The Rattrap

1. About the Author

●​ Selma Lagerlöf (1858–1940)
●​ Swedish writer, first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature (1909).
●​ Known for her simple stories with deep human values, compassion, and moral
lessons.

2. Background of the Story

●​ The story is an allegory (a symbolic tale) that conveys the idea that life is like
a rattrap.
●​ It highlights human loneliness, need for kindness, power of love and
redemption.

3. Summary
●​ The protagonist is a poor vagabond and rattrap seller who believes that the
world is a rattrap—tempting people with riches and joys, only to trap them.
●​ One day, he steals money from a crofter who had treated him kindly.
●​ While escaping, he loses his way in the forest and feels trapped, just like in
his own philosophy.
●​ He finally reaches the ironmaster’s house. The ironmaster mistakes him for an
old regimental comrade and invites him home.
●​ He is treated with respect, especially by Edla Willmansson, the ironmaster’s
daughter, who shows him trust and compassion.
●​ Her kindness transforms him—he feels guilty and decides to reform.
●​ On Christmas, instead of betraying their trust, he leaves behind the stolen
money and a rattrap with a note, addressing himself as a “captured rat” who
has escaped because of Edla’s goodness.

4. Characters
1.​ The Peddler (Rattrap Seller)
○​ Homeless, poor, bitter, and cynical.
○​ Believes the world is a rattrap.
○​ Steals money but later reforms.
○​ Symbol of how every human has a chance to change.
2.​ The Crofter
○​ Lonely old man.
○​ Shows generosity but is betrayed.
 ○​ Represents trust and loneliness.
3.​ The Ironmaster
○​ Owner of Ramsjö Ironworks.
○​ Stern but kind-hearted.
○​ Represents society’s tendency to judge people quickly.
4.​ Edla Willmansson
○​ Ironmaster’s daughter.
○​ Gentle, kind, and compassionate.
○​ Her kindness redeems the peddler.
○​ Represents humanity and true Christian spirit.

5. Themes
●​ World as a Rattrap: Life’s materialistic temptations trap people.
●​ Loneliness & Need for Compassion: Even the wicked can change with love.
●​ Power of Kindness & Redemption: Human values and empathy bring
transformation.
●​ Betrayal vs. Trust: The crofter’s trust is betrayed, but Edla’s trust reforms the
peddler.

6. Style & Tone

●​ Simple narrative with symbolic undertone.
●​ Allegorical & moralistic tone.
●​ Third-person narration with focus on human emotions.

7. Central Idea
The story conveys that the world is like a rattrap full of materialistic temptations.

However, through kindness and compassion, humans can be saved from moral

downfall.

8. Important Symbols
●​ Rattrap → World with its temptations.
●​ Money (30 kronor) → Material greed that traps people.
●​ Forest → Confusion, loss, entrapment.
●​ Christmas spirit/Edla’s kindness → Compassion and redemption.

9. Critical Analysis
 ●​ The story emphasizes universal human values over material wealth.
●​ It criticizes selfishness and greed but celebrates kindness and empathy.
●​ It reflects Selma Lagerlöf’s Christian moral outlook—the power of forgiveness
and love.

Question 1.
The peddler believed that the whole world is a rattrap. How did he himself get caught in the
same?
Answer:
The peddler spent his night at the crofter’s cottage. The crofter showed him the thirty kronor
he had received as a payment for the milk of his cow. In the morning when the peddler went
away to milk his cow, the peddler stole the money and thrust it into his pocket and went
[Link] peddler was quite pleased at his smartness. However he realised that he should
not continue walking on the public highway. Therefore he turned towards the woods. Initially
it caused him no difficulty. Later it became worse for him.

The forest was quite confusing. The paths twisted so frequently that he could not understand
where he was going. He walked and walked without coming to the end of the woods and
finally he realised that he had been walking in the same part of the forest. He recalled his
thought about the world being a rattrap. He thought now his turn had come and he himself
had been caught in this rattrap.

Question 2.
The peddler thinks that the whole world is a rattrap. This view of life is true only of himself
and of no one else in the story. Comment.
Ans.
The world had never been kind to the peddler. He used to sell rattraps. He made them
himself and for that he would beg material from stores and farm houses. Even then his
business was not profitable. He had to resort to both begging and thievery to keep his body
and soul together. That man was a tramp and the world had never been kind towards him.
Once a sudden idea came into his mind and he found that idea quite entertaining. He
thought that the entire world was nothing but a big rattrap.

It offered all the comforts to the person, 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. In this story when he stole the crofter’s thirty kronor he realised
that he himself had been caught in the rattrap of the world. However this view of life is true of
himself only. The other characters of the story were living a comfortable and good life. The
crofter, though lonely, had a cow to support him.

The ironmaster was a rich person and he lived in a big manor house. His daughter Edla was
a very kind-hearted girl. It was she who helped the peddler to come out of the rattrap of the
world. This story clearly shows when a person has to face hard times he becomes
pessimistic.

Question 3.
How did the peddler feel after robbing the crofter? What course of life did he adopt and how
did he react to the new situation?
Answer:
The peddler did not respect the confidence that the crofter had shown in him. As soon as the
crofter went to milk his cow, the peddler smashed the window pane and took away the
crofter’s thirty kronor. He was quite happy at his smartness. The peddler did not feel any
prick in his consciousness due to his act of thievery. But he realised that he must not walk on
the public highway. Therefore he turned to the woods. Initially he did not have any problem.
Later in the day it became very bad.

It was a big and confusing forest. He tried to walk in a definite direction, but the paths twisted
back and forth so strangely. He walked and walked without coming to the ency of the forest.
Finally he realised that he had been walking around in the same part of the forest. All at
once he recalled his thoughts about the world and the rattrap. He thought now his turn had
come. He thought he had let himself be fooled by a bait and had been caught.

Question 4.
Why did the crofter repose confidence in the peddler? How did the peddler betray that and
with what consequences?
Answer:
The crofter was a lonely man. He lived in a roadside cottage. He shared with the peddler his
meal and tobacco. He also played a game of cards with the peddler. He told the peddler that
his cow supported him, and he received thirty kronor as a payment from the creamery. He
showed the peddler three ten-krona bills.

The peddler stole the crofter’s money as he left the cottage to milk his cow. After stealing the
money he realised that he must not walk on the public highway. Therefore he turned to the
woods. Initially he did not have any problem. Later in the day it became very bad. It was a
big and confusing forest. He tried to walk in a definite direction, but the paths twisted back
and forth so strangely.

He walked and walked without coming to the end of the forest. Finally he realised that he
had been walking around in the same part of the forest. All at once he recalled his thoughts
about the world and the rattrap. He thought now his turn had come. He thought, he had let
himself be fooled by a bait and had been caught.

Question 5.
Why did ironmaster’s daughter more persuasive than his father while dealing with the
peddler. Comment.
Answer:
The ironmaster took the peddler to be one of his regimental acquaintances. He wanted him
to spend Christmas Eve with them. But the peddler declined his invitation. The ironmaster
sent his daughter to bring the stranger to his house. He hoped that she would persuade the
tramp to come to his place. She was followed by a valet, carrying on his arm a big fur coat.
The peddler was lying to the floor with a piece of pig iron under his head and his hat pulled
down over his eyes. As soon as the young girl caught sight of him, she went up and lifted his
hat. The stranger was still awake and he jumped up and seemed to be quite frightened.

The young girl said that her name was Edla Willmansson and her father had asked her to
bring the stranger to their home. She reassured him that he would be allowed to leave just
as freely as he came. She said that she only wanted him to stay with them on Christmas
Eve. She said that in such a friendly manner that the rattrap seller could not refuse her. He
accepted the fur coat, which the valet handed over to him and threw it over his rags, and
followed the young lady out to the carriage.

Question 6.
There is a saying ‘Kindness pays, rudeness never. In the story, The Rattrap’ Edla’s attitude
towards men and matters from her father’s attitude. How are the values of concern and
compassion brought out in this story?
Answer:
Edla’s attitude towards life is very different from that of her father. When the ironmaster came
to know that the peddler was none of his regimental acquaintances he was full of rage. He
even threatened the matter to be taken to the sheriff. He ordered the peddler to leave his
house at once.

However Edla, the ironmaster’s daughter is a very kind-hearted girl. Though she comes to
know the peddler’s truth she still treats him so well as if he were really a captain. She does
not have any selfish motive in serving the peddler. We can say she proves to be an angel in
the peddler’s life that he decides to give up thievery and lead a meaningful and honest life.

Question 7.
Describe how the story, 'The Rattrap’ shows that basic human goodness can be brought out
by understanding and love.
Answer:
The protagonist of the story is a peddler. He is a tramp and given to petty thievery and
begging. One day he stole a crofter’s thirty kronor. He reached the Ramsjo Ironworks. This
iron mill was owned by a very prominent ironmaster. He saw the peddler there and took him
to be one of his old regimental acquaintances.

He was full of pity at his miserable condition. The peddler was invited to the ironmas-ter’s
house. But when the ironmaster came to realise his mistake he ordered the peddler to leave
his house. However the ironmaster’s daughter, Edla, did not want the peddler to go. That
morning she had felt so happy when she thought about how she would be going to entertain
the stranger on Christmas Eve. She told her father that the tramp walked and walked the
whole year long, and he was not welcomed anywhere.

He was afraid of being arrested and cross examined. The ironmaster’s daughter told her
father that she wanted him to enjoy a day of peace with them in their house. Quite reluctantly
the ironmaster agreed to that. At the ironmaster’s house the peddler was treated as if he
were a real captain. In the end of the story the peddler changed his ways and decided to live
a righteous life. This happened only because of the compassionate and sympathetic
treatment of Edla. She brought the basic human goodness in the peddler out by her kind
treatment.

Question 8.
How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the
ironmaster and his daughter?
Answer:
The crofter, the ironmaster and the ironmaster’s daughter all show kindness and hospitality
towards the peddler. The crofter lives by the roadside in a cottage. He lives lonely and is
without wife and child. He is happy to have someone for company when the peddler reaches
his cottage. He entertains the peddler only to overcome his loneliness.

The ironmaster takes the peddler to be one of his regimental acquaintances. He is moved to
see his miserable condition. He wants to help him. There-fore, he invites him to his house.
But when he realises that the peddler is none of his regimental acquaintances, he
immediately orders him to leave his house.

Ironmaster’s daughter comes to know that the peddler is a poor man and not her father’s
acquaintance. Even then she entertains the peddler and treats him very kindly. It is only
because of her that the peddler finally changes his ways.