The Rattrap

The Rattrap

By Selma Logerlof

About the Author

Swedish writer whose stories have been 

translated into many languages. This story is set in the middle of the mines of Sweden which are rich in iron ore. The story is narrated in the manner of a fairy tale. It gives us the message that the emotions of love and acceptance can reform others.

SETTING

This story is set amidst the mines of Sweden, rich in iron ore which figure large in the history of that country. The story is told somewhat in the manner of a fairy tale.

Theme

The trap of material benefit that most human beings are prone to fall into.

SUB-THEME

The human tendency to redeem oneself from dishonest ways.

Main Characters

• A peddlar with rattraps. 

• An Oldman: A crofter

• Master Smith in the Ramsjo Iron Mill in Sweden

• Helpers in the Mill: blacksmiths

• Iron mill owner

• Edla Willmansson – daughter of the Iron Mill owner.

Gist of the lesson

• The peddler was a vagabond who sold rattraps with a little thievery on the side to make both ends meet. Had no worldly possession to call his own, not even a name 

• It amused him to think of the world as a rattrap.

• Takes shelter at a crofter’s cottage. The crofter welcomed him, gave him diner, shared his pipe, played mjolis with him also confided in him about his income and showed him where he put it.

Cont....

• Next morning, the Peddler steals the money and takes the back roads to keep away from people and gets lost in the jungle at night. While he wanders in the forest, he realizes that he has also got caught in the rattrap and that the money was the bait.

• Finally reaches Ramsjo ironworks, where he takes shelter for the night. 

• The blacksmith and his assistant ignore him, but the master mistakes  him to be an old acquaintance and invites him home. 

• Though the Peddler does not correct the ironmaster, hoping to get some money out of him, he declines his invitation.

Cont...

• The ironmaster then sends his daughter who persuades him to go 

  home with her. She notices his uncouth appearance and thinks that 

  either he has stolen something, or he has escaped from jail.

• The Peddler is scrubbed, bathed, given a haircut, a shave and a suit of old clothes of the ironmaster.

• In the morning light, the iron master realizes he is mistaken and that he is not the Captain. He wants to call the Sheriff.

• 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.

Cont...

• The compassionate Edla convinces her father that he should spend the Christmas day with him.

• The Peddler spends the whole of Christmas Eve eating and sleeping.

• The next day at church, Edla and her father come to know that the Peddler is a thief who stole thirty kroners from the poor crofter.

• Back home, they found a letter addressed to Edla, signed as Captain Von Stahl and a rattrap as a gift from the crofter.

• In the rattrap were the three ten kroner notes of the crofter. 

Multiple Choice

What does the metaphor Rattrap in the lesson signify?

• humans

• thieves

• attractions

• Human greed and distractions

Multiple Choice

What is the theme of The Rattrap?

• essential goodness in a human being can be awakened through understanding and love

• inherent goodness is there in all people

• kindness and compassion should be shown even to criminals

• criminals are also kind people

Multiple Choice

What would have happened if Edla would have gone by her father’s decision?

• the peddler would have gone back to his old ways

• the peddler would have changed any way

• the peddler would have never got out of the forge

• the peddler’s perception would have changed

Multiple Choice

What describes Edla the best?

• Compassionate and pessimistic

• Kind and mild

• Compassionate and humanitarian

• Compassionate and persuasive

Multiple Choice

What food did the crofter serve the tramp

• pizza

• pitas

• porridge

• pastry

Multiple Choice

The tramp was basically a.............

• guest

• sadist

• friend

• sulky

Multiple Choice

Why did the Peddler have to resort to begging and thievery?

• A) poverty

• B) miserable life

• C) because of non-profiatability of his business

• D) none

Multiple Choice

Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?

• It was his real name

• He was pretending to be the iron master's old acquaintance

• He had been raised to a Captain by Edla

• He was trying to deceive the iron master & his daughter

Multiple Choice

What do we learn from this story?

• The latent spark of human goodness is inherent in each of us, which can be stirred by love & understanding

• None of us are infallible & we should think twice before we judge, condemn or criticize the sinner

• Each one of us can succumb to temptation in our weak moments

• All the above

Multiple Choice

The peddler declined the invitation of the iron master but accepted the one from Edla. Why?

• He had fallen in love with her at first sight

• She had looked at him with compassion

• She spoke to him in a friendly and warm manner

• both b & c

• some other reason

Multiple Choice

Why did Edla plead with her father not to send the vagabond away?

• She was a kindhearted woman

• She was pained by the plight of the poor peddler

• She wanted him to spend one day in peace as a respite from the struggle he had to endure round the year

• all the above

• none of the above

Multiple Choice

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

• because she liked receiving gifts

• because she didn't expect a gift from him

• because her trust in him had turned out to be justified

• because of some other reason

Multiple Choice

Why did the crofter show the thirty kronor to the peddler?

• he was very proud of his cow and excited to tell his guest about the profit she gave him

• he unwittingly shared his secret and then showed the money to convince him

• both a & b

• some other reason

Multiple Select

Which options below describe the rattrap peddler the best?

• clothes were ragged and he was dirty

• cheeks were sunken

• hunger gleamed in his eyes

• long beard and had a bunch of rattraps dangling on his chest

• only a, b & c

Multiple Choice

What does the word "puckered brow" mean?

• smiley face

• surprised expression

• (especially with reference to a person's face) tightly gather or contract into wrinkles or small folds.

• none of the above

Multiple Choice

What did the iron master feel when he learnt that the rattrap seller was a thief?

• that the rattrap peddler might steal his silver spoons

• that he should report the matter to the police

• that he should beat the man

• that he should shoot him down

Multiple Choice

"But it occurred to him that if the fine gentleman thought he was an old acquaintance, he might perhaps throw him a couple of kronor"

Who is he 'gentleman' in these lines?

• the rattrap peddler

• the old crofter

• the master blacksmith

• the iron master

Multiple Choice

"But even so, the business was not especially profitable"

Which business is being talked about here?

• the iron mill business

• the business of selling rattraps

• the business of farming

• the business of begging

Multiple Choice

Why was the Crofter so talkative and friendly with the Peddler?

• A) because he knew him.

• B) he was his friend

• C) he was his neighbourer

• D) because of his resemblance to one of his old friend

Multiple Choice

From where did the Peddler get the idea of the world being a Rattrap?

• A) from his friends' situation

• B) from Crofter's behavior

• C) from Edla's words

• D) from his circumstances and miserable life condition

Multiple Choice

Why does the peddler knit up various kind of thoughts?

• A) because of greed

• B) because of travelling

• C) because of loneliness and poverty

• D) none

Multiple Choice

What is the message of the story?

• A) Love and kindness are powerful reformers.

• B) Kindness is powerless

• C) kindness encourages thieves

• D) thieves need reprimand

Multiple Choice

In what manner has the story been narrated?

• A ) non-fictious style

• B) realistic manner

• C) fictious fairy tale manner

• D) none

Multiple Choice

Sweden Mines are rich in which ore?

• A) Brass

• B) copper

• C) steel

• D) iron ore

Multiple Choice

Which country does the author belong to?

• A) Singapore

• B) Sydney

• C) Sweden

• D) Switzerland

Multiple Choice

Who is the author of The Rattrap?

• A) Selma Lagerlof

• B) Thomas B. Allen

• C) Howard Phillips

• D) Sudha Murthy