Chapter 4 The Rattrap Solutions
Question - 31 : - Why did the Peddler derive pleasure from his idea of the world as a rattrap?
Answer - 31 : -
People had never been kind to the poor Peddler. Therefore, he 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.
Question - 32 : - Why did Edia plead with her father not to send the vagabond away?
Answer - 32 : -
Or
Why did Edia still entertain the Peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
Answer:
Edia had always thought the Peddler to be a poor, homeless tramp. When his true identity was revealed, she felt very bad for him and his miserable condition, and pleaded on his behalf.
Question - 33 : - What was the content of the letter written by the Peddler to Edia?
Answer - 33 : -
The contents of the letter written by the Peddler to Edia were that, as he had been treated as if he was a captain, he wanted to be nice to them in return. 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 to her, as she had inspired him to reform himself.
Question - 34 : - What were the contents of the package left by the Peddler as a Christmas gift for Edia Willmansson?
Answer - 34 : -
The package left by the Peddler as a Christmas gift for Edia Willmansson contained a rattrap, thirty kronor in crumpled notes (robbed from the Crofter) and a brief note for her explaining his conduct.
Question - 35 : - What conclusion did the ironmaster reach when he heard that the Crofter had been robbed by the Peddler?
Answer - 35 : -
When the ironmaster heard that the Crofter had been robbed by the Peddler, he concluded that the Peddler would probably steal all the silver cutlery in the ironmaster’s home and run away.
Question - 36 : - Why did the Peddler knock on the cottage by the roadside? How was he treated by the owner of the Cottage?
Answer - 36 : -
The Peddler knocked on the cottage by the roadside to seek shelter for the night. The owner of the cottage, a Crofter, treated the Peddler as a guest, giving him food, playing cards with him and putting him up for the night.
Question - 37 : - From where did the Peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap? In what sense was the world a big rattrap, according to the Peddler?
Answer - 37 : -
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.
Question - 38 : - Why was the Crofter so talkative and friendly with the Peddler?
Answer - 38 : -
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.
Question - 39 : - Why did he show the thirty kronor to the Peddler?
Answer - 39 : -
The Crofter felt proud that he had earned thirty kronor from selling the cow’s milk to the creamery. He thought that the stranger didn’t believe him, so he showed him the money.
Question - 40 : - How did the ironmaster react on seeing the stranger lying close to the furnace?
Answer - 40 : -
Or
Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the Peddler and invite him home?
Answer
When the owner of the Ramsjo Ironworks came to the mill for . inspection, the first thing he noticed was the Peddler dressed in rags. Due to the dim light and the Peddler’s dirty appearance, he mistook the Peddler for his old regimental comrade, Nils Olof who had, perhaps, fallen on evil days. He was delighted to see him and invited him home for Christmas.