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NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Flamingo English Chapter 4 The ...

NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Flamingo English Chapter 4 The Rattrap

Physics Wallah Academic Expert

September 03, 2024

NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Flamingo English Chapter 4 The Rattrap: Students of class 12 can go through The Rattrap questions and answers in this article prepared by Physics Wallah. The Rattrap question answers are designed to provide the students a better understanding of the story. Students can check the series of questions based on the storyline. By going through this NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Flamingo English Chapter 4 The Rattrap, students will be able to understand the topics more deeply and secure good marks in the examination.

Check out: CBSE Class 12th Books

The Rattrap Questions and Answers

Students in class 12 can go through the below NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Flamingo English Chapter 4 The Rattrap. These questions are very helpful resources as they help the students in their exam preparation. Students can improve their reading and writing skills by reading and practising The Rattrap questions and answers. The Rattrap questions and answers are discussed below

Question 1: How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter?

Answer: The peddler was a man who walked around selling small wire rat traps. He was living the lonely and monotonous life of a vagabond. He knocked at the door of the crofter’s cottage. The crofter was an old man without a wife or children. He showed him kindness and hospitality, which the peddler had not anticipated. However, the peddler took his thirty-kroner. As a result, he betrayed the crofter’s trust in him.

The ironmaster, remembering Captain Von Stahle as an old acquaintance, extended kindness to him and invited him to spend Christmas Eve with him. But the peddler reasoned that if he said he was the one in the mind of the ironmaster, he would be rewarded with more kroner.

Edla Willmansson, in a very compassionate and friendly manner, asked the peddler to come to her house. He then decided to accept the invitation. However, while riding to the manor’s house, he felt very guilty about whatever he had done.

As a result, he resolved to correct his error. He accomplished this by leaving Edla a gift containing the thirty kroner he had stolen from the crofter’s house. He had written in the note that he would return the crofter’s money.

Question 2: 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: The ironmaster is rash, whereas his daughter is logical, kind, and considerate. In a hazy light, he misidentifies the stranger as an old regimental comrade. He invites him to his home and takes care of his feeding, clothing, and other needs.

When he sees him in broad daylight, he accuses him of being dishonest, demands an explanation, and threatens to summon the sheriff. His daughter is more perceptive. She notices the stranger’s fear and suspects him of being a thief or a fugitive prisoner. Despite this, she treats him with gentleness, kindness, and friendliness. Even though she is aware of the mistake in identity, she treats him with respect.

Question 3: The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’ behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.

Answer: The first example is the crofter’s hospitality to the peddler. The rattrap peddler, expecting to be denied permission to spend the night in the cottage, is surprised by the crofter’s friendliness. The peddler was also taken aback by the ironmaster’s unexpected invitation, which shocked him the next day when he realized his error in recognizing the peddler.

Edla’s agreement to seek the peddler’s presence for Christmas is another unexpected reaction for both the peddler and the ironmaster. The peddler, on the other hand, has an unexpected reaction when he leaves the package and the letter for Edla, expressing gratitude for the girl’s hospitality and respect for her.

Check out: NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Flamingo English Chapter 3

Question 4: What made the peddler finally change his ways?

Answer: Edla Williamson was friendly with the peddler. She was courteous and considerate to him. When her father was about to kick him out of the house, she prayed for him. Even after learning the truth about the peddler, she continued to entertain him.

She greeted him with a Christmas gift and invited him to spend the following Christmas with them. Her love and compassion caused the peddler to communicate with his inner soul, and he changed his ways.

Question 5: How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?

Answer: Thinking about his rattraps, the peddler concluded that the entire world was nothing more than a giant rattrap. Its sole purpose was to lure people in. It offered riches and joys, shelter and food, heat, and clothing, just as the rattrap offered cheese and pork, and as soon as one allowed oneself to be tempted by the bait, it closed in, ending everything.

The peddler became disoriented in the forest after stealing the crofter’s money. Then he considered the world and the rattrap once more. It was now encircling him. He had been duped by temptation and had been caught. The forest’s undergrowth encircled him like a prison from which he could never escape.

The peddler also told the ironmaster that the entire world was a giant rattrap. All of the good things that were offered were nothing more than cheese rind and bits of pork, all of which were designed to entice people into trouble.

None of them escaped from the trap. The rattrap metaphor highlights the human predicament when, in the end, the peddler leaves the rattrap as a Christmas present and writes in his letter to Elda that this present was from a rat that would have been caught in this world’s rattrap if he had not been treated respectfully and kindly as a captain.

Question 6: The peddler comes out as a person with a subtle sense of humour. How does this serve in lightening the seriousness of the theme of the story and also endear him to us?

Answer: The peddler does not come across as a humorous person, but there is a subtle sense of humor in the way he sees the world as a giant rattrap. He is ecstatic about this thought because it allows him to think ‘ill’ of the world that isn’t kind to him.

It is clear that whenever he is caught off guard, in the web of deception spun by his cunning mind, he hides behind the thought that the world is a rattrap and he is merely prey. As a result, he lightens the mood and theme of the story and endears us to him.

Check out: Class 12th Question Banks

Question 7: When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?

Answer: The next morning, the stranger was cleaned and well-dressed. The valet had bathed him, cut his hair, and shaved him. He was led to the dining room for breakfast. The ironmaster saw him in broad daylight. It was impossible to mistake him for an old acquaintance now. Then the ironmaster realised his mistake and threatened to call the Sheriff.

Question 8: Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?

Answer: As soon as Edla opened the package of the gift, the contents came into view. She found a small rattrap with three wrinkled ten Kronor notes and a letter addressed to her. The peddler wanted to be nice in return as she had been so nice to him all day long. He did not want her to be embarrassed during the Christmas season by a thief.

Question 9: Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?

Answer: The ironmaster walked closely up to the peddler. In the uncertain reflection from the furnace, he mistook the man as his old regimental comrade, Captain Von Stahle. He addressed the stranger as Nils Olof, spoke very kindly and invited him home.

Question 10: Why did the peddler decline the invitation?

Answer: The peddler knew that the ironmaster had mistaken him for his old regimental comrade. Secondly, he had stolen money—thirty kronor—on him. Going to the ironmaster’s residence would be like entering the lion’s den. So, he declined the invitation.

Class 12 Flamingo English Chapter 4 The Rattrap Summary

The story “The Rattrap” is about a poor man who sells small rattraps to make a living. He feels like life itself is a rattrap, catching people in their own greed and problems.

One day, while wandering through the woods, he finds a little cottage. The cottage belongs to an old man who is kind and invites the peddler in. The old man gives the peddler some food and a place to stay for the night. The peddler is surprised by the old man’s kindness.

In the cottage, the peddler notices an old iron rattrap. The old man’s daughter explains that it’s a family heirloom. This makes the peddler think about how people get trapped by their own desires, just like rats in a rattrap.

The next day, the peddler leaves the cottage feeling better and decides not to steal anything. However, he later meets a wealthy man and tries to rob him. He is caught and accused of theft.

Feeling guilty and remembering the old man’s kindness, the peddler admits to his crime and returns the stolen goods. The old man forgives him, and the peddler learns that kindness and compassion can change a person’s life. In the end, the peddler becomes a better person because of the old man’s generosity.

Check out: Class 12th Sample Papers

Rattrap Class 12 FAQs

Q1. What are the Rattrap class 12 short answers?

Ans. A person is enticed by the world through the various good things of life such as riches and joy, shelter and food, heat and clothing. In The Rattrap, these were just like the baits. Once someone is tempted by the bait, the world closed on him.

Q2. What idea about the whole world did strike in his mind once?

Ans. While thinking of hid rattrap, the peddler was stuck by the idea that the whole world was nothing but a big rattrap.

Q3.Who wrote The Rattrap?

Ans. Selma Lagerlof wrote The Rattrap who was a Swedish writer. The stories of Selma Lagerlof have been translated into many languages.

Q4. Who is the main character of The Rattrap Class 12?

Ans. The Peddler is the main character of the story The Rattrap class 12. The peddler was an unnamed name who lives as a trap wandering the countryside and selling rat traps.

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