NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English (Flamingo) Chapter 4 The Rat Trap

Ans : The peddler was a sad man who leads a sad and lonely life. He went around the city selling rat traps of wire. He knocked at a door where an old man lived without his wife and children. The old man showed sympathy and affection towards him, which he did not expect. But Peddler broke his trust by stealing thirty kroner. 
The ironmaster, taking him as an old acquaintance showered kindness on him and invited him to celebrate Christmas evening with him. 
Edla Willmansson requested the peddler to go to her home in a very compassionate and friendly manner. But while he was moving to the manor house, he felt very guilty about everything he did. His guilt forced him to improve his mistake. He did that by leaving a gift for Edla in which there were thirty kroner which he had theft from the crofter's house. He had written in the note to return the money of crofter back. 

Ans : The ironmaster mistook the peddler for an old comrade, and his daughter could sense that something was not appropriate. Both the father and the daughter express kindness towards him. The ironmaster was determined to help tramp. The daughter wanted to provide him food. The father is initially unaware of the identity but on realizing his mistake he wants peddler to leave his home. But Edla, on the other hand, displays kindness. She knows he is a tramp without any education. She persuades her father to let him stay. 

Ans : The first instance is that of the crofter’s hospitality to the peddler. The rattrap peddler did not think he would be allowed to stay in the cottage but crofter welcomes him with hospitality and he is surprised by it. The peddler was also surprised when ironmaster offered him to stay and ironmaster was himself shocked how he didn’t recognize a peddler. Another instance was, for both the peddler and the ironmaster, when Edla’s consent to seek peddler’s presence for Christmas. At last, peddler left a gift for Edla in order to thank her for the hospitality. 

Ans : Edla’s treatment changed poor peddler. She was kind towards him and when her father realized he mistook him for someone else; it was Edla who requested her father to let him stay. She treated him with understanding and kindness. And even invited him for next Christmas. 

Ans : The peddler believed this world was nothing else but a big rattrap. The only purpose is to set bait for people in the form of luring offers. Peddler lost his way in the forest. It was trapping him now. He believed stealing was a rattrap in his case. The forest took him as a prison from which he could never escape. The peddler also told the ironmaster that the world is nothing but a rattrap and all the luxuries are the piece of cheese.