THE RATTRAP

By Selma Lagerlöf
Selma Lagerlöf
20 November 1858, Marbacka, Sweden – 16 March 1940,
Marbacka, Sweden
 • Selma Lagerlöf (20 November 1858- 16 March 1940)
,a Swedish writer , was the first female to win a
Nobel Prize in Literature in 1909.
• Her most remembered book is 'THE
WONDERFUL ADVENTURES OF NILS'.
• Initially a teacher , in

ABOUT THE
1895 , she devoted herself completely to writing.
• She wrote several books, including novels and
collection of stories such as GOSTA BERLING'S SAGA ,
INVISIBLE LINKS and THE MIRACLES OF

AUTHOR THE ANTICHRIST.

• Selma Lagerlöf
 ➢'THE RATTRAP' provides a glimpse into human
nature.
➢It emphasizes the fact that everybody has an
essential goodness deep inside which can
be awakened through love and understanding.
➢The story highlights the fact that there is
an essential goodness in every human being.
➢At times due to circumstances and situation, a
person kills his conscience but the same

THEME
man, when bestowed with love and
affection, exhibits a totally different side of his
character.
INTRODUCTION
'THE RATTRAP' conveys a universal message.
The author believes that the essential
goodness in man can be awakened through
understanding and love. The act of kindness
and hospitality shown by the ironmaster's
daughter awakes basic human goodness in the
peddler. The story also highlights that this
world is a big rattrap. Riches and wealth only
tempt and trap us in.
CHARACTERS
1. Rattrap Peddler
2. Crofter
3. Ironmaster
4. Edla Willmansson
1. RATTRAP PEDDLER
• He is protagonist and central
character of the story.
• He is tramp, a
homeless wanderer, selling rattra
ps.
• He begs, steals even to make the
two ends meet.
2. CROFTER
• He is a lonely man who seeks
human company and welcomes
peddler.
• He serves him food, tobacco and
plays card with him.
• He trusts the visitor blindly and
shows his hard earned money.
3. IRONMASTER
• He is the owner of Ramsjo
Ironworks.
• He is a
sincere, competent businessman
who believes that
his daughter has
better persuasive powers than
him.
4. EDLA WILLAMANSON
• She is daughter of the iron
master.
• She isn't at
all pretty but quite modest and
shy.
• She is generous, compassionate
and believes in charity.
 SUMMARY
• The story begins with a rattrap peddler who is in a craggy condition. He is
dressed in rags and is very frail and looks starved. He has no home and
sometimes even begs and steals to survive in the world. He leads a lonely
life with no one to care about him. One fine day, it strikes to him that
this whole world is a rattrap itself. If we touch it, it will trap us and never
let us go. He goes on to think that there are people out there who are
already in this rattrap and reaching for the bait. On one cold evening, he
reaches at a cottage to ask for shelter. An old crofter lived in that cottage
who took in the peddler.​
• The crofter needed company so he welcomes the peddler. He
gives him hot food and even tobacco to smoke. They play
cards and start talking. The crofter shows him thirty
kronor, which he got for selling his cow, and keeps them in a
pouch on the window frame. The peddler leaves the next day
but after seeing the crofter leave his cottage, he comes back
to steal the pouch of money.​
▪ After stealing it, he takes the woods to remain unsuspected. In
the wood, the peddler meets an ironmaster who mistakes him to
be his old comrade. He invites him over for Christmas but he
refuses. After that, the ironmaster’s daughter, Edla visits him and
insists him to stay with them. In between, he feels sorry for
stealing the crofter’s money. They help the peddler get a
makeover and dress him in nice clothes and shave his beard off.
After this, the ironmaster realizes he has made a mistake; the
peddler was not his comrade.
▪ Thus, the ironmaster thinks he is a fraud and decides to turn him
in. However, Edla insists on letting him stay and celebrate
Christmas with them. Her father agrees, and they celebrate
Christmas together. Next day, the ironmaster and Edla learn that
the peddler was a thief through the church about the incident at
the old crofter’s. They head home in a hurry thinking he must
have stolen all the silver. However, to their surprise, the peddler
did not steal a thing. He left a note for Edla in the form a
tiny rattrap. There was also a note thanking her for her kindness
which saved him from the rattrap he got caught in. Most
importantly, he also left the crofter’s money asking to return it to
him.
MORAL
The protagonist, through his lens of cynicism, looks
at the world as a Rattrap.
However, The Moral of the Story lays its base on
compassion and respect and how it transforms
their lives in an unimaginable manner.
THANK
YOU.....
Presented GURLEEN
XII-G
By KAUR