The Rattrap About the author | Class 12 English Notes

Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.

This section introduces several idiomatic expressions and phrases used in the story. Students are encouraged to infer their meanings from the context, enhancing vocabulary and comprehension skills. These expressions include phrases like 'keep body and soul together,' meaning to survive or manage to live, often under difficult circumstances; 'plods along the road,' indicating slow, laborious movement; 'impenetrable prison,' symbolizing a situation from which escape seems impossible; 'eased his way,' meaning to move carefully or stealthily; and 'things have gone downhill,' implying a decline in circumstances or fortune. Other expressions such as 'hunger gleamed in his eyes' use metaphor to depict desperation, while 'unwonted joy' refers to an unusual or unexpected happiness. 'Nodded a haughty consent' shows proud or disdainful agreement, and 'fallen into a line of thought' means to begin thinking about something seriously. Understanding these expressions is crucial for grasping the story’s tone and the peddler’s mindset.

📊 Diagram: No diagrams are present in this section.

🧪 Activity: Students are asked to infer meanings of expressions from context as a vocabulary-building exercise.

🔗 Connection: Prepares students to understand the peddler’s character and worldview in the story’s narrative.