The Rattrap — Class 12 English Notes

Topics covered in The Rattrap

1. 1.The Rattrap

   Short Summary
   

   "The Rattrap" is a story about a poor peddler who roams around selling rattraps, stealing occasionally to survive. He views the world as a giant rattrap that offers temptations to trap people. One day, he steals money from a kind crofter and gets lost in a forest. Seeking shelter, he ends up at an ironmaster's home, who mistakes him for an old acquaintance. The ironmaster's daughter, Edla, treats him with kindness, which transforms the peddler. He leaves behind the stolen money and a note, indicating his change of heart.
   
   

   
   Long Summary
   

   The story centers around a peddler who sells rattraps made from wire he collects by begging or stealing. His life is harsh, and he develops a cynical view that the world itself is a rattrap, luring people with riches and joys only to trap them. One evening, he seeks shelter at the home of a lonely crofter who generously provides him food, tobacco, and company. The crofter also shows the peddler his savings of thirty kronor, kept in a leather pouch.

   The next day, the peddler leaves but returns to steal the crofter's money. While escaping, he gets lost in a forest and feels as if he has been trapped by the world’s rattrap. Eventually, he finds shelter in an iron mill. The ironmaster mistakes him for an old regimental comrade and invites him home. The peddler refuses initially, fearing exposure, but later agrees when the ironmaster’s daughter, Edla, invites him warmly.

   Edla's kindness and hospitality deeply affect the peddler. On Christmas morning, the ironmaster realizes his mistake, but Edla persuades him to let the peddler stay. The peddler leaves behind the stolen money and a letter, signed as "Captain von Stahle," expressing his gratitude and explaining how Edla’s kindness saved him from the metaphorical rattrap of life.
   
   

   
   Key Events
   
   

   1. The peddler sells rattraps and views the world as a giant rattrap.
      
      
   2. He seeks shelter at a crofter's home, who shows him kindness and his savings.
      
      
   3. The peddler steals the crofter's thirty kronor.
      
      
   4. Lost in the forest, he feels trapped by his own philosophy.
      
      
   5. The ironmaster mistakes him for an old friend and invites him home.
      
      
   6. The ironmaster's daughter, Edla, treats him with genuine kindness.
      
      
   7. The peddler is transformed by Edla's kindness and leaves the stolen money behind.

   
   

   Lessons to Learn
   
   

   • Kindness and Compassion: The story highlights the transformative power of kindness and compassion. Edla’s genuine care helps the peddler redeem himself.
     
     
   • Human Goodness: Despite the peddler’s cynical view, the story suggests that there is inherent goodness in people that can be awakened.
     
     
   • Consequences of Actions: The peddler’s theft and subsequent feelings of being trapped illustrate the consequences of one's actions.

   
   Practice Questions

   Unseen Passages for Practice
   
   

   Passage 1: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:
   
   "The world, with its lands and seas, its cities and villages, was nothing but a big rattrap. It had never existed for any other purpose than to set baits for people. It offered riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing, exactly as the rattrap offered cheese and pork, and as soon as anyone let himself be tempted to touch the bait, it closed in on him, and then everything came to an end."
   
   

   1. What is the peddler’s view of the world?
      
      
   2. How does he compare the world to a rattrap?
      
      
   3. What are the "baits" mentioned in the passage?
      
      
   4. Why does the peddler find this idea entertaining?
      
      
   5. What does this view reveal about the peddler’s state of mind?

   
   Answers:
   
   

   1. The peddler views the world as a giant rattrap designed to trap people.
      
      
   2. He compares the world to a rattrap that offers temptations (baits) like riches and joys to trap people.
      
      
   3. The "baits" are riches, joys, shelter, food, heat, and clothing.
      
      
   4. The peddler finds this idea entertaining because it aligns with his negative experiences and gives him a sense of satisfaction in thinking ill of the world.
      
      
   5. This view reveals the peddler’s cynicism and disillusionment with life.

   
   Passage 2: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:
   "One dark evening as he was trudging along the road he caught sight of a little gray cottage by the roadside, and he knocked on the door to ask shelter for the night. Nor was he refused. Instead of the sour faces which ordinarily met him, the owner, who was an old man without wife or child, was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness."
   
   

   1. Describe the setting of the passage.
      
      
   2. Why did the peddler knock on the door of the cottage?
      
      
   3. How did the owner of the cottage react to the peddler?
      
      
   4. What does this reaction reveal about the owner’s character?
      
      
   5. What is the significance of the owner’s loneliness in the story?

   
   Answers:
   
   

   1. The setting is a dark evening on a road where the peddler sees a small gray cottage.
      
      
   2. The peddler knocked on the door to seek shelter for the night.
      
      
   3. The owner welcomed the peddler warmly and was happy to have someone to talk to.
      
      
   4. This reaction reveals the owner’s generosity and loneliness.
      
      
   5. The owner’s loneliness adds depth to his character and contrasts with the peddler’s usual experience of rejection.
      
      

   Additional Practice Questions
   
   

   1. How does the peddler’s experience in the forest reflect his philosophy about the world?
      
      
   2. Discuss the significance of the ironmaster’s initial mistake in the story.
      
      
   3. Analyze the role of Edla in the peddler’s transformation.
      
      
   4. How does the metaphor of the rattrap help convey the story’s themes?

   
   Additional Resources

   Vocabulary List

   • Vagabond: A person who wanders from place to place without a home or job.
   • Crofter: A person who rents or owns a small farm, especially in Scotland.
   • Porridge: A dish consisting of oatmeal or another meal boiled in water or milk.
   • Impenetrable: Impossible to pass through or enter.
   • Trudge: Walk slowly and with heavy steps, typically because of exhaustion.

   
   Important Quotes
   
   

   • "The whole world with its lands and seas, its cities and villages, was nothing but a big rattrap."
     
     
   • "The world had, of course, never been very kind to him, so it gave him unwonted joy to think ill of it in this way."
     
     
   • "Edla's kindness and hospitality deeply affect the peddler."

   
   Sample Essay
   
   

   Title: The Transformative Power of Kindness in "The Rattrap"
   
   

   In Selma Lagerlöf's "The Rattrap," the central theme revolves around the idea of kindness and its profound impact on individuals. The story begins with a peddler who views the world as a giant rattrap, designed to ensnare people with its temptations. This cynical worldview is a reflection of the peddler’s harsh experiences, marked by poverty and rejection.

   The turning point in the story occurs when the peddler encounters Edla Willmansson, the ironmaster’s daughter. Unlike others, Edla treats the peddler with genuine kindness and respect, despite his ragged appearance and the initial deception. Her warmth and hospitality provide a stark contrast to the peddler’s previous experiences and begin to break down his hardened exterior.

   Edla’s kindness serves as a catalyst for the peddler’s transformation. By inviting him to spend Christmas with her family, she offers him a glimpse of human goodness and compassion. This act of kindness is not just about providing food and shelter; it is about recognizing the peddler’s humanity and treating him with dignity.

   The story culminates in the peddler’s change of heart. He leaves behind the stolen money and a letter, signed as "Captain von Stahle," acknowledging Edla’s impact on him. This gesture signifies his redemption and the realization that he does not have to be defined by his past actions.

   Lagerlöf’s story highlights the potential for goodness in every individual and the transformative power of kindness. It suggests that even those who seem lost in life’s metaphorical rattrap can be redeemed through understanding and love. This message is a timeless reminder of the importance of compassion in our interactions with others.