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Notes
by Selma Lagerlof
About the Author
 Swedish author and teacher
 1st woman to win Nobel Prize in Literature.
 Her stories were translated into many languages.
 Story is narrated in the manner of a fairy tale.

The Rattrap Peddler.  Edla sensed him to be either a thief on run or

 Sells small rattraps; unprofitable business. an escaped prisoner.
 Used to beg and even steal to survive.  Despite knowing, Edla convinced the peddler
 Clothes were in rags (torn piece of cloth) to come to their home for Christmas.
 Sunken cheeks & poor
 The world is a big rattrap. Just like rattrap Christmas Eve
traps a rat with cheese and pork as a bait, the  Iron master was happy to spend time with his
world offers comfort and joy as a bait and traps old friend.
us.  Fed the Rattrap seller and gave him time to
groom himself
Robbery at The Crofter’s house


Seeked The Crofter’s shelter for one dark night.
Happy crofter to receive a guest, since he had
no family.


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Exposed face made the Ironmaster realise the
reality of the Peddler.
The iron master accused the peddler for hiding
his reality & said he would call the cops
 Talkative Crofter shared all information about
him - being an ex-worker at Ironwork, only
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Agitated peddler, said that the world was like a
big rattrap & someday iron master would also
cow supports him & earned 30 kronor by
selling milk
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
be doomed.
The iron master asked peddler to leave but



Next morning, 30 kronor were stolen by
peddler by smashing the window pane.
The vagabond (homeless person) realised

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himself being trapped by the bait (30 kronor).

Edla convinced him to stay at least for
Christmas
The peddler had sound sleep & received the
suit as a gift

Met The Iron Master

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The peddler was lost in the woods with no
energy left.
 Found an iron mill and entered there to get
some warmth.
 The Iron master mistook him from an old
Regimental comrade and addressed him as Nils
Olof and invited him to his house.
 The peddler declined the invitation, neither
tried to clear his doubt.
Met Ironmaster’s daughter – Edla
 The ironmaster asked his daughter Edla to
persuade the Peddler.
Changed Heart of the Peddler
 The ironmaster along with his daughter went
to the Church, leaving the peddler at home.
 Heard robbery news of 30 kronor at church
and learned that the rattrap peddler was the
thief.
 Asked valet about the thief escaping the house
 The peddler escaped the house but left a
package in a rattrap.
 Package had 30 kronor notes & a letter.
 Signed the letter as ‘Captain von Stahle’ and a
Thankyou note for Edla who treated him really
nice.

Theme ⟹ Goodness lies in the hearts of everyone which fist need to be awakened through
understanding and love.
This story is about a person, who see the world as a rattrap. His condition is very poor as he is dressed in
rags. He lives alone & his life is a misery. To keep the pot boiling, he started stealing and begging. The world
is rattrap which offers baits to trap the people. Those baits are materialistic things. So one day he was
looking for a shelter and found cottage owned by an old crofter. The crofter lived alone, so he allowed the
peddler to let in. The old man welcomed him with porridge for supper and gave him tobacco for his pipe,
while playing games. He got taken into account to get into talking and showed his guest, the 30 kronor, that
he had earned last month. Next morning the old man left his house to tend his cow. The peddler made hay
while the sun shined and stole those 30 kronor. He escaped the house and reached to an iron mill. It was
cold, so he sat near the furnace to get some warmth. In the meantime, the owner of the mill arrived and
mistook him for his old friend Nils Olof. Peddler had beard & untangled hair. The peddler initially denied
but was later allured for more money, if he went with. Also the ironmaster’s daughter invited him home for
Christmas eve even after knowing that her father has mistaken him for someone else. The ironmaster
assumed that the peddler felt embarrassed because of his untidy condition, but his daughter noticed that
the man was afraid either he had stolen something or he escaped from prison.
Next day was Christmas Eve, the ironmaster came into dining room for breakfast they asked him to get clean
& dressed up and then right after that came a good-looking man, all groomed. They both got shocked because
now they realised, that the father mistook him for being an old comrade of his. The peddler was not at fault
but was accused of hiding his own identity. He requested the ironmaster to let him stay in the forge.

rattrap. The daughter had her father allow him to stay and have rest.

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The ironmaster wanted to call cops, but the peddler started explaining his theory about the world being a

In the evening, the family found out the news of stolen money in his absence. On returning the manor, the

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rattrap seller already left the place and left behind 30 kronor to ironmaster’s daughter as a gesture. The

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heart of the peddler changed & instead of stealing he gifted the stolen money in a rattrap to ironmaster’s
daughter. Also, she found a letter of thanks with the gift. The kindness and generous behaviour of
ironmaster’s daughter changed the heart of the peddler.
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PYQ’s

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Q.1 Why was the peddler surprised when he knocked on the door of the cottage? (CBSE 2016)
Ans. The peddler did not expect this hospitality from the crofter. People always chased him away. He

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was surprised the way he got welcomed by the crofter.
Q.2 Why did the peddler keep to the woods after leaving the crofter’s cottage. How did he feel?
(CBSE 2011)
Ans. He was scared of being caught and getting identified by the people. So he chose to pass from the
woods after leaving the crofter’s cottage. But he lost his way and was haunted by the thoughts that
the forest was a big rattrap in which he had fallen. Thirty kronor which he stole were like a bait
and he got fallen for the bait.
Q.3 Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him? (CBSE 2014)
Ans. Edla wanted to keep the spirit of Christmas eve. They invited the peddler without his ill. Edla still
entertained the peddler even after knowing the truth.
Q.4 Why did the crofter show the thirty kronor to the peddler? (CBSE 2016)
Ans. To share his joy, the crofter showed his thirty kronor to the peddler.
Q.5 Why did the stranger not tell the ironmaster that he was not Nils Olof? (CBSE 2012)
Ans. The stranger did not tell the ironmaster because he might take pity on him and might help
him by giving him some money.
Q.6 Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle? (All India 2009)
Ans. Because the peddler received the honour by Edla. He was mistaken for the identity of a captain.
But his heart changed and he got the opportunity of being treated as a captain that's why he signed
himself as Captain Von Stahle.
Q.7 Who was the owner of Ramsjo iron mills? Why did he visit the mills at night? (All India 2012)
Ans. The ironmaster was the owner of the Ramsjo iron mills. He came to inspect the place and know
about the quality of work.
Q.8 How did the ironmaster react on seeing the stranger lying close to the furnace?(All India 2012)
Ans. Iron master mistook him for an old comrade. The lights were not so bright which led to this huge
mistake by ironmaster.
Q.9 What conclusion did the ironmaster reach when he heard that the crofter had been robbed by the
peddler? (All India 2014)
Ans. When the ironmaster heard that the crofter had been robbed by a man who went around selling
rat-traps, he was wondering as to how many silver spoons were left in their cupboard by that time.
Q.10 What brought about a change in the life of the peddler? (All India 2015)
Ans. Edla’s warmth, sympathy, compassion and modest behaviour changed the life of the peddler. He
is touched by the kind treatment Edla gave him, despite knowing his real identity. His heart
Changed and he behaved like a true Captain.

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