SELF LEARNING MODULE
GRADE XII
ENGLISH
CLASS - XII
Flamingo (Literature Reader)
Ch 4 “The Rattrap”
- Selma Lagerlof
❖ About the Author:
Selma Lagerlöf (20 November 1858 – 16 March 1940) was a Swedish author and a
teacher. She published her first novel, Gösta Berling's Saga, at the age of 33. She
was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, which she was awarded in
1909. Additionally, she was the first woman to be granted a membership in The
Swedish Academy in 1914.
❖ Central Idea/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 toward life.
‘The Rattrap’ provides a glimpse into human nature. It emphasises the fact that
everybody has essential goodness deep inside which can be awakened through love
and understanding. The story highlights the fact that there is essential goodness in
every human being. At times due to circumstances and situation, a person kills his
conscience but the same man, when bestowed with love and affection, exhibits a
totally different side of his character.
❖ 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 Rattrap is a story about a rattrap seller who leads a very poor life as his earnings
are very low. He has to resort to thievery and begging to make both ends meet.
He is alone in this whole world and leads a miserable life. So, he starts knitting up
various kinds of thoughts. One of these thoughts is of supposing the whole world as
a big rattrap. His views are that the world offers us various types of baits in the form
of comforts of life. This in return traps us into the rattrap of the world and leads us
to various types of miseries.
Every night, the peddler had to search for shelter as he has no home. One evening
he was offered shelter by an old crofter. The next morning, he stole the crofter’s
money which he had earned by selling his cow’s milk. To safeguard himself, the
peddler chose the path through the forest which was secluded, but soon found himself
trapped in the forest as he wasn’t able to find the way out of the dense forest. Later
on, he finds a way to a forge and takes shelter there. Something unusual happens.
The ironmaster mistakes him as an old friend and invites him to his house. The poor
peddler rejects the offer due to the fear of being caught. Soon he is invited by the
ironmaster ‘s daughter. The next morning, he is somehow stopped by the
ironmaster’s daughter for Christmas Eve even after being caught that he was a
peddler and not Captain Stalhe.
The next day after Christmas, when the iron master and his daughter visit the church,
they come to know that the man is a thief who had stolen money from the old crofter.
The iron master and his daughter repent for sheltering a thief and wonder at what all
things he would have stolen by that time. Here comes a twist as instead of stealing,
the peddler gifts the ironmaster’s daughter a rattrap. She finds a letter of thanks and
the stolen money inside the rattrap. The peddler thanks Edla for her kindness and
requests her to return the stolen money to the crofter. This story gives us the
message that goodness in a human being can be awakened at any time with your
own good deeds.
❖ Suitability and Appropriateness of Title
Selma Lagerlof gives a very apt and logical title to the story. The metaphor of the rat
trap is very effectively used. The whole world is nothing but a big rat trap. 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.
E Content:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFObwSI2hvw
Question Bank:
Q. I Answer the following questions 30 – 40 words:
a. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
b. Why was he amused by this idea?
c. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
d. Why did he show the thirty kronor to the peddler?
e. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Q.II Answer the following in 80 – 100 words:
a. What are the instances in the story that show that the character of the
ironmaster is different from that of his daughter in many ways?
b. The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to
others’ behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.
c. The story is both entertaining and philosophical. Discuss.
