CBSE Class 12 English The Rattrap Notes Set 06

The Rattrap

About the Author

Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940) was a Swedish author and teacher, who became the first woman writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. She did not publish anything until 1890, when a Swedish weekly gave her the first prize in a literary competition and published excerpts from the book which was to be her first, best and most popular work, 'Gösta Berling’s Saga'. During her lifetime, she was loved throughout the world because of both her gift for storytelling and her universal themes.

Chapter Sketch

The Rattrap is based on the theme that the essential goodness in a human being can be awakened through understanding and love. The story is set amidst the iron mines of Sweden. The author has beautifully brought out human loneliness and the need to bond with others.

About the Characters

• The Peddler: A poor man who sold rattraps for a living and was a petty thief.
• The Crofter: A simple trusting person who is robbed by the peddler.
• The Ironmaster: A stern taskmaster and law-abiding person. He trusts the peddler due to his daughter's persuasion.
• Edla: The ironmaster’s daughter who is a kind and compassionate lady.
• People at the Ironworks: This includes the master blacksmith and his helper. They seem to be hardworking people who do not mind helping the poor with shelter.
• Captains: We have two captains in the story- Nils Olof and Von Stahle. These captains represent honesty and sincerity which the peddler accepts at the end.

Summary of the Chapter

The Rattrap Peddler

Once upon a time, there was a vagabond who went around selling small rattraps. He made them from the material he got by begging in stores or at farms. However, his business was not profitable and so, he had to beg and steal to survive. He wore dirty and torn clothes, was thin in stature and his eyes showed that he was hungry. All-in-all, he lived a sad and monotonous life.

The Peddler’s Amusing Thought

One day, while he was engrossed in his thoughts about rattraps, a very amusing idea came to his mind that the world was a big rattrap. It offered comforts and joys just like the rattrap offered cheese and pork. As soon as a rat was tempted to touch the bait, it trapped him. This philosophy made the peddler happy as the world had not treated him right.

Stealing From the Crofter

One evening, the peddler went to a small grey cottage to seek shelter for the night. To his surprise, the owner, an old crofter invited the peddler in. He served food, offered him tobacco and played card games with him. The crofter was very talkative. He informed the peddler that he used to work at the Ramsjö Ironworks. Now, he had earned thirty kronor by selling his cow’s milk. Then, the crofter showed him the money. Next day, both men left the cottage at the same time. But, half an hour later the peddler went to the window, took out the thirty kronor and left. He avoided the public highway and went into the woods, as he felt he would be safer and no one would be able to catch him. The peddler was lost in the forest. Soon, he realised that he had been fooled by the bait and thus, trapped by the rattrap.

The Ramsjö Ironworks

It was late December and the forest had become dark. The peddler was exhausted and felt that he would die. Just then, he heard the sound of the regular thumping of a hammer. When he realised that the sound was coming from an iron mill, he reached the Ramsjö Ironworks. The peddler entered the ironworks while the people in the ironworks were working. The ironworks was so noisy that no one noticed the peddler entering the forge. However, he was given permission to stay the night there.

The Ironmaster

Ramsjö Ironworks was owned by a popular ironmaster who did regular inspections. On that night, the ironmaster came into the forge for his inspection and noticed the peddler. In the dim light, he mistook the peddler for an old regimental comrade, Nils Olof. The peddler didn’t try to clear his doubt as he thought the ironmaster might give him some money. However, the ironmaster invited him home. The peddler declined the invitation.

Christmas Invite

The ironmaster assumed that the peddler felt embarrassed. He tried to comfort the peddler and told him that his wife Elizabeth was dead, his sons were settled abroad and he lived with his daughter Edla. He added that they did not have any company for Christmas and wanted him to enjoy the festival with them. But the peddler constantly refused to go with him. The ironmaster left the mill. Soon, Edla, the ironmaster’s daughter came to the Ironworks and went to the peddler. Edla was a simple, kind and shy girl. When she saw the peddler, she somehow sensed that the peddler was either a thief on the run or an escaped prisoner. Still, she was very friendly and kind to him. The peddler felt confidence in her and accepted the invitation.

Edla’s Doubt

During the journey to the ironmaster’s home, the peddler regretted stealing the money. The next day was Christmas Eve, and the ironmaster was happy to meet his old regimental comrade. He told Edla that they needed to feed him well and provide him with a better business. However, Edla expressed her doubt about the peddler, as he didn’t display the slightest sign of being educated. To this, the ironmaster told her to have some patience. Just then, the peddler entered the room. He was now wearing clothes which belonged to the ironmaster.

The Peddler’s Reality

When the ironmaster saw the peddler, he realised that he had made a mistake and was very angry. The peddler was not his friend. The peddler explained that he never said to the ironmaster that he was Nils Olof. He had even pleaded and begged for not coming to the manor house. He added that he could put on his rags and go away. The ironmaster decided to take the peddler to the Sheriff. This angered the peddler and he told the ironmaster his philosophy of the world being a big rattrap. Hearing this, the ironmaster started laughing and asked the peddler to leave.

Edla’s Kindness

Just as the peddler was about to leave, Edla told her father that she did not want him to leave. She felt that they had promised the peddler Christmas cheer and it would be wrong to send him away. Edla further added that the peddler must have been through a bad time and could not even sleep unafraid. The ironmaster gave in and the peddler was allowed to stay on for Christmas. At ironmaster’s house, the peddler did nothing but sleep. The ironmaster and Edla gifted him the suit that he was wearing as a Christmas present. Edla also told him that he was welcome to spend the next Christmas with them.

The Christmas Present

The next morning the ironmaster and his daughter went to the church, leaving the peddler at home. When they were returning home Edla was very sad. At the church, they learned that a rattrap seller had robbed an old crofter. The ironmaster was furious and thought that by the time they would reach home, the peddler would have escaped with all their valuables. When the ironmaster and his daughter reached home, they got to know that the peddler had left with nothing. In fact, he had left behind a little Christmas present for Edla. Edla opened the package and found a rattrap with three wrinkled ten kronor notes and a letter. The peddler had written that since Edla had treated him like a real captain, he also wanted to be nice to her. He wanted the money to be returned to the crofter. He even signed the letter as ‘Captain Von Stahle’.

Word-Meaning

• rattraps: traps for catching rats
• at odd moments: in his free time
• keep body and soul together: survive, especially in difficult circumstances
• sunken: hollow
• vagabond: a person who wanders from place to place without a home or job
• plods along the road: walks slowly with heavy steps on the road
• fallen into a line of thought: started thinking about something
• set baits: offering temptations
• trudging: walking slowly with heavy steps
• sour: hostile
• mjölis: a card game played in Sweden
• confidences: secrets, private matters
• crofter: small farmer
• bossy: (here) cow
• creamery: a factory that produces butter and cheese
• kronor: the currency of Sweden
• peddler: a person who goes from place to place selling small goods
• summoned: gathered
• smelter: an establishment for producing a base metal from its ore
• forge: a furnace where metals are heated or wrought
• barges: long flat-bottomed boats for carrying heavy goods on canals or rivers
• scows: flat-bottomed boats for transporting cargo to and from ships in harbour
• pig iron: crude iron first obtained from a smelting furnace
• maw: mouth or opening
• nodded a haughty consent: arrogantly agreed
• ironmaster: the master or proprietor of an ironworks
• ragamuffin: a person in ragged, dirty clothes
• eased his way: came in slowly and carefully
• deigned: condescended
• slouch hat: a hat with a wide flexible brim or edge
• undeceive: reveal his real identity to
• regiment: a unit of an army commanded by a lieutenant colonel
• manor house: a large country house with lands
• valet: personal attendant
• apprentice: a person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer
• things have gone downhill: matters have deteriorated or worsened
• tramp: homeless person who lives by begging or doing casual work
• puckered: wrinkled
• dissimulate: pretend
• Sheriff: the chief executive officer of a district having administrative and judicial powers
• parson: priest
• interceded: intervened or spoke on behalf of somebody else
• fare: a range of food
• in good season: on time

Important Themes of the Chapter

Power of Human Kindness: ‘The Rattrap’ is a short story that centers around the transforming power of human kindness. A peddler goes from seeing the world as ‘one big rattrap’ and engaging in robbery to returning his stolen money and proclaiming himself free—all as a result of experiencing true kindness and generosity from Edla Willmansson on Christmas Eve. By showing the peddler’s potential for positive change, the writer expresses a belief that there is a core of goodness in all people, and that this goodness can be unlocked through compassion and kindness.

The Human Need For Companionship: ‘The Rattrap’ also explores the basic human need for companionship and community, and shows the negative effects of loneliness. Most of the characters in the story live a sad and lonely life. The peddler, the old crofter and the ironmaster seek companionship.

The Human Tendency to Fall into Material Gain: The story also presents the human inclination to gain material wealth. It uses the metaphor of a rattrap to show how people are tempted by material benefits like riches, shelter, food and clothing.

The Role of Identity: ‘The Rattrap’ also concerns itself with issues of identity, especially the construction of identity through actions and choices, and the role that names can play in this process. Ultimately, the story suggests that identity is a fluid thing, and people can change or be changed to inhabit different identities based on their choices and the actions of others.