The Rattrap

Selma Lagerlof
Think-as-you-read Questions

[Link] where did the peddler get the idea of the world
is a rat trap?

Ans. The peddler lived a dull and monotonous life. He had

no family, no money and no relatives. He was a vagabond.
So, being alone most of the time, he used to go on thinking.
While thinking about the rattrap, he suddenly got the idea
of the world being a rattrap.

2. Why was the peddler amused by this idea?

Ans. The peddler had never been treated well by the world.
So he felt happy thinking ill of the world. That is why he was
amused by the idea that the whole world around him was
nothing but a big rat trap.

3. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he

received from the crofter?

Ans. No, the peddler did not expect the kind of hospitality
that he received from the crofter. He was always refused
whenever he asked anyone for any kind of kindness. Thus,
he had expected the same, but, to his surprise, the crofter
treated him very kindly and gave him food and shelter.

4. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the

peddler?
Ans. The crofter was a lonely man. He had no one in his
house to give him company. He had no wife, no children. So,
when he saw the peddler, he was very happy to get someone
to talk to.

5. Why did he show the thirty kronor to the peddler?

Ans. The crofter narrated his story of living a comfortable life

and having a good reasonable income that he made due to
his extraordinary cow that gave a lot of milk. He told the
peddler that he had earned thirty kronor last month. But the
peddler expressed his disbelief. In order to make him believe,
the crofter opened the pouch and showed the tramp the
money.

6. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him

by the crofter?

Ans. No, the peddler did not live up to the confidence

reposed in him by the crofter. In fact, he abused the trust of
the crofter. He returned after some time, opened the window
of the cottage and stole the crofter’s hard-earned money.

7. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen

into a rat trap?

Ans. After stealing the crofter’s money, the peddler avoided

the road and walked through the forest. Soon the night fell
and he could not find his way out. He walked and walked
without coming to the end of the wood. He finally realised
that he was walking round and round the same spot. This
made him frustrated and tired. Now he realised that he had
indeed fallen into a rattrap.
8. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler
and invite him home?

Ans. The ironmaster mistook the peddler to be his old

acquaintance Nils Olof who was a captain and had resigned
from the regiment long back. The ironmaster thought that
the man was going through a bad phase in his life and so
invited him home, especially as it was Christmas Eve.

9. Why did the peddler decline the invitation?

Ans. The peddler declined the invitation, as he had stolen

the money and was afraid of being caught. Accepting the
invitation would be like throwing oneself voluntarily into a
lion’s den.

10. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s

invitation?

Ans. Edla Willmansson came to invite the peddler with her

valet. She spoke in a very friendly manner and he felt
confident in her. She persuaded him to come home and
promised him that he would be allowed to leave whenever he
would like to.

11. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?

Ans. Edla noticed that peddler was very scared. She thought
he could either be a thief or an escapee from prison.

12. When did the ironmaster realize his mistake?

Ans. When the peddler was given a bath, a haircut and had
a shave, the ironmaster realised that the tramp did not look
like his regimental comrade. So the next day, at the
breakfast table ironmaster realised his mistake.

13. Why did Edla entertain the peddler even after she
had known the truth about him?
Ans. Edla was a kind lady. She empathized with the poor
peddler and understood how difficult his life had been. She
was able to understand his loneliness and poverty. She
entertained him even though she knew who he was.

14. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the
peddler?

Ans. Edla was happy to see the gift left by the peddler
because it was symbolic of the positive change in the
peddler. He had left the stolen thirty kronor in the rattrap
along with a letter. He had requested that the money is
returned to the crofter. Edla was happy to know that love
and respect given to the peddler by her had made him realise
his mistake and make amends.

15. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von

Stahle?

Ans. The peddler was accepted and welcomed to the house

as Captain von Stahle. Edla gave the peddler a kind
treatment and in spite of knowing the reality, she treated
him like a captain. This awakened the latent goodness of his
heart and he also behaved in a dignified manner and signed
himself as Captain von Stahle.

Understanding the Text

How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and
hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his
daughter?

Ans. The peddler was a vagabond who had no house, no family.

He used to sell rattraps. One evening when he was trudging
along the road, he saw a cottage by the roadside. He knocked at
the door and asked for permission for a night stay at the forge.
The owner of the cottage, gave him shelter, food, tobacco and
his company and confidences. He even showed him the thirty
kronor that he had saved. But the peddler stole the money the
next day, violating the trust of the crofter. Later, the peddler
realised that the crofter’s hospitality was bait for him to be
trapped.
Similarly, the ironmaster’s hospitality also didn’t impress the
peddle much because he was kind to him only because he
thought him to be his old acquaintance. But on the contrary,
Edla’s kindness and hospitality stirred up the essential goodness
in him because her kindness was without any selfish motive in it
like the crofter who wanted a company and the ironmaster who
wanted to help his old friend. Edla wanted to give some comfort
and happiness to the peddler even though she knew that he was
a tramp.

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?

Ans. The ironmaster was the owner of Ramsjo Ironworks. He

wanted to send good quality iron to the market. He was a very
vigilant observer and hardworking and used to visit his mill even
at night for supervision. He was kind and sympathetic to the
peddler. But his kindness to him is due to the fact that he mistook
the peddler to be his old regimental comrade Nils Olof. That is
why when he came to know the truth about the peddler, he got
angry and threatened to call the sheriff.
On the contrary, Edla is more observant than her father. When
she saw him for the first time, she thought the peddler was either
a thief or a jailbreaker. But she was unlike her father. She had
special sympathy for the unfortunate people. When her father,
knowing the reality of the tramp, asked him to leave, Edla insisted
him to stay to spend the Christmas with them. She knew that the
peddler didn’t have any place in the world and so she invited him
to celebrate Christmas with them. It was only her tenderness and
kind behaviour that aroused the essential goodness in the
peddler.

The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from

the characters to other’s behaviour. Pick out instances of
these surprises.

Ans. ‘The Rattrap’ deals with human emotions. These emotions,

at times, emote unexpected behaviour. One of the most
important such unexpected reactions is of the crofter towards the
peddler. When the peddler asked him for shelter in the night, he
welcomed him and gave him food, tobacco and company. The
crofter bestowed so much confidence in the peddler that he even
showed him the thirty kronor that he had saved.
In another instance, the peddler was first persuaded by
ironmaster to come to his home and when he realised his mistake
he got furious and threatened to call the sheriff. Yet another and
most unexpected reaction is that of Edla Willmansson. When the
peddler was asked to leave immediately, Edla closed the door
and insisted that the tramp stays at their home for Christmas. She
showed extraordinary kindness to him. This reaction was
completely unexpected and brought out the essential goodness
in the peddler and he left the home leaving behind a gift for Edla
along with the money he had stolen.
What made the peddler finally change his ways?

Ans. It was ironmaster’s daughter Edla’s kindness and empathy

that changed the peddler. Throughout his life, the peddler had
never received such kindness. Initially, when Edla invited him
home, she gave him the freedom to leave whenever he wanted.
Later, when the ironmaster realised his mistake, he wanted to
call the sheriff but out of kindness allowed him to leave. But Edla
closed the door and insisted on him to stay for Christmas. Her
kindness brought out the essential goodness in the tramp. Edla
not only served him good food and looked after him very well, but
she also offered him to come to their house every Christmas. This
generous and kind nature worked as a catalyst to bring about a
positive change in the peddler. Thus, by returning the stolen
money along with a rat trap as a Christmas present along with a
note for Edla, the peddler left the house honourably.

How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the

human predicament?

Ans. The story deals with the metaphor of ‘Rattrap’. It refers to

the theory that life is a big rattrap. It exists for a purpose to set
baits for people. It offers riches and joys, luxuries and comforts,
food and shelter, heat and clothing exactly as a rattrap offers
cheese and pork. The moment anyone lets himself be tempted
to touch the bait, it closes on him and then everything comes to
an end. The peddler in the story was caught into the trap by the
hospitality received at the crofter the trap by the hospitality
received at the crofter. His extreme poverty forced him to steal
the money. He was at this moment caught into the trap of his own
guilt. Even at the ironmaster’s house, he is caught in his own trap.
But it is Edla’s extreme kindness and generosity which enabled
him to come out of quiet this trap of his and he left the house as
a freeman, after confessing his wrong deed and leaving the
stolen money. Thus, the metaphor of rattrap very applies
highlighted the fact that if you take something you want
wrongfully, you will usually get trapped in life by your own
consequences.

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 endear him to us?

Ans. The peddler is one of the most amusing characters. His

theory of rattrap itself is an excellent example of humour in the
story. The very idea of comparing a man’s greediness for money
and wealth to a rat which hungrily looks around for food and
finally gets in the trap evokes humour. Moreover, the tramp
himself committed the same error by stealing the crofter’s money
is so ironical. The peddler’s attempt not to undeceive the
ironmaster, in spite of being afraid to accept the invitation, is very
comical. Some of the other funny scenes are when he displayed
his smartness after he was recognised by the ironmaster. The
display of his anger and frustration at the point when the
ironmaster threatened to call the police is also very humorous. In
spite of all the things that he did, he came out to be a very lovable
character and endears us when he confessed his guilt and left
the house in an honourable manner leaving the stolen money, a
note and a Christmas gift for Edla.

The reader’s sympathy is with the peddler right from the

beginning of the story. Why is this? Is the sympathy
justified?

Ans. ‘The Rattrap’ is written in the backdrop of the industrial

revolution in Sweden in the second half of the nineteenth
century. Many families were displaced by the growing
industry and some people were reduced to a life of extreme
poverty. The peddler in the story was a victim of such an
economic change. He managed his life by begging and
stealing. The pitiable state in which he was living evokes the
sympathy of the reader. Even when he stole the money of the
crofter, we don’t consider him to be a criminal. It was taken
as a normal reaction of a poor man when he saw so much
money easily available to him.
Thus, the peddler’s extreme poverty and the circumstances
in which he lived, make the reader sympathetic to him from
the beginning of the story which is quite justified.

The story also focuses on human loneliness and the need

to bond with others.

[Link] doubt the story focuses on the human loneliness and

the need to bond with others. The protagonist of the story,
i.e. the peddler was a vagabond who had no family and led
a lonely life. As he had no companion to talk to, he was left
to own meditation. The crofter was also a lonely man with
no wife or children. When he saw the peddler, he was happy
to get someone to talk to and that is why treated him with
good food and tobacco. Moreover, ironmaster and his
daughter Edla too were leading a lonely life. The ironmaster’s
wife died long ago and his sons lived abroad. They had no
family and friends to celebrate Christmas.
Thus, the story deals with the loneliness of human beings in
different situations and their struggle to cope with
loneliness.

The story is both entertaining and philosophical.

Ans. The Rattrap’ has both entertaining and philosophical

aspects. The very title of the story is metaphorical. it refers
 to the theory that life is a big rattrap and sets baits for
people. Instead of cheese and pork, life offers riches and joys,
luxuries, food, shelter, etc. As soon as a human being gets
tempted to touch the bait, it closes on him. The peddler got
trapped in such a situation when he stole the money of the
crofter. Despite the philosophical aspect of the story, it
always remains entertaining and binds the reader till the
end. The character of the peddler is so entertaining and
comical. The very idea of the peddler himself falling into the
trap is humorous. The story has a clear and excellent
progression of the theme. There is always an element of
curiosity. The climax of the story is enthralling. When Edla
and ironmaster come back from the church with an idea that
the peddler must have taken away all the silver, they find a
gift and the stolen money left by him. Thus the story is
narrated in such a style that it entertains the reader, besides
providing a philosophical insight into life.

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EDLA IRONMASTER

• Is observant, perceptive • Is impulsive

• Is forgiving and compassionate • Father not
• Is persuasive
• Is intuitive • Father not
• Wanted him to stay as Christmas • Is realistic and practical
guest as they had promised him • Father wanted to hand him over to
police when he came to know the
true identity.