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The Rattrap Notes

The document provides a summary of the short story "The Rattrap" by Selma Lagerlof. It discusses that the story is about an old disheartened peddler who sells rattraps and resorts to begging and thievery. He views the world negatively as a "rat trap". However, after receiving kindness from a young woman and her family, his attitude toward life changes. The summary also mentions the key characters, setting, and themes of redemption and how kindness can positively reform others.

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146 views3 pages

The Rattrap Notes

The document provides a summary of the short story "The Rattrap" by Selma Lagerlof. It discusses that the story is about an old disheartened peddler who sells rattraps and resorts to begging and thievery. He views the world negatively as a "rat trap". However, after receiving kindness from a young woman and her family, his attitude toward life changes. The summary also mentions the key characters, setting, and themes of redemption and how kindness can positively reform others.

Uploaded by

Nova
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ADHARSHEELA GLOBAL SCHOOL

NOTES
CLASS-XII
SESSION -2022- 2023
TOPIC – THE RATTRAP

About the Author


Selma Lagerlof (1858-1940) was a Swedish writer whose stories have been translated
into many languages. This story is set in the middle of the mines of Sweden which are
rich in iron ore. The story is narrated in the manner of a fairy tale. It gives us the
message that the emotions of love and acceptance can reform others.

Theme
The story is about an old disheartened peddler who is taken in and shown generosity by
a young woman. Her generosity and kindness change his bitter attitude towards life.
The peddler is a man who has fallen upon misfortune and now resorts to selling rattraps,
begging, and thievery. He is very pessimistic about the world around him and sees the
world as merely a “rat trap”. He believes that society tempts us with riches and fine
things, and when we accept, we are caught in the trap and are left with nothing.
The story conveys a universal message that the essential goodness in a human being can be
awakened through love, respect, kindness and understanding. It highlights the human
predicament. Material benefits are the traps that most human beings are prone to fall into.
Human beings do have a tendency to redeem themselves from dishonest ways as does the
peddler at the end of the story.

Setting
This story is set amidst the mines of Sweden, rich in iron ore which figure large in the
history of that country. The story is told somewhat in the manner of a fairy tale.

Characters
A peddler with rattraps.
An Oldman : A crofter
Master Smith in the Ramsjo Iron Mill in Sweden
Helpers in the Mill: blacksmiths
Iron mill owner
Edla Willmansson – daughter of the Iron Mill owner.

Main points
 ‘The Rattrap’ is a story that underlies a belief that essential goodness in human beings
can be aroused through sympathy, understanding and love.
 Once a man went around selling small rattraps but he took to begging and thievery to
keep his body and soul together.

 One day he was struck with the idea – the whole world is a big rattrap and it offers
riches as bait.

 People let themselves be tempted to touch the bait then it closes in on them bringing an
end to everything.

 One dark evening the rattrap peddler sought shelter in an old crofter’s roadside cottage.

 The old man gave him food, tobacco they enjoyed the card game too.

 Next morning the peddler stole away his thirty kroners.

 The rattrap peddler escaped into a big confusing forest and got lost.

 While resting on the ground he recollected his idea that the world is a rattrap and
thought his end was near.

 Hearing a thumping sound, he reached Ramsjo ironworks for a night shelter.

 The owner came on his nightly rounds and noticed the ragged wretch near the furnace.

 He took him as an old acquaintance ‘Nils Olof.’

 He invited him to stay with them for Christmas but the stranger declined the offer.

 His daughter Edla Willmansson persuaded to go home with him.

 She requested him to stay for Christmas Eve only.

 On his way to the Manor House the peddler thought that he had thrown himself into the
lion’s den.

 The next day in broad day light the iron master realized the stranger was not captain and
threatened to call the sheriff.

 Edla pleaded for him and asked him to stay back.

 Christmas Eve at Ramsjo was as usual and the stranger slept and slept.

 She made him understand that if he wanted rest and peace he would be welcome next
Christmas also. This had a miraculous effect on him.

 Next morning they went for early church service leaving behind the guest who was
asleep.

 They learnt at church that a rattrap peddler had robbed an old crofter.

 Edla becomes very upset.


 They reach home immediately and learn that the peddler had already left but had not
taken anything at all with him. Instead, he had left a small packet for the young girl as a
Christmas present.

 She opens the packet and finds a rattrap, three wrinkled ten-Kronor notes and also a
letter with a request to return the Kroners to the crofter.

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