VIDHYANIKETAN PUBLIC SCHOOL

CLASS XII THE RATTRAP - NOTES

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.
Question & Answers
Q1- How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter,
the ironmaster and his daughter?
A1- The peddler was a rattrap seller. He was leading a life of misery. He was homeless. Moreover, he
didn’t have enough money to survive. So, he had to depend upon begging and thievery. He was once
offered shelter by an old crofter. He wanted company and showed kindness towards the peddler by
sharing his porridge and tobacco. In return, the peddler betrayed him and stole his money.The
ironmaster mistook him as his old companion Captain Von Stahle; he showed his kindness to him and
invited him to his house for Christmas Eve. The peddler knew that the ironmaster was making a
mistake by thinking him to be his old friend but here also he did not clear the air and simply accepted
the invitation. He did this so that the ironmaster may give him some money out of pity. Elda
Willmansson who was the iron master’s daughter invited him to their house in a very friendly way.
Also, she insisted her father to let him stay for Christmas Eve even after it was revealed that he was
not Captain Von Stahle. The kind nature of Elda changed the peddler and he not only thanked her by
gifting a rattrap for being so kind and caring but also requested her to return the stolen money to the
old crofter.
Q2- 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?
A2- The character of both ironmaster and his daughter were totally different from each other.The iron
master was a proud man. When he saw the peddler, he mistook him as an old regimental comrade and
tried to help him out of his sense of pride. When he realized that he had been mistaken, he called the
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peddler to be dishonest and also warned him of calling the sheriff. Not only this, he worried about his
silver spoons when he comes to know that peddler was a thief. On the other hand, the ironmaster’s
daughter was a kind lady, who really wanted to help the peddler. She treated him with respect and it
was her kind nature which changed the peddler and made him a good person.
Q3- The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’
behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises?
A3- The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’ behavior. For
example:One evening when the peddler knocked at the door of a little hut, he was not disappointed by
the owner rather he welcomed him and tried to be a good host to him by offering him food and
playing cards with him. In another instance when the peddler went inside a forge to seek shelter,
there he was invited by the iron master to his house as he mistook him as one of his old regimental
comrade. But when the iron master realized that he had invited some unknown person to his house,
he asked him to leave. At his time, he was allowed to stay by his daughter Elda out of kindness.
Q4- What made the peddler finally change his ways?
A4- Edla Willmansson’s kindness reformed the peddler. Her kindness, compassion and generosity
killed the thief in him. He gifted her a rattrap. Also, he returned the three ten kronor notes that he had
stolen from the crofter’s house. He requested her to return the money to the old crofter. He wrote a
letter to her, thanking her for treating him well just like she would have treated a real captain.
Q5- How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
A5- The world tempts the human beings by various good things such as the luxuries and joys, food and
shelter, clothing and warmth, etc. They are just like the bait which is planted to trap someone in the
rattrap of the world. In the story the peddler was attracted to the three ten kronor of the crofter,
which he stole from him. Later on, he found himself trapped in the forest as he planned to hide himself
by walking through the woods. When he got trapped, he thought that this was a punishment for his sin
of getting lured by the money.
Q6- 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?
A6- We can see the peddler’s sense of humour when he compares the world with a rattrap. Whenever
he gets caught due to his own knitted stories, he tries to prove his innocence by believing that he has
fallen into the trap of this world which actually is like a rattrap. This lightens the seriousness of the
story and makes the reader sympathize with him.
Q7. The reader’s sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning of the story. Why is this
so? Is the sympathy justified?
Ans: The peddler wins our sympathy for his way of life and how the world treats him. It is an admitted
fact that the underdog always runs away with sympathy, so does the peddler with the rattraps. He
begs the material like wire for his rattraps. His business not being specially profitable, he resorts to
begging and petty thievery to keep body and soul together.
His life is sad and monotonous. He plods along the road lost in his own meditation. The world has
never been very kind to him and he feels happy in calling it a rattrap. Whenever, he asks shelter for
the night, he meets sour faces. He is an unwelcome, unwanted and undesirable figure. The blacksmiths
at forge glance at him only casually and indifferently. The master blacksmith nods a haughty consent
without honouring him with a single word.
The old and lonely crofter finds him an enjoyable company. The ironmaster mistakes him for an old
regimental comrade. Only Edla Willmansson behaves with him in a kind, friendly manner. Her nice
treatment arouses the tramp’s goodness. He redeems himself by returning the stolen money and wins
our admiration. Thus, we see that the sympathy is not only well earned but well justified too.
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Q8. The story also focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others.
Ans: There are at least three characters in the story who suffer from loneliness and express the need
to bond with others. They represent three strata of the human society as well. The peddler with the
rattraps, the old crofter and the ironmaster all suffer from loneliness. The peddler is called a tramp, a
vagabond and stranger at various points of the story. He moves wearily from one place to the other.
He is lost in his own thoughts. He seeks shelter for night and people look at him with sour faces. Even
the blacksmiths look haughtily at him and nod consent. The old crofter suffers from loneliness as he
has neither wife nor child with him. Hence, he feels happy when he gets the peddler to talk to in his
loneliness.
The ironmaster is also lonely in his manor house. His wife Elizabeth has died and his sons are abroad.
There is no one at home except his oldest daughter and himself. His requests to Captain von Stahle to
accompany him show his need for human bonding. He admits frankly that they didn’t have any
company for Christmas. The stranger turns down the request not because he is against bonding with
others but because he fears being caught with stolen money.
Q9. The story is both entertaining and philosophical. Discuss.
Ans: The story entertains us by providing glimpses into human nature and how people react to
various situations. The actions of the peddler after stealing thirty kronor are quite amusing. The
reactions of the blacksmiths to the tramp’s request for shelter show how casual and indifferent human
beings can be.
The U-turn in the ironmaster’s attitude towards the stranger reveal how selfish and ignorant human
beings can be. Mistaking the vagabond for his old regimental comrade, whom he thinks he has run
across unexpectedly, he asks the stranger to accompany him home and spend Christmas with them.
When the stranger refuses to go with him, the ironmaster sends his daughter. With her better
persuasive power she makes him follow her.
The ironmaster is annoyed on seeing the stranger in broad daylight. But instead of realising his own
mistake, he puts the blame on the man. He talks of handing him over to the sheriff. The metaphor of
the world being a rattrap saves the situation for the tramp, but the ironmaster wants to turn him out.
His daughter’s comments are quite entertaining and philosophical. She wants the tramp to enjoy a day
of peace. Secondly, she does not want to chase away a person whom they had invited home and had
promised Christmas cheer.
Q10. What is the theme of the story ‘The Rattrap’ ? How has this theme been developed?
Ans: The theme of the story is that most human beings are prone to fall into the trap of material
benefit. However, every human being has an essential goodness that can be awakened through
understanding and love. A human being has the tendency to redeem himself from dishonest ways.
The theme is developed with the help of the metaphor of the rattrap. The peddler of rattraps calls the
world a big rattrap. The material benefits like riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing are
temptations that that allure a person to fall into the rattrap of the world exactly as the bait of cheese
and pork attract a rat to fall into the rattrap. Once someone takes the bait, the world closes in on him
and then everything is lost.
The peddler is tempted by the thirty kronors of the old crofter. He steals the money. Now he is afraid
of being caught and moves through the woods. It is the kind, sympathetic, loving and generous
treatment given by Edla Willmansson that helps him get himself free from the rattrap of the world.
Q11. Give an account of the peddler’s meeting with the old crofter. How does the peddler
conduct himself? What light does this episode throw on human nature?
Ans: One dark evening the peddler reached a little gray cottage by the roadside. He knocked on the
door to ask shelter for the night. The owner, an old man without wife or child, welcomed him. He was

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happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. He served him hot porridge for supper and gave him
tobacco for his pipe. Then he played cards with him till bed time.
The host told the peddler that in his days of prosperity, he worked on land at Ramsjo Ironworks. Now
his cow supported him. He sold her milk at the creamery everyday. He showed the peddler the thirty
kronor notes he got as payment that month. Then he hung the leather pouch on a nail in the window
frame. Next morning the crofter went to milk the cow, and the peddler went away. However, he
returned after half an hour, broke the window pane, took the money out of the leather pouch and hang
it back on the nail.This episode shows that in loneliness, human beings crave for company, for social
bonding. Secondly, temptations can overpower the greatest philosopher. The peddler who calls the
world a rattrap is himself tempted by thirty kronor.
Q12. How did the peddler feel after robbing the crofter? What course did he adopt and how did
he react to the new situation? What does his reaction highlight?
Ans: Having robbed his generous host, the peddler felt quite pleased with his smartness. He did not
feel any qualms of conscience that he had abused the confidence reposed in him by the crofter. The
selfish wretch thought only of his own safety. He realised the danger of being caught by the police
with the stolen thirty kronor on his person. Hence, he decided to discontinue walking on the public
highway and turn off the road, into the woods.
During the first few hours the woods caused him no difficulty. Later on, it became worse as it was a big
and confusing forest. The paths twisted back and forth. He kept on walking but did not come to the
end of the wood. He realised that he had only been walking around in the same part of the forest. The
forest closed in upon him like an impenetrate prison from which he could never escape.
The reaction of the peddler highlights the predicament of human nature. Temptations lead to evil. The
fruits of evil seem pleasant at first, but they deprive man of his goodness and push him into the maze
of the world which holds a vice-like grip on him.
Q13. (i) ‘The blacksmiths glanced only casually and indifferently at the intruder.’ (ii)“The
ironmaster did not follow the example of the blacksmiths who had hardly deigned to look at
the stranger” What do these attitudes reveal? How does the forge-episode help to develop the
story? What is its implication?
Ans: The blacksmiths display the typical attitude of manual workers and labourers for whom work is
the first priority and parasites on human society are drags on the fruit of their labour. The master
blacksmith nods a haughty consent without honouring the intruder with a single word. Evidently, he
regards the tramp as insignificant.
The ironmaster, who is on his nightly round of inspection, behaves differently. He walks closely up to
him and looks him over carefully. Then he removes his slouch hat to get a better view of his face. In
the uncertain light of the furnace he mistakes the stranger for his old regimental comrade and
requests him to go home with him. When the stranger declines the invitation, the ironmaster sends his
daughter to persuade him to spend Christmas Eve with them. Thus the forge episode helps to develop
the story.The episode highlights the difference in the reactions of various persons to the same set of
circumstances. This reveals the shades of human nature. It shows that even the person with best
discernment may commit an error of judgement.
Q14. Bring out the contrast in the ironmaster’s attitude and behaviour towards the stranger
before and after he realises his mistake.
Ans: The ironmaster is moved to see his old regimental comrade in a pitiable state. He considers it a
mistake on his part to have resigned from the regiment. He insists that his old comrade will go home
with him. As the stranger declines the invitation, he thinks that the man feels embarrassed because of
his miserable clothing. He explains that he does not have such a fine home that he cannot show
himself there. He requests the stranger to provide company to him and his daughter for Christmas.
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When the stranger refuses thrice, he sends his daughter, with a big fur coat to persuade him. Just
before breakfast on Christmas Eve, he thinks of feeding him well and providing him same honourable
piece of work.
His behaviour undergoes a U-turn when he looks at the well-groomed stranger and realises his
mistake. He expresses his displeasure with a wrinkled brow and demands an explanation from the
man. Though the peddler defends himself well saying he never pretended to be someone else, the
ironmaster calls him dishonest and threatens to hand him over to the sheriff. When the metaphor of
world being a rattrap softens him a bit, he asks the peddler to quit at once.
Q15. What impression do you form of Edla on reading the story ‘The Rattrap’ ?
Ans: Miss Edla Willmansson is the eldest daughter of the owner of the Ramsjo Ironworks. She is not
pretty, but modest and quite shy. She is quite obedient and visits the forge at the behest of her father.
She has a wonderful power of observation and takes quick judgement. From the stranger’s frightened
looks, she concludes that he is either a thief or a runaway convict. She uses her skills of persuasion to
make the stranger agree to accompany her home. Her compassionate looks, friendly manner and
polite way of address help her. She tells her father that nothing about the man shows that once he was
an educated man.
She believes in the spirit of Christmas and intercedes on behalf of the stranger to persuade her father
to let him stay and be happy. She first makes a passionate plea and then argues that they should not
chase away a person they had invited themselves and promised him Christmas cheer.
Her dejection on learning that the peddler with rattraps was a thief reflects her sensitiveness. The gift
of the captain makes her happy. It is her noble action that helps a thief redeem himself. In short, she is
an intelligent, affectionate and kind young girl.
Q16. Comment on the ending of the story ‘The Rattrap’.
Ans: The story ‘The Rattrap’ has a very beautiful ending. It helps us to realise that all is not lost for
human beings who are prone to fall into the trap of material benefits. It is the protagonist of the
story—the peddler with the
rattraps—who coins the metaphor of the rattrap, falls himself in it on being tempted and ultimately
redeems himself by renouncing the temptation. His admission that he had been the thief, and the
treatment he got as a captain, show how love and understanding can transform even a depraved soul.
The story thus comes a full circle with the ending. The ending also pays tribute to the goodness of
humanity here exhibited through Miss Edla Willmansson. The happy ending also arouses our
optimism and belief in the essential goodness of man and other human virtues. Thus it serves to
inspire the readers to do noble acts.
Q17. Do you think the title of the story ‘The Rattrap’ is appropriate? Give reasons to support
your answer.
Ans: The story has an appropriate and suggestive title. It at once draws our attention to the central
theme—the whole world is a big rattrap. This metaphor helps us to understand the human
predicament. All the good things of the world are nothing but baits to tempt a person to fall into the
rattrap. Through the character of the peddler, the writer drives home the idea that most human beings
are prone to fall into the trap of material benefits.
The story begins with rattraps and ends with a rattrap as a present for someone who has helped a rat
to get free from the rattrap. Even the middle of the story revolves round the rattrap. The actions of the
peddler after he steals thirty kronor of the old crofter reveal the inner conflicts, tensions and lack of
peace of a person who touches the bait of temptation. Renunciation of the temptation helps in
redemption. Thus, we conclude that the title is apt and significant.
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