Alternative Ending of the Rattrap

SUBMITTED TO
CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION
FOR
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT EXAMINATION
2025- 2026

SUBMITTED BY
[Link]
REGISTER NO:20652602
UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF R. SRIRAM GURU, M.A, [Link]

SIVANANDA RAJARAM SENIOR SECONDARY

SCHOOL(CBSE )
MARAIMALAI NAGAR – 603209

SIVANANDA RAJARAM SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (CBSE)

(Affiliated to CBSE, New Delhi)

MARAIMALAI NAGAR, CHENGALPATTU – 603209.

 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that [Link] of class XII has successfully completed the project
entitled “Alternative Ending of Rattrap” in the subject “ENGLISH CORE (301) ” during the
academic year 2025-2026, which is submitted in the fulfilment for the Internal
Assessment Examination of the Central Board of Secondary Education.

Assessment Marks:

HEAD OF THE INSTITUTION TEACHER IN CHARGE

Submitted for the practical Examination held on................................................

at.......................................................................................................................................

Register No:

Internal Examiner: External Examiner:

NAME: __________________________________ NAME :________________________________________

SIGNATURE: __________________________ SIGNATURE :____________________________________

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I thank God almighty for her eternal providence and grace which she
has been showering upon me ever since I appressed myself for this
work.
I take this opportunity to acknowledge the valuable assistance that I
have received during the preparation of this project.

I considered myself as fortunate to have Mr. R. SRIRAM GURU ( M.A,

[Link]) as my supervisor and guide. I am deeply touched by his efforts
and proper guidance evinced by making corrections and suggestions
for improvement in each stage of this project. I thank him most
sincerely for being the guiding spirit behind the endeavor.

I express my sincere gratitude to our principal, [Link]

ma’am Sivananda Rajaram Senior Secondary School (CBSE),
Maraimalai Nagar, for her encouragement and for all the facilities she
provided for making this project successfully.

I extend my heartily thanks to my mentor and supporting staff

members for their valuable suggestions and corrections.

I remember with great affection and gratitude my parents and dear

once in my family who rendered all possible assistance that sustained
my efforts at all stages of this project work. With heartfelt thanks.

Name: [Link]

INDEX

[Link] CONTENT
1. OBJECTIVES

2. ACTION PLAN

3. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

4. SUMMARY

5. CHARACTER SKETCH

6. THEME EXPLORATION

7. ALTERNATIVE ENDING

8. REPORT

9. REFLECTION

10. CONCLUSION

11. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Objective of Rattrap
Selma Lagerlöf wrote “The Rattrap” to show how
material temptations can trap people and to illustrate
that compassion can redeem even the most hardened
individual. By presenting the world as a giant rattrap
that licks “cheese” in the form of money, shelter, or
comfort, the story highlights the precariousness of
human greed and the ease with which we become
ensnared. At the same time, the kindness shown by the
iron-master’s daughter, Edla, demonstrates that
genuine human goodness can break the trap,
prompting the peddler to choose honesty over
selfishness. In short, the story aims to warn against
the lure of easy wealth while celebrating the
transformative power of empathy and moral integrity.

ACTION PLAN
16.06.2025 Activity orientation about the ALS project

01.07.2025 Choosing the project and developing the project plan.

15.07.2025 The students drafted a logical, deliverable and practical

plan
 30.07.2025 Goals and objectives were clearly defined.

05.08.2025 Detailed project schedule shared with the teacher

25.08.2025 An essay of 800 words is written after preparing the

survey report

13.09.2025 My reflection is written

30.09.2025 Suggestions and improvements (if necessary) shared by

the teacher

05.10.2025 Group meets were organized to coordinate and interact

with students

19.11.2025 Gaps (if any) were filled by individual students

17.12.2025 The final draft of the project portfolio/report was

prepared and submitted for evaluation

30.12.2025 Final submission of the project

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Selma Lagerlof :
Selma Lagerlof (20 November 1858 – 16 March
1940), a Swedish writer, was the first female to win a
Nobel Prize in literature in 1909. Her most
remembered book is ‘The Wonderful Adventures of
Nils’. Initially a teacher, in 1895, she devoted herself
completely to writing. She wrote several books,
including novels and a collection of stories such as
Gosta Berling’s Saga, Invisible Links, and The
Miracles of the Antichrist.

RATTRAP

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 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 approached. He 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 some time, 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 to its owner. He also explained
that it was a Christmas present from a rat who was freed by their
kind hospitality.

Theme Exploration
– “The Rattrap”
1. The World as a Trap:
The central metaphor—the whole world is a big
rattrap—sets the tone for the entire narrative. The
peddler, who makes his living selling rattraps, projects
his own cynicism onto society: just as a trap offers
bait to catch a rat, the world offers “cheese” in the
form of money, food, and shelter. This image suggests
that anyone, regardless of status, can be lured into a
situation that ultimately imprisons them. The story
shows the trap in action when the peddler steals the
crofter’s money; the act of taking the bait (the cash)
leads him into a spiral of fear and guilt, reinforcing
the idea that material desire is a snare.

2. Materialism vs. Human Kindness:

Lager Löf juxtaposes the cold, calculating world of
commerce with the warm, spontaneous generosity of
the iron-master’s household. The peddler’s initial
motive is purely self-interest—he steals because he
sees an easy opportunity. Yet, when he is treated with
respect and kindness by Edla and her father, a
different kind of “bait” appears: compassion. The
rattrap that the peddler leaves behind at the end,
along with the money he returns, can be read as a
token of redemption—a reversal of the original trap.
The story suggests that while material wealth can
entangle, a genuine human connection can break the
snare.

3. Redemption and Moral Transformation:

The peddler’s journey is essentially a redemption arc.
He begins as a cynical thief, rationalising his actions
with the belief that “the world is a rattrap.” However,
the simple act of being trusted—being invited to share
a meal, being addressed as “Captain”—awakens a
long-suppressed sense of honour. His decision to
return the stolen money and to sign the note “Captain
von Stahle” is a symbolic reclaiming of identity. He
moves from being a victim of circumstance to an
agent of his own moral choice, illustrating that
redemption is possible when one is met with empathy.

4. Illusion of Social Status:

The iron-master’s mistaken belief that the peddler is
an old army comrade highlights how easily social
status can be fabricated. The peddler, a poor
vagabond, is suddenly treated with the respect
reserved for a “captain.” This twist underscores the
arbitrary nature of societal hierarchies: a person’s
worth is not inherent but is assigned by the
perceptions of others. By the story’s end, the peddler’s
own act of signing a false name reinforces the theme
—he both embraces and subverts the illusion of
status.

5. The Duality of Human Nature:

Lager Löf presents the peddler as a complex figure—
capable of both deceit and generosity. This duality
reflects a broader commentary on human nature: we
all possess the capacity for selfishness and
selflessness. The rattrap itself is a symbol of this
duality: it is a tool for catching, yet it can be turned
into a gift. The story invites readers to recognise that
the line between predator and prey is thin and that
compassion can tip the balance.

ALTERNATIVE ENDING FOR

RATTRAP
In this alternative ending, the peddler, after spending
Christmas Eve at the ironmaster’s house, wakes up with a
heavy heart. He recalls the crofter’s trust and the betrayal
he committed by stealing his money. Though Edla’s
kindness has touched him deeply, he feels unworthy of her
compassion. Early in the morning, he quietly leaves the
manor, determined to disappear before anyone realizes his
true identity. As he walks through the forest, the stolen
money weighs heavily in his pocket, not just physically but
morally. He begins to see the rattrap metaphor in a new
light—the world is indeed a trap, but it is not wealth that
ensnares men; it is guilt and shame that bind them more
tightly than iron chains.
On his way, he encounters a group of poor laborers who
have been laid off from the ironworks. They are hungry,
cold, and desperate. Moved by their plight, the peddler
gives them the stolen money, realizing that it was never
truly his to keep. This act of selflessness liberates him
from the trap he had fallen into. Later, when Edla learns
of his deed, she is astonished but proud. She convinces her
father that the man was not a thief but a soul struggling
for dignity. The ironmaster, though skeptical, agrees to
employ the peddler at the ironworks in a modest position.
Gradually, the peddler transforms into a hardworking
and honest man. His past misdeeds fade into memory,
replaced by the respect he earns through his labor. The
story closes with him writing a letter to Edla, thanking her
for her kindness and explaining that her compassion gave
him the courage to change. In this ending, redemption
comes not only through Edla’s generosity but also through
the peddler’s conscious choice to reject greed and embrace
humanity. The rattrap metaphor thus evolves: life may be
full of snares, but kindness and selflessness are the keys
that set us free.

REPORT

Selma Lagerlöf’s short story The Rattrap is a touching tale

about human compassion and redemption. It revolves
around a poor peddler who sells rattraps and survives
through begging and petty theft. He views the world as a
giant rattrap, where material temptations act as bait to trap
people in misery. One evening, he is kindly received by a
crofter but betrays his trust by stealing money. Lost in the
forest, he feels trapped himself, symbolizing his philosophy.
Later, he is mistaken for an old acquaintance by an
ironmaster and taken home, where the ironmaster’s
daughter, Edla, treats him with dignity and warmth despite
discovering his true identity. Her kindness transforms him,
and he decides to return the stolen money, leaving a note
signed “Captain von Stahle.” The story highlights the power
of empathy and respect in restoring human dignity. It
conveys that compassion can reform even the most
hardened individuals, and that true nobility lies not in
wealth or status but in kindness. Through the metaphor of
the rattrap, Lagerlöf emphasizes that while life’s
temptations may ensnare us, genuine human goodness can
set us free.

REFLACTION

Selma Lagerlöf’s The Rattrap is more than a simple tale of a poor

peddler; it is a profound allegory about human nature, temptation,
and the power of compassion. The central metaphor—that the
world is like a rattrap, luring people with material pleasures only to
trap them in misery—forces us to reflect on our own lives. We often
chase wealth, success, and possessions, forgetting that these can
become snares that rob us of peace and dignity.
The peddler’s journey mirrors the struggles of many individuals
who feel isolated, mistrusted, or marginalized. His betrayal of the
crofter shows how desperation can lead to moral downfall, yet his
redemption through Edla’s kindness reminds us that no one is
beyond change. Edla’s role is crucial: she treats the peddler with
respect when society would dismiss him as worthless. Her
compassion becomes the turning point, proving that empathy can
restore humanity even in the most broken souls.
Reflecting on this story, we learn that kindness is transformative—it
not only uplifts the receiver but also enriches the giver. The
narrative urges us to look beyond appearances and recognize the
dignity in every human being. Ultimately, The Rattrap teaches that
while life’s temptations may ensnare us, compassion and trust are
the keys that set us free.

CONCLUSION

Selma Lagerlöf’s The Rattrap beautifully illustrates

that human beings, no matter how flawed or broken,
carry within them the potential for change. Through
the journey of the peddler, the story shows how
greed and temptation can trap us, just like a rattrap
ensnares its prey. Yet, it also highlights that
compassion and respect have the power to release us
from those traps. Edla’s kindness becomes the
turning point, proving that empathy can restore
dignity and inspire redemption. The tale reminds us
that true nobility lies not in wealth or status but in
the ability to treat others with humanity. Ultimately,
The Rattrap
teaches that while life’s temptations may ensnare
us, it is kindness and trust that set us free, making
the story a timeless reflection on the transformative
power of goodness.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

*[Link]
*[Link]
*Ncert Book