The Rattrap
Short Answer Type Questions (Part – 1)
CBSE Class 12
Q1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Answer: The peddler got the idea while thinking about the rattraps he made and sold. He
realised that the world, like a rattrap, offers wealth, comfort, food, and shelter as tempting baits.
Once a person gives in to these temptations, he gets trapped in worldly desires and suffers the
consequences.
Q2. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
Answer: No, the peddler did not expect such warm hospitality. People usually treated him with
suspicion and refused him shelter. However, the lonely crofter welcomed him warmly, offered
him food, tobacco, shelter for the night, and even played cards with him, making the peddler feel
respected.
Q3. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler? (CBSE 2023)
Answer: The crofter was lonely because he had neither a wife nor children. He was delighted to
have someone to talk to after a long time. Being simple, kind-hearted, and trusting, he freely
shared details about his life and even revealed his savings to the peddler.
Q4. Why did the crofter show the thirty kronor to the peddler?
Answer: The crofter had proudly told the peddler that he had received thirty kronor for supplying
milk to the creamery. When the peddler seemed doubtful, the crofter took out the money and
showed it to him to prove that he was telling the truth.
Q5. Why did the peddler decline the ironmaster's invitation?
Answer: The peddler refused the invitation because he knew that the ironmaster had mistaken
him for his old regimental friend, Captain Von Stahle. Moreover, after stealing the crofter's thirty
kronor, he feared that going to the ironmaster's house would expose him and lead to his arrest.
Q6. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Answer: When Edla met the peddler, she noticed his frightened and nervous behaviour. His fear
made her suspect that he had either stolen something or escaped from prison. However,
instead of judging him, she treated him with kindness, sympathy, and respect.
Q7. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap? (CBSE 2022, 2024)
Answer: After stealing the crofter's money, the peddler entered the forest to avoid being caught.
Unable to find his way out, he realised that his greed had trapped him just as a rat gets trapped
in a rattrap. He felt that he had become a victim of his own philosophy.
Q8. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain Von Stahle?
Answer: The peddler signed himself as Captain Von Stahle to show that Edla's kindness had
restored his self-respect and transformed him into a better person. By returning the stolen
money, he proved himself worthy of the honour and trust she had shown him.
Q9. What made the peddler finally change his ways? (CBSE 2022)
Answer: Edla's genuine kindness, respect, and compassion transformed the peddler's heart.
She treated him with dignity despite knowing his true identity. Deeply moved by her goodness,
he returned the stolen money, left a note of gratitude, and decided to lead an honest life.
Excellent! Here's Part 2 in a CBSE Class 12 Board-ready format. I have rewritten the answers in
simple, analytical English (≈180–220 words), suitable for 5-mark questions.
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The Rattrap
Long Answer Questions (Part – 2)
CBSE Class 12 | Board Level (180–220 Words Each)
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Q1. “A good deed or an act of kindness can change a person's view of the world.” What
characteristics of Edla's conduct inspire the peddler to redeem himself and change his ways?
OR
In Edla's dealing with the peddler, she was compassionate and generous. Discuss with
reference to the story. (CBSE 2020, 2022)
Answer:
The story The Rattrap beautifully shows that love, kindness, and compassion have the power to
transform a person's life. The peddler had spent his life facing poverty, loneliness, and rejection.
People looked down upon him because of his appearance and dishonest habits. As a result, he
lost faith in society and even compared the world to a giant rattrap that traps people through
temptations.
Edla Willmansson, however, treated him differently. Even after discovering that he was not
Captain Von Stahle, she did not insult or reject him. Instead, she welcomed him warmly, offered
him food, clean clothes, shelter, and, above all, respect. She believed that every person
deserved kindness, especially on Christmas Eve. Her compassionate behaviour restored the
peddler's lost dignity and self-respect.
Deeply moved by Edla's generosity, the peddler realised his mistake. He returned the stolen
thirty kronor, left a heartfelt letter of thanks, and gifted Edla a small rattrap as a symbol of his
transformation. He also signed himself as Captain Von Stahle, showing that he wanted to
become worthy of the honour she had given him.
Thus, Edla's kindness transformed a dishonest vagabond into an honest and grateful human
being, proving that compassion can bring out the goodness hidden within every individual.
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Q2. In the lesson The Rattrap, the narrator takes an empathetic approach towards the peddler.
Discuss the narrator's portrayal of the peddler. (CBSE 2021)
Answer:
In The Rattrap, Selma Lagerlöf presents the peddler with great sympathy and understanding.
Instead of portraying him as merely a thief, the narrator explains the difficult circumstances that
forced him into such a life. The peddler is shown as a poor, homeless man who survives by
selling small wire rattraps. Since this does not provide enough income, he is often forced to beg
or steal to survive.
Although he commits the theft of the crofter's thirty kronor, the narrator does not completely
condemn him. Rather, the story highlights his loneliness, poverty, and emotional suffering. His
famous idea that the world is a giant rattrap reflects his deep disappointment with society and
human nature.
The turning point comes when Edla treats him with kindness and respect. Her compassion
awakens his conscience and inspires him to change his life. He returns the stolen money, writes
a note of gratitude, and decides to become an honest person.
Through this transformation, the narrator suggests that no human being is entirely good or bad.
Love, trust, and compassion can awaken the goodness hidden within anyone. Therefore, the
narrator's sympathetic portrayal encourages readers to look beyond a person's mistakes and
understand the circumstances behind them.
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Q3. “She gave a little cry of joy. She found a small rattrap.” Compare the joy experienced by
Edla in The Rattrap and Saheb in Lost Spring after receiving their respective gifts.
(Competency-Based)
Answer:
Both Edla in The Rattrap and Saheb in Lost Spring experience happiness after receiving gifts,
but the reasons behind their joy are completely different.
Edla's happiness is emotional and spiritual. After the peddler leaves, she discovers a small
rattrap containing the stolen thirty kronor and a letter thanking her for her kindness. She realises
that her compassion has transformed the life of a dishonest man. Her joy comes from knowing
that her trust and generosity have helped someone regain his self-respect and honesty.
Saheb's happiness, on the other hand, is born out of poverty and deprivation. As a ragpicker
living in miserable conditions, he dreams of owning a pair of shoes. Therefore, even a discarded
pair of shoes with a hole in one gives him immense happiness because it fulfils a small but
meaningful desire.
Thus, while Edla's joy arises from the success of kindness and human transformation, Saheb's
happiness reflects the harsh reality of poverty, where even discarded possessions become
precious. Both experiences highlight different aspects of human life and teach valuable lessons
about compassion, gratitude, and social inequality.
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Q4. Franz from The Last Lesson and the peddler from The Rattrap learn from their mistakes.
Discuss how human beings evolve after learning from their mistakes. (CBSE
Competency-Based)
Answer:
Both The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet and The Rattrap by Selma Lagerlöf highlight the
importance of learning from one's mistakes and becoming a better person.
Franz initially neglects his studies and does not value education. However, when he learns that
it is his last French lesson, he realises the importance of his language and regrets wasting his
opportunities. This experience changes his attitude and makes him appreciate education and
his teacher.
Similarly, the peddler lives a life of dishonesty because of poverty and hopelessness. After
stealing the crofter's money, he becomes trapped in the forest and realises that he has fallen
into the very rattrap he had imagined. Later, Edla's kindness and trust awaken his conscience.
He returns the stolen money, writes a letter of gratitude, and decides to lead an honest life.
Both characters grow through self-realisation and sincere repentance. Their experiences teach
that mistakes are a part of human life, but true greatness lies in recognising them, learning from
them, and making positive changes. These stories remind us that education, kindness, and
self-reflection have the power to transform human character and lead to personal growth.
Character Sketch of the Peddler (180–200 Words)
The peddler is the central character of The Rattrap. He is a poor, homeless man who earns his
living by making and selling small wire rattraps. As his business brings him very little income, he
often resorts to begging and petty theft to survive. His miserable life makes him bitter and
cynical, leading him to believe that the whole world is a giant rattrap that traps people through
temptations such as wealth, comfort, and material pleasures.
Despite his dishonest actions, the peddler is not evil at heart. He is intelligent, imaginative, and
philosophical. His unique idea of the world as a rattrap reflects his sharp observation of human
nature. After stealing the crofter's thirty kronor, he realises that he himself has fallen into the trap
of greed.
The turning point in his life comes when Edla treats him with kindness, dignity, and respect. Her
compassion awakens his conscience and inspires him to return the stolen money. He leaves a
letter of gratitude and signs it as Captain Von Stahle, symbolising his moral rebirth. Thus, the
peddler emerges as a transformed man who proves that love and trust can bring out the
goodness hidden within every human being.
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Character Sketch of Edla Willmansson (180–200 Words)
Edla Willmansson is the daughter of the ironmaster and represents kindness, compassion, and
humanity. Unlike others, she does not judge the peddler by his appearance. Even when she
realises that he is not Captain Von Stahle, she refuses to humiliate or reject him. Instead, she
insists that he stay at their house as an honoured guest for Christmas.
Edla is gentle, polite, understanding, and generous. She believes that every human being
deserves love, respect, and a second chance. She provides the peddler with food, clean
clothes, shelter, and a warm welcome without expecting anything in return. Her selfless
kindness restores the peddler's lost dignity and self-respect.
Edla's compassionate nature becomes the turning point in the story. Deeply moved by her
goodness, the peddler returns the stolen thirty kronor and decides to lead an honest life.
Through her actions, Selma Lagerlöf shows that genuine kindness has the power to transform
even a misguided person.
Edla symbolises hope, forgiveness, and unconditional compassion. She teaches us that
empathy and trust can inspire positive change and bring out the best in others.
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Character Sketch of the Ironmaster (150–180 Words)
The ironmaster is a wealthy owner of Ramsjö Ironworks. He is proud, practical, and somewhat
lonely. When he mistakes the peddler for his old regimental comrade, Captain Von Stahle, he
warmly invites him home. However, his hospitality is based on mistaken identity rather than
genuine compassion.
After learning the truth, the ironmaster becomes angry and calls the peddler a thief. He is quick
to judge him because of his appearance and past actions. Unlike Edla, he finds it difficult to look
beyond the man's poverty and mistakes.
Although the ironmaster is generous in providing shelter and food, his kindness is conditional.
His character serves as a contrast to Edla's unconditional kindness. Through this contrast, the
story highlights that true humanity lies not in wealth or status but in understanding, forgiveness,
and compassion.
Major Themes
1. Redemption through Kindness
The story shows that kindness and compassion can transform even a dishonest person into a
responsible and honest human being.
2. Appearance vs Reality
People judge the peddler by his appearance, but Edla sees the goodness hidden within him.
3. Human Loneliness
The peddler and the crofter both suffer from loneliness, showing the universal need for
companionship and understanding.
4. Temptation and Greed
The stolen thirty kronor symbolise how greed traps people and leads them towards moral
downfall.
5. Hope and Second Chances
The story teaches that every person deserves an opportunity to reform and begin a new life.
Important Symbols
The Rattrap
Represents the world, where temptations such as money, comfort, and greed trap human
beings.
The Thirty Kronor
Symbolise temptation, greed, and the moral conflict faced by the peddler.
The Forest
Represents confusion, fear, isolation, and the consequences of wrong choices.
Christmas
Symbolises hope, forgiveness, renewal, and spiritual transformation.
Captain Von Stahle
Represents dignity, honour, self-respect, and the peddler's moral rebirth.
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Important Quotations
> "The whole world is nothing but a big rattrap."
Meaning: The world attracts people with material pleasures and then traps them through greed
and selfishness.
> "He had naturally been thinking of his rattraps when suddenly he was struck by the idea..."
Meaning: This quotation introduces the central philosophy of the story.
> "To him who has been generous, I want to be generous in return."
Meaning: The peddler realises that kindness deserves gratitude and honesty.
> "You were so nice to me all day long as if I was a captain."
Meaning: Edla's respect restores the peddler's lost dignity and inspires his transformation.
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Detailed Chapter Summary
The Rattrap by Selma Lagerlöf is a thought-provoking story about kindness, redemption, and
the power of human goodness. The story revolves around a poor peddler who survives by
selling wire rattraps, begging, and occasionally stealing. He develops the philosophy that the
world is like a giant rattrap that tempts people with wealth, comfort, and pleasure before
trapping them.
One day, after receiving warm hospitality from a lonely crofter, the peddler steals his thirty
kronor and escapes into the forest. Lost and frightened, he realises that he himself has become
trapped by greed. Later, the ironmaster mistakes him for Captain Von Stahle and invites him
home. Although the misunderstanding is revealed, Edla Willmansson treats the peddler with
kindness, respect, and generosity. Her unconditional compassion awakens his conscience.
On Christmas morning, the peddler leaves behind the stolen money, a small rattrap, and a letter
thanking Edla for restoring his faith in humanity. By signing himself as Captain Von Stahle, he
symbolically begins a new life as an honest and self-respecting person.
The story conveys the message that love, trust, forgiveness, and compassion have the power to
transform even the most misguided individuals.
Most Important Themes
Redemption through Kindness
Appearance vs Reality
Temptation and Greed
Human Loneliness
Hope and Second Chances
Most Expected Board Questions
Explain the title The Rattrap.
Why does the peddler compare the world to a rattrap?
How does Edla transform the peddler?
Why is Edla considered the true hero of the story?
Discuss the symbolic significance of the rattrap.
Justify the title of the story.
Character sketch of the Peddler.
Character sketch of Edla Willmansson.