4.

THE RATTRAP
Selma Lagerlöf
About the Author
colma Lagerlöf (20 November 1858 - 16
March
female to win a Nobel Prize in literature in 1909.1940). Swedish writer, was the first
a
Her most remembered book is "Te
Wonderful Adventures of Niis'. Initially a teacher, in 1895, she devoted
to writing. She wrote several books, including novels and herself completely
collection of
Gästa Berling's Saga, Invisible Links and The Miracles of the Antichrist. stories such as
Theme
The Rattrap' provides a glimpse into human nature. It emphasises the fact that
everybody has an essential goodness deep inside which can be awakened through love and
understanding. The story highlights the fact that there is an essential goodness in every
human being. At times due to circumstances and situation, a person kills his conscience
but the same man, when bestowed with love and affection, exhibits a totally different
side of his character.
Summary
deals with a peddler who sells rattraps of wire that he begged for or had stolen.
This story
vagabond, has no home to live in and many times no food to eat. Life is very
He is a
One day it occurs to him that the entire world is a rattrap and shelter,
difficult for him. entrap people. This idea amuses
and luxuries are like baits to
food, clothing, comforts deprived of all these things.
leaves him satisfied as he is
him and cottage by the roadside. In order
peddler, on his rounds, finds a
One winter evening the door. He is surprised to get a warm welcome
ask for the nightshelter, he knocks at the tobacco. The crofter entertains
to but food and
the host. He is offered not only shelter secret of his earning of thirty
from him the
the game of 'majolis' and shares with
him with selling milk.
by
kronor which he has collected
 leave the house, the peddler comes ba as
ais
to
tne money.
day when they both a road, so
INext
caught. But as the night fals, he woods,
loses hisinstead
way in of taking
the forest. Heis completely exhausted,
He decides to walk through the
probably walking around the same
then realises that he is dark spot. At
hungry and cold. He then and begins to feel that the forest with its
this point, he is reminded of the rattrap which he is caught, having been
trees, trunk and branches is like a rattrap in
in lured by the
thirty kronor that he has stolen.
peddler hears the sound of hammer strokes from an iron mill.
Fortunately enough, the Ramsjö Ironworks. He sleeps near the furnace
Following the sound, he reaches
his old regimental comrade Nils Olof. He invites him
toOwner of the which
his house mistakes him for
mill he refuses. But when the ironmaster's daughter Edla Willmansson

along with her to their home and spend the Christmas eve s
persuades him to come
them, he agrees to the same.
peddler is given proper food and comfort at the ironmaster's house. Though Edla :.
The
save
state, her father says
notconvinced that a captain from the army can fall to such a sorry
that after abath and changge of clothes, he will emerge polished as a captain. But, on the
contrary, when the tramp is given a bath and a shaved the next morning the ironmaster
realises his mistake. He finds that the peddler is not his old comrade. At this point, Edla
allows him to stayand spend the Christmas with them.
Next morning Edla and his father learn in the church that a tramp has robbed a crofter
and apprehended that this is the same man. They think that he would have taken away
all their silver. But when they reach home, they find that nothing has been stolen. The
tramp has already gone. He had left a rattrap as a Christmas present for Edla along with
a note and thirty kroner. In his note, he had requested that the stolen money was to
be returned tothe rightful owner. He told Edla that having been treated with so much
dignity and having had his status elevated to that of a captain, he felt that he could not
embarrass them. He signed himself as Captain von Stahle.
 TEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Think-as-you-read Questions
1 From where did
the peddler get the idea of the
world being a rattrap?
Ans. The peddler lived a dull and
no relatives. He was a monotonous life. He had no family, no money and
vagabond. So, being alone mOst of the time, he used to
go on thinking. While thinking about the
world being arattrap. rattrap, he suddenly got the idea of the
2. Why was the peddler amused by this idea?
Ans. The peddler had never been treated well by the world. So he felt
happy thinking
ill of the world. That is why he was amused by the idea that the
whole world
around him was nothing but a big rattrap.
3. Did the peddler expect the kindof hospitality that he received from the crofter?
Ans. No, the peddler did not expect the kind of hospitality that he received from
the crofter. He was always refused whenever he asked anyone for any kind of
kindness. Thus, he had expected the same, but, to his surprise, the crofter treated
him verykindly and gave him food and shelter.
4. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler? [Delhi 20121

Ans. The crofter was a lonely man. He had no one in his house to give him company.
He had no wife, no children. So when he saw the peddler, he was very happy to
getsomeone to talk to.
peddler?
5. Why did he show the thirty kronor to the
comfortable life and having a good
Ans. The crofter narrated his story of living a extraordinary cow that gave a lot of
reasonable income that he made due to his
the peddler that he had earned thirty kronor last month. But the
milk. He told opened
expressedhis disbelief. In order to make him believe, the crofter
peddler
money.
the pouch and showed the tramp the
 the
confidence reposed in him by
6. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by
the crofter.
to the after some
Ans. No, the peddler did not live upthe crofter. He returned time, opened
In fact, he abused the trust of
stolethe crofter's hard-earned money.
the window of the cottage and indeed fallen into a
rattrap?
peddler think that he had
7. What made the peddler avoided the road and walked
the
Ans After stealing the crofter's mnoney, fell and he could not find his way out. He
through the forest. Soon the night wood. He finally renl:
coming the end of the
to the same spot. This made him frustrated
that he and
walked walkingwithout
was walked round and round

realised that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap.

and tired. Now he home?
ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him
8. Why did the acquaintance Niis Olof who we.
to be his old
Ans. The ironmaster mistook thepeddler long back. The ironmaster thouch:
resigned from the regiment
acaptain
that man had
the and was going through a bad phase in his life and soinvited him home,
especially as it was Christmas Eve.
9. Why did the peddler decline the
invitation? [Delhi 2012)
the money and was afrajd of
Ans. The peddler declined the invitation, as he had stolen
oneself voluntarily
being caught. Accepting the invitation would be like throwing
into a lion's den.
invitation?
10. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson's
coat and a valet. She
Ans. Edla Willmansson came to invite the peddler with her fur
persuaded him
spoke in a very friendly manner and he felt confidence in her. She
whenever he
to come home andpromised him that he would be allowed to leave
would lke to.
11. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Ans. Edla noticed that peddler was very scared. She thought he could either be a thief
or an escapee from a prison.
12. When did the ironmaster realize his mistake?
Ans. When the peddler was given a bath, a haircut and had a shave, the ironmaster
realised at the breakfast table that the tramp did not look like his regimental
comrade and that he had made a mistake.
13. Why did Edla entertain thepeddler even after she came to know the truth about
him?
Ans. Edlawas a kind lady. She empathized with the poor peddler and understo
how difficult his life had been. She was able to understand his loneliness a
poverty. She entertained him even though she knew who he was. Moreover, it was
Christmas eve and she wanted to extend Christmas cheer and goodwill to him.
 Literature 81
14. Why was Edla happy to see
the gift left by the peddler?
Ans. Edla was happy to see the gift left by the
peddler because it was symbolic of the
positive change in the peddler. He had left the stolen thirty kronor in the rattrap
along with a letter. He had reguested that the moneybe
Edla was happy to know he had realised his mistake andreturned the crofter.
to
made amends.
15. Why did the peddler sign himself as
Captain von Stahle?
Ans. The peddler was accepted and welcomed to the house as Captain von Stahle. Edla
gave the peddler a kind treatment and in spite of kowing the reality, she treated
him like a captain. This awakened the latent goodness of his heart and he also
behaved in a dignified manner and signed himself as Captain von Stahle.
Long Answer-type Question
[CBSEJ
5. How did Edla bring about a change in the peddler?
Ans. Miss Edla Willmanson was the daughter of the
owner of the Ramsjo Ironworks. She was
remarkable.
notvery pretty but the qualities of her heart make her
look on the peddler's face and
She was a wonderfulobserver who could see the frightened basis of
berated him on the
concluded that he was either a thief or a fugitive, but never
make him accept the invitation to
her assumption. She used her skills of persuasion to meant no
come home. Her kind words and friendly manner assured the peddler that she
threat and he accompanied her.
instruction that the peddler should leave his
Once his identity was revealed and her father's
persuaded her father to let himn stay and not chase him away as they had invited
house, Edla compassion
generosity coupled with
him and had promised him Christmas cheer. Her
his life.
towards him brought about a change in
derogating terms such as tramp, ragamuffin
Allthrough, the peddler had been addressed in
treated him like a gentleman and addressed him as Captain. She rejected her
etc. Edla
that the peddler was a thief. This shows her sensitive nature and strong
father's opinion
Before leaving the ironmaster's house, he left a gift of rattrap with 30
faith in humanity.
note. He signed himself as Captain von Staple. He was no longer a nameless
Kronors and a
kind treatment had changed his negative and bitter attitude towards the
tramp. Edla's
world.
 peddler affected
9. The people we meet in life leave an impression on us. How is the rattrap [AIIIndia)
by meeting the crofter and Edla?
Ans. The story of a peddler highlights that life is reformatory, and not a prison. Berore meenng
worlda rattrap, and
the crofter, the iron master and Edla, the peddler considered the
had never experienced human kindness.
entertained him by
Thecrofter opened his door to the peddler. gave him food and shelter,
trusted
playing cards andshared his life's experiences with him, without any suspicion he
affected by the
him and showedthe 30 knonors that he had saved, But the peddler was not
and cheated
kindness and hospitality of the crofter and considered his generosity 'baits'
him.
Her generosity
Buta change of heart in him when he met the iron master's daughter Edla.
of love,
coupled with compassion towards him taught him life's lesson. Her words
lifehe had
affection and trust for a vagabond like him transformned him. Allthrough his
treated him like
been addressed by derogatory words like peddler, ragamaffn, etc. Edla
christmas and assured him that he
a gentleman, requested him to share the festivity of
would be welcomed for next Christmas too.
The two meetings with the crofter and Edla brought a transformation
from a vagabond to
innate goodness
agentleman who left hisold ways of life promising to be a captain. The
good and favourable
of the vagabond was revived. The author means to say that if we get
circumstances we can't be devils.
 Objective Questions
Text-based Multiple ChoiceQuestions
Answer the following questions by choosing the correct option :
(i) The peddler refers to the trap
(a) show how rats are trapped
philosophically to :
(b) show what a trap really is
(c) highlight the fact of the world being a trap of temptations
(d) suggest how one can be selfish
(i) The writer tones down the philosphical load inherent in The Rattrap' with the inclusion
of :
(a) ironical situations (b) satirical dialogues
(c) classical references (d) humour and wit
(iii) The crofter by showing currency notes to a stranger revealed that he was :
(a) tactful (b) practical
(c) generous (d) a Devil'sagent
(iv) The Iron master invited the peddler home:
(a) thinking that he was a poor person (b) thinking that he was an old acquaintance
(d) to celebrate Christmas with him
(c) to show him his house
(v) Edla Willmansson was :
(b) the Ironmaster's sister
(a) the Ironmaster's mother
() the Ironmaster's maid (d) the Ironmaster's daughter
75
 brought by :
(vi) The realchange in the peddler was (b) Edla
(a) the Ironmaster (d) circumstances
(c) the crofter
? not at all
(vii) Would the peddler again resort to thieving (b)
(a) certainly
() depends upon circumstances
() probably (iv) (b) () (d)
?? Multiple
NChoice Questions
Q1 Why did the peddler resort to begging?
a. He washandicapped
b. His business was not profitable
c. He did not want to do anything
d. None of the above
 -GO For online CUET-U6
Online cick on preparation
Q2. Which line of
day?
thought did the
peddler fall into one
[Link].
Use code
FOREVER10 com/c to avai
a. If he could do
somme
been a rich fellovw good business, he
would have
b. If he had wife and
happy fellow children, he would have been a
c This world is a big rattrap
d. None of the above ?1Objective
Q3. One dark evening whose door did the peddler NType Questions
at? knock 01. He wore a shirt and a starched collar and
a. The ironmaster's b. His relative's whole shoes.
c. Astranger's d. The author's Q2. The ..was in a hurry to milk his cow.
OA What happened when the Q3. Now come along with me and help us make
the
a He refused him old man openedthe door?
..food disappear a little faster.
permission to enter his
b. He asked his name house Q4. The man was evidently used to sleeping with one
c. He received him with eye
open heart Q5. Immediately he put the. ..pot on the fire and
d. He saw him and shut the door
O5 Why was the old crofter so gave him supper.
happy to receive a man
who was a total stranger for him?
Q6. The ironmaster followed the example of the
blacksmiths. (True/False)
a. The stranger was quite
manners
friendly with pleasing Q7. One dark evening the peddler caught sight of alittle
gray cottage by the post office. (True/False)
b. The stranger turned out to be his Q8. She was not at all pretty, but seemed modest and
old acquaintance
c. The old crofter was all quite shy. (True/False)
alone and he wanted
someone's company
d. None of the above Answers
06. Why did the ironmaster visit the mill at night? 1. white 2. crofter
a. He couldn't spare time during day time 3. Christmas 4. open
b. He used to keep a watch on the work round the 5. porridge 6. False
clock 7. Flase 8. True
c. He used to sleep during day time
None of the above 2 Short Answer
Q7. Why did the peddler keep to the woods after leaving Type Questions
the crofter's cottage? Q1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world
a. The route through the woods was a shorter one
being a rattrap? [NCERT]
b. The route from the highway seemed too full of Or
traffic.
c. He wanted to avoid the police Explain the metaphor of 'The Rattrap' as explained by
d. None of the above the peddler. [CBSE 2022 Term l]
Ans. The peddler was a very poor man who made his both
Q8. How did the ironmaster react on seeing the stranger
close to the furnace?
ends meet by making rattraps with the material, he
procured by begging, He also had to resort to petty
a. He became very angry thievery. His mind, therefore was always occupied
b. He was quite indifferent with the making of rattraps. One day he thought about
c. He mistook him for his old acquaintance the world and found a parallel between the two. To
d. None of the above him worldly riches, joys, food and shelter worked as
peddler
Q9. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the
bait to entrap people.
[CBSE 2016]
and invite him home? 02. Why was the peddler amused by the idea of the world
man being arattrap? [CBSE 2016, NCERT)
à. Ironmaster was a kind hearted
b. Ironmnaster wanted his company Ans. The world around him had never been so kind to him.
C. Ironmaster thought he was his old
regimental comrade So it gave him unwonted joy tothink ill of it in this way.
d. None of the above To think of people he knew, who had let themselves
Q10. Why did Edla invite the peddler to stay at her be caught in the dangerous trap, he felt very amused.
home? 03. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitalitythat he
received from the crofter? [NCERT]
à. The peddler had nowhere to go He
people ever.
b. Edla was a kind hearted lady Ans. The peddler was not welcomed by
let him stay at the rorge he went.
C. Edla's father insisted her to was virtually shooed away from wherever
d. None of the above