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NCERT Books ➤ Class 12 ➤

Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 4. The Rattrap Summary, Explanation, Question Answers (NCERT Solutions)

The Rattrap (4. The Rattrap) CBSE class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 4. The Rattrap summary with detailed explanation of the lesson The Rattrap along with meanings of difficult words. Given here is the complete explanation of the lesson, along with summary, explanation and questions and answers of each topic of lesson 4. The Rattrap.

English Flamingo (Chapter 4. The Rattrap) Solution
 Working With Words

1. The man selling rattraps is referred to by many terms such as "peddler, stranger" etc. Pick out all such references to him. What does each of these labels indicate of the context or the attitude of the people around him?

Answer :


S. No.LabelsContexts
1.PeddlerAs he peddles or sells the rattraps
2.VagabondUsed to describe his nomadic lifestyle
3.StrangerUsed to refer to the peddler when he was at the crofter's place, possibly to emphasise the fact that the crofter was compassionate to an unknown man
4.GuestHe is treated with compassion, especially at the ironmaster's house where he was invited to spend the Christmas
5.IntruderWhen the peddler trespasses and enters the iron mill
6.TrampWhen the peddler asks for lodgings at the iron mill; also when the ironmaster, mistaking him for his old regimental comrade plans of helping him drop his tramp ways and begin a new vocation
7.RagamuffinWhen the ironmaster first notices him wrapped in rags and in the state to utter destitution
8.Old regimental comradeThe ironmaster mistakes him for his old friend when he first meets the peddler at his iron mill
9.Poor hungry wretchUsed only once when the author mentions the fact that Edla was excited about the prospect of getting a chance to help an unfortunate fellow on Christmas
10.RatThe peddler calls himself a rat and thanks Edla for helping him escape the rattrap with her kindness and compassion


All Questions of English Flamingo Chapter 4. The Rattrap
Notice these expressions in the text
Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meanings from the context.

keep body and soul together,
hunger gleamed in his eyes,
plods along the road ,
unwonted joy ,
impenetrable prison,
nodded a haughty consent,
eased his way,
fallen into a line of thought ,
things have gone downhill,

Think As You Read
1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
2. Why was he amused by this idea?
3. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
4. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
5. Why did he show the thirty kroner to the peddler?
6. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
1. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
2. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
3. Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
1. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson's invitation?
2. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
3. When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?
4. What did the peddler say in his defence when it was clear that he was not the person the ironmaster had thought he was?
5. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
1. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
2. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?

Understanding The Text
1. How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter?
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?
3. The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others' behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.
4. What made the peddler finally change his ways?
5. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
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?

Talking About The Text
Discuss the following in groups of four. Each group can deal with one topic. Present the views of your group to the whole class.

1. The reader's sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning of the story. Why is this so? Is the sympathy justified?

2. The story also focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others.

3. Have you known/heard of an episode where a good deed or an act of kindness has changed a person's view of the world?

4. The story is both entertaining and philosophical.

Working With Words
1. The man selling rattraps is referred to by many terms such as "peddler, stranger" etc. Pick out all such references to him. What does each of these labels indicate of the context or the attitude of the people around him?
2. You came across the words, plod, trudge, stagger in the story. These words indicate movement accompanied by weariness. Find five other such words with a similar meaning.

Noticing Form
1. He made them himself at odd moments.
2. He raised himself.
3. He had let himself be fooled by a bait and had been caught.
4. ... a day may come when you yourself may want to get a big piece of pork.

Notice the way in which these reflexive pronouns have been used (pronoun + self)

☉ In 1 and 4 the reflexive pronouns "himself" and "yourself" are used to convey emphasis.

☉ In 2 and 3 the reflexive pronoun is used in place of personal pronoun to signal that it refers to the same subject in the sentence.

☉ Pick out other examples of the use of reflexive pronouns from the story and notice how they are used.

Thinking about Language
1. Notice the words in bold in the following sentence.

"The fire boy shovelled charcoal into the maw of the furnace with a great deal of clatter". This is a phrase that is used in the specific context of an iron plant.

Pick out other such phrases and words from the story that are peculiar to the terminology of ironworks.
2. Mjolis is a card game of Sweden.

Name a few indoor games played in your region. 'Chopar' could be an example.
3. A crofter is a person who rents or owns a small farm especially in Scotland. Think of other uncommon terms for "a small farmer" including those in your language.

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