Selma Lagerlöf's The Rat Trap
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Questions and Answers

What was the man's primary source of income?

  • Crafting furniture
  • Working in the mines
  • Selling food
  • Begging and petty thievery (correct)

What metaphor does the man use to describe the world?

  • A giant rattrap (correct)
  • A vast ocean
  • A beautiful garden
  • A dark forest

How did the man's physical appearance reflect his situation?

  • He looked wealthy and prosperous
  • He had a robust physique
  • He was well-dressed and healthy
  • He wore rags and had sunken cheeks (correct)

What did the phrase 'keep body and soul together' suggest about the man's life?

<p>He was struggling to survive (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What triggered the man's line of thought about the world as a rattrap?

<p>His reflections on his rattraps (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'hunger gleamed in his eyes' signify?

<p>He was longing for food and better life (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What emotion did the man feel when he thought ill of the world?

<p>Joy (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what context is 'plods along the road' used?

<p>To illustrate his slow, heavy journey (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the peddler consider a cherished pastime during his travels?

<p>Thinking about people caught in traps (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the relationship between the crofter and the peddler?

<p>Strangers who became friends for the night (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the crofter do to show his hospitality to the peddler?

<p>Provided food and played cards (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the crofter reveal about his source of income?

<p>He received payments from the creamery for milk (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the peddler react to the crofter's claim about his earnings?

<p>He appeared disbelieving (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason the crofter was friendly and talkative with the peddler?

<p>He was lonely and craved company (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the peddler do before leaving the crofter's cottage?

<p>Said goodbyes and departed with the crofter (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the old man's leather pouch symbolize in the story?

<p>Wealth and success (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who sent his daughter to persuade the peddler to stay?

<p>The ironmaster (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Edla Willmansson appear to the peddler?

<p>Modest and shy (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the peddler doing when Edla first saw him?

<p>Sleeping on the floor (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Edla notice about the peddler's behavior?

<p>He seemed frightened (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the peddler think while riding to the manor house?

<p>He feared he was trapped (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What item did the valet bring for the peddler?

<p>A fur coat (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What initially made Edla concerned about the peddler?

<p>His poor clothing (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What were the blacksmith and his helper waiting for in the forge?

<p>The pig iron to be ready (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What season is being described at the beginning of the excerpt?

<p>Summer (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the blacksmith react to the intruder who entered the forge?

<p>He ignored him completely (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What kind of person was the intruder described as?

<p>A dirty, ragged vagabond (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the master blacksmith do when the tramp asked for permission to stay?

<p>He nodded his consent without speaking (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main ambition of the ironmaster of the Ramsjo iron mill?

<p>To ship out quality iron to the market (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What sound was NOT mentioned in the description of the forge?

<p>The banging of metal on the anvil (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the weather outside affect the scene described in the forge?

<p>It was stormy and cold (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Edla find when she opened the package left by the peddler?

<p>A small rattrap and money (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?

<p>He wanted to escape his identity as a thief (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the peddler feel about the kindness shown to him?

<p>He was overwhelmed with gratitude (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the rattrap symbolize in the story?

<p>The entrapment of human life (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What action does Edla take after receiving the peddler's gift?

<p>She decides to keep the rattrap (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What unexpected behavior is shown by the ironmaster in the story?

<p>He shows compassion towards the peddler (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What ultimately leads the peddler to change his ways?

<p>Realization of his wrong actions (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way does the peddler demonstrate a sense of humor?

<p>Through the metaphor of the rattrap (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What primary theme does the story convey about human nature?

<p>The trap of material benefit (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which reflexive pronoun is used to convey emphasis in the sentence 'He made them himself at odd moments.'?

<p>Himself (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following words suggests movement accompanied by weariness?

<p>Stagger (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'crofter' refer to?

<p>A person who rents or owns a small farm (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these terms was not used to describe the man selling rattraps?

<p>Merchant (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What common misconception about good deeds is hinted in the text?

<p>Good deeds are always rewarded immediately (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What context do the labels for the peddler indicate about people's attitudes towards him?

<p>Indifference and hostility (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a phrase peculiar to ironworks?

<p>Furnace maw (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Keep body and soul together

To maintain basic survival needs, such as food and shelter.

Hunger gleamed in his eyes

His eyes showed clear signs of extreme hunger.

Plods along the road

The man walked slowly and steadily along the road.

Unwonted joy

Unexpected or unusual joy.

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Big rattrap (world)

The world is a metaphor for a trap designed to catch and control people.

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Set baits (world)

The world tempts people with riches, happiness, and other things to control them.

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Things have gone downhill

The man's situation has worsened or become worse.

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Fallen into a line of thought

The man was lost in a train of thought, or a series of ideas that occupied his mind completely.

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Pedlar's Rattrap Analogy

The peddler compares the world to a "rattrap," implying people are trapped by circumstances or desires.

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Crofter's Hospitality

The crofter, an old man, is welcoming and generous, offering food, tobacco, and company to the peddler.

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Crofter's Income

The crofter's primary income is from a cow and meager payment from creamery ("thirty kronor" in the past month).

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Generous Crofter

The crofter, despite his meager income, shares his meager resources with the peddler.

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Peddler's Doubt

The peddler seems surprised by the crofter's generosity, especially the amount of money offered.

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Early Morning Departure

Both the crofter and the peddler leave the cottage together, likely signaling a mutual understanding and ending of the encounter.

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Crofter's Work Schedule

The crofter prioritizes milking his cow immediately upon waking, illustrating the importance of his income source.

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Peddler's Rattrap Idea

The peddler observes and contemplates the world as a potentially inescapable trap.

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Blacksmith's Forge

A place where metal is worked, heated, and shaped using a furnace.

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Vagabond

A person who travels from place to place without a permanent home.

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Rattraps

Devices used to catch rats.

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Nightly Inspection

The act of checking work progress at a specific time, during the night

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Pig Iron

A type of iron, often the initial product in the smelting process.

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Ironmaster

The owner or manager in charge of an iron mill.

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Coal Dust

Fine particles of coal.

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Inland Lake

A lake situated within a landmass, not on the coast.

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Who is Edla Willmansson?

The daughter of the ironmaster, who invited the rattrap peddler to stay at their manor house for Christmas Eve.

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Why does Edla invite the peddler?

She feels compassion for the man and wants to offer him a place to stay, believing he might be in trouble.

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What does the peddler think about the invitation?

At first, he is surprised and feels unsure about accepting the offer, but he eventually agrees.

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How does the peddler react when leaving the forge?

He leaves quickly and without acknowledging the blacksmiths.

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What does the peddler think on the way to the manor?

He starts to feel remorse and fears he has made a mistake by accepting the invitation.

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What does the ironmaster think about the peddler?

He is happy to have found his old comrade, unaware of the man's true identity.

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What does the phrase 'sitting in the trap' represent?

It is a metaphor for the peddler feeling trapped by his own choices and unable to escape the consequences.

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How does the story progress in terms of setting?

The story shifts from the forge, a place of hard work and simplicity, to the manor house, a place of wealth and refinement.

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Why is the setting shift significant?

The change in setting signifies a potential turning point in the peddler's life and a potential change in his ethical outlook.

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Reflexive Pronouns

Pronouns that refer back to the subject of the sentence, emphasizing the action or indicating the subject performs the action on itself. Examples include "himself," "herself," and "myself."

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Ironwork Terminology

Specialized words and phrases used in the context of iron production, often referring to tools, processes, or parts of an iron plant.

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Indoor Games

Games played inside, often involving cards, board games, or other activities requiring limited space.

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Small Farmer Terms

Words used to describe a person who owns or rents a small farm, often with variations depending on the location and language.

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Material Benefit Trap

The allure and potential danger of focusing solely on acquiring material wealth or possessions, often leading to a neglect of personal values and relationships.

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Redemption From Dishonesty

The process of seeking to make amends for actions deemed wrong or dishonest, often demonstrating a desire for change and moral improvement.

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Portrayal of Characters

The way authors create and present fictional characters, including their personalities, motivations, and interactions.

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Fiction Characters

Imaginary people created by authors in stories, often with complex emotions, goals, and relationships with other characters.

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Peddler's Gift

The peddler left a rattrap with three ten kronor notes and a letter for Miss Willmansson as a Christmas present.

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Peddler's Self-Proclaimed Identity

The peddler signed the letter as 'Captain von Stahle', indicating a desire to be seen as someone of higher status.

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Peddler's Gratitude

The peddler expresses gratitude towards Miss Willmansson for her kindness, comparing it to the treatment of a captain.

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Peddler's Worldview

The peddler sees the world as a 'rattrap', where people are trapped by circumstances and temptations.

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Peddler's Change of Heart

The peddler's experience with the crofter, ironmaster, and Miss Willmansson prompts him to change his ways.

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Peddler's Humor

The peddler uses humor to alleviate the seriousness of his circumstances, such as when he refers to himself as a 'rat' who became a 'captain'.

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Reader's Sympathy for the Peddler

The reader feels sympathy for the peddler due to his struggles and his attempts to better himself.

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Symbolism of the Gifts

The gifts given to the peddler, like the tobacco and the money, symbolize kindness and hope.

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Study Notes

About the Author

  • Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940) was a Swedish writer.
  • Her stories have been translated into many languages.
  • A belief in the essential goodness of human beings, awakened through understanding and love, is a recurring theme in her work.
  • This story is set in the Swedish iron ore mines, a significant aspect of Swedish history and legends.
  • The story is told in a fairy-tale style.

Expressions in the Text

  • keep body and soul together: To maintain a basic standard of living.
  • plods along the road: Makes slow progress.
  • impenetrable prison: An inescapable situation.
  • eased his way: Moved with ease.
  • things have gone downhill: A situation becoming worse.

The Rat Trap Story

  • A man, traveling and selling wire rat traps, experiences hardship.
  • His poverty leads to begging and petty theft as survival mechanisms.
  • He is impoverished and in a dismal state.
  • The man reflects on his life's journey.
  • He realizes the world is a large rat trap designed to capture people.
  • The man sees a cottage and is welcomed by a helpful old man.
  • He is given food and shelter, treated in a kind manner.
  • The man experiences generosity, contrasting his prior hardships.
  • The man steals the money from the generous man and then flees into the woods.

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Related Documents

The Rattrap PDF

Description

Explore the themes and expressions found in Selma Lagerlöf's story 'The Rat Trap'. This quiz delves into the author's background, the cultural context involving Swedish history, and the fairy-tale elements infused in the narrative. Test your understanding of the story's characters and their development.

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