Class 12 : English (core) Compulsory – Lesson 4.The Rattrap

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY

“The Rattrap” is a poignant and symbolic short story by Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf, which explores themes of human loneliness, kindness, redemption, and the inherent dignity within every individual. The story follows a poor, homeless man who sells rattraps made of wire. He is not only impoverished but also embittered by life, surviving through petty theft and begging. As he roams from place to place, he reflects bitterly on the world, imagining it as one big rattrap. According to him, the world offers temptations—riches, shelter, and food—like bait in a trap, only to entangle people when they let greed overcome them.

One winter evening, the rattrap peddler seeks shelter at a lonely cottage. The old crofter who lives there welcomes him with warmth and generosity, offering food, conversation, and even showing him thirty kronor he has earned. The next day, tempted by the money, the peddler steals it and flees into the woods. However, guilt and fear set in. He loses his way in the forest and feels trapped—just like the very rattrap he often talks about.

His situation changes when he comes across the ironworks of Ramsjö. There, the ironmaster mistakes him for an old regimental comrade, Captain von Stahle. Despite the peddler’s protest, the ironmaster insists he come home for Christmas. The ironmaster’s daughter, Edla Willmansson, notices his reluctance and exhaustion. She treats him with compassion and dignity, unlike anyone else in his life. She sees beyond his rough exterior and wants him to enjoy a peaceful Christmas.

Touched by Edla’s kindness, the peddler experiences a deep inner transformation. He decides not to take advantage of her generosity. The next day, after being left alone in the house, he leaves a letter for Edla along with the thirty kronor he stole from the crofter. In the letter, he signs off as “Captain von Stahle,” symbolically accepting the identity she had so respectfully given him. He explains that he had been caught in the rattrap of the world, but Edla’s goodness helped him escape it. Her trust allowed him to regain self-respect and moral clarity.

The story ends on a hopeful note, emphasizing that even the most downtrodden can be uplifted through empathy and love. It showcases how human kindness can spark redemption in even the most broken souls. The rattrap, initially a symbol of entrapment and moral cynicism, ultimately becomes a metaphor for liberation through compassion.

“The Rattrap” thus is not just a story about a tramp; it is a reflection on the human condition. It challenges our tendency to judge by appearances and reminds us of the transformative power of grace, humility, and trust

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PASSAGE

“One dark evening as he was walking along the road he saw a little gray cottage by the roadside, and he knocked on the door to ask shelter for the night. Nor was he refused. Instead of the sour faces which ordinarily met him, the owner, who was an old man without wife or child, was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. Immediately he put the porridge pot on the fire and gave him supper; then he carved off a big slice from his tobacco roll and shared it with his guest. Finally he got out an old pack of cards and played ‘mjölis’ with his guest until bedtime.”



Q1. (30-word Answer)
What does the crofter’s behavior toward the peddler reveal about human nature in solitude?
Answer:
The crofter’s generosity suggests that prolonged isolation can awaken a deep craving for connection, leading even the lonely to trust strangers, driven more by emotional hunger than cautious reason.

Q2. (Multiple Choice Question)
Which of the following best reflects the old man’s motivation in hosting the peddler?
A) Duty to help travelers
B) Hope for monetary gain
C) Desire for companionship
D) Obedience to social norms
Answer:
✅ C) Desire for companionship

Q3. (Fill in the blank – synonym substitution)
The crofter’s attitude stood in contrast to the _ treatment the peddler usually received.
harsh / indifferent / hostile
Answer:
✅ hostile
(Synonym of “sour faces” in the passage.)

Q4. (Fill in the blank – synonym substitution)
The crofter _ his tobacco with the peddler, indicating openness and warmth.
confiscated / offered / rationed
Answer:
✅ offered
(Synonym of “shared” in the passage.)

Q5. (Assertion & Reason – Advanced MCQ)
Assertion (A): The crofter’s actions toward the peddler are rooted in naive trust.
Reason (R): He assumes all wanderers are as lonely and harmless as he is.
A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C) A is true, but R is false.
D) A is false, but R is true.
Answer:
✅ A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Q6. (30-word Answer)
What does the game of cards symbolize in the relationship between the crofter and the peddler?
Answer:
The card game symbolizes fleeting equality and companionship. It dissolves social barriers temporarily, offering the peddler a rare taste of inclusion and the crofter a momentary relief from solitude.

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OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR EXAMS

🔴 Q1. Who is the author of ‘The Rattrap’?
🔵 Answer: Selma Lagerlöf, a Swedish author and Nobel laureate, wrote the moral story ‘The Rattrap’.

🔴 Q2. What was the peddler’s profession?
🔵 Answer: He sold handmade rattraps of wire and also begged or stole to survive.

🔴 Q3. Why did the peddler think the world was a rattrap?
🔵 Answer: He believed worldly temptations like riches and joys trap people like a rattrap traps rats.

🔴 Q4. How did the crofter treat the peddler?
🔵 Answer: The crofter gave him shelter, food, and even showed his earned thirty kronor.

🔴 Q5. What did the peddler steal from the crofter?
🔵 Answer: He stole the crofter’s thirty kronor early next morning and escaped into the forest.

🔴 Q6. What happened after the peddler stole the money?
🔵 Answer: He got lost in the forest, feeling trapped in the rattrap he believed in.

🔴 Q7. Who was the ironmaster?
🔵 Answer: The ironmaster was the owner of the Ramsjo ironworks who mistook peddler for an old friend.

🔴 Q8. Who convinced the peddler to stay for Christmas?
🔵 Answer: The ironmaster’s daughter, Edla Willmansson, persuaded him to stay kindly and respectfully.

🔴 Q9. Why was Edla’s behaviour different from others’?
🔵 Answer: She treated the peddler with dignity, compassion, and genuine concern without judging his appearance.

🔴 Q10. What did the peddler leave behind before leaving?
🔵 Answer: He left a rattrap, a letter, and the stolen thirty kronor for Edla.

🔴 Q11. Explain the significance of the rattrap metaphor in the story.
🔵 Answer:
The rattrap symbolizes life’s temptations — wealth, food, shelter — which trap humans like cheese traps rats. The peddler’s philosophy reflects how greed and deception lead people into trouble. However, the story shows that love and kindness can break this trap. The metaphor deepens the story’s moral of transformation through empathy.

🔴 Q12. Describe the change in the peddler’s character.
🔵 Answer:
Initially a petty thief and cynic, the peddler is transformed by Edla’s unconditional kindness. Her respectful and warm treatment gives him self-worth and awakens his conscience. By returning the stolen money and signing as ‘Captain von Stahle,’ he proves redemption is possible, even for the lost and fallen.

🔴 Q13. What message does the story convey about human behavior?
🔵 Answer:
‘The Rattrap’ teaches that compassion and dignity can bring positive change in even the worst individuals. Every human deserves understanding and second chances. The peddler’s redemption proves that respect and kindness can awaken the good in people and lead them from guilt to grace and transformation.

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