Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

THE RATTRAP
BY: SELMA LAGERLOF
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: FROM WHERE DID THE PEDDLER GET

THE IDEA OF THE WORLD BEING A
RATTRAP?
Answer: The peddler had been thinking of his rattraps
when suddenly he was struck by the idea that the whole
world was nothing but a big rattrap. It existed only to set
baits for people. It offered riches and joys, shelter and
food, heat and clothing in the same manner as the
rattrap offered cheese and pork. As soon as someone
let himself be tempted to touch the bait, it closed in on
him, and then everything came to an end.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: WHY WAS HE AMUSED BY

THIS IDEA?
Answer: His own life was sad and monotonous. He
walked laboriously from place to place. The world had
never been kind to him. So, during his gloomy ploddings,
this idea became his favourite pastime. He was amused
by how people let themselves be caught in the
dangerous snare and how others were still circling
around the bait.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: DID THE PEDDLER EXPECT THE

KIND OF HOSPITALITY THAT HE RECEIVED
FROM THE CROFTER?
Answer: The crofter served him porridge for
supper and tobacco for his pipe. He also
played a game of cards with him till bedtime.
This hospitality was unexpected as people
usually made sour faces when the peddler
asked for shelter.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: WHY WAS THE CROFTER SO TALKATIVE

AND FRIENDLY WITH THE PEDDLER?

Answer: The crofter’s circumstances and

temperament
made him so talkative and friendly with the
peddler. Since he had no wife or child, he was
happy to get someone to talk to in his
loneliness. Secondly, he was quite generous
with his confidence.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: WHY DID HE SHOW THE THIRTY KRONOR

TO THE PEDDLER?

Answer: The crofter had told the peddler that by

supplying his cow’s milk to the creamery, he had
received thirty kronor in payment. The peddler
seemed to doubt it. So, in order to assure his
guest of the truth, he showed the thirty kronor to
the peddler.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: DID THE PEDDLER RESPECT THE

CONFIDENCE REPOSED IN HIM BY THE
CROFTER?

Answer: No, the peddler did not respect the

confidence reposed in him by the crofter. At
the very first opportunity that he got, he
smashed the windowpane, took out the
money and hung the leather pouch back in its
place. Then he went away.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: WHAT MADE THE PEDDLER THINK THAT HE

HAD INDEED FALLEN INTO A RATTRAP?

Answer: The peddler realised that he must not

walk on the public highway with the stolen
money in his pocket. He went into the woods.
He kept walking without coming to the end of the
wood. Then he realised that he had fallen in the
rattrap. He had let himself fooled by a bait and
had been caught in.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: WHY DID THE IRONMASTER SPEAK KINDLY

TO THE PEDDLER AND INVITE HIM HOME?

Answer: The ironmaster walked closely up to

the peddler. In the uncertain reflection from the
furnace, he mistook the man as his old
regimental comrade, Captain Von Stahle. He
addressed the stranger as Nils Olof, spoke very
kindly and invited him home.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: WHY DID THE PEDDLER DECLINE THE

INVITATION?

Answer: The peddler knew that the ironmaster

had mistaken him for his old regimental
comrade.
Secondly, he had stolen money—thirty kronor—
on him. Going to the ironmaster’s residence
would be like entering the lion’s den. So, he
declined the invitation.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: WHAT MADE THE PEDDLER ACCEPT EDLA

WILLMANSSON’S INVITATION?

Answer: Miss Edla Willmansson looked at the

peddler quite compassionately. She noticed that the
man was afraid. She assured him that he would be
allowed to leave just as freely as he came. She
requested him to stay with them over Christmas
Eve. Her friendly manner made the peddler feel
confident in her and accept her invitation.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi
.0

QUES:WHAT DOUBTS DID EDLA HAVE ABOUT

THE PEDDLER?

Answer: As Edla lifted the peddler’s hat, he

jumped up abruptly and seemed to be quite
frightened. Even her kind looks, disclosure of her
name and purpose of visit failed to calm him.
From his fear, she thought that either he had
stolen something or he had escaped from jail.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: WHEN DID THE IRONMASTER REALISE HIS

MISTAKE?
Answer: The next morning, the stranger was
cleaned and well-dressed. The valet had bathed
him, cut his hair and shaved him. He was led to the
dining room for breakfast. The ironmaster saw him
in broad daylight. It was impossible to mistake him
for an old acquaintance now.
Then the ironmaster realised his mistake and
threatened to call the Sheriff.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: HOW DID THE PEDDLER DEFEND HIMSELF

AGAINST NOT HAVING REVEALED HIS TRUE IDENTITY?

Answer: The peddler explained that he had not

tried to pretend as his acquaintance. He was not
at fault. All along he had maintained that he was a
poor trader. He had pleaded and begged to be
allowed to stay in the forge. No harm had been
done by his stay. He was willing to put on his rags
again and go away.
 Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: WHY DID EDLA STILL ENTERTAIN THE

PEDDLER EVEN AFTER SHE KNEW THE TRUTH
ABOUT HIM?
Answer: Edla did not think it proper on their part to
chase away a human being whom they had asked
to come to their house and had promised him
Christmas cheer. She understood the reality of the
peddler’s life and wanted him to enjoy a day of
peace with them. Hence, she still entertained the
peddler even after knowing the truth about him.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: WHY WAS EDLA HAPPY TO SEE THE GIFT

LEFT BY THE PEDDLER?
Answer: As soon as Edla opened the package of the
gift, the contents came into view. She found a small
rattrap with three wrinkled ten kronor notes and a
letter addressed to her. The peddler wanted to be
nice in return as she had been so nice to him all day
long. He did not want her to be embarrassed at the
Christmas season by a thief.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: WHY DID THE PEDDLER SIGN HIMSELF AS

CAPTAIN VON STAHLE?

Answer: The ironmaster has invited the peddler to

his house mistaking him for Captain von Stahle.
He was welcomed there and looked after as
captain even after the reality became known. The
peddler got a chance to redeem himself from
dishonest ways by acting as an honourable
Captain.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: HOW DOES THE PEDDLER INTERPRET THE ACTS OF

KINDNESS AND HOSPITALITY SHOWN BY THE CROFTER,
THE IRON MASTER AND HIS DAUGHTER?

Answer: The peddler interprets the acts of kindness and

hospitality shown by the crofter, the iron master and his
daughter differently. He cheats the crofter as he provides his
company in his loneliness and helps him pass time. He
wants to get a couple of kronor from the iron master and is
surprised at the contrasting style of behaviour of father and
daughter. He is touched by the kindness, care and
intervention of Edla on his behalf.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: 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?

Answer: The ironmaster is impulsive* whereas his daughter is logical,

kind and thoughtful. In uncertain light, he (iron master) mistakes the
stranger as his old regiment comrade. He invites him home and takes
care of his feeding, clothing, etc. When he sees him in broad daylight he
calls the man dishonest, demands an explanation and is ready to call in
the sheriff. His daughter is more observant. She notices the fear of the
stranger and thinks that either he is a thief or a runaway prisoner. In
spite of that, she is gentle, kind, and friendly to him. She treats him
nicely even after knowing the mistake in identity.
 Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: THE STORY HAS MANY INSTANCES OF UNEXPECTED REACTIONS FROM

THE CHARACTERS TO OTHERS’ BEHAVIOUR. PICK OUT INSTANCES OF THESE
SURPRISES.

Answer: The peddler is surprised at the warm welcome, generous supper, cheerful
company, and intimate confidences by the crofter. The ironmaster addresses the
peddler as Captain von Stahle. He is surprised when the ironmaster calls him “Nils
Olof. The ironmaster assumes his declining the invitation a result of embarrassment
caused by his miserable clothing. The peddler’s comparison of the world to a rattrap
makes the ironmaster laugh and he drops the idea of calling in the sheriff.
The peddler looks at Edla in boundless amazement when she tells him that the suit
is a Christmas present. She also invites him to spend next Christmas with them.
She does all this even after knowing the mistake about his identity. The crofter is
robbed by his guest, the rattrap peddler, in return for his hospitality.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: WHAT MADE THE PEDDLER FINALLY CHANGE

HIS WAYS?
Answer: Edla Willmansson treated the tramp in a friendly
manner. She was nice and kind to her. She interceded on his
behalf when her father was about to turn him out. She still
entertained the peddler even after knowing the truth about
him. She offered him the suit as a Christmas present and
invited him to spend the next Christmas with them. Her love
and understanding aroused the essential goodness in the
peddler and finally, he changed his ways.
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: HOW DOES THE METAPHOR OF THE RATTRAP

SERVE TO HIGHLIGHT THE HUMAN PREDICAMENT?

Answer: The world entices a person through the various

good things of life such as riches and joy, shelter and food,
heat and clothing. These were just like the baits in the
rattrap. Once someone is tempted by the bait, the world
closed on him. The peddler was tempted by thirty kronor of
the crofter. It makes him hide. He walks through the wood.
He is afraid to go to the Manor house. He gets peace only
after returning the bait (money).
Prepared By: Yasmeen Kazmi

QUES: 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?

Answer: The peddler has a subtle sense of humour, which is

revealed during his interactions with the ironmaster and his
daughter after the truth about him becomes known. He is neither
afraid of being turned out in cold in rags nor of being sent to
prison. He makes the ironmaster laugh with his metaphor of the
rattrap. His letter with the Christmas present to Edla is a fine
example of his capacity to make others laugh at him. Thus, he
lightens the seriousness of the theme of the story and also
endears himself to us.