When the valet of the ironmaster’s house had bathed him, cut his hair, and shaved him and he was dressed in a good-looking suit, the ironmaster realised his mistake. The peddler was not his old regimental comrade captain. In broad daylight, it was impossible to mistake him for an old acquaintance. The peddler looked a stranger to him. That is when the ironmaster realised his mistake.

Question - 13 : -
What did the peddler say in his defence when it was clear that he was not the person the ironmaster had thought he was ?

Answer - 13 : -

The peddler defended himself by saying that it was not his fault. He told the ironmaster that he never pretended to be anything but a poor trader. He said further that he had pleaded and begged to be allowed to stay in the forge. Then he offered to put on his rags and go away.

Question - 14 : -
Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him ?

Answer - 14 : -

Ironmaster’s daughter Edla had known the truth about the stranger that he was not the captain his father had mistaken him to be. She said that the stranger walked and walked the whole year long, and there is probably not a single place in the whole country where he is welcomed and can feel at home.

She said that he is always afraid of being arrested and cross-examined. She said that she would like to have him enjoy a day of peace with them in their house-just one in the whole year. That is why Elda still entertained the peddler even after she knew the truth about him. She thought that they should not chase away a human being whom they had asked to come to their house.

Question - 15 : -
Why was, Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?

Answer - 15 : -

Edla was happy to see the gift left by the peddler because the peddler did not prove himself to be a thief and had not taken anything with him at all. He had left behind a little package which Elda was to be kind enough to accept as a Christmas present. He had also kept thirty kronor he had stolen from the crofter’s house.

Question - 16 : -
Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain Von Stahle ?

Answer - 16 : -

I think the peddler signed himself as Captain Von Stahle because they were nice to him as if he was a real captain or who would have caught in this world’s rattrap “if he had not been raised to captain”.

Question - 17 : -
How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter ?

Answer - 17 : -

The peddler was a man who went around selling small rattraps of wire. He was leading a sad and monotonous life of a vagabond. He knocked at the door of the cottage of the crofter who turned out to be an old man without wife and children. He showed his ‘ kindness and hospitality towards him which the peddler had not expected.

But the rattrap peddler stole his thirty kronors. Thus he betrayed the confidence reposed in him by the crofter. The ironmaster, thinking him as an old acquaintance Captain Von Stahle, showed kindness to him and invited him to spend the Christmas evening with him.

But the peddler thought that if the ironmaster thought that he was an old acquaintance, he might give him a couple of kronor. That is why he did not reveal his true identity. Edla Willmansson, the daughter of the ironmaster requested him to go to her home in a very compassionate and friendly manner. He accepted to go to their home. But while he was riding to the manor house, he had “evil forebodings”.

He was feeling guilty for stealing the crofter’s money. The ironmaster, after knowing that he was not the captain, asked him to go out of the house immediately. But due to the insistence of Edla he was allowed to spend the Christmas evening in their house. The peddler wondered why she did it. But he interpreted it as her nobleness, kindness and generosity.

Question - 18 : -
What are the instances in the story that show that the character of the ironmaster is different from that of his daughter in many ways ?

Answer - 18 : -

There are various instances in the story that show that the character of the ironmaster is different from his daughter in many ways. The ironmaster, mistaking the peddler as an old acquaintance, insists on inviting him to his house to spend Christmas evening. The peddler time and again declined his invitation.

Then the ironmaster sent his daughter hoping that she would have better powers of persuasion than him. With her ; compassionate and friendly behaviour, she was able to win the confidence of the peddler, whoagreed to go to her home.

But when the valet had bathed the peddler, cut his hair and shaved him and he was dressed in a good-looking suit, the ironmaster realised that he was not his old regimental comrade. The ironmaster threatened to call the sheriff and asked him to get out of his house immediately.

But his daughter said that he ought to stay with them today. She was more sympathic to “the poor hungry wretch” than her father. She thought that he should enjoy a day of peace with them just one in the whole year. She asked him to keep his father’s suit as a-Christmas gift. Thus her behaviour changed the peddler who left with her the money stolen by him.

Question - 19 : -
The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’ behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.

Answer - 19 : -

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 saw 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 pursuaded 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 Edla in a compassionate manner convinced her father to let him stay for the Christmas in the house.

Question - 20 : -
What made the peddler finally change his ways ?

Answer - 20 : -

The peddler besides selling small rattraps of wire was a petty thief also. He stole thirty kronors from the house of the crofter, who was kind enough to allow him to stay in his house for a night and showered his best possible hospitality on him. But it was the compassionate, kind, generous and friendly behaviour of Edla Willmansson, the ironmaster’s daughter, which finally changed him.

The ironmaster had invited him to his house thinking that he was an old regimental comrade. When he realised that the peddler was not his old acquatance, but a stranger, he asked him to leave his house immediately. But Edla showing sympathy and pity on him, pursuaded her father to’ allow him spend the Christmas with them. Thus her behaviour aroused his conscience. and he gave her gift of a rattrap and requested her to return the thirty kronors of the crofter, which he had stolen.

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