The Rattrap ---------By Selma Lagerlöf

‘T. The story talks about how humanity has innate goodness in it and how a
proper treatment of people’s problems with kindness and understanding can
really bring out the hidden or lost faith in humanity again. The main character is a
vendor who sells rattraps and considers the whole world to be an evil trap where
human beings are waiting to be caught like rats..

Summary
The story is set in the mines of Sweden where iron is extracted from ores. It is
about a rattrap seller who tries to earn his living by selling rattraps made from
materials he gathers by either begging at stores and farms or by stealing. He led a
hard life – full of struggles and suffering which made him view the world around
him pessimistically. He started developing an idea that the world was like a
rattrap where the beautiful elements of nature like seas and lands and other
human needs like riches, clothes, food, etc. were like baits offered to rats, and the
desire to enjoy these things would lure them into this trap. These thoughts
became a habit for him and he started enjoying daydreaming about this new idea
during his spare time.

One day, while selling goods, he came across a small cottage by the roadside. It
was evening and he knocked on the door to ask the owner for shelter during the
night. The rattrap vendor was usually used to being ill-treated by others. But this
time, he was welcomed wholeheartedly by his host, who not only offered him
food and shelter, but also engaged in a merry conversation with him. The host,
who was an old man without a wife or children, told the rattrap seller about how
he used to work at a mine earlier but presently depended on his cow for his
livelihood. He also showed his earnings of thirty kronor to the rattrap seller –
three notes of ten kronor – to prove his point. The next day both men set out
from the cottage together. But the rattrap seller came back again to the cottage in
his host’s absence, stole the thirty kronor and went on his way to somewhere
else.
The rattrap seller felt very impressed with his own deed. As he continued his
journey, he entered a forest and felt lost, tired and cold as the night
[Link] felt trapped as he tried to find his way out. He was about to give
up when he heard thumping noises and finally discovered an iron mill that was
still in operation. He went inside to find a master smith and his helper working at
the furnace. The smith had no objections about providing him a shelter for the
night at the mill. After sometime, the owner of the mill – an ironmaster – noticed
the rattrap seller and mistook him for an old friend of his at the regiment where
he had served in the earlier years of his life. The rattrap seller considered this to
be another opportunity for earning money and played along with the ironmaster.

The ironmaster invited him to his house for a stay since it was Christmas season
and said that he would love some company. The rattrap seller, finding this
overwhelming and uncomfortable, – refused to go to the ironmaster’s house. The
ironmaster then sent his daughter to persuade him to stay. As soon as she met
the seller, she could understand that the man had done something wrong like
stealing or escaping from jail. She assured him in a friendly manner that he would
be allowed to leave whenever he wanted; and they wanted him to stay only till
Christmas eve. He agreed and went to the manor where he was treated with care
and affection by his hosts. The next day at dinner the ironmaster discovered to his
shock that it was not his old friend but a stranger whom he had invited to his
house. He threatened to turn him over to the sheriff. But, considering that it was
Christmas eve, he did not want to trouble the sheriff. The rattrap seller also
expressed his views on being trapped like a rat by the good hospitality of his host
– the ironmaster. As he was preparing to leave, the daughter had a change of
heart and wanted the rattrap seller to stay back for Christmas no matter what the
conditions were.

Therefore, the rattrap seller stayed back and spent Christmas with the ironmaster
and his daughter at the manor. At night after dinner, when it was time for
presents, the daughter told him that her father wanted the coat worn by the
rattrap seller to be a Christmas gift for him. She also told him that if he wanted to
spend the next Christmas in peace he was welcome at their house. He did not
reply as he felt mesmerised by the girl’s kind words and behaviour. The next day,
the ironmaster and his daughter went to the church for service. There they had
found out that one old employee of the mill was robbed by a man selling rattraps.
When they returned home, they found that their guest – the rattrap seller – was
gone. He had left a present for the daughter – a rattrap and the thirty kronor he
had stolen. He had also written a note in which he asked the daughter to return
the stolen money back to its owner. He also explained that it was a Christmas
present from a rat who was freed by their kind hospitality.

Conclusion of The Rattrap

This story captures the essence of faith in humanity. The daughter knew that the
rattrap seller was not the person her father had assumed to be and his intentions
were wrong. Still, she believed that her care and sincerity towards that person
might make him believe in the goodness of humanity again. The seller always
considered the world an evil place and compared it to a rat trap. After reading
The Rattrap Class 12 summary we understand that the rattrap seller in the story,
indeed, had some goodness and compassion for people around him. He was
finally able to realize the consequences of his wrong deeds and thoughts, and
resolved to do the right thing.
Word Meaning
Odd Moments: A short period of free time.
Sunken: lowered
Gleamed: Shone
Monotonous: boring
Vagabond: wanderer
Plods: walks heavily
Bait: Food placed on a hook to trap a rat, here it is referred to the comforts of life,
which is offered to trap someone
Tempted: convinced
Cherished: to love, protect
Dreary: dull
Ploddings: walk heavily
Snare: trap
Trudging: walking slowly
Carved off: to divide something into parts
mjolis: a game played with playing cards
Generous: liberal
Confidences: Secrets
Prosperity: riches
Crofter: A person who works on a rented farm
Bossy: Latin word ‘bos’ used for a cow
Creamery: A factory that produces cheese and cream
Kronor: Currency of Sweden
Incredulous: unbelieving
Stuffed: to fill up with something
In a good season: early enough
Peddler: seller
Smashed: badly broken
Thickets: A dense group of bushes
Impenetrable: impassable
Gloom: dark
Despair: hopelessness
Thumping: the sound of some heavy object beating
Summoned: gathered
Stagger: To walk with difficulty
Forge: A shop where metal is heated
Barge: a long flat-bottomed boat for carrying freight on canals and rivers.
Scow: a flat-bottomed boat used for transporting cargo to and from ships in
harbor.
sifted: descended lightly or sparsely as if sprinkled from a sieve
Smelter: A machine in which metal is melted to form into a shape
Rolling mill: machine to roll metal into sheets
Anvil: a heavy iron block with a flat top and concave sides
Perspiration: sweat
Bellows: air bag that emits a stream of air used for blowing air into a fire.
Shoveled: move
Maw: jaws
Clatter: bang
Whipped: beaten with a whip, here to hit something
Sooty panes: windowpanes covered in soot ( black powder produced when coal,
wood etc. is burned.
Haughty: arrogant
Prominent: Important
Tramp: vagabond, wanderer
Ragamuffin: A person in rags
Deigned: do something that one considers to be beneath one’s dignity
Slouch hat: hat bend on one side of the head.
Acquaintance: associate
Undeceive: to tell someone that his belief is mistaken
Downhill: worst
Regiment: unit in the army or defense forces
Manor house: A large country house
Comrade: A fellow soldier
Alarmed: Frighten
Inconspicuously: invisible or which is not noticeable
Valet: personal attendant
Modest: humble
Apprentice: learner
Astonished: greatly surprised
Forebodings: a foretelling
Flesh on his bones: here it means that the seller should eat good food to gain
some flesh on his body
Queer: strange
Embarrassed: awkward, shy
Starched collar: Starch is the stuff that makes your shirt collar look crisp and fresh.
Whole shoes: Proper fitted shoes
Groomed: ready
Puckered: wrinkle
Dissimulate: pretend
Splendor: luxury
Thundered: make a loud noise
Wretch: miserable person
Interceded: intervened
Preach: advice
Parson: Churchman
Dejected: sad

1. Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meanings from the context.
keep body and soul together: to manage to keep alive; to survive
hunger gleamed in his eyes: feeling so hungry that the expression shows on one’s
face
plods along the road: moving along the road slowly but deliberately, to walk with
a heavy feet
unwonted joy: unusual pleasure or happiness
impenetrable prison: impassable confinement
nodded a haughty consent: indifferent agreement
eased his way: moved himself slowly and carefully
fallen into a line of thought: agreement of thoughts
things have gone downhill: to decline or grow worse and worse
1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Ans. One day the peddler was thinking of his rattraps. Suddenly he was struck by
an idea that the whole world with its lands and seas, its cities and villages was
nothing but a big rattrap. It offered riches and joys, shelter and food as baits in
the same manner as the rattrap offered cheese and pork. As soon as someone
touches the bait, he finds himself in the trap.
2. Why was he amused by this idea?
Ans. The peddler believed that the world with all its riches and joys, food and
shelter appears as a rattrap to tempt people. The world had never been kind to
him. It gave him unwonted joy to think ill of it. So he was amused to think about
the people who were already caught in the trap and others circling around the
bait.
3. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the
crofter?
Ans. No, the peddler did not expect the kind of hospitality that he received from
the crofter. This was because usually he was greeted by ‘sour’ and unfriendly
faces whenever he knocked on doors and requested for shelter.

4. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Ans. The crofter was an old man without wife and children. He was living a
monotonous and dull life in solitude. He welcomed his guest very warmly. He
offered him food and shelter. Naturally, he was happy to get someone to talk to in
his loneliness. So he was talkative and friendly with the peddler.

5. Why did he show the thirty kroner to the peddler?

Ans. The crofter was very proud of his cow that gave him enough milk to support
him. He told peddler that he had got thirty kronor last month as payment by
supplying the milk to creamery. The peddler seemed doubtful about it. So, in
order to assure his guest, he showed thirty kronor to the peddler.

6. 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.
In fact, he betrayed his trust by robbing the thirty kronors from him.
However, later in the story, his conscience was awakened by his stay with the
Williamsons and he decided to return the money.

7. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Ans. After stealing the crofter’s money, the peddler believed that it was not safe
to walk on the public highway. So he went into the woods. But it was a big and
confusing forest. He walked and walked but could not get out of it. The forest
having its trunks, branches and thickets appeared to him a big rattrap. Then he
realized that he had fallen into the rattrap.
8. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Ans. In the uncertain reflection from furnace, the ironmaster mistook the peddler
as his old regimental comrade, Captain Von Stahle. His condition was very
miserable. So being an old acquaintance he wanted to help him. He also wanted
his company on Christmas Eve. So the ironmaster spoke kindly to the peddler and
invited him home.

9. Why did the peddler decline the invitation?

Ans. The peddler knew that the ironmaster had mistaken him as his old regiment
comrade. The invitation by the ironmaster did not please the peddler since the he
had the stolen money in his pocket. He thought that it would be like throwing
himself voluntarily into the lion’s den. He was feeling guilty and frightened. So he
declined the invitation.
10. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?
Ans. Edla Willmansson had better power of persuasion. She looked at the peddler
quite compassionately. She knew he was afraid. So she assured him that no harm
would come to him and he would be allowed to leave just as freely as he came.
Her friendly manner made the peddler feel confidence in her and accepted the
invitation.
11. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Ans. When Edla went to the iron mill to fetch the peddler, she noticed that he was
frightened. She had doubts that the peddler had stolen something or had escaped
prison. His appearance and behaviour also left her in doubts whether he was
actually an educated man, as claimed by her father.
12. When did the ironmaster realize his mistake?
Ans. The ironmaster realised his mistake the next day when the peddler turned up
at breakfast. The valet had bathed the peddler, cut his hair, shaved him and given
him clothes. The ironmaster realised that he had been deceived in recognising the
person because of the reflection of the furnace, the previous night.
13. What did the peddler say in his defense when it was clear that he was not
the person the ironmaster had thought he was?
Ans. The ironmaster came to know the reality about the peddler the next
morning. The peddler in his defence explained that he never pretended to be
what he was not. He showed himself as a poor trader. He only desired to sleep in
the forge for the night. He had declined the ironmaster’s invitation again and
again.
14. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about
him?
Ans. The peddler’s true identity came to light the next morning. But Edla served
the peddler not as her father’s old comrade. Even after knowing the reality about
the peddler she wanted him to stay with them on Christmas Eve and enjoy a day
of peace. In her view it was not proper to chase away a person whom they had
invited on Christmas.

15. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Ans. When Edla opened the package of gift left by the peddler she felt very happy.
She found a small rattrap with three wrinkled ten kronor notes and a letter
addressed to her. He had left the 30 kronors for its rightful owner. He was not a
thief but his circumstances made him so. She was happy to note that after all he
had changed.

16. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
Ans. The peddler was a vagabond. When he was invited by the ironmaster, he
behaved like a real captain. In this role, he raised himself above the petty
temptation. Kindness and hospitality shown by Edla had transformed him
completely. He wanted to behave nicely with them. So he signed himself as
Captain Von Sthale.

Page No: 43----Understanding the Text

1. How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by
the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter?
Ans. The different ways in which the peddler repaid the three people
corresponds to the way he interpreted the kindness of the three people. The
peddler realised that for the crofter it was his craving for company that led him to
offer his hospitality. The ironmaster’s hospitality apparently is limited to his
acquaintances. It was only the daughter who genuinely offered warmth and
goodness to the peddler. He was touched by Edla’s kindness and it made him
want to act differently. He repaid her good treatment with a gesture of true
gratitude.

2. What are the instances in the story that show that the character of the
ironmaster is different from that of his daughter in many ways?
Ans. The ironmaster misunderstood the peddler for an old acquaintance, whereas
his daughter could make out that the man was afraid, which was suggestive of
him having stolen something. Though the father and the daughter express
compassion for the vagabond both do so for different reasons. The ironmaster
was sure to help the vagabond get over his tramp manners because he had
mistaken the latter for his old comrade. The daughter however wishes to feed
him and welcome him in spite of knowing that he was not Captain Von Stahle. The
father acts impulsively and casually and invites him without confirming the
stranger’s identity. On realizing his mistake, he recklessly wants to hand him over
to the sheriff. Only when he is threatened to be ensnared by the rattrap of this
world that he thinks otherwise. Edla on the other hand shows a strong sense of
observation. She rightly judges him to be a tramp without any education. She
persuades her father to let him stay because they had promised him Christmas
cheer. When the blacksmith’s daughter infects the protagonist with her true
altruism the peddler’s inner soul experiences a rapid transformation form an ugly
duckling to a dazzling swan.

3. The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to
others’ behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.

Ans. The first instance is that of the crofter’s hospitality to the peddler. The
rattrap peddler, used to being shooed away, was surprised at the friendly
behaviour of the crofter. The peddler was also surprised at the sudden invitation
given by the ironmaster, who was himself shocked to realise his mistake in
recognising the peddler, the next day. Another unexpected reaction, for both the
peddler and the ironmaster, is Edla’s intervention to seek peddler’s presence for
Christmas. However, the most unexpected reaction is from the peddler when he
leaves the package and the letter for Edla, showing gratitude to the girl’s
hospitality and respect for him.

4. What made the peddler finally change his ways?

Ans. Edla Willmansson treated the tramp in a friendly manner. She was nice and
kind to her.
She interceded on his behalf when her father was about to turn him out. She still
entertained the peddler even after knowing the truth about him. She offered him
the snit as Christmas present and invited him to spend the next Christmas with
them. Her love and understanding aroused the essential goodness of the peddler
and he changed his ways.

5. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human
predicament?
Ans. The metaphor of the rattrap signifies that the world exists only to trap
people by setting baits for them. Whenever someone is tempted by the luxuries,
he ends up being caught in a dangerous trap. The author, thus, makes a much
deeper comment on the woeful plight of those in pursuit of the worldly pleasures,
which often lead them to unfortunate situations. The story helps in realising the
importance of general goodness and kindness. The peddler is saved from the
snare of the huge rattrap called world only when he appreciates the kindness to
him by Edla.

6. The peddler comes out as a person with a subtle sense of humour. How does
this serve in lightening the seriousness of the theme of the story and also
endear him to us?
Ans. The peddler doesn’t come across as a humorous person, although one can
locate a subtle sense of humour in the way he thinks about the world as being a
giant rattrap. He is singularly pleased by this thought of his because it provides
him with the opportunity of thinking ‘ill’ of the world that is not kind to him. It is
clearly visible that whenever he gets caught unaware, in the web of deceit spun
by his scheming mind, he hides behind the thought that the world is a rattrap and
he merely a prey. Thus, he lightens the mood and theme of the story and makes
us endear him.

Talking about the Text

Discuss the following in groups of four. Each group can deal with one topic.
Present the views of your group to the whole class.

1. The reader’s sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning of the story.
Why is this so? Is the sympathy justified?

Answer

From the beginning, the rattrap seller is shown as a victim of his situation and not
a downright evil character. The peddler had to resort to beggary and stealing
because his business is not profitable enough to make both ends meet. His
condition of penury does not allow him to be fully righteous. Moreover, we find
that he lacks friends and guide to steer him in the right path. The sympathy is
justified because in the end we find out that the peddler is capable of
appreciating genuine goodness and hospitality. When he is treated with respect
and kindness, he reciprocates the same in the best way he can.

2. The story also focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others.

Answer

The Rattrap deals with the issues of human loneliness and the need to bond with
others. Not only the peddler but also other characters like the crofter, the
ironmaster and Edla emphasise this fact.
The peddler’s conscience had left him because he had been lonely in his
predicament, for a long time. But Edla’s kindness and hospitality changed him.
The crofter, on the other hand, is a lonely fellow whose craving for company leads
him to give shelter to a vagabond, and he ends up getting robbed. Even, the
ironmaster and his daughter suffer from loneliness. They crave company on
Christmas Eve and are excited when they get the opportunity to serve a guest.

4. The story is both entertaining and philosophical.

Answer

The story is told in the form of a fairy tale with a happy ending. The narrative is
interesting with many surprises and attention-grabbing dialogues. The twists and
the unexpected reactions of the characters often astonish the reader making the
story entertaining.
However, the author has carefully managed to weave philosophical elements into
the storyline. The rattrap peddler’s comparison of the whole world with a giant
rattrap makes this an interesting commentary on how such people end up getting
trapped in the giant chasm. The story also makes an observation on the inherent
goodness of people. It also showcases how goodness and kindness shown by
some people can change others’ perspective.

Working with Words

1. The man selling rattraps is referred to by many terms such as “peddler,

stranger” etc. Pick out all such references to him. What does each of these labels
indicate of the context or the attitude of the people around him?

Answer

Labels
Contexts
1 Peddler as he peddles or sells the rattraps
2 Vagabond Used to describe his nomadic lifestyle
3 Stranger Used to refer to the peddler when he was at the crofter’s
place, possibly to emphasise the fact that the crofter was compassionate to an
unknown man
4 Guest He is treated with compassion, especially at the ironmaster’s house
where he was invited to spend the Christmas
5 Intruder When the peddler trespasses and enters the iron mill
6 Tramp When the peddler asks for lodgings at the iron mill; also when
the ironmaster, mistaking him for his old regimental comrade plans of helping
him drop his tramp ways and begin a new vocation
7 Ragamuffin When the ironmaster first notices him wrapped in rags and in
the state to utter destitution
8 Old regimental comrade The ironmaster mistakes him for his old friend
when he first meets the peddler at his iron mill
9 Poor hungry wretch Used only once when the author mentions the
fact that Edla was excited about the prospect of getting a chance to help an
unfortunate fellow on Christmas
10 Rat The peddler calls himself a rat and thanks Edla for helping him escape
the rattrap with her kindness and compassion

2. You came across the words, plod, trudge, stagger in the story. These words
indicate movement accompanied by weariness. Find five other such words with a
similar meaning.

Answer

Other words are lurch, stumble, slog, hike, clump, traipse and stomp.
Page No: 44

Noticing Form

1. He made them himself at odd moments.

2. He raised himself.
3. He had let himself be fooled by a bait and had been caught.
4. … a day may come when you yourself may want to get a big piece of pork.
Notice the way in which these reflexive pronouns have been used (pronoun + self)

In 1 and 4 the reflexive pronouns “himself” and “yourself” are used to convey
emphasis.
In 2 and 3 the reflexive pronoun is used in place of personal pronoun to signal
that it refers to the same subject in the sentence.
Pick out other examples of the use of reflexive pronouns from the story and
notice how they are used.

Answer

Examples
Usage
“…would be like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion’s den”
used in place of personal pronoun to signal that it refers to the same subject in
the sentence
“...except my oldest daughter and myself”
used in place of personal pronoun to signal that it refers to the same subject in
the sentence
“...he laughed to himself.”
used in place of personal pronoun to signal that it refers to the same subject in
the sentence
“...better powers of persuasion than he himself”
used to convey emphasis
“stretched himself out on the floor”
used in place of personal pronoun to signal that it refers to the same subject in
the sentence
“He could not bring himself to oppose her.”
used to convey emphasis

Thinking about the Language

1. Notice the words in bold in the following sentence.

“The fire boy shovelled charcoal into the maw of the furnace with a great deal of
clatter”. This is a phrase that is used in the specific context of an iron plant.
Pick out other such phrases and words from the story that are peculiar to the
terminology of ironworks.

Answer
Other such phrases could be as follows:
1. ‘a hard regular thumping’
2. ‘hammer strokes’
3. ‘a large plant with smelter, rolling mill and forge’
4. ‘pig iron’
5. ‘coal dust’
6. ‘put on the anvil’
2. Mjolis is a card game of Sweden.
Name a few indoor games played in your region. ‘Chopar’ could be an example.

[Link] indoor games are chess, Ludo, table tennis, playing cards, billiards, etc.
3. A crofter is a person who rents or owns a small farm especially in Scotland.
Think of other uncommon terms for ‘a small farmer’ including those in your
language.
Ans. Some other terms are peasant, plower, cultivator, krishak, kisan etc