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SELMA LANGERLOF
Selma Lagerlöf, in full Selma Ottiliana Lovisa
Lagerlöf was a Swedish author. In 1885 she
became a teacher at the girls' secondary school in
Landskrona. She published her first novel, Gösta
Berling's Saga, at the age of 33.
Born: 20 November 1858
Died: 16 March 1940 (aged 81)
Notable awards: On 10 December 1909, Selma
Lagerlöf won the Nobel Prize "in appreciation of
the lofty idealism, vivid imagination, and spiritual
perception that characterize her writings"
TITLE
The Rattrap is a metaphor to highlight the human predicament. Just as a rat is
fooled by a bait and gets trapped, most human beings are likely to fall into the trap
of material benefits.
Shreyashi Sarkar Notes_XII
ENRICH YOUR VOCABULARY
Odd Moments: A short period of free time.
Sunken: lowered
Gleamed: Shone
Monotonous: boring
Vagabond: wanderer
Plods: walks heavily
Trudging: walking slowly
Carved off: to divide something into parts
mjolis: a game played with playing cards
Kronor: Currency of Sweden
Crofter: A person who works on a rented farm
Incredulous: unbelieving
TEXTUAL QUESTIONS(NCERT)
Q1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Ans: The peddler had been thinking of his rattraps when suddenly he was struck
by the idea that the whole world was nothing but a big rattrap. It existed only to
set baits for people. It offered riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing
in the same manner as the rattrap offered cheese and pork. As soon as someone
let himself be tempted to touch the bait, it closed in on him, and then everything
came to an end.
Q2. Why was he amused by this idea?
Ans: His own life was sad and monotonous. He walked laboriously from place to
place. The world had never been kind to him. So, during his gloomy ploddings,
this idea became his favourite pastime. He was amused how people let
themselves be caught in the dangerous snare and how others were still circling
around the bait.
Q3. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the
crofter?
Ans: No. This hospitality was unexpected as people usually made sour faces
when the peddler asked for shelter.
Q4. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Ans: The crofter’s circumstances and temperament made him so talkative and
friendly with the peddler. Since he had no wife or child, he was happy to get
Shreyashi Sarkar Notes_XII
someone to talk to in his loneliness. Secondly, he was quite generous with his
confidences.
Q5. Why did he show the thirty kronor to the peddler?
Ans: The crofter had told the peddler that by supplying his cow’s milk to the
creamery, he had received thirty kronor in payment. The peddler seemed to doubt
it. So, in order to assure his guest of the truth he showed the thirty kronor to the
peddler.
Q6. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Ans: No, the peddler did not respect the confidence reposed in him by the
crofter. At the very first opportunity that he got, he smashed the window pane,
took out the money and hung the leather pouch back in its place. Then he went
away.
THINK AS YOU READ
Q1. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Ans: The peddler realised that he must not walk on the public highway with the
stolen money in his pocket. He went into the woods. He kept walking without
coming to the end of the wood. Then he realised that he had fallen in the rattrap.
He had let himself befooled by a bait and had been caught in.
Q2. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him
home?
Ans: The ironmaster walked closely up to the peddler. In the uncertain reflection
from the furnace, he mistook the man as his old regimental comrade, Captain
Von Stahle. He addressed the stranger as Nils Olof, spoke very kindly and
invited him home.
Q3. Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
Ans: The peddler knew that the ironmaster had mistaken him for his old
regimental comrade. Secondly, he had stolen money—thirty kronor—on him.
Going to the ironmaster’s residence would be like entering the lion’s den. So, he
declined the invitation.
Q1. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?
Ans: Miss Edla Willmansson looked at the peddler quite compassionately. Her
friendly manner made the peddler feel confidence in her and accept her
invitation.
Shreyashi Sarkar Notes_XII
Q2. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Ans: As Edla lifted the peddler’s hat, he jumped up abruptly and seemed to be
quite frightened. Even her kind looks, disclosure of her name and purpose of visit
failed to calm him. From his fear, she thought that either he had stolen something
or he had escaped from jail
SOURCE BASED QUESTION
Q. The story is both entertaining and philosophical. Discuss.
Ans: The story entertains us by providing glimpses into human nature and how
people react to various situations. The actions of the peddler after stealing thirty
kronor are quite amusing. The reactions of the blacksmiths to the tramp’s request
for shelter show how casual and indifferent human beings can be.
The U-turn in the ironmaster’s attitude towards the stranger reveal how selfish and
ignorant human beings can be. Mistaking the vagabond for his old regimental
comrade, whom he thinks he has run across unexpectedly, he asks the stranger to
accompany him home and spend Christmas with them. Lastly, his daughter with
her better persuasive power makes him follow her.
The ironmaster is annoyed on seeing the stranger in broad daylight. But instead of
realising his own mistake, he puts the blame on the man. He talks of handing him
over to the sheriff. The metaphor of the world being a rattrap saves the situation
for the tramp, but the ironmaster wants to turn him out. His daughter’s comments
are quite entertaining and philosophical. She wants the tramp to enjoy a day of
peace. Secondly, she does not want to chase away a person whom they had invited
home and had promised Christmas cheer.
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Shreyashi Sarkar Notes_XII