THE RATTRAP by Selma Lagerlof

Think as you read ( page 34)

1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Ans. The peddler got the idea of the world being a rattrap while he was plodding down the road one day
thinking about various things and the rattraps made by him. He was suddenly struck by the idea that the
whole world around him with its lands and seas, its cities and villages - was nothing but a rattrap. The
world offered riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing in the same way as the rattrap offered
cheese and pork as bait. As soon as a person was tempted by bait and did something to achieve them, the
world imprisons him like a rattrap does and he loses his freedom to do what he wants to do.
2. Why was he amused by the idea?
Ans. He was amused by the idea because he was a vagabond and the world had not been kind to him. He
was poor, without a shelter, proper clothes and food. It gave him pleasure to think badly of the people
who lived successfully in the world as rats caught in the mousetrap and those who were trying to be
successful as people circling round the clock. It became his favourite pastime to demean successful
people and pretend that he was better off than them as he was free from the greed to succeed.
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. Instead of
meeting sour faces or being refused when he knocked on the door for shelter, the crofter was happy to
see him as he had got someone to talk to in his loneliness. He was also given porridge to eat , tobacco to
smoke and was also entertained by playing cards.
4. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Ans. The crofter was so talkative and friendly with the peddler as he was a lonely old man without wife
or child and so was happy to get someone to talk to.
5. Why did he show the thirty kroner to the peddler?
Ans. The crofter had told the peddler that he could no longer work as a daily labourer but his cow
supported him by giving enough milk to the creamery everyday and he had got thirty kroner as payment
the previous month. The peddler seemed to be incredulous (doubtful) so the crofter took out the money
from a leather pouch hanging on a nail in the window frame and showed him three crumpled ten-kronor
notes.
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 coffer. He stole the thirty
kronor from the leather pouch by breaking the window pane and betrayed the crofter’s trust and
hospitality. Later, he was bitten by his conscience and returned the money to Miss Willmansson
requesting her to return the money to the crofter.
Page 37
1. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Ans. The peddler thought that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap when he lost his way in the forest after
turning away from the public highway to avoid being caught as he had stolen money. Though he tried to
walk in a definite direction, he realised that he was walking round the same part in the forest. Instantly he
felt that he was caught in a rattrap as he had been tempted by the bait in the form of thirty kronor. The
whole forest appeared to him like an impenetrable prison from which he could not escape.
2. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Ans. The ironmaster spoke kindly to the peddler and invited him home because in the dim light of the
furnace of the iron mill, he thought that the peddler was his old acquaintance Captain Von Stahle from the
regiment.
3. Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
Ans. The peddler declined the invitation as he was afraid that in the bright light inside the manor house,
he will be recognised that he was not Captain Von Stahle but was a vagabond who had stolen money. He
felt that going to the manor house would be like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion’s den.
Page 41
1. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?
Ans. The peddler accepted Edla Williamsson’s invitation because she invited him in such a manner that
the rattrap peddler felt confidence in her. He had not expected that she would come to call him
personally. Moreover, when Edla Willmansson invited him, she promised him that he would be
allowed to leave freely just as freely as he came.
2. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Ans. When Edla looked at the man compassionately, she noticed that the peddler was afraid. Then she
thought that either he had stolen something or he had escaped from jail. She also said that she did not
think there was anything to show that he had once been an educated man.
3. When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?
Ans. The ironmaster realised his mistake next morning when he saw the peddler in proper light after the
valet had bathed him, cut his hair and shaved him and made him wear clean clothes. He understood that
he had been misled by the dim light of the furnace on the previous night.
4. What did the peddler say in his defence when it was clear that he was not the person the
ironmaster had thought he was.
Ans. In defence the peddler said that he had not pretended to be anything but a poor trader. He had
pleaded and begged to be allowed to stay in the forge but he was forced to come to the manor house. He
said that he is ready to put on his rags again and go away.
5. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him ?
Ans. Edla entertained the peddler even after she knew the truth about him because she felt that they
could not ask a man to go away after they had invited him for Christmas. She said that she wanted the
man to enjoy a day of peace with them as he doesn’t have any place where he is welcome and can feel at
home. She wanted to be kind and benevolent on Christmas day.
Page 42
1. 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 she felt that the peddler had changed.
Edla had felt very dejected when she came to know about the theft of the crofter’s money by the peddler
in the church but the gift left behind, which consisted of a small rattrap and three wrinkled ten kronor
notes, restored her faith in him. She felt happy because her trust in him had been justified. Her kindness
had finally changed the peddler and brought out his essential goodness.
2. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle.
Ans. The peddler signed himself as Captain von Stahle because he wanted to show Edla that he had
retained the honour and dignity given to him as a captain by returning the thirty kronor he had stolen and
 enclosing a gift for her on Christmas like a gentleman and a captain. He owed his transformation to the
kind treatment meted out to him by Edla, who in spite of knowing the truth about him, had honoured
and treated him like a captain. She had awakened the latent goodness in his heart. He wanted to thank
Edla for giving him a chance to become a good man.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT PAGE 43

1. How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter,
the ironmaster and his daughter?
Ans. Despite the fact that the crofter did not know the peddler, he opened his arms and
acted charitable by providing food and shelter. Showing scant regard to the crofter’s generosity and
violating the trust the old man had reposed in him, he stole thirty kronor from his house. Feeling no
compunction (regret) about robbing him of his hard earned money, the peddler thought he had acted very
smartly and interpreted the benevolence of the crofter as foolishness.
Though the ironmaster offered him food and shelter mistaking him for an old colleague and pitying him
for his present poverty, the peddler did not clear his doubt in hope of getting a couple of kronor. When he
was invited by the ironmaster to his house to celebrate Christmas, he felt a sense of alarm and feared
being caught. Thus he declined the invitation. However when Edla Willmansson invited him, he readily
accepted her invitation as she promised him that he would be allowed to leave freely just as freely as he
came. Next morning, upon realizing his real identity the ironmaster asked him to leave and suggested that
the sheriff might have something to say in the matter, the peddler struck on the table with his fist and
gave him a lecture saying that he too might be ensnared in the rattrap of this world if he was greedy.
However Edla’s warmth, friendliness and hospitality touched the peddler. When the girl treated him like a
Captain, he spontaneously behaved like a real Captain. He left a rattrap as a Christmas gift for Edla and
enclosed a letter of thanks and confession in it. Leaving behind the stolen money to be restored to the
owner, he redeemed himself from his dishonest ways and emerged an altogether transformed person.

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 or escaping from jail.
Though the father and the daughter expressed compassion for the vagabond both did so for different
reasons .The ironmaster wanted to help the vagabond get over his tramp manners because he had mistaken
him for his old comrade in the regiment. The daughter however wished to feed him and welcome him in
spite of knowing that he was not Captain Von Stahle. The father acted impulsively and casually and
invited him without confirming the stranger’s identity. On realizing his mistake he recklessly wanted to
hand him over to the sheriff. Only when he was threatened by the peddler that he might face the same
predicament one day and be ensnared by the rattrap of this world that he laughed it off and ordered the
peddler to leave. Edla on the other hand showed a strong sense of observation. She rightly judged him to
be a tramp without any education. She persuaded her father to let him stay because they had promised him
Christmas cheer. She wanted to be kind to the poor man by giving him food ,shelter and rest at least for a
day. The ironmaster was good natured and friendly but not very clever, rude and selfish whereas his
daughter was a good judge of character, intelligent and altruistic (humane).
3. The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to
others’ behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.
Ans. The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’ behaviour. The
peddler is used to being greeted by sour faces when he asked for shelter for a night but the crofter seems
 pleased at the peddler’s request for accommodation for the night. Not only he gives the peddler food but
he also offers him tobacco and entertains him with a card game.
Then the peddler’s act of stealing does not match the reader’s expectations. The breach of trust comes as
a bit of a shock.
The ironmaster’s sudden invitation to the tramp comes as the next surprise. The peddler’s vehement
refusal to accompany him and later on accepting the invitation at Edla’s insistence all generate surprise.
Edla’s readiness to entertain the peddler even after knowing his reality was quite unexpected.
The most unexpected of gesture is when the peddler leaves for Edla a Christmas gift, a letter of thanks and
the stolen money to be returned to the old crofter. His transformation is that which completes the chain of
unexpected reactions.
4. What made the peddler finally change his ways?
Ans. The peddler had been living a despicable life of poverty, despair and frustration without ever coming
across any body to understand, sympathize, love and guide him. He had become disillusioned, hard
hearted and jealous of other people’s prosperity. Neither the crofter’s hospitality nor
the ironmaster’s invitation to the manor house made any impact on him. In fact he repaid the crofter by
stealing his earnings and the ironmaster by giving a piece of his mind when the latter talked of taking the
matter to the sheriff.
However , the meeting with the ironmaster’s daughter was the turning point in his life. The kindness , the
concern and the understanding that she showed him touched the core of his heart and transformed his way
of thinking. The ironmaster’s daughter understood that he needed security and succor (help) and
convinced her father to allow him to stay on in their house to share the Christmas cheer. She restored his
dignity and self worth. She treated him like a captain of the army though she was aware that he was a
common tramp.
When the girl treated him like a Captain, he spontaneously behaved like a real Captain. He left a rattrap as
a Christmas gift for Edla and enclosed a letter of thanks and confession in it. Leaving behind the stolen
money to be restored to the owner, he redeemed himself from his dishonest ways and emerged an
altogether transformed person. ( like a butterfly from a caterpillar)
5. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
Ans. The author Selma Lagerlof tells a universal theme through all her stories. One can not imagine how
dull and depressive a peddler might be walking slowly along the roads for his bread and shelter. The
metaphor of the rattrap struck on one such occasion when he was plodding along the road, duly lost in his
own meditations. The whole world about him with its lands, seas, cities and villages was nothing but a
big rattrap. The world had never existed for any other purpose than to set baits for people to trap them.
The world offered riches, joys, food, shelter and clothing like a bait offering cheese and pork in
a rattrap for the rats. As soon as anyone was tempted and he touched the bait, it closed on him and he lost
his freedom and slaved throughout his life to satisfy his greed.
The metaphor of a rattrap reveals man’s helplessness in pursuit of life’s ambitions. The world thus
becomes a huge rattrap. Though one can’t see the bars and wires yet one gets firmly entrenched in the
quagmire (trap/ dilemma) of situations and circumstances in his quest for more and more.
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 endear him to us.
Ans. Although the peddler is an unfortunate vagabond with nothing positive in life, he has a subtle sense
of humour to make his miserable life bearable. As he plods down the road, he thinks of the whole world as
a rattrap and assumes that he is luckier than others as he has not become entrapped in it. Then he also is
surprised at the warm reception he gets at the crofter’s cottage. When he is caught by the ironmaster, he
makes him laugh at the analogy (comparison) of a rattrap and lets himself go free. His letter of confession
 to Edla in third person in which he calls himself a rat shows his capacity to laugh at himself. Also his
signing off as captain von Stahle reflects how mistaken identities can change a person and give an aim to
someone like him. The peddler’s ability to laugh at himself and his situation lightens the seriousness of
the theme of the story and endears him to us.
TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT
1. The reader’s sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning of the story. Why this is
so? Is the sympathy justified?
Ans. The peddler wins the readers’ sympathy for his way of life and how the world treats him. The
vagabond moves about selling small rattraps. As his business is not rewarding , he takes to begging and
petty thievery to keep his body and soul together. He is an underdog who has never seen good life. His life
is sad and monotonous. He plods along the road lost in his own meditation. He considers the whole world
as a big rattrap as he is unfortunate. The world has never been kind to him and it gives him unwonted joy
to think ill of it . Whenever he asks shelter for a night , he meets sour faces. He is an
unwelcome , unwanted and undesirable figure. The blacksmith at forge glance at him only casually and
indifferently. The master smith nods a haughty consent without honouring him with a single word. Edla
Willmansson’s kind and compassionate behavior arouses the tramp’s goodness. He thanks her for her
sympathy and returns the stolen money. His sympathy is justified not only because he was a victim
of circumstances but also because he redeems himself in the end.
2. The story also focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Comment.
Ans. ‘The Rattrap’ tells us the story of a lonely peddler who has nothing and no one to call his own. He
wanders from place to place mistreated and mistrusted by the world. Then we come across the
old crofter who leads a solitary life and hungers for company. He accords a warm reception to the peddler
as he views him as someone to talk to and pass a few lonely hours with. It is his need to bond that makes
him trust the peddler and show him his money. Similarly, the ironmaster shows his eagerness for the
peddler’s company mistaking him for an old colleague. His wife is no more, his sons are abroad and he has
no one but his eldest daughter at home. He offers his hospitality to the peddler wanting some suitable
company to ward off his loneliness. Even his daughter, a shy and modest girl, persuades the peddler to stay
with them on Christmas Eve as she has no one to look after and make comfortable except her father. She
looks forward to some company to make the occasion more festive. Finally the peddler is also enticed by
the kindness of the ironmaster’s daughter and the proposition of peace, rest, good food and excellent
company for a change. The theme of loneliness and the need to bond is projected strongly in all the
characters in the story.
3. Have you known / heard of an episode where a good deed or an act of kindness has changed a
person’s view of the world? ( Answer to be written individually after discussion)
4. The story is both entertaining and philosophical. Discuss
Ans. The protagonist of the story is an unusual character who is a vagabond but still tries to make a living
by making rattraps. The story begins on a road, turns around a forest, enters an iron-mill and then a manor
house. The element of surprise with regard to the flow of events holds our interest. There are many
dramatic moments in the story. The background and characters also change rapidly so the reader is never
bored. The final scene of transformation and redemption of the peddler make the narrative quite gripping
and entertaining.
The story is philosophical as the author has used the metaphor of a rattrap to highlight human predicament.
Just as the rats are trapped by cheese and food, similarly men are lured by land, food, shelter, clothing
etc. which are baits. Those who touch them are trapped by the comfort of material benefits. The story also
highlights the fact that human goodness is an intrinsic part of this world. It can be forever kept alive
through love and understanding. There are many individuals who can break through the rattrap and
rediscover human goddness. Thus the story comes across as both entertaining and philosophical.