THE RATTRAP By Selma Lagerlof

About the author:

Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940) was a novelist who in 1909 became the first woman and also
the first Swedish writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. An illness left her lame for a
time, but otherwise her childhood was happy. She was taught at home, then trained in
Stockholm as a teacher, and in 1885 went to Landskrona as a schoolmistress. There she
wrote her first novel, GöstaBerlings saga, 2 vol. (1891).

Theme
The story is about an old disheartened peddler who is taken in and shown generosity and
compassion by a young woman. Her care and kindness change his bitter attitude towards life.
The peddler is a man who has fallen upon misfortune and has now resorted to selling rattraps,
begging, and thievery. He is very pessimistic about the world around him and perceives the
world as merely a “rat trap”. He believes that society tempts us with riches and fine things,
and when we accept them, we are caught in the trap and are eventually left with nothing. The
story conveys a universal message that the essential goodness in a human being can be
awakened through compassion, 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 an inclination 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 and legends of that country. The story is told somewhat in
the manner of a fairy tale.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. How does the author employ the metaphor of 'rattrap' effectively in
the story? Explain by giving examples from the text.

Ans. The author uses the metaphor of 'rattrap' very often and effectively in the story. This
world is nothing but a big rattrap. It only sets traps for people. Riches and joys are baits to
tempt people just as pieces of cheese and pork ensnare the rats. Once caught, human beings
find it difficult to extricate themselves from the rattrap of the world. The peddler realises that
the stealing of 30 kronor was such a bait. And so was going to the manor house.

Q2. How was the peddler welcomed by the old crofter? Did he expect such
hospitality?

Ans. One dark evening, the peddler needed shelter for the night. He knocked at the door of a
cottage.
He expected 'sour faces' to greet him. But surprisingly, he received the hospitality of an old
and lonely crofter, who was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. The peddler
was served supper and even played "mjolis" with his host. No, the rattrap-seller certainly did
not expect such hospitality. It was totally contrary to his usual experience and expectation.

Q3. Why did the peddler decide to take his way through the forest?
Ans. The peddler walked along with the stolen money in his pocket. He didn't want to take
any unexpected risk. He dared not continue on the public highway. He decided to turn off the
road, into the woods. Hence, he took his way through the forest. He believed that such action
could save him from being chased and caught red-handed.

Q4. Why did the peddler recall his thoughts about the world and the
rattrap when he was lost in the big and confusing forest?

Ans. With the crofter’s money in his pocket, the peddler decided not to walk on the public
highway. He turned off into the big and confusing forest and eventually, got lost. Here, he
thought about the world and the rattrap. He realised that now his own turn had come. He had let
himself be fooled by a bait and had ended up being caught.

Q5. How did the peddler come to the forge of the Ramsjo Ironworks?

Ans. The peddler failed to find a way out of the forest and by that time he was also tired to
death. He thought that his last moment had come. Suddenly, he heard the thumping sound of
hammer strokes coming from Ramsjo Ironworks. He gathered all his courage and strength and
dragged himself in that direction.

Q6. Describe the hospitality that the peddler enjoyed while at the
manor house of the ironmaster.

Ans. The ironmaster and Miss Edla tried their best to make the peddler comfortable in their
house. The ironmaster had the satisfaction of serving his old regimental comrade. He ordered
his valet to give his guest a good bath, a haircut and a shave. Moreover, the peddler was
dressed in a good suit. When the peddler’s true identity was disclosed, Edla interceded on his
behalf and persuaded her father to let him stay for Christmas. He was also served Christmas
fish and porridge and allowed to rest as long as he liked in one of the guest rooms. Edla even
went to the extent of assuring the peddler by telling him that he would be welcomed back the
next Christmas, in case he wanted a quiet place to rest.

Q7. What was the sensational news that the ironmaster and his daughter
heard at Church? How did they react on hearing the news?

Ans. At the church the ironmaster and his daughter heard a sensational news. One of the old
crofters of the ironworks had been robbed by a man, who went around selling rattraps. Upon
hearing this, the young girl hung her head in disbelief. The ironmaster, on his part, was worried
about the silver spoons in the cupboard. He feared that the peddler might have run away with
them.

Q8. What did Miss Willmansson find in the package? Why did she give a little cry of
joy?

Ans. Miss Willmansson found a rattrap with three wrinkled ten kronor notes in it. There also lay
a letter addressed to her. She was praised for her kindness and compassion to the peddler. Miss
Willmansson gave a little cry of joy. The peddler had returned the 30 kronor to be given to the
rightful owner. She had also received a little Christmas present from him.

Q9. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
Ans. Miss Willmansson had been kind and hospitable towards the peddler as if he were a real
captain. He would have been caught in this world's rattrap if her generosity, kindness and
compassion had not helped him out of it. That gave him the power to raise himself above petty
worldly temptations. Therefore, he signed himself as Captain von Stahle.

Q10. Justify the title of the story ‘The Rattrap’.

Ans. Selma Lagerlof comes up with an apt and logical title to the story. The metaphor of the
rattrap has been effectively used. The whole world is nothing but a big rattrap with the riches,
joys, food and shelter as baits. The moment anyone touches them, the rattrap closes in on him
and then everything comes to an end.

Questions for practice:

1. Is the ironmaster a generous man? Why or why not? What other motivations
might he have for his offer of hospitality?
2. Why does Edla say to the peddler, “You may be sure Captain that you will be
allowed to leave us just as freely as you came.”?
3. Do you accept the peddler’s argument that the case of mistaken identity is not
his fault?
4. Why is the daughter’s decision to let the peddler stay a turning point in the
story?
5. What impression do you form of Miss Willmansson from the story?