CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo The Rattrap Selma Lagerlof Assignment Set B

About the Author

Selma Lagerlöf (1858 – 1940) was born in Östra Emterwik, Värmland, Sweden. She was brought up on Mårbacka, the family estate, which she did not leave until 1881, when she went to a teachers’ college at Stockholm. In 1885 she became a teacher at the Girls’ Secondary School in Landskrona. She had been writing poetry ever since she was a child, but she did not publish anything until 1890. Her stories have been translated into many languages. A universal theme runs through all of them, a belief that one can awaken the innate goodness in a human being through love.

Theme

‘‘The Rattrap’’ written by Selma Lagerlof is a short story about an old, disillusioned peddler and thief who is taken in and shown generosity by a young woman. Her kindness changes his bitter attitude about life.

Justification of the Title

Selma Lagerlof gives a very apt and logical title to the story. The metaphor of the rattrap is very effectively used. The whole world is nothing but a big rattrap. All riches, joys, food and shelter are just baits. The moment anyone touches the bait, the rattrap closes in on him. Then everything comes to an end.

Message

In the story, the author Selma Lagerlof conveys a definite message. The story has a universal appeal. The essential goodness in a human being never dies. It can be awakened through understanding and love. Miss Edla awakens the basic goodness of the peddler. He is transformed into a noble person in the end.

Summary

The story is told in the manner of a fairy late and starts with ‘once upon a time there was a poor man who sold rat-traps of wire’. His income from the traps was not enough. So he also begged and stole petty things at times. Once an idea struck him that the world was like a rat-trap full of temptations to trap men. Man is tempted by the baits of wealth, power, like a rat is tempted by the cheese in a rat-trap. The man selling rat-traps lived a poor life without enough food or proper shelter. So, he looked upon the world like this in the light of his own sufferings. Once he took shelter in the house of a man who had been a crofter in Ramsjo Iron-Works. The man was without any family and was lonely. He welcomed the peddler. The crofter was friendly and generous. He was offered supper and tobacco. They also played a game of cards, told him about his life, and showed him the thirty kroner that he kept near the window. The peddler stole the money and left. Initially, he was happy to get the money but very soon fearing detection, he avoided the highway. He then saw the forge of the Ramsjo Iron-Works and went there to spend the night near the forge. At that time, the iron-master, the owner of the factory, came in. The iron-master mistook him to be his old friend, Nils Olof, with whom he had served in the regiment. To help his friend who he perceived had fallen into bad days, he invited the peddler to his house. The peddler realized that the iron-master was making a mistake but he did not correct him in a hope that he might give him some money.

He did not want to go to the iron-master’s house as he feared that he might be detected. The ironmaster sent his daughter when he failed to convince the peddler. The kind-hearted daughter of the ironmaster, Edla Willmansson, was compassionate and loving. She suspected that the man might have committed some crime. But she ignored that and thought that the man, haunted by fear, must have lived a miserable life. She wanted to give him at least a night’s peace and security. She assured the peddler that in her house, he would be safe and he would be free to leave anytime. She persuaded him to be her guest on the Christmas Eve. The genuine compassion Edla showed gave the man a sense of peace and security. He slept as if he wanted to make up for the sleepless nights he had spent throughout his life. The following morning, on Christmas Eve, the ironmaster and his daughter discussed how to help the peddler. The ironmaster planned to help him regain his health and also to assist him in finding a vocation for himself. The peddler was bathed, shaved and given a hair cut. When he presented himself to his host, the ironmaster realised that it was not his comrade. He threatened to call the sheriff but Edla intervened. She persuaded her father to let him stay and not to chase away a person who had been promised good cheer by the ironmaster. The daughter gave him the suit that he was given to wear and she invited him next Christmas also and assured him of secrecy and security. The peddler was overwhelmed. The next morning, he left the manor house. But before leaving, he left the packet containing the thirty kroner of the crofter. He wrote a letter to Edla asking her to return the money to the crofter. He wrote that she had treated him with respect as if he were a real captain. She had treated him as a man and not as a thief. That genuine regard had induced him to be a better man and give up stealing. The genuine compassion and kindness of Edla changed the life of a thief and turned him into a better man.

CHAPTER IN A NUTSHELL
Set amidst mines of Sweden, rich in iron ore – manner of a fairy tale. About the Tramp: sad and monotonous life, had sunken cheeks, eyes gleamed with hunger. Got material from: (a) farms (b) begging Philosophical thought: whole world is a rattrap–lures with riches, joys, shelter, food, heat & clothing – exactly as rattrap offers cheese & pork–lures rat then closes in on him.

Turning point in life: One dark evening – saw gray cottage & asked for shelter – welcomed by lonely owner – earlier crofter at Ramsjo ironworks, now had a cow – milked – earned about 30 kroners – hung in leather bag, window frame, offered supper, tobacco, played cards, next morning tramp parted from crofter, half hour later returned, stole money, went to public highway. Entered the woods – confusing forest, felt trapped, exhausted, heard hammer strokes from the iron mill Ramsjo & took refuge, met Master Smith & helper who were unaware of his approach because of sounds of big bellow, waterfall, sharp wind & rain. Reaction: glanced indifferently & nodded a haughty consent without a single word.

Owner of Mill
Prosperous man – on night inspection – saw tramp – mistook for Nils Olof (Captain Von Stahle) – persuaded to go to manor house – tramp declined offer – would be like throwing into lion’s den – tramp kept quiet on mistaken identity, expecting gentlemen to throw him some kroners. Owner sent Edla – his daughter: persuasive, not pretty, modest, compassionate Edla could sense tramp was hiding/ escaping, tramp gave in, accepted fur coat, offered to spend Christmas Eve with him, while riding had evil forbodings and repented.

Secret Revealed on Christmas Eve
Hospitality, bathed, shaven, clean new clothes – owner realized mistaken identity, Tramp confessed – reacted angrily to threat of calling sheriff – repeated his belief that the whole world was a rattrap, Edla persuaded father to let him stay, promised him Christmas cheer.

Christmas Morning
Edla and father at church – heard about theft at crofter’s house – returns dejected, finds package left by tramp, confessed to making mistake, thanked daughter for giving second chance, returned stolen money – rattrap – letter, behaves like real Captain, signs as Captain.

Theme
Life is one big rattrap, if you take something wrongfully then you get trapped. By consequences of your actions, however one deserves second chance to redeem himself.

Read the extracts given below and attempt the questions that follow:

1. No one can imagine how sad and monotonous life can appear to such a vagabond, who plods along the road, left to his own meditations. But one day this man had fallen into a line of thought, which really seemed to him entertaining. He had naturally been thinking of his rattraps when suddenly he was struck by the idea that the whole world about him — the whole world with its lands and seas, its cities and villages — was nothing but a big rattrap. It had never existed for any other purpose than to set baits for people.

Questions

(i) What type of life did the rattrap man lead?
(a) An adventurous life
(b) A sad and monotonous life
(c) A cultured and happy life
(d) A worried and irritated life

Answer: B

(ii) What idea struck the rattrap man as he ploded along the road?
(a) He should give up being a rattrap seller.
(b) Someone would donate some amount of money to him.
(c) He would sell many rattraps so that he should have something to eat on Christmas Day.
(d) The whole world is nothing but a big rattrap.

Answer: D

(iii) How did he find the thought of the world as one big rattrap?
(a) The world seemed so huge.
(b) People were always trying to trap each other into doing wrong.
(c) The world had never been kind to him and it gave him joy to think ill of it.
(d) He was tired and unhappy and found it hard to sell his rattraps.

Answer: C

(iv) What baits did the world tempt the people with?
Answer: The world tempts the people with riches, joys, shelter, food, clothing, etc.

(v) Why did the rattrap man live as a vagabond?
(a) He had no companions.
(b) His business was not profitable.
(c) He wanted to become rich at once.
(d) He always thought about the rattrap business.

Answer: A

(vi) The word ‘plods’ implies that the peddler was
(a) walking fast
(b) walking in a light hearted manner
(c) walking in a bored manner
(d) walking slowly and heavily

Answer: D

2. “My name is Edla Willmansson,’’ said the young girl. ‘‘My father came home and said that you wanted to sleep here in the forge tonight, and then I asked permission to come and bring you home to us. I am so sorry, Captain, that you are having such a hard time.’’ She looked at him compassionately, with her heavy eyes, and then she noticed that the man was afraid. ‘‘Either he has stolen something or else he has escaped from, jail’’, she thought, and added quickly, “You may be sure, Captain, that you will be allowed to leave us just as freely as you came. Only please stay with us over Christmas Eve.’’

Questions

(i) Why did Edla Willmansson come to the forge at night?
(a) Her father had said that an acquaintance of his had fallen on bad days and was at the Ironworks.
(b) The blacksmith had conveyed to the ironmaster that a ragamuffin was at the Ironworks.
(c) The rattrap man had come to the Ironworks asking for the ironmaster.
(d) The rattrap man had come to the Ironworks and was creating a lot of noise.

Answer: A

(ii) What did she notice about the man that her father did not notice?
(a) The man was not cultured.
(b) The man was very frustrated.
(c) The man was very angry.
(d) The man was afraid of something.

Answer: D

(iii) What opinion did she have of the rattrap man?
(a) He certainly has seen better days than what he was having now.
(b) He seems not to have slept for days together.
(c) He has either stolen something or has escaped from the prison.
(d) He looked like an old uncle when her father was in the regiment.

Answer: C

(iv) Why did she assure the rattrap man that he could leave just as freely as he came?
(a) The man seemed reluctant to go home with her.
(b) She badly wanted someone to share Christmas cheer with her.
(c) She did not want to disappoint her father and go home along.
(d) She was a social worker and did not want the rattrap man to spend the night at the Ironworks.

Answer: B

(v) How did Edla Willmansson win the confidence of the peddler?
Answer: She assured him that he was free to come and leave the house.

(vi) Who was Edla?
(a) the owner of the forge
(b) the ironmaster’s daughter
(c) the peddler’s old friend
(d) the ironmaster’s wife

Answer: B

3. The wagon had hardly stopped at the front steps when the ironmaster asked the valet whether the stranger was still there. He added that he had heard at church that the man was a thief. The valet answered that the fellow had gone and that he had not taken anything with him at all. On the contrary, he had left behind a little package which Miss Willmansson was to be kind enough to accept as a Christmas present. The young girl opened the package, which was so badly done up that the contents came into view at once. She gave a little cry of joy. She found a small rattrap, and in it lay three wrinkled ten kroner notes. But that was not all. In the rattrap lay also a letter written in large, jagged characters.

Questions

(i) Where did the ironmaster and his daughter hear that the rattrap man was a thief?
(a) At the mall
(b) At the clubhouse
(c) At the Ironworks
(d) At the church

Answer: D

(ii) What did the rattrap man leave behind for Edla Willmansson?
(a) The suit which her father had given him.
(b) A small rattrap with three wrinkled ten kroner notes.
(c) A thank you note for the Christmas dinner.
(d) A dozen rattraps saying that he saw a number of rats at the Ironworks.

Answer: B

(iii) What did the letter in the rattrap say?
(a) He had never had such a rotten Christmas.
(b) He had never had such a wonderful Christmas.
(c) He wanted to be nice to her because she had been nice to him all day.
(d) He would never ever come back to the Ironworks.

Answer: c

(iv) How did the rattrap man sign the note to Edla Willmansson?
(a) Nils Olof
(b) Captain Von Stahle
(c) Styernstrom
(d) The Rattrap man

Answer: B

(v) What according to the peddler is a big rattrap?
(a) Islands and seas
(b) The whole world
(c) Cities and villages
(d) All of the option

Answer: B

(vi) Who did the Kroner notes originally belong to?
Answer: In fact, the kroner notes belonged to the crofter.

4. ...it was a big and confusing forest which he had gotten into. He tried, to be sure, to walk in a definite direction, but the paths twisted back and forth so strangely! He walked and walked without coming to the end of the wood, and finally he realised that he had only been walking around in the same part of the forest. All at once he recalled his thoughts about the world and the rattrap. Now his own turn had come. He had let himself be fooled by a bait and had been caught. The whole forest, with its trunks and branches, its thickets and fallen logs, closed in upon him like an impenetrable prison from which he could never escape.

Questions

(i) How would you characterise the mood of the extract?
(a) mysterious, restful
(b) ominous, despairing
(c) thoughtful, whimsical
(d) philosophical, anguished

Answer: B

(ii) By what bait had the peddler been fooled?
(a) He had chosen to take the ‘safe’ forest route.
(b) He had decided to avoid the public highway.
(c) He had stolen money from the trusting crofter.
(d) He didn’t realise the power of his rattrap analogy.

Answer: C

(iii) The consequence of ‘his own turn’ having come was that the peddler had:
(a) got irreversibly lost in the thick, warped forest.
(b) been fooled and imprisoned in a hopeless prison.
(c) been walking around the same part of the forest.
(d) walked the whole forest without finding the end.

Answer: A

(iv) The extract richly employs literary devices. Look at the table below. Choose the option that correctly matches the instances/examples in Column A with the literary devices in Column B.

(a) 1 – (i); 2 – (ii); 3 – (iii); 4 – (iv)
(b) 1 – (iv); 2 – (i); 3 – (ii); 4 – (iii)
(c) 1 – (iii); 2 – (iv); 3 – (i); 4 – (ii)
(d) 1 – (ii); 2 – (iii); 3 – (iv); 4 – (i)

Answer: B

(v) Where did the peddler reach coming out of the forest?
(a) Ramsjo Iron Mill
(b) Edla Ironworks
(c) Stjernstrom Iron Mill
(d) None of the options

Answer: A

(vi) Why did the peddler go into the forest?
Answer: The peddler went into the forest to escape from being caught.

5. Immediately he put the porridge pot on the fire and gave him supper; then he carved off such a big slice from his tobacco roll that it was enough both for the stranger’s pipe and his own. Finally he got out an old pack of cards and played ‘mjolis’ with his guest until bedtime. The old man was just as generous with his confidences as with his porridge and tobacco. The guest was informed at once that in his days of prosperity his host had been a crofter at Ramsjo Ironworks and had worked on the land. Now that he was no longer able to do day labour, it was his cow which supported him. Yes, that bossy was extraordinary. She could give milk for the creamery every day, and last month he had received all of thirty kroner in payment.

Questions

(i) Why did the crofter seem happy to welcome the stranger?
(a) He was lonely without wife or child.
(b) He had just made a lot of money.
(c) He was in the habit of entertaining guests.
(d) He had just finished making dinner.

Answer: A

(ii) After dinner, how did he make sure that his guest was happy?
(a) He showed him a movie.
(b) He told him a story.
(c) He played mjolis with him till bedtime.
(d) He acted out a scene from Shakespeare.

Answer: C

(iii) What was the old man generous with other than his porridge and tobacco?
(a) By offering the best bed he had.
(b) By inviting him to stay with him.
(c) By telling him all about Ramsjo’s Ironworks.
(d) By revealing him all his confidences.

Answer: D

(iv) What means of support did the old man have now that he no longer worked at Ramsjo’s Ironworks?
(a) He did a lot of carpentry work.
(b) He had a cow that gave milk for the creamery every day.
(c) He worked as a gardener in people’s houses.
(d) He was a handyman in the village.

Answer: B

(v) What mistake did the crofter make before his guest?
Answer: The crofter showed his guest the place where money was kept.

(vi) What does ‘mjolis’ refer to?
(a) the crofters cow
(b) the tobacco roll
(c) a card game
(d) a type of food

Answer: C

6. “Since you have been so nice to me all day long, as if I was a captain, I want to be nice to you, in return, as if I was a real captain — for I do not want you to be embarrassed at this Christmas season by a thief; but you can give back the money to the old man on the roadside, who has the money pouch hanging on the window frame as a bait for poor wanderers. The rattrap is a Christmas present from a rat who would have been caught in this world’s rattrap if he had not been raised to captain, because in that way he got power to clear himself. “Written with friendship and high regard, Captain von Stahle.”

Questions

(i) Which of the following CANNOT be attributed to the peddler, according to the above extract?
(a) Indebtedness
(b) Reform
(c) Self-pity
(d) Self-awareness

Answer: C

(ii) Why did the peddler gift a rattrap as a Christmas present?
Answer: It was all the peddler had and that he could give away, and represented his turn to honesty.

(iii) The word ‘frame’ has been used to indicate a rigid structure that surrounds something such as a picture, door, or windowpane. There are other meanings of ‘frame’ too.
Choose the option that DOES NOT list the meaning of ‘frame’.
1. a person’s body with reference to its size or build
2. a single complete picture in a series forming a cinema, television, or video film
3. the triangular structure for positioning the red balls in snooker
4. a thin solid object that seals a container or hole; a lid
(a) Option (1)
(b) Option (2)
(c) Option (3)
(d) Option (4)

Answer: D

(iv) This communication includes
1. a promise 2. regret
3. an apology 4. shame
(a) only 4
(b) only 1
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 2 and 4

Answer: C

(v) The rattrap peddler left a note with the package. The note was signed as:
(a) the peddler
(b) the thief
(c) the tramp
(d) Captain von Stahle

Answer: D

(vi) Elda’s reaction on receiving the letter was one of .........
(a) disappointment
(b) joy
(c) fear
(d) irritation

Answer: B

Short Answer Type Questions

Question. Why did the peddler think that the world was a rattrap?
Answer: The peddler was an extremely poor man who earned his living by selling rattraps. His mind thus was always preoccupied with rattraps. 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.

Question. Why did the peddler derive pleasure from his idea of the world as a rattrap?
Answer: The world had never been kind to the poor peddler. Wherever he went, he was greeted with sour faces and was turned or chase away. Therefore, he derived pleasure from thinking ill of the world in this way. Moreover, he perhaps was jealous of those whose fate was better than his and was rather amuse to think that someday they too would be tempted by the bait and be caught in the rattrap.

Question. Who was the owner of Ramjso iron mills? Why did he visit the mills at night?
Answer: The owner of Ramjso Iron Mill was an ex – army man. He was very particular about the quality of his products. That is why he visited the mills even at night to make sure that good iron was shipped out from his mills.

Question. Why did the peddler decline the invitation of the ironmaster?
Answer: The ironmaster has mistaken the peddler for an old regimental comrade and invited him home. The peddler declined the invitation because he was carrying the money he had stolen. He knew that if the ironmaster discovered his identity, he would hand him over to the police.

Question. Why was the peddler surprised when he knocked at the door of the cottage?
Answer: The peddler was surprised as he was not only welcomed at the night but was also provided food and shelter. He was treated like a guest not as a beggar.

Question. What did the peddler sell? How did he make those rattraps?
Answer: The peddler sold small rattraps made of wire. He made them himself. He got the material by begging in the stores or at the big farms.

Question. How did the peddler react when he saw that the ironmaster had recognized him as Nils Olof, an old regimental comrade?
Answer: The peddler was mistaken by the ironmaster to be an old acquaintance from the regiment. He assumed that the ironmaster would hand him a few kronors and therefore, made no attempts to deny the reference being made. However, when the ironmaster said the that he should not have resigned and suggested that, “ Nils Olof” should accompany him to the manor, he flatly refused to do so, for fear of being recognized.

Question. Why did the crofter welcome the peddler in his cottage?
Answer: The crofter lived alone in his cottage. He was without wife and child. He welcome the peddler to overcome his loneliness.

Question. The peddler was given to thievery and begging. Why?
Answer: The peddler made small rattraps and sold them. But his business was not profitable. So he had to resort to both begging and petty thievery to keep his body and soul together.

Question. Describe the peddler.
Answer: The peddler was poor and wore shabby ragged clothes. His cheeks were sunken and hunger shone in his eyes. He was tall, with a long grey beard and a bunch of rattraps dangling on his chest.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. 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 an philosophical. The fast-paced narrative in the the 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, hold our attention. The peddler’s constant refusals to the ironmaster to accompany him, but his accepting Edla’s invitation in one go, the ironmaster’s realization 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 entrappings 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.

Question. Do you think the title, “The Rattrap” is appropriate? Give examples from the text in support of your view.
Answer: Selma Lagerlof gives a very apt an logical title to the story. The metaphor
not correct of the rattrap is very effectively used. The whole world is nothing but a big rattrap. All riches, joys, food and shelter are just baits. These baits make people restless, helpless and powerless. The moment anyone touches the bait, the rattrap closes in on him. Then everything comes to an end.
The story revolves around the vagabond, who, though philosophises about the world being a rattrap, falls into its trap. Though the crofter shows him kindness by offering him food and shelter, he robs him. His greed for money makes him fall in the rattrap. Further, when the ironmaster mistakes him to be an old friend, he does him. He decides to cheat him of his money. So even though the peddler tries hard not to fall into the rattrap or worldly riches and materialistic benefits, he ultimately falls into one.

Question. How did the peddler feel after robbing the crofter? What course of life did he adopt and how did he react to the new situation?
Answer: The peddler did not respect the confidence that the crofter had shown in him. As soon as the crofter went to milk his cow, the peddler smashed the window pane and took away the crofter’s thirty kronors. He was quite happy at his smartness. The peddler did not feel any prick in his conscience due to his act of thievery. But he realized that he must not walk on the public highway. Therefore, he turned to the woods. Initially he did not have any problem. Later in the day it became very bad.
It was a big and confusing forest. He tried to walk in a definite direction, but the paths twisted back and forth strangely. He walked and walked without coming to the end of the forest. Finally he realized that he had been walking around in the same part of the forest. All at once he recalled his thoughts about the world and the rattrap. He thought now his turn had come. He thought, he had let himself befooled by a bait and had been caught.