The Rattrap – Selma Lagerlöf Quote
Literary Illustration &
Device Significance
✨STYLE be — the stove the crofter’s
was burning, cottage.
Narrative with a moral allegory the coffee pot
Third-person omniscient narrator was boiling..."
Simple yet philosophical language "The forest,
Elements of folklore, symbolism, and with its trunks Shows the
social realism and branches, peddler’s
Blend of realism (poverty, theft, closed in upon Simile desperation after
ironworks) and idealism (redemption) him like an his crime —
impenetrable poetic justice.
TONE AND MOOD prison."
The peddler’s
Aspect Description letter shows
Reflective, ironic at times, transforming Alliteration, transformation
Tone
into warm and hopeful "(letter)..." Irony and use of
Shifts from grim and melancholic simple poetic
Mood (peddler’s hardship) to uplifting (his language.
reformation)
Character Analysis with
Important Quotes with Instances
Literary Devices and
The Peddler
Illustration
Initial Traits: Poor, cynical, petty thief,
Literary Illustration & lonely.
Quote
Device Significance Quote: “He made them himself at odd
"The world had moments, from the material he got by
Reflects how
never been very begging in the stores or at the big farms.”
poverty hardens
kind to him, so Transformation: From a thief to a
Irony, Tone people’s
it gave him reformed man.
emotions and
unwanted joy to Key Moment: When he leaves a rattrap
morals.
think ill of it." and letter for Edla with the stolen money
"The whole — a symbolic gesture of change.
The central
world with its
image of the Quote from letter: "Since you have been so
lands and seas,
Extended story: life’s nice to me all day long... I want to be nice to
its cities and
Metaphor temptations trap you, in return."
villages — was
people like a
nothing but a
rattrap. Edla Willmansson
big rattrap."
"Everything was Conveys warmth
Imagery
just as it used to and comfort in
Traits: Gentle, compassionate, wise,
✒ Exam-Focused Points
respectful
Instance: Despite knowing he is a thief, (Revision Quick Chart)
she insists on hosting him on Christmas.
Quote: "This stranger was not at all as Element Example
bad as they had thought. All at once, he Symbolic – the world is a
seemed to be transformed." Title rattrap; the story revolves
Justification around its metaphorical
The Ironmaster meaning.
Kindness can reform anyone;
Traits: Impulsive, status-conscious, Moral
don’t judge by appearances.
proud
Instance: Tries to help the peddler Peddler’s letter and gift to Edla
Climax
thinking he's an old comrade, but wants – emotional turning point.
to throw him out after learning the truth. Rattrap = life’s temptations;
Quote: “You can sleep here tonight... but Symbolism Forest = moral confusion;
tomorrow you must clear out.” Christmas = rebirth.
The Crofter Trace the literary devices and their significance of the
letter written by the peddler to Edla in the lesson The
Traits: Generous, talkative, lonely Rattrap :
Instance: Offers shelter, food, and
Honoured and noble Miss, “Since you have been so nice
shows his savings (which the peddler
to me all day long, as if I was a captain, I want to be nice
steals).
to you, in return, as if I was a real captain — for I do not
Quote: “He was just as generous with his
want you to be embarrassed at this Christmas season by
confidences as with his porridge and
a thief; but you can give back the money to the old man
tobacco.”
on the roadside, who has the money pouch hanging on
the window frame as a bait for poor wanderers.
Key Themes with Support
“The rattrap is a Christmas present from a rat who
would have been caught in this world’s rattrap if he had
Theme Illustration
not been raised to captain, because in that way he got
Redemption is Peddler reforms because of power to clear himself.”
possible Edla’s kindness.
Money, shelter, and status are
Materialism as
temptations like bait in a
a trap
rattrap.
Edla’s compassion, not
Power of
Ironmaster’s charity, reforms
kindness
the man.
All characters – crofter,
Loneliness of
peddler, even Edla – reflect
humans
some emotional solitude.