Selma Lagerlöf's The Rattrap

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Questions and Answers

What is the main theme that runs through Selma Lagerlof's stories?

The inherent goodness in humans that can be awakened through empathy and love (correct)
The journey of self-discovery
The importance of social justice
The struggles of poverty and hardship

The rattrap seller's business is very profitable.

False (B)

The rattrap seller's clothes are in _____, and his cheeks are sunken.

rags

What is the rattrap seller's main line of thinking that is described in the text?

The rattrap seller believes the entire world, with its riches and joys, is actually a big rattrap set to tempt people and trap them in a cycle of hardship and suffering. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following phrases with their meanings.

keep body and soul together = To survive, to make ends meet hunger gleamed in his eyes = A look of desperation and need plods along the road = To walk slowly and steadily unwonted joy = Unusual or unexpected happiness impenetrable prison = A place or situation from which escape is impossible nodded a haughty consent = To agree arrogantly, with disdain eased his way = To move cautiously or gently fallen into a line of thought = To become immersed in a particular train of thought things have gone downhill = To worsen or decline in quality or fortune Signup and view all the answers

What does the rattrap seller compare the world to?

A big rattrap (B) Signup and view all the answers

The rattrap seller feels happy about the world's offerings.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the overall tone of the excerpt?

The excerpt has a somber and melancholic tone, reflecting the rattrap seller's poverty, loneliness, and pessimistic outlook on life. Signup and view all the answers

What did the peddler steal from the crofter?

Thirty kronor (D) Signup and view all the answers

The peddler initially felt regret after stealing the money.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the peddler's initial plan after stealing the money?

The peddler planned to leave the public highway and enter the woods to avoid being caught. Signup and view all the answers

The peddler found himself trapped in a ____ that felt like an impenetrable prison.

forest Signup and view all the answers

Match the following descriptions with the corresponding concepts in the text:

Iron mill = A source of sound that leads the peddler to salvation. Rattrap = Symbol of the world's deceptive nature and the peddler's own predicament. Thirty kronor = The object of the peddler's theft and a source of temporary satisfaction. Signup and view all the answers

What was the peddler's state of mind when he heard the hammer strokes?

Relieved (A) Signup and view all the answers

The peddler intended to go to the Ramsjo Ironworks.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is Ramsjo Ironworks in the context of the story?

Ramsjo Ironworks was a once-large industrial site that is now abandoned. It represents a connection to humanity and possible refuge for the lost peddler. Signup and view all the answers

What made the peddler think he had fallen into a 'rattrap'?

He felt trapped by the ironmaster's kindness and offer of hospitality. (A) Signup and view all the answers

The ironmaster was aware of the peddler's true identity from the start.

True (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the peddler's initial motive for claiming to be Nils Olof?

He hoped the ironmaster would give him some money if he believed he was an old acquaintance. Signup and view all the answers

The peddler's initial reaction to the ironmaster's invitation was one of ______ and hesitation.

fear Signup and view all the answers

Match the characters with their roles:

Ironmaster = The owner of the manor house Blacksmith = A skilled craftsman working at the forge Peddler = A wandering stranger seeking shelter and a chance to earn money Stjernstrom = The master blacksmith Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the ironmaster's attitude towards the peddler?

Kindness and generosity (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why did the ironmaster specifically mention that his wife 'Elizabeth is dead' and his sons are 'abroad'?

He wanted to reassure the peddler that he was alone at home and would not be in any danger by accepting his invitation. Signup and view all the answers

The peddler was actually a former soldier who had served with the ironmaster in the past.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the initial reason for the ironmaster's visit to the blacksmith's forge?

He was hoping to persuade the blacksmith to do some work for him. (D) Signup and view all the answers

The ironmaster's daughter was described as being beautiful.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What object did the rattrap peddler use as a pillow in the forge?

a piece of pig iron Signup and view all the answers

The ironmaster's daughter offered the rattrap peddler a ______ to wear.

fur coat Signup and view all the answers

Match the following characters to their professions:

Ironmaster = Owns an ironworks Blacksmith = Works with metal, especially iron Rattrap peddler = Sells traps for catching rats Edla Willmansson = Daughter of the ironmaster Signup and view all the answers

Why did the rattrap peddler feel apprehensive after accepting the fur coat and going to the manor house?

He feared being caught for his past actions. (D) Signup and view all the answers

The blacksmith and his apprentice were surprised to see the rattrap peddler leaving with Edla Willmansson.

True (A) Signup and view all the answers

What did the ironmaster likely feel when he met his old comrade at breakfast?

satisfaction Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason Edla is happy about the gift from the peddler?

The peddler's gift is a symbol of his kindness and remorse. (C) Signup and view all the answers

The peddler signing himself as Captain von Stahle indicates his true identity as a noble gentleman.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Explain how the rattrap serves as a metaphor for the human predicament.

The rattrap represents the world's harsh realities and the traps that life can set for us. Just as the peddler was caught in the rattrap of his own misfortunes, people can be caught in the traps of poverty, hardship, or societal expectations. Signup and view all the answers

The peddler writes in his letter that he was 'raised ______ because in that way he got power to clear himself.'

captain Signup and view all the answers

Match the following characters with their actions in the story.

Edla Willmansson = Behaves with kindness and compassion towards the peddler. The Ironmaster = Initially distrustful of the peddler but offers him hospitality. The Crofter = Shows hospitality to the peddler, despite his suspicions. Captain von Stahle = Is in fact the peddler, assuming this identity to express gratitude. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a reason why the reader might sympathize with the peddler?

He is portrayed as a skilled craftsman with a talent for making rattraps. (E) Signup and view all the answers

The story suggests that the peddler is completely reformed by the end, renouncing his previous thieving ways.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

How does the peddler's subtle sense of humor contribute to the story's overall impact?

The peddler's humor, evident in his letter and his playful interactions, humanizes him and makes him more relatable. It also serves to lighten the seriousness of the theme of redemption and forgiveness. The story explores serious themes of human nature and morality, but the humor makes it accessible and engaging without diminishing the depth of the message. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following terms refers to the man selling rattraps?

Peddler (C) Signup and view all the answers

The story emphasizes the importance of material wealth over human connections.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Name one indoor game commonly played in your region.

Chopar Signup and view all the answers

The man felt ___________ after being caught by the bait.

fooled Signup and view all the answers

Match the following words to their meanings:

Plod = To walk heavily or laboriously Trudge = To walk with slow, heavy steps Stagger = To walk or move unsteadily Stride = To walk with long, decisive steps Signup and view all the answers

Which reflexive pronoun indicates a sense of emphasis in the sentence?

Yourself (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a crofter?

A person who rents or owns a small farm, especially in Scotland. Signup and view all the answers

The story conveys that humans are often trapped by material benefits.

True (A) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Selma Lagerlof

A Swedish writer known for her stories about human goodness.

Essential goodness

The inherent positive qualities in a human being.