The Rattrap

Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions

(2 marks)

Why did the iron master compare Edla to a parson? (2023)

1. Why was the peddler hesitant to accompany the ironmaster to the manor house? (2023) 🖪

3 What made the rattrap peddler resort to begging and petty thievery? (2022 C)

4 Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain Von Stable? (2022 C)

1. What Christmas present did the peddler give Edla? Explain its significance. (2022)
2. Explain the metaphor of "The Rattrap" as explained by the peddler. (Term II, 2021-22) U
3. The iron master accuses the peddler of not being quite honest. What does the peddler say to justify the situation? (Term II, 2021-22) R
4. How did the Crofter entertain the peddler? (2020)
5. Why did the peddler derive pleasure from his idea of the world as a rattrap? (Delhi 2014)

Why did Edla plead with her father not to send the vagabond away? (Al 2014) Ap

In what sense was the world a big rattrap according to the peddler? (Delhi 2014C) [ir]

1. Why did the peddler knock on the cottage by the roadside? How was he treated by the owner of the cottage? (Delhi 2014C)
2. What conclusion did the ironmaster reach when he heard that the crofter had been robbed by the peddler? (Al 2014C)
3. What were the contents of the package left by the peddler as a Christmas gift for Edla Willmansson? (AI 2014C)

SAII (3 marks)

1. Why was the peddler amused at the idea of the world being a rattrap? (Delhi 2016) Ev
2. What hospitality did the peddler receive from the crofter? (Delhi 2016)

Why did the Crofter show the thirty kronors to the peddler? (Al 2016)

1. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home? (Al 2016)
2. How could the peddler enter the forge without being noticed by the blacksmith? (Foreign 2016)
3. At the crofter's home, why did the peddler feel very happy? (AI 2015C) R

SA III (4 marks)

In the lesson "The Rattrap", the narrator takes an

empathetic approach towards the rattrap seller.

Considering the above statement, discuss the

narrator's portrayal of the peddler.

(Term II, 2021-22) 🔐

In Edla's dealing with the peddler, she was

compassionate and generous. Discus with reference

to the story 'The Rattrap'. (Term II, 2021-22)

Read the extract given below and briefly answer

the questions that follow.

But just as he laid his head on the ground, he heard a

sound - a hard regular thumping. There was no doubt

as to what that was. He raised himself, "Those are the

hammer strokes from an iron mill," he thought.

(i): Who is he?

1. Where was 'he' at that moment?
2. Why did he lay his head on the ground?
3. Did he feel comfortable on hearing the thumping sound? Why? (2020)

LAI (5 marks)

Edla is a contrast to her father, the ironmaster.

Explain. (2023) Cr An

LAII (6 marks)

1. A good deed or an act of kindness can change a person's view of the world. What characteristics of Edla's conduct inspire the peddler to redeem himself and change his ways? (2020 C)
2. How does the story, 'The Rattrap' show the redemptive power of love and compassion? (AL 2019) [49]
3. 'The Rattrap' focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Comment. (Delhi 2019) [67]
4. The peddler thinks that the whole world is a rattrap. This view of life is true only of himself and of no one else in the story. Comment. (Delhi 2017) An
5. The peddler declined the invitation of the ironmaster but accepted the one from Edla. Why?

(Delhi 2015) [EV]

1. Edla proved to be much more persuasive than her father while dealing with the peddler. Comment. (Delhi 2015) [EV]
2. Why did the crofter repose confidence in the peddler? How did the peddler betray that and with what consequences? (Delhi 2015)
3. Why did the ironmaster invite the peddler to his home? Why did the latter decline it? (Foreign, 2015)

To be grateful is a great virtue of a gentleman. How

did the peddler show his gratitude to Edla?

(Al 2015C) (Cr) (Ap)

CBSE Sample Questions

SAI (2 marks)

(2020-21) U Cr

1. If. the Christmas spirit is about selflessness, forgiveness and becoming 'better' versions of ourselves amongst other things, Edla Willmansson is the epitome of this spirit. Justify with two points of evidence from The Rattrap. (2022-23)

2 A mistaken identity led to a discovery of a new one for the rattrap peddler. How did this impact him?

(Term II, 2021-22)

Explain the metaphor of the rattrap in context of the

story by Selma Lagerlof.

LAU (5 marks)

How does the story, 'Rattrap' highlight the

importance of community over isolation? Support

your rationale with textual evidence.

(2020-21) (7

ANSWERS

Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions

1 Edla refuses to allow her father to kick out the peddler from their house on Christmas Eve. She reflects the Christian value of celebrating Christmas and sharing the love, care and joy of the festival. She felt that to drive out a human being whom they had asked to come and to whom they had promised to celebrate Christmas with them, would be inhuman on their part. She wanted to spread the joy and cheer of Christmas even to the peddler who was a complete stranger.

1. The prospect of spending the night in the ex-army estate of the ironmaster of the Ramsjö Ironworks terrified the peddler. When he was mistaken for an old friend, he did not make an effort to correct the ironmaster. Accepting the offer "would be like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion's den," he

thought, feeling uneasy about the fact that he was

carrying the stolen thirty kronor bills. As a result,

the peddler decided it would be preferable to turn

down the invitation.

The peddler would go around selling the small

rattraps of wire that he made at odd moments. These

rattraps were a product of his begging in the stores

or at the big farms. But even so, since the business

was not especially profitable, he had to resort to

both begging and petty thievery to survive.

The ironmaster has invited the peddler to his house

mistaking him for Captain Von Stahle. He was

welcomed there and looked after as captain even

after the truth was known. The peddler got a chance

to redeem himself from the dishonest ways by acting

as an honourable captain, befitting of the person he

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