ENGLISH PROJECT

THE RATTRAP
by Selma Lagerlöf

NAME: V NAVEEN ISHANTH

CLASS : XII - A

1
The Rattrap

1. What is the main theme of The Rattrap?

The main theme is that the world is like a rattrap, full of temptations
that can trap people into misery. Selma Lagerlöf uses the peddler’s
journey to illustrate how greed and material desires can lead one
into trouble. However, the story also shows that redemption is
possible through compassion and trust. The metaphor of the rattrap
is central to the entire narrative.

2. How is the rattrap metaphor significant to the story’s

theme?

The rattrap metaphor represents life’s temptations — like money,

fame, and possessions — that lure people but eventually trap them.
For the peddler, the stolen thirty kronor is the “bait” that leads him
into the forest. This metaphor reflects his cynical worldview at the
beginning, but by the end, it transforms into a symbol of escape
through kindness.

2
3. How does the peddler’s transformation relate to the theme?

The peddler begins as a selfish, bitter man who believes no one

can be trusted. However, after experiencing Edla’s kindness, he
realises that compassion can break the trap of greed and
dishonesty. His decision to return the stolen money shows that
people can change. This transformation is the heart of the theme
— the possibility of moral redemption.

4. How is greed connected to the theme of The Rattrap?

Greed is shown as the bait in the rattrap of life. The peddler’s desire
for the crofter’s money pushes him into both physical and moral
entrapment. The story warns readers about the dangers of giving
in to greed, showing how it can lead to isolation, guilt, and trouble.

5. How does loneliness contribute to the story’s theme?

The story portrays loneliness as another kind of trap. The crofter,

the peddler, and even the ironmaster live isolated lives. Their
loneliness makes them more vulnerable — the crofter to trusting
strangers, the peddler to moral downfall, and the ironmaster to
longing for company. Kindness, shown by Edla, breaks this
isolation.
3
6. How does the forest act as a symbol in the theme?

The forest symbolises confusion, entrapment, and the

consequences of greed. After stealing the money, the peddler gets
lost in the forest, which mirrors the trap he believes life to be. It
shows that once a person falls into temptation, finding the way out
is not easy.

7. How is irony used to highlight the theme?

Ironically, the man who compares the world to a rattrap ends up

caught in his own “trap” after theft. The ironmaster’s mistaken
identity leads to the peddler’s rescue instead of arrest. This use of
irony strengthens the theme by showing that life is unpredictable,
and kindness can appear in unexpected ways.

8. What role does kindness play in the theme?

Kindness acts as the escape from the trap. Edla’s decision to treat
the peddler with dignity changes his heart. Her generosity on
Christmas Eve contrasts with his earlier acts of theft and
dishonesty. This proves the story’s message that compassion can
inspire change.

4
9. How does Christmas setting strengthen the theme?

The story takes place during Christmas, a time associated with

charity, forgiveness, and goodwill. This festive backdrop makes
Edla’s kindness more meaningful and the peddler’s transformation
more believable. The season reinforces the message of hope and
redemption.

10. What moral lesson does the story convey?

The moral is that material temptations can trap people, but

kindness and trust can free them. It encourages readers to avoid
greed and to show compassion even to those who seem
undeserving. It also teaches that judging someone only by their
past can be unfair.

11. How does the ending reflect the theme?

The ending, where the peddler leaves the stolen money and a note
signed “Captain von Stahle,” symbolises his escape from the moral
trap. It proves that people can change when given respect and
understanding. This ending shifts the theme from one of cynicism
to one of hope.

5
12. How does the crofter’s role contribute to the theme?

The crofter’s kindness in offering shelter is a sharp contrast to the

peddler’s betrayal. His character shows both the beauty and the
risk of trust. Without the crofter’s money, the peddler would not
have faced the forest trap, making him a key figure in developing
the theme.

13. How is trust portrayed in the theme of the story?

Trust is shown as a double-edged sword. The crofter’s trust is

betrayed, but Edla’s trust is honoured. This contrast demonstrates
that while trust can be broken, it can also heal and inspire moral
transformation.

14. How does the title reflect the theme?

The title The Rattrap directly points to the story’s main metaphor
and theme — the world as a trap filled with temptations. It captures
the essence of the plot and the peddler’s journey from being
trapped by greed to being freed by kindness.

15. What message does the author want readers to take from
the theme?

Selma Lagerlöf wants readers to understand that while life may

seem full of traps and temptations, there is always a way out
through kindness and forgiveness. She reminds us that everyone

6
deserves a chance to change, and even those lost in moral
darkness can find redemption.

16. How does the story combine realism with symbolism in its
theme?

The story uses realistic events — a poor peddler stealing money

and getting lost — but also wraps them in the symbolic metaphor
of the rattrap. The forest, the thirty kronor, and the rattrap itself all
act as symbols of temptation and entrapment. This blending makes
the theme both relatable and thought-provoking.

17. How does the story show that kindness is more effective
than punishment?

If Edla had punished the peddler or handed him to the police, he

might never have changed. Instead, she treats him as an honoured
guest, which makes him want to live up to her trust. This reflects
the theme that kindness can succeed where harshness fails.

18. In what way does the title prepare the reader for the theme?

The title The Rattrap instantly signals a story about traps and
temptations. As the plot unfolds, readers see how the metaphor
applies not only to the peddler but to human life in general. It primes
the audience to look for the moral connections between events and
the theme.

7
19. How does the author explore the conflict between
selfishness and generosity?

The peddler’s theft represents selfishness, while the crofter’s and

Edla’s actions represent generosity. This conflict is at the heart of
the story’s theme. By the end, generosity wins, proving that
goodness can overcome greed.

20. How is the peddler’s final act linked to the theme of

redemption?

Returning the stolen thirty kronor is more than just repaying a debt
— it is symbolic of the peddler freeing himself from the trap of
dishonesty. This act completes the theme’s arc from greed to
selflessness.

21. How does the author show that trust can be risky but
rewarding?

The crofter’s trust is betrayed, showing that trust can hurt. Yet
Edla’s trust is honoured, proving it can also heal. The theme
suggests that while trust involves risk, it is necessary for positive
change.

8
22. How does the season of Christas influence the theme?

Christmas represents love, giving, and forgiveness, which perfectly

aligns with the story’s redemptive theme. The holiday atmosphere
makes Edla’s kindness feel even more meaningful and believable,
helping the peddler transform.

23. How does the story show that moral traps are harder to
escape than physical traps?

The peddler gets out of the forest eventually, but escaping his own
habits of theft and cynicism is harder. Only genuine kindness
breaks this inner trap. The theme suggests that moral freedom is
the real victory.

24. How does the author use contrasts to develop the theme?

There’s a clear contrast between the crofter’s trust and the

peddler’s betrayal, and later between the ironmaster’s suspicion
and Edla’s acceptance. These contrasts help emphasis the theme
of moral growth through kindness.

25. How is the theme relevant to modern life?

Even today, people fall into “traps” of materialism, dishonesty, and
greed. The story’s message — that kindness and trust can inspire

9
change — is timeless and relevant to personal and social
relationships in the modern world.

26. How does the story challenge the idea that criminals
cannot change?

Through the peddler’s transformation, the author rejects the belief

that wrongdoers are beyond hope. The theme shows that with
empathy and respect, people can rise above their past mistakes.

27. How does the peddler’s letter strengthen the theme?

The letter is proof of his moral change and gratitude. By signing it

“Captain von Stahle,” he accepts the honor given by Edla,
symbolizing his escape from the rattrap of his old life.

28. How does the theme address the idea of human equality?

The story shows that all people, regardless of their social status,
deserve respect. Edla treats the ragged peddler as an equal, which
inspires him to act honorably. This equality is a key part of the
theme.

10
29. How does the author link temptation with consequences in
the theme?

The peddler’s decision to steal leads to him being lost and fearful
in the forest. This direct cause-and-effect connection reinforces the
theme’s warning against giving in to temptation.

30. What overall life lesson does the theme of The Rattrap
give?

It teaches that life’s temptations can lead us into traps, but

kindness, trust, and respect can help us escape them. The story
leaves readers with hope that moral transformation is always
possible.

31. Who is the author of The Rattrap?

The story The Rattrap is written by Selma Lagerlöf, a Swedish

author and teacher who became the first woman to win the Nobel
Prize in Literature in 1909. Known for her deep understanding of
human nature, she often combined realism with moral lessons in
her stories. In The Rattrap, she uses the life of a poor vagabond to
reflect on the temptations of the world and the possibility of
redemption. Her narrative style is simple yet profound, making her
stories timeless. The tale has a universal message about
compassion and transformation.
11
 32. What is the central theme of The Rattrap?

The main theme of the story is that the world is like a rattrap, full
of bait and temptations which can trap people in misery. The
peddler believes that people often get trapped by greed and
material desires just like rats get trapped by cheese. Alongside this
metaphor, the story focuses on human loneliness and the
transformative power of kindness. Edla’s compassion becomes a
turning point in the peddler’s life, showing that even the most
hopeless individuals can change if treated with dignity and respect.

33. Who is the main character in the story?

The protagonist is an unnamed poor peddler who makes and sells

rattraps. He is homeless, dressed in rags, and survives by begging
or petty theft. Initially, he is cynical, believing that the whole world
is a rattrap meant to ensnare people. His life takes a turn after
meeting kind people like the crofter and Edla. The story traces his
journey from being a petty thief to a reformed man, highlighting his
emotional transformation through kindness.

34. Why does the peddler compare the world to a rattrap?

The peddler compares the world to a rattrap because he believes

it offers material pleasures like bait to trap people. Just as a rat is
tempted by cheese and gets caught, humans are lured by money,
possessions, and luxuries, only to find themselves trapped in
12
difficulties. This idea reflects his own bitterness towards life, as he
has experienced hardship and rejection. The metaphor also acts
as a warning that greed and temptation often lead to trouble. Later
in the story, this belief becomes symbolic of his own situation in the
forest.

35. What was the peddler’s condition when first introduced?

When the story begins, the peddler is in a pitiful state — wearing

rags, his cheeks hollow from hunger, and his back bent from long
walks. He is a lonely wanderer with no family or friends, earning
barely enough to survive by selling small rattraps. Sometimes,
when business is bad, he resorts to begging or stealing to get food.
His appearance reflects his hopeless and directionless life. He has
no permanent shelter, and every day is a struggle for survival.

36. Who gave the peddler shelter the first night?

The first person to show kindness to the peddler is an old crofter.

The crofter lives alone in a small cottage near a roadside. He
welcomes the peddler warmly, offering him food, tobacco, and
conversation. The crofter is glad to have company for the night as
he feels lonely. This gesture of hospitality contrasts with the
peddler’s usual experience of rejection and indifference from
society.

13
37. Why was the crofter lonely?

The crofter’s loneliness is due to the fact that he lives in isolation.

He has no wife or children and spends his days tending to his cow
and managing his small farm. Because of his solitude, he feels
happy to have a guest to talk to. His eagerness to share details
about his life, including his earnings from cow’s milk, shows his
desire for human connection and trust.

38. What did the crofter show the peddler?

During their conversation, the crofter proudly shows the peddler

thirty kronor, which he earned by selling milk to the creamery. He
keeps the money in a leather pouch hung on a window frame. The
crofter’s openness and trust show his innocence, but unfortunately,
this trust is later betrayed by the peddler, highlighting the peddler’s
moral weakness at that stage in the story.

39. How did the peddler betray the crofter’s trust?

The next morning, after the crofter leaves to milk his cow, the
peddler returns to the cottage, breaks the window, and steals the
pouch containing thirty kronor. This act is a complete betrayal of
the hospitality shown to him. The theft also shows the peddler’s
desperation and lack of moral values at that point in time. However,
this crime sets off a chain of events that eventually leads to his
moral awakening.
14
40. What problem did the peddler face after stealing the
money?

After stealing the money, the peddler tries to take a different path
through the forest to avoid being caught. However, the forest is
large and confusing, and he soon loses his way. As darkness falls,
he realises that he is walking in circles, unable to find the road. This
situation makes him feel trapped, just like in the rattrap metaphor
he always talks about. The irony is that he has fallen into his own
“rattrap” of greed.

41. Who rescued the peddler from the forest?

The person who helps him is Edla Willmansson, the ironmaster’s

daughter. She meets him when she and her father visit the forge
and see him resting by the furnace. Edla persuades him to come
home with them for Christmas. Unlike her father, she speaks to him
with gentle politeness rather than suspicion. Her kindness is
genuine and becomes the first step towards his transformation.

42. Why did the ironmaster invite the peddler home?

The ironmaster mistakes the peddler for an old regimental friend

he once served with in the army. Seeing him in the dim light of the
forge, he assumes the peddler’s shabby appearance is due to bad
luck and offers him shelter for Christmas. His initial invitation is
15
based on personal recognition rather than charity. However, when
he later discovers the truth, his attitude changes sharply.

43. How did the peddler react to the ironmaster’s invitation?

The peddler is initially reluctant to go, fearing that it might lead to

trouble if people find out about his theft. He tries to politely refuse
the ironmaster’s invitation, preferring to stay unnoticed. However,
after Edla speaks kindly and assures him he will be safe, he agrees
to come along. His hesitation shows that he is used to mistrust and
trouble in his life.

44. Why did Edla insist the peddler come home even after the
truth was revealed?

When the ironmaster realises that the peddler is not his old friend
but a stranger, he becomes angry and wants to throw him out.
However, Edla convinces her father to let him stay, saying it is
Christmas Eve and they should show kindness to someone who
needs it. She feels pity for the peddler’s lonely and miserable life,
and believes in treating guests with respect regardless of their past.

16
45. How does the peddler spend Christmas at the ironmaster’s
house?

The peddler is treated with warmth and respect, allowed to wear

clean clothes and rest in comfort. Edla makes sure he feels at
home, speaking to him kindly and without judgment. For the first
time in his life, he experiences genuine hospitality without
suspicion. This treatment deeply touches him and begins to change
his outlook on life.

46. How does the peddler’s view on life change at Edla’s

house?

At Edla’s home, the peddler experiences kindness without any

expectation of reward. This makes him rethink his cynical belief that
the world is only a rattrap. He realises that trust and compassion
can bring out the good in people. The contrast between the crofter’s
betrayed trust and Edla’s unwavering kindness becomes a turning
point for him.

47. What gift does the peddler leave for Edla?

Before leaving, the peddler places a small package on the table.

Inside is a rattrap he made, along with the stolen thirty kronor from
the crofter. There is also a letter addressed to Edla, thanking her

17
for treating him like a real human being. He signs it as “Captain von
Stahle,” the identity the ironmaster had mistakenly given him.

48. What does the peddler’s letter signify?

The letter shows his complete transformation. By returning the

stolen money, he redeems himself from his wrongdoing. Calling
himself “Captain von Stahle” reflects his acceptance of the honour
and dignity Edla bestowed upon him. It is a symbolic rebirth, where
he leaves behind his life of petty theft and cynicism.

49. What role does irony play in the story?

Irony is present throughout the tale — the peddler, who believes

the world is a rattrap, ends up getting trapped in the forest after
committing theft. The ironmaster mistakes him for an old friend,
leading to events that change his life. The greatest irony is that a
thief is reformed not by punishment, but by kindness.

50. How is the peddler different at the end of the story?

At the start, the peddler is bitter, cynical, and dishonest. By the end,
he has become honest, grateful, and hopeful. His transformation is
a result of the trust and kindness shown by Edla. He leaves as a
changed man, determined to live with dignity

18
19