a brief note for her explaining, his conduct., NCERT, Scanned with CamScanner, PROSE
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manor house was IIKC waun g ....-, think that her kindness had changeu un p---, (121 Who was the owner of Ramsjö iron mills? Why, did he visit the mills at night?, All India 2012, and brought out his essential goodness., What made the peddler finally change his, ways?, Ans The peddler believed in giving back to the world, what he received from it. He was always treated, with contempt and hostility and so he never did, anything good. However, Edla's kind and caring, behaviour finally changed him. She had treated, him with love and respect befitting a captain, when she knew that he was a poor vagabond., The trust that Edla showed in him made him, change his ways and he decided to live with, dignity and respect., Ans The owner of the Ramsjö iron mills was an, ambitious and prominent, insisted on quality and was very particular about, his téputation. He visited the mills at night to, inspect and make sure that good iron was, shipped out from his mills to the market., NCERT, ironmaster., Не, 13./Why did the stranger not tell the ironmaster, that he was not Nils Olof?, All India 2012, Ans The stranger did not tell the ironmaster that he, was not Nils Olof because he thought that if the, gentleman believed that he was an old friend or, acquaintance of his, then he might take pity on, him and help him by giving him some money., (14. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality, that he received from the crofter?, 18. Edla sat and hung her head even more, dejectedly than usual. Which two reasons forced, her to behave in that manner?, Foreign 2010, Ans Edla had shown kindness to the peddler even after, knowing that he was not a captain. This was the, reason why she felt all the more dejected when she, came to know that the peddler was actually a thief, who had recently robbed a crofter. She felt that she, had done wrong in offering shelter to a thief., Secondly, she also felt bad because the peddler had, not measured up to the faith which she had shown, in him., or, Why was the peddler surprised when he, knocked on the door of the cottage? Delhi 2011, Ans The world had never been kind to the peddler., Wherever he went, he met sour faces and people, chased him away. When he knocked at the, crofter's cottage, not only was he welcomed in, but his host, the crofter, was also happy to get, Scanned with CamScanner
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had even declined the ironmaster's, invitation. He further said that he was ready to, put on his rags again and go away., 25/Why did the peddler sign himself as captain von, Stahle?, NCERT; All India 2009, NAns The ironmaster initially mistook the peddler for a, captain. Even after knowing the truth about, him, he was treated like a captain. He wanted to, repay Edla for her kindness just as a real captain, would have done. Moreover, he didn't want to, embarrass Edla and so he returned the stolen, money. His signing himself as Captain von Stahle, was a sign that he wanted to retain the dignity, and respect accorded to him., [6 Marks], bait set to tempt him. He felt helpless like a rat, who had no way out of the trap in which the had, fallen., His reaction reveals that he was feeling guilty for, having stolen the crofter's money. His heart was, filled with remorse and self-loathing for his act, of weakness., The story The Rattrap'.is both entertaining and, philosophical. Do you agree with this, statement? Why/Why not?, Ans The story is indeed, both entertaining and, philosophical. The fast paced narrative in the, third person, generous use of dialogue by the, author and different characters belonging to, different mindsets and locations, make the story, Foreign 2011, Scanned with CamScanner
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temptation., 3, The story focuses on human loneliness and the, need to bond with others. Explain. Delhi 2010, ns All the characters in the story suffer from, loneliness and are dreary souls. First of all, the, tramp appears to lead a sad, monotonous, existence, left to his own musings. He is always, greeted by sour faces and cold words., The old crofter lives all alone in a cottage by the, roadside. He is only too happy to get someone to, talk to and get over his sense of loneliness. That's, the reason why he is so generous and hospitable, as a host., The ironmaster and his daughter, Edla also have, no company for Christmas. The ironmaster takes, the tramp home, mistaking him to be his old, comrade and he, with his daughter, are happy to, play perfect hosts to his friend. Thus, all of them, have, a, strong, desire for bonding and, comradeship. The crofter is happy to be friends, with the peddler, although only for a night., Similarly, the ironmaster and his daughter have, an opportunity to practice their Christian virtues, of kindness, sympathy and hospitality. It is the, bonding with the young girl that transforms the, peddler., Scanned with CamScanner
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How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to, highlight the human predicament?, Ans (The peddler in the course of his wandering,, suddenly thinks about the whole world as a big, rattrap. Just as cheese and meat are baits in the, rattrap, similarly the riches, joy, shelter and food, that the world offers are baits to entrap and, ensnare people., Being an embittered man, shunned by everybody,, these thoughts give 'unwonted joy' to the tramp., A sadist and a cynic, he thinks of all the people, around him who have fallen into the trap., NCERT, The musings of the tramp do have an iota of truth, in them. We are tempted by temptations, desires, and needs. We go all out to satisfy them. In this, desire to amass and accumulațe more and more,, we are entrapped by the world., Scanned with CamScanner