Question

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 the context or the attitude of the people around him?

Answer 1

	Labels	Contexts
1	Peddler	As he peddles or sells
2	Vegabond	Used to describe his nomadic lifestyle
3	Stranger	Used 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	Guest	He is treated with compassion, especially at the ironmaster's house where he was invited to spend the Christmas
5	Intruder	when the peddler trespasses and enters the iron mill
6	Tramp	When the paddler asks for lodgings at the iron mill; also when ironmaster, mistaking him for his old regimental comrade plans of helping him drop his tramp ways and begin a new vocation
7	Ragamuffin	When the ironmaster first notices him wrapped in rags and in the state to utter destitution
8	Old regimental comrade	The ironmaster mistake him for his old friend when he first meets the peddler at his iron mill
9	Poor hungry wretch	Used 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 Chirstmas
10	Rat	The peddler calls himself a rat and thanks Elda for helping him escape the rattrap with her kindness and compassion