What made the peddler finally change his ways? Due to the trust and compassion shown by the ironmaster’s daughter Edla Willmansson the peddler became a changed man. This was evident from the package he left for he before leaving. The package contained a small rattrap with three wrinkled ten kronor Notes that the peddler left for her. In the rattrap, also lay a letter that revealed how he dig Not want her to be embarrassed in the Christmas season by a thief. He wanted her to Tetury the money to the old man on the roadside. The rattrap was a Christmas present from him who had been reformed and touched by the treatment he received from her. . How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament? The peddler considered that the whole world was nothing but a big rattrap. Its only Purpose was to set baits for people. It offered riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and Clothing, exactly as the rattrap offered cheese and pork, and as soon as one let oneself be lureg by the bait, it closed in. The peddler also told the ironmaster that the whole world was nothing but a big rattrap. All the good things that were offered were nothing but cheese rind and bits of pork, set out to drag people into trouble. None escaped; one person falis into the trap one day and the other the next day. The only thing that could turn a person from rat-like ways was human kindness, something that he had received from Edla. Thus, in the end, the peddler left the rattrap as a Christmas present and called himself a rat who had been spared. The metaphor of the rattrap highlights the theory of crime and punishment. Crimes, suchas theft or giving in to temptation, are compared with a bait and the subsequent imprisonment in a trap. However, the human predicament forms the basis of the story where the story Of the rattrap serves to bring out a lesson in moral values. Scanned with CamScs7, what did the pedler say in his defence on sensing when the peddler was bathed and realized his mistake, the ironmaster’s fury? dressed, the ironma and expected the oe yposed, the peddler ma peddler to er was shocked and furior con Ade no attempt to was not at fault. He had never pretende ae D pretend. Ont to spend the night at the forge. The peddler « and go away. He also told the cronneter ah Nn volunteered to cl put warned the ironmaster of hi wi anything attrap theory. Hi er in the rattrap the the he too might get caught one day. , Why did Fla insist on keeping the peddler even after she knew the truth about him? sisted kee, 2 Edla In ie a keeping the peddler even after she knew the truth about him. She felt somnass! vm a. aioe the poor, homeless peddler. She felt that the whole year the peddler was chased away and ostracized. She wanted him enjoy a day of peace. She also felt that they ought not to chase away a human being whom they had promised to entertain for” Christmas. a 10. After the peddler’s identity was discovered, how did he spend the rest of his stay at the ironmaster’s house? After the peddler's identity was discovered, he wondered why Edla had supported him. He sat and ate quietly. Through the morning he slept, and at noon they woke him for his share of the Christmas fare, after which he slept again. Feeling safe, he slept soundly like he had never slept before. He awoke in the evening, and after he had had his dinner, he thanked each one in the house and wished them for the night. 1, What did the ironmaster and Fdla learn about the peddler at the church? How did they react? At the church, Edla received news of how the ral _ The ironmaster was angry with Edla for letting _.peddler might have had stolen things from the h was dejected, as well as embarrassed. She realize ter and Edla discover when they went home? ached home, they expected the peddler to have escaped after hed home, they discovered that the peddler had ttrap peddler had robbed the old crofter. the peddler stay. He was certain that the ouse while they were at the church. Edla .d her mistake and was speechless. 22. What did the ironmas When ironmaster and Edla re when they reac : pcRAe Hono tel surprise, he had left a gift for Edla. The gift was a small rattrap Foe motes. Edla’s compassion had helped the poor peddler atone i ould have been caught in the world's Coen necindalanelnadetisalcltelil De erates. rattrap hadshe not been Inspired and mow Scanned with CamScsto mistake him for an old acquaintance. oor ss posi . What did the peddfer say in his defence when it was clear that he was not the person jy ironmaster had thought he was? When the ironmaster realized his mistake, the stranger made no attempt to hide or Preteng He said that it was not his fault as he had never pretended to be anything buta Poor trade He had pleaded and begged to be allowed to stay in the forge. He offered to put on his rags and go away. 5. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him? Edla entertained the peddler even after she knew the truth about him. She said that the whole year long the peddler roamed about without anyone welcoming him. He was forever afraid of being arrested and cross-examined. So, she felt compassion for the homeless tramp and wanted him to enjoy a day of peace with them. She also said that it was their mistake and they ought not to chase away a human being whom they had invited home and had promised Christmas cheer. (Page 42) 1. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler? Edla gave a little cry of joy on seeing the gift, a small rattrap with three wrinkled ten kronor notes. Her deed of kindness had helped the poor peddler atone for his sin. He did not want her to be embarrassed in the Christmas season because of a thief. He said that the rattray was a Christmas present from a rat who would have been caught in the world’s rattrap, had he not received kindness and honour from her. Ella felt satisfied at having helped someone rise above his faults. 2. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle? The peddler signed himself as Captain von Stahle because Edla had treated him as if he were a captain. He took away from the incident, the transient honour of having being treated like a captain. It inspired him to do good, and let go of his thieving ways. Scanned with CamScs23. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle? The peddler signed himself as Captain von Stahle. He did so because Edla had treated hip, like a captain. He felt that he was like a rat who would have been caught in the worig), rattrap had it not been for Edla who proved that he was worthy of respect and trust. Ths had given him the power to clear himself. Answer the following in 125-150 words. 1. “The old man (crofter) was just as generous with his confidences as with his porridge ang tobacco.” Justify. The crofter was as generous with his confidences as with his porridge and tobacco. It was out of a sense of hospitality that he looked after the vagabond as a guest. He had offere him porridge, supper and a big slice from his tobacco roll. After that they had playeg cards until bedtime. He discussed his life with the peddler and told him about his days of prosperity. He took him into confidence and told him that he earned a living by selling the milk his cow produced. The crofter had received a payment of thirty kronor. He alsp showed him the three ten-kronor bills and where he kept his money. The crofter was libera| with his hospitality and trust. 2. How did nature play against the peddler after he stole the crofter’s money? Nature seemed to penalize the peddler for stealing the crofter’s money. The peddler was initially pleased to get the money. He decided to steer away from the public highway for the fear of getting caught. So he went into the woods. The first hours of travel were e2sy, but later, the forest seemed like a labyrinth. The paths twisted back and forth strangely. The peddler walked on without coming to the end of the wood. He then realized that he had been walking around in the same area. At once, he recalled the rattrap theory—he was baited with the thirty kronor. Scanned with CamScs