THE RATTRAP

THEME:
 The theme of the story is that most human beings are prone to fall into
the trap of material benefit. However every human being has an essential
goodness that can be awakened through understanding and love.
 “The Rattrap” also explores the basic human need for companionship
and community, and shows the negative effects of loneliness, whether as
a result of poverty, cynicism, or unkindness.
 There is a core of goodness in all people and that this goodness can be unlocked by
compassion and kindness.

JUSTIFICATION OF TITLE:
Since it is about a rattrap peddler, the title “The Rattrap” is fitting. To emphasise the human
situation, the author has used the metaphor of a Rattrap. Most people fall into the pit of material
benefits in the same way as a rat is tricked by bait and is stuck. The plot centres on a man who
becomes imprisoned as a result of his avarice. Therefore, the title is apt.

CHARACTER SKETCH:
EDLA WILLIAMSON:

 Miss Edla Williamson is the eldest daughter of the owner of the Ramsjo Ironworks.
 Not at all pretty, but modest and quite shy.
 Possesses all the good qualities of human nature.
 Has great persuasive power - even her father acknowledges it.
 Edla is also wise and perceptive as she can immediately tell that the peddler is afraid, and
has probably committed some crime that he is running from.
 She persuaded the peddler to come to the manor house.
 Her love and understanding left their marks on the peddler’s heart.
 She is the most positive figure in the story, and her compassion and generosity are the
reason for the peddler’s transformation.

IRONMASTER:

 He was the owner of a large iron factory named Ramsjo Ironwork and Edla Williamson’s
father.
 The ironmaster was in the military in his younger days,
 He mistakes the peddler for his “old regimental comrade,” Captain von Stahle.
 He is a very prominent ironmaster.
 He steps by at his forge every day and night to watch the work, and inspects the quality of
his products.
 He is greedy, cautious, hospitable, suspicious, unkind and a taskmaster.
 The Ironmaster was a rich person.
 He was kind hearted and friendly.

PEDDLER:
 He is the protagonist and central character of the story

 He made the rattraps out of wire in his spare time.

  The peddler was a vagabond who sold rattraps.
 Had no worldly possession to call his own, not even a name
 Involved in petty thievery and begging to keep his body and soul together.
 He wore rags and hunger gleamed in his eyes.
 He went around selling self-made small rat traps of wire.
 He has a deep thinking of the world.
 Greed covered his eyes when he saw 30 kroners at the Crofter's house.
 He engages in petty thievery and begging
 He wears only rags and is constantly on the verge of starvation.
 At the start of the story, the peddler is cynical and opportunistic.
 He even steals money from the crofter after the old man offers him his hospitality.
 He thinks of the world as one large, cruel rattrap.
 He returns the stolen money and declares that he wants to “be nice,” having been freed
from the “rattrap” of life by Edla’s compassion and generosity.
 He was a good man too as he realised his mistake and that he too had been caught in the
world's rattrap - changed his mindset

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

Q1: From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Answer: The peddler had been thinking of his rattraps when suddenly he was struck by the idea
that the whole world was nothing but a big rattrap. It existed only to set baits for people. It offered
riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing in the same manner as the rattrap offered
cheese and pork. As soon as someone let himself be tempted to touch the bait, it closed in on him,
and then everything came to an end. 
Q2: Why was he amused by this idea?
Answer: His own life was sad and monotonous. He walked laboriously from place to place. The
world had never been kind to him. So, during his gloomy plodding, this idea became his favourite
pastime. He was amused by how people let themselves be caught in the dangerous snare and how
others were still circling around the bait.
Q3: Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
Answer: The crofter served him porridge for supper and tobacco for his pipe. He also played a
game of cards with him till bedtime. This hospitality was unexpected as people usually made sour
faces when the peddler asked for shelter.
Q4: Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Answer: The crofter’s circumstances and temperament made him so talkative and friendly with
the peddler. Since he had no wife or child, he was happy to get someone to talk to in his
loneliness. Secondly, he was quite generous with his confidence.
Q5: Why did he show the thirty kronor to the peddler?
Answer: The crofter had told the peddler that by supplying his cow’s milk to the creamery, he had
received thirty kronor in payment. The peddler seemed to doubt it. So, in order to assure his guest
of the truth, he showed the thirty kronor to the peddler.
Q6: Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Answer:  No, the peddler did not respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter. At the very
first opportunity that he got, he smashed the windowpane, took out the money and hung the
leather pouch back in its place. Then he went away.
Q7: What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Answer: The peddler realised that he must not walk on the public highway with the stolen money
in his pocket. He went into the woods. He kept walking without coming to the end of the wood.
Then he realised that he had fallen in the rattrap. He had let himself fooled by a bait and had been
caught in.
Q8: Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Answer: The ironmaster walked closely up to the peddler. In the uncertain reflection from the
furnace, he mistook the man as his old regimental comrade, Captain Von Stahle. He addressed the
stranger as Nils Olof, spoke very kindly and invited him home.
Q9: Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
Answer: The peddler knew that the ironmaster had mistaken him for his old regimental comrade.
Secondly, he had stolen money—thirty kronor—on him. Going to the ironmaster’s residence
would be like entering the lion’s den. So, he declined the invitation.
Q10: What made the peddler accept Edla Williamson’s invitation?
Answer: Miss Edla Williamson looked at the peddler quite compassionately. She noticed that the
man was afraid. She assured him that he would be allowed to leave just as freely as he came. She
requested him to stay with them over Christmas Eve. Her friendly manner made the peddler feel
confident in her and accept her invitation.
Q11:  What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Answer: As Edla lifted the peddler’s hat, he jumped up abruptly and seemed to be quite
frightened. Even her kind looks, disclosure of her name and purpose of visit failed to calm him.
From his fear, she thought that either he had stolen something or he had escaped from jail.
Q12: When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?
Answer: The next morning, the stranger was cleaned and well-dressed. The valet had bathed him,
cut his hair and shaved him. He was led to the dining room for breakfast. The ironmaster saw him
in broad daylight. It was impossible to mistake him for an old acquaintance now. Then the
ironmaster realised his mistake and threatened to call the Sheriff.
Q13: How did the peddler defend himself against not having revealed his true identity?
Answer: The peddler explained that he had not tried to pretend as his acquaintance. He was not at
fault. All along he had maintained that he was a poor trader. He had pleaded and begged to be
allowed to stay in the forge. No harm had been done by his stay. He was willing to put on his rags
again and go away.
Q14: Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
Answer: Edla did not think it proper on their part to chase away a human being whom they had
asked to come to their house and had promised him Christmas cheer. She could empathise with
the reality of the peddler’s life and wanted him to enjoy a day of peace with them. Hence, she still
entertained the peddler even after knowing the truth about him.
Q15: Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Answer: As soon as Edla opened the package of the gift, the contents came into view. She found a
small rattrap with three wrinkled ten kronor notes and a letter addressed to her. The peddler
wanted to be nice in return as she had been so nice to him all day long. He did not want her to be
embarrassed at the Christmas season by a thief.
Q16:  How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter,
the iron master and his daughter?
Answer: The peddler interprets the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the iron
master and his daughter differently. He cheats the crofter as he provides his company in his
loneliness and helps him pass time. He wants to get a couple of kronor from the iron master and is
surprised at the contrasting style of behaviour of father and daughter. He is touched by the
kindness, care and intervention of Edla on his behalf.
Q17: 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?
Answer: The ironmaster is impulsive* whereas his daughter is logical, kind and thoughtful. In
uncertain light, he (iron master) mistakes the stranger as his old regiment comrade. He invites him
home and takes care of his feeding, clothing, etc. When he sees him in broad daylight he calls the
man dishonest, demands an explanation and is ready to call in the sheriff. His daughter is more
observant. She notices the fear of the stranger and thinks that either he is a thief or a runaway
prisoner. In spite of that, she is gentle, kind, and friendly to him. She treats him nicely even after
knowing the mistake in identity. Father -Sympathetic , Edla – empathetic 
Q18: The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’
behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.
Answer: The peddler is surprised at the warm welcome, generous supper, cheerful company, and
intimate confidences by the crofter. The ironmaster addresses the peddler as Captain von Stahle.
He is surprised when the ironmaster calls him “Nils Olof. The ironmaster assumes his declining
the invitation a result of embarrassment caused by his miserable clothing. The peddler’s
comparison of the world to a rattrap makes the ironmaster laugh and he drops the idea of calling
in the sheriff.
The peddler looks at Edla in boundless amazement when she tells him that the suit is a Christmas
present. She also invites him to spend next Christmas with them. She does all this even after
knowing the mistake about his identity. The crofter is robbed by his guest, the rattrap peddler, in
return for his hospitality.
Q19:  How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
Answer: The world entices a person through the various good things of life such as riches and joy,
shelter and food, heat and clothing. These were just like the baits in the rattrap. Once someone is
tempted by the bait, the world closed on him. The peddler was tempted by thirty kronor of the
crofter. It makes him hide. He walks through the wood. He is afraid to go to the Manor house. He
gets peace only after returning the bait (money).
Q20: 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?
Answer: The peddler has a subtle sense of humour, which is revealed during his interactions with
the ironmaster and his daughter after the truth about him becomes known. He is neither afraid of
being turned out in cold in rags nor of being sent to prison. He makes the ironmaster laugh with
his metaphor of the rattrap. His letter with the Christmas present to Edla is a fine example of his
capacity to make others laugh at him. Thus, he lightens the seriousness of the theme of the story
and also endears himself to us.

BOARD QUESTIONS :
Q1. In what sense was the world a big rattrap according to the peddler?                                       

or
Why did the peddler think that the world was a rattrap?
Answer. The peddler was a very poor man who earned his living by selling rattraps he made
himself from the materials he got by begging. His mind, thus, was always preoccupied with
rattraps. One day, he suddenly thought of the whole world was a big rattrap. He felt that the
shelter, food, clothes, riches and joys that the world provided were all baits set to entrap man just
as a rattrap offered cheese or meat to entrap rats. As soon as one was trapped, everything came to
an end.

Q2 Why was the peddler surprised when he knocked on the door of the cottage?
Answer. The peddler had never been treated kindly by the world. He was meted out cold
treatment wherever he went. He was pleasantly surprised when the crofter greeted him with
warmth and hospitality. Ordinarily, he always met ‘sour faces’ when he knocked for shelter and
food, and was usually turned away.

Q3. Why did Edla plead with her father not to send the vagabond away?
Answer. Edla had always thought the peddler to be a poor, homeless tramp. Therefore, she didn’t
feel cheated when his true identity was revealed. Instead, she felt very bad for him and his
miserable condition, and pleaded on his behalf. She and her father had promised him Christmas
cheer, and she felt that it would be wrong to send him away.
Q4. What conclusion did the ironmaster reach when he heard that the crofter had been robbed
by the peddler?
Answer. It was at the church that the ironmaster and his daughter heard that the crofter had been
robbed by a peddler, who, no doubt, was the one they had sheltered at the manor house. The
ironmaster at once concluded that the peddler would probably have stolen all his silverware in
their absence, and run away.
Long Answer Type Questions:

Q1. The story, The Rattrap, is both entertaining and philosophical. Do you agree with this
statement? Why/Why not?                                                       
Answer. The story, ‘The Rattrap’ is indeed, both entertaining and philosophical. The fast-paced
narrative in the third person, generous use of dialogue by the author and different characters
belonging to different mindsets and locales make the story interesting and entertaining. Besides,
the author has managed to keep up the suspense till the end.

The incidents in the forge, with the ironmaster coming at midnight, holds our attention. The
peddler’s incessant refusals to accompany him, but his accepting Edla’s invitation in one go, the
ironmaster’s realisation of his mistake, and Edla’s sympathy and generosity, all make the story
quite gripping. While all the above events make the story interesting, there is also an element of
philosophy in the story.

Somewhere, the peddler’s theory of the world being a rattrap is true. One feels caught up like a rat
in the entrapping of the world. Some people fall into this trap never to come out of it again. The
story teaches us that, as human beings, we are not above temptations.
Q2. The story focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Explain.
Answer. All the characters in the story suffer from loneliness and are dreary souls. First of all, the
tramp appears to lead a sad, monotonous existence, left to his own musings. He is always greeted
by sour faces and cold words.
The old crofter’s fate has been somewhat kinder to him. Bereft of his wife and children, he lives all
alone in a cottage by the roadside, and is rather happy to have visitors around. We also have the
ironmaster and his daughter, Edla, who have no company for Christmas. The ironmaster’s wife is
dead and his sons are settled abroad.
He, with his daughter, are happy to play hosts for his friend. Thus, all of them have a strong
desire for bonding and comradeship. The crofter is happy to be friends with the peddler, although
only for a night. It is the bonding with the ironmaster’s daughter that transforms the peddler. The
love, understanding and dignity that he gets from the girl makes him leave his dishonest ways
and redeem himself.
Q3.How can we transform and clean an evil doing person? Give example from the story.
OR
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: The writer has highlighted a universal theme in this story. It is that we can arouse the
goodness in the life of a man by love, understanding, sympathy and respect. Once upon a time,
there was a man who went around selling self-made small rattraps of wire. His condition was too
miserable to beg and do petty thefts. He was in rags with sunken cheeks and hungry eyes.
One day, an idea flashed into his mind. He thought that the whole world around him was a big
rattrap. It offered riches, joys, food, shelter, clothing like a bait offering cheese and pork in a
rattrap for the rats. Those who were tempted to touch the bait, fell. It closed on them bringing an
end to everything. One dark evening, while staying at the crofter’s cottage, he was given food and
lodging. But the next morning, the tramp stole his thirty kronors. He kept on walking the same
path in the forest. On hearing the sound of hammer strokes, he reached the iron mill and lay near
the furnace.
The ironmaster mistook him to be his old acquaintance and invited him for Christmas cheer but he
refused. He sent his daughter Edla, who persuaded him to their house. After having him well
dressed, the ironmaster found that he mistook him as Captain ‘Nils Olof.’ So he ordered him to get
out at once. The young girl interceded for him and said that she wanted him to stay as they
promised him Christmas cheer. He was treated like a real captain with food. In their absence,
when they were at church, he left. In the church, they learnt that the rattrap seller had robbed the
old crofter. So they became worried.
When they returned, the valet told that he had taken nothing with him and had rather left behind
a Christmas gift for Miss Williamson. She found a small rattrap, thirty kronors and a letter in it.
The letter stated that she had taken him as if he were a captain, so he would be nice to her as a
captain. It had given him power to cleanse himself.
Q4. Greed is the greatest evil force that has tempted man into doing a lot of misdeeds. It is
greed that has led to so much corruption, violence and mayhem in the world. The peddler in
‘The Rattrap’ is not conscientious nor does he think twice before robbing a crofter.
Bearing these thoughts in mind, write an article discussing the qualities that are
required for overcoming the Evil of Greed.
Answer:
Value Points:
 Greed is the greatest evil that paralyses the goodness of man.
 It spreads like wildfire and makes a man immune to goodness and kindness.
 Money, fame, power and property acquired by unfair means is like a vicious
cycle never lets anyone rest in peace.
 The consequences of greed are deep and never-ending.
 Meditation, consultations, keeping the company of good and honest people can keep the
bridle on such men.
 It is most important that the desire to overcome greed should come from within.

STAND ALONE MCQs:

a. What lightens the seriousness of the lesson?
(i) Peddlar’s greed
(ii) Peddlar’s gossip
(iii) Peddlar’s tricks
(iv) Peddlar’s sense of humour
b. Why was the Crofter so talkative and friendly with the Peddler?
(i) because he knew him.
(ii) he was his friend
(iii) he was his neighbour
(iv) because wanted to be relieved of his boredom and monotony

c. Why does the peddler knit up various kind of thoughts?

(i) Because of greed
(ii) Because of travelling
(iii) Because of loneliness and poverty
(iv) None

d. What made the Peddler finally change his heart?

(i) Edla’s words
(ii) Edla’s appearance
(iii) Edla’s father
(iv) Edla’s goodness and care

e. The stranger’s reaction to the ironmaster was

(i) he made no attempt to hide his feelings
(ii) he was angry
(iii) he denied it completely (iv) he started screaming
f. The rattrap peddler gave the ironmaster a lecture on
(i) how the world is a rat trap
(ii) how to be honest
(iii) how to be ethically correct
(iv) how to be professional

REFERENCE TO CONTEXT:
The world had, of course, never been very kind to him, so it gave him unusual joy to think ill of it
in this way. It became a cherished pastime of his, during many dreary ploddings, to think of
people he knew who had let themselves be caught in the dangerous snare and of others who were
still circling around the bait.

i. The world has not been kind to whom?

a. The beggar
b. The peddler
c. The orphan
d. The crofter

ii. When did he get the idea of the whole world being a rattrap?
a. When he was with the old man, who had been a crofter at Ramsjo Ironworks
b. When one day he had naturally been thinking of his rattraps
c. When he was with the ironmaster and his daughter
d. None of the above

iii. What kind of feeling began to develop in his mind when he thought ill for others?
a. Wicked
b. Regretful
c. Remorseful
d. Cheerful

iv. What was his cherished pastime?

a. To think highly of the world
b. To think of plans to rob the world
c. To think of people who were caught in the dangerous snare and of others who
were still circling around the bait.
d. To think richly of people

NOTEBOOK WORK:
1. Write the character sketch of Edla, Ironmaster and Peddler.
2. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
3. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
4. What made the peddler finally change his ways?
5. The story also focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Describe.