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?

He was struggling to survive Signup and view all the answers

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

His reflections on his rattraps Signup and view all the answers

What does 'hunger gleamed in his eyes' signify?

He was longing for food and better life Signup and view all the answers

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

Joy Signup and view all the answers

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

To illustrate his slow, heavy journey Signup and view all the answers

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

Thinking about people caught in traps Signup and view all the answers

What was the relationship between the crofter and the peddler?

Strangers who became friends for the night Signup and view all the answers

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

Provided food and played cards Signup and view all the answers

What did the crofter reveal about his source of income?

He received payments from the creamery for milk Signup and view all the answers

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

He appeared disbelieving Signup and view all the answers

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

He was lonely and craved company Signup and view all the answers

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

Said goodbyes and departed with the crofter Signup and view all the answers

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

Wealth and success Signup and view all the answers

Who sent his daughter to persuade the peddler to stay?

The ironmaster Signup and view all the answers

How did Edla Willmansson appear to the peddler?

Modest and shy Signup and view all the answers

What was the peddler doing when Edla first saw him?

Sleeping on the floor Signup and view all the answers

What did Edla notice about the peddler's behavior?

He seemed frightened Signup and view all the answers

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

He feared he was trapped Signup and view all the answers

What item did the valet bring for the peddler?

A fur coat Signup and view all the answers

What initially made Edla concerned about the peddler?

His poor clothing Signup and view all the answers

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

The pig iron to be ready Signup and view all the answers

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

Summer Signup and view all the answers

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

He ignored him completely Signup and view all the answers

What kind of person was the intruder described as?

A dirty, ragged vagabond Signup and view all the answers

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

He nodded his consent without speaking Signup and view all the answers

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

To ship out quality iron to the market Signup and view all the answers

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

The banging of metal on the anvil Signup and view all the answers

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

It was stormy and cold Signup and view all the answers

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

A small rattrap and money Signup and view all the answers

Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?

He wanted to escape his identity as a thief Signup and view all the answers

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

He was overwhelmed with gratitude Signup and view all the answers

What does the rattrap symbolize in the story?

The entrapment of human life Signup and view all the answers

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

She decides to keep the rattrap Signup and view all the answers

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

He shows compassion towards the peddler Signup and view all the answers

What ultimately leads the peddler to change his ways?

Realization of his wrong actions Signup and view all the answers

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

Through the metaphor of the rattrap Signup and view all the answers

What primary theme does the story convey about human nature?

The trap of material benefit Signup and view all the answers

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

Himself Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following words suggests movement accompanied by weariness?

Stagger Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'crofter' refer to?

A person who rents or owns a small farm Signup and view all the answers

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

Merchant Signup and view all the answers

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

Good deeds are always rewarded immediately Signup and view all the answers

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

Indifference and hostility Signup and view all the answers

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

Furnace maw Signup and view all the answers

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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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.