Selma Lagerlof
Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf (1858-1940) was a Swedish author and 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
Quick Summary of the story Rattrap
1. ‘The Rattrap’ is a story that underlines a belief that essential goodness in human beings can be aroused through sympathy, understanding, and love.
2. Once a man went around selling small rattraps but he took to begging and thievery to keep his body and soul together.
3. One day he was struck with the idea – the whole world is a big rattrap and it offers riches as bait.
4. People let themselves be tempted to touch the bait then it closes in on them bringing an end to everything.
5. One evening the rattrap peddler sought shelter in an old crofter’s roadside cottage.
6. The old man gave him food, tobacco they enjoyed the card game too.
7. The next morning the peddler stole away his thirty kroner.
8. The rattrap peddler escaped into a big confusing forest and got lost.
9. While resting on the ground he recollected his idea that the world is a rattrap and thought his end was near.
10. Hearing a thumping sound he reached Ramsjo ironworks for a night shelter.
11. The owner came on his nightly rounds and noticed the ragged wretch near the furnace.
12. He took at him and thought he was his old acquaintance ‘Nils Olof.’
13. He invited him to stay with them for Christmas but the stranger declined the offer.
14. His daughter Edla Willmansson persuaded him to go home with him.
15. She requested him to stay for Christmas Eve only.
16. On his way to the Manor House the peddler thought that he had thrown himself into the lion’s den.
17. The Peddler is scrubbed, bathed, given a haircut, a shave and a suit of old clothes of the ironmaster.
18. The next day in broad daylight the ironmaster realized the stranger was not a captain and threatened to call the sheriff.
19. The peddler is agitated and breaks out that the world is rattrap and he too is sure to be caught in it. The ironmaster is amused but orders him out.
20. Edla pleaded for him and asked him to stay back.
21. Christmas Eve at Ramsjo was as usual and the stranger slept and slept.
22. She made him understand that if he wanted to rest in peace he would welcome next Christmas also. This had a miraculous effect on him.
23. The next morning they went for early church service leaving behind the guest who was asleep.
24. They learned at church that a rattrap peddler had robbed an old crofter.
25. 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.
26. 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.
The theme of the story
Every person has his philosophical side:-
There is a philosophical angle in the story. The lonely tramp is a philosopher too. He thinks that the world too is a rattrap. As rats are lured by pork and cheese to enter the trap, so are men lured by riches, luxuries and other materialistic things. These are different baits. Those fall for them get trapped. He knew a few persons who were already trapped and others who were trying to bite the bait and get trapped.
Human Kindness :-
“The Rattrap” is a short story that centers around the transforming power of human kindness and trust. An unnamed peddler of rattraps goes from seeing the world as “one big rattrap” and engaging in robbery to returning his stolen money and proclaiming himself free—all as a result of experiencing true kindness and generosity from Edla Williamson on Christmas Eve. By showing the peddler’s potential for positive change, Swedish writer Selma Lagerlöf expresses a belief that there is a core of goodness in people, and that this goodness can be kindled through compassion and kindness.
Trust v/s Cynicism:-
As “The Rattrap” begins, the homeless peddler is defined by his “rattrap” philosophy of life: that the world is a big rattrap that offers “bait” in the form of luxuries and pleasures, and it astrays and ruins anyone who fall for it. This is a fundamentally cynical worldview, and one that the story ultimately undercuts by showing its limitations and offering an alternate philosophy. Though life can be harsh and cruel at times, Selma Lagerlöf suggests that being wholly cynical only leads one to isolation, immorality, and unhappiness. Instead, the story advocates for a more trusting worldview, one that takes human kindness into account and can build community between people.
Loneliness and Companionship:-
Connected to the themes of kindness and trust, “The Rattrap” also explores the basic human need for companionship, and shows the negative impacts of loneliness caused by poverty, cynicism, or unkindness. At the start of the story, the peddler leads an incredibly lonely life, and this affects him negatively, causing him unhappiness and bitterness, and his poverty drives him to steal from and lie to others. Through the peddler’s transformative interaction with the old man, the ironmaster, and Edla Williamson, however, the story shows the importance of human companionship, and suggests that society should bring people together rather than isolating them or turning them against each other.
Morality
The moral of the story is that people often rise to the expectations set for them by others. It is quite evident by the vagabond's gift and letter to Edla. As the Willmanssons treated him like a captain, the vagabond mended himself and got inspired to live a life befitting a captain. However, it's a simplistic and optimistic conclusion to apply to the extreme poverty Lagerlöf ascribes to the vagabond, but it is nonetheless proposed this moral .
Question-Answer
Short Answer question
1 What was the peddler’s philosophy about rattrap? Why did it amuse him?
The peddler’s philosophy was that the whole world is a rattrap with several baits in it. As one is tempted to bait and fall for it the door is closed and everything comes to an end like in a rattrap. The thought amused him because he has so far been selling rattrap; but not fallen in this world’s rattrap.
2 What kind of host was the old crofter?
The old crofter was an affectionate and generous host. He warmly welcomed the peddler as he got someone to talk to in his loneliness. He served him porridge for his supper and offered a pipe with tobacco roll to smoke and finally played with him mjolis till bedtime.
3 The reader’s sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning? Is it justified? Give reasons.
The rattrap peddler draws reader’s sympathy because of his poverty. The author’s description of his clothes and appearance like –“his clothes are in rags, his cheeks are sunken and hunger gleams his eyes” and his resorting to begging and petty thievery to keep his body and soul together evoke reader’s sympathy.
4 Who do you think was at fault-the ironmaster or the peddler? Give two reasons.
I think the ironmaster was at fault because it was he who invited the tramp to his house for the Christmas thinking him to be his old acquaintance; but on knowing he was not his acquaintance he could not oppose his daughter’s decision to offer him Christmas cheer.
5 Why was the peddler grateful to the ironmaster and his daughter?
The peddler was grateful to the ironmaster and his daughter as they empowered him to release himself from the world’s rattrap through their selfless hospitality, trust, love, sympathy, compassion and understanding.
6 How did the peddler earn his livelihood? What kind of life did he live?
The peddler earned his livelihood by selling small rattraps of wire, which he used to make himself from the material got by begging in the stores or at big farms. But this was not enough, so he had to beg and steal. He roamed about like a vagabond all alone. He lived a sad, isolated and monotonous life .
7. How did the crofter treat peddler and why?
The crofter was a lonely man without wife or child. He craved human company to share his loneliness. He welcomed the peddler and offered him porridge for supper and even tobacco. He played cards with him. He even showed him his earnings and let him know where it was kept.
8 Did the pedller respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
No, the peddler did not respect the confidence placed ( reposed/ put) in him by the crofter. He broke his trust as the very next morning he picked the thirty kronors. The evil in him forced him to do so.
9 What made the peddler accept Edla Willmanson's invitation?
Edla sympathized with the vagabond understanding that he was going through a hard time. She was compassionate and benevolent. She was friendly so that the vagabond felt confident. She insisted that he could leave at his will after spending Christmas with them. Because of her friendly request, the peddler accepted her invitation.
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS:-
1. What rattrap was the peddler trapped in? How did he come out of it?
Key points
• the whole world a rattrap
• world full of temptations
• shelter food, joy and riches – are the baits.
• the bait that he fell for was at the crofter's house
• blamed the crofter for having tempted with his bait.
• initially refused the offer of iron master thinking it to be another bait.
• after meeting with Edla, he got reformed and returned the thirty kronors in a rattrap.
2. Describe how the story, "The Rattrap" shows that basic human goodness can be brought out by understanding and love.
Ans. The story 'The Rattrap' highlights the fact that compassion and concern can awaken the essential goodness in a man.
• The peddler, who had been resorting to begging and thievery all the time, never bothered to clear his identity befooled the ironmaster too.
• But, Edla gave him a royal treatment, served him delicious supper, gifted her father's dress to him.
• This kind of unconditioned love and compassion from Edla made him realise his mistake and he confessed his guilt too.
• This way, she made a lot of difference in his life and he got transformed into a much better person.
• He left the stolen money behind, even a letter and a gift for Edla.
Additional Questions ( short answer question)
1. What strange idea about the world struck the peddler?
2. Why did the peddler decline the iron master's invitation?
3. Pick out two instances from the story 'The Rattrap' to show that the peddler realized that he himself was trapped?
4. What had the peddler left behind as a Christmas gift for Edla Willmanson? Why?
5. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left behind by the peddler?
Additional questions ( long answer question)
1. The peddler betrayed the trust of the crofter and was caught in the trap of the world. Temptation to bait should be restricted at all cost. Write a note on "Strength of Character".
2. How are the attitudes of the icon master and his daughter different? Support your answer from the text.
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