Ratrrap; lesson summary and solutions

 

"The Rattrap" is a thought-provoking story by Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf that explores themes of human nature, compassion, redemption, and the transformative power of kindness. Set in the mining region of Sweden, it follows the journey of a poor, homeless rattrap peddler whose cynical view of the world is challenged by unexpected acts of generosity.

Plot Overview

The protagonist is a vagabond who earns a living by selling rattraps made from wire scraps he collects through begging or petty theft. His life is marked by poverty, loneliness, and hardship, leading him to view the world as a giant rattrap that lures people with baits like riches, joys, food, and shelter, only to trap them in misery. This metaphor reflects his pessimistic outlook, shaped by the world's harsh treatment of him.

One evening, seeking shelter, the peddler knocks on the door of a crofter, an old, lonely man who welcomes him warmly. The crofter, a former worker at the Ramsjö Ironworks, shares his supper, tobacco, and conversation, treating the peddler like a guest. He proudly shows the peddler thirty kronor earned from selling his cow’s milk, kept in a pouch by the window. Tempted by this "bait," the peddler returns the next morning after the crofter leaves, smashes the window, and steals the money.

Fearing capture, the peddler avoids public roads and escapes into a dense forest, only to become lost. Exhausted and cold, he realizes he has fallen into the "rattrap" of the world, ensnared by the stolen money. As he despairs, he hears the sound of a hammer and follows it to the Ramsjö Iron Mill, where he is allowed to spend the night by the forge.

The ironmaster, the mill’s owner, mistakes the peddler for his old regimental comrade, Captain von Stahle, due to the dim light and the peddler’s ragged appearance. He invites the peddler to his manor for Christmas Eve. The peddler, wary of being exposed with stolen money, declines, but the ironmaster’s daughter, Edla Willmansson, persuades him with her kindness and reassurance that he can leave freely after the celebration. Despite suspecting he is either a thief or a fugitive, Edla’s compassion compels her to invite him.

At the manor, the peddler is bathed, shaved, and dressed in better clothes, revealing his true identity as a stranger, not the captain. The ironmaster, embarrassed by his mistake, threatens to turn him over to the sheriff, but Edla intervenes, insisting they honor their promise of Christmas hospitality. Her empathy allows the peddler to stay, and he is treated with respect and warmth.

The next day, at church, the ironmaster and Edla learn of the crofter’s robbery and assume the peddler has stolen from them as well. Returning home, they are astonished to find that the peddler has left without taking anything. Instead, he leaves a small rattrap as a Christmas gift for Edla, along with the stolen thirty kronor and a letter signed as "Captain von Stahle." In the letter, he thanks Edla for her kindness, which restored his dignity and inspired him to reform. He asks her to return the money to the crofter, signifying his redemption.

Themes and Message

• Human Goodness and Redemption: The story emphasizes that even a hardened individual can change when treated with kindness and trust. Edla’s compassion awakens the peddler’s inherent goodness, leading him to return the stolen money.
• The Rattrap Metaphor: The world is likened to a rattrap, with material desires as bait that trap people in cycles of greed and misery. However, kindness and understanding can free individuals from this trap.
• Second Chances: The peddler’s transformation highlights the value of offering forgiveness and opportunities for change, regardless of past mistakes.
• Loneliness and Connection: Characters like the crofter and the peddler suffer from isolation, but acts of human connection, like the crofter’s hospitality and Edla’s empathy, bring hope and transformation.

Character Analysis

• The Peddler: A cynical, homeless man shaped by poverty and rejection, he initially justifies his thievery but is transformed by Edla’s kindness. His return of the money shows his latent goodness.
• The Crofter: A lonely, trusting old man who offers the peddler hospitality, only to be betrayed. His kindness sets the stage for the peddler’s moral conflict.
• Edla Willmansson: Compassionate and perceptive, Edla’s kindness and non-judgmental attitude catalyze the peddler’s redemption.
• The Ironmaster: Impulsive and initially judgmental, he mistakes the peddler for a friend but later threatens to turn him in, contrasting with Edla’s empathy.

Symbolism

• The Rattrap: Represents the temptations of material gain that trap people in cycles of greed and suffering, but also the potential for escape through human goodness.
• The Forest: Symbolizes the peddler’s entrapment and despair after his theft, mirroring his internal moral struggle.
• Christmas: A backdrop symbolizing hope, forgiveness, and renewal, aligning with the peddler’s transformation.

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NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers: The Rattrap

Below are the solutions to the textbook questions from the "Think as You Read," "Understanding the Text," and "Talking About the Text" sections, as provided in the NCERT Class 12 Flamingo textbook.

Think as You Read (Textbook Page 34)

1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Answer: The peddler got the idea of the world being a rattrap while thinking about his own rattraps. He was struck by the thought that the world, with its riches, joys, shelter, and food, acts like a giant rattrap, offering these as baits to lure people, just as a rattrap uses cheese and pork to trap rats. Once tempted, people are ensnared, unable to escape the miseries that follow.

2. Why was he amused by this idea?
Answer: The peddler was amused by the idea because the world had never been kind to him, and he found joy in thinking ill of it. His harsh experiences of poverty and rejection made the metaphor of the world as a rattrap appealing, as it justified his cynical view and gave him a sense of intellectual satisfaction.

3. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
Answer: No, the peddler did not expect the hospitality he received from the crofter. He was accustomed to being met with sour faces and rejection when seeking shelter. The crofter’s warm welcome, offering food, tobacco, and conversation, was unexpected and surprising.

4. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Answer: The crofter was talkative and friendly because he lived alone in his cottage without a wife or children, making him lonely. The peddler’s arrival provided a rare opportunity for companionship, relieving his boredom. His generous temperament also made him open and trusting, eager to share his life and earnings with the peddler.

5. Why did he show the thirty kronor to the peddler?
Answer: The crofter showed the thirty kronor to the peddler to prove his claim that he earned a decent income by selling his cow’s milk to the creamery. Living alone and eager for conversation, he shared this proudly, not suspecting the peddler’s dishonest intentions.

6. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Answer: No, the peddler did not respect the crofter’s confidence. Despite the crofter’s trust and hospitality, the peddler betrayed him by returning the next morning to steal the thirty kronor from the pouch by the window.

Think as You Read (Textbook Page 37)

1. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Answer: After stealing the crofter’s thirty kronor, the peddler avoided public roads and fled into a dense forest, where he became lost. Exhausted and unable to find his way out, he recalled his own metaphor of the world as a rattrap. He realized he had been lured by the "bait" of the money and was now trapped, as the forest seemed like an inescapable prison.

2. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Answer: The ironmaster mistook the peddler for his old regimental comrade, Captain von Stahle, due to the dim light in the forge and the peddler’s ragged appearance. Moved by pity for his supposed friend’s poor condition and desiring company for Christmas Eve, he spoke kindly and invited him to his manor.

3. Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
Answer: The peddler declined the ironmaster’s invitation because he knew he was not Captain von Stahle and feared being exposed, especially since he had the stolen thirty kronor. He worried that accepting the invitation might lead to trouble or demands for repayment, so he preferred to avoid the risk.

Think as You Read (Textbook Page 42)

1. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?
Answer: Edla’s compassionate and friendly approach, coupled with her reassurance that he could leave freely after Christmas Eve, convinced the peddler to accept her invitation. Despite suspecting he was a thief or fugitive, her kindness and lack of judgment made him feel safe and valued, prompting him to agree.

2. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Answer: When Edla met the peddler, she noticed his fearful expression and suspected he had either stolen something or escaped from jail. Her keen observation led her to doubt his identity as her father’s old comrade, recognizing him as a poor, uneducated tramp.

3. When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?
Answer: The ironmaster realized his mistake the next morning when the peddler, cleaned, shaved, and dressed in better clothes, appeared at breakfast. In the clear daylight, it was evident that he was not Captain von Stahle but a stranger.

4. What did the peddler say in his defence when it was clear that he was not the person the ironmaster had thought he was?
Answer: The peddler defended himself by saying he had never claimed to be the ironmaster’s comrade. He explained that he had only asked to stay in the forge for the night and had repeatedly declined the invitation to the manor. He insisted he had not deceived anyone and offered to leave immediately.

5. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
Answer: Edla entertained the peddler despite knowing the truth because she felt compassion for his plight and believed it was wrong to send away someone they had invited for Christmas. She wanted him to experience a day of peace and kindness, hoping it might positively influence him. Her empathy and commitment to their promise of hospitality drove her decision.

Understanding the Text

1. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Answer: Edla was happy to see the gift—a small rattrap with the thirty kronor and a letter—because it showed the peddler’s transformation. His gratitude for her kindness and his decision to return the stolen money restored her faith in human goodness. The letter, signed as "Captain von Stahle," indicated he had regained his dignity, making her feel her compassion had made a difference.

2. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
Answer: The peddler signed himself as Captain von Stahle because Edla’s kindness made him feel respected and dignified, as if he were the captain the ironmaster had mistaken him for. This symbolic gesture reflected his transformation from a thief to a man who embraced honor and gratitude, choosing to identify with the respected persona Edla’s treatment inspired.

Talking About the Text

1. The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’ behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.
Answer:

• Crofter’s Hospitality: The peddler, used to rejection, is surprised by the crofter’s warm welcome, offering food, tobacco, and conversation.
• Ironmaster’s Invitation: The peddler is taken aback when the ironmaster mistakes him for a friend and invites him home, an unexpected act of kindness.
• Ironmaster’s Reaction to His Mistake: The ironmaster is shocked to realize the peddler is not his comrade and threatens to call the sheriff, surprising the peddler.
• Edla’s Compassion: Edla’s decision to let the peddler stay despite knowing his true identity surprises both the peddler and her father, who expected harsher judgment.
• Peddler’s Transformation: The peddler’s act of leaving a gift, returning the stolen money, and writing a grateful letter is an unexpected change, surprising Edla and the ironmaster, who feared he had stolen from them.

2. What made the peddler finally change his ways?
Answer: The peddler changed his ways due to Edla Willmansson’s genuine kindness, compassion, and trust. Despite knowing he was not Captain von Stahle and suspecting his criminal past, Edla treated him with respect and dignity, offering him a place at their Christmas celebration. This unconditional acceptance awakened his latent goodness, prompting him to reflect on his actions. Her empathy made him feel valued as a human, not a thief, leading him to return the stolen money and leave a grateful letter, signifying his redemption.

3. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
Answer: The rattrap metaphor illustrates the human predicament by comparing the world to a trap that lures people with material temptations—riches, joys, food, and shelter—like cheese and pork in a rattrap. These baits entice individuals, but once they succumb, they are trapped in cycles of greed, suffering, or moral compromise, as seen when the peddler steals the crofter’s money and feels ensnared in the forest. However, the story also suggests that human goodness, awakened through kindness and understanding (as shown by Edla), can help individuals escape this trap, highlighting the potential for redemption despite the allure of material gains.

4. 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 endearing him to us?
Answer: The peddler’s subtle sense of humor is evident in his philosophical musings about the world as a rattrap, which he finds amusing despite his hardships. This perspective lightens the story’s serious themes of poverty, cynicism, and moral struggle by adding a layer of irony and wit, making the narrative less grim. For example, his amusement at imagining others caught in the world’s rattrap, or his quip about the ironmaster chasing “a big piece of pork,” diffuses tension. This humor endears him to readers by revealing his reflective and resilient nature, making him relatable as a flawed but redeemable character who finds a way to cope with his bleak reality.