Here is a complete and detailed guide for Chapter 4 of the AHSEC Class 12 English textbook, “Flamingo,” which is “The Rattrap” by Selma Lagerlöf.
“The Rattrap” by Selma Lagerlöf: A Comprehensive Guide
This guide provides a thorough set of notes covering all aspects of the chapter to help you prepare for your AHSEC Class 12 English examination.
1. Summary of “The Rattrap”
“The Rattrap” by Selma Lagerlöf is a story about a poor, lonely peddler who sells rattraps made of wire. To survive, he also resorts to begging and petty thievery. His life is sad and monotonous, which leads him to develop a cynical philosophy: he views the entire world as a giant rattrap. He believes that the world offers riches, joys, food, and shelter as “baits,” and as soon as someone is tempted and touches the bait, the trap closes in on them, and everything comes to an end.
One evening, the peddler seeks shelter at the cottage of an old crofter. To his surprise, the crofter, who is lonely, welcomes him warmly. He offers the peddler food, tobacco, and plays cards with him. The crofter is generous with his confidences and tells the peddler that he earned thirty kronor by selling his cow’s milk. He even shows the peddler the money, which he keeps in a leather pouch hanging by the window.
The next morning, the peddler leaves with the crofter. However, tempted by the “bait” of the thirty kronor, he returns half an hour later, smashes the windowpane, steals the money, and escapes into the forest.
Initially pleased with his cleverness, the peddler soon gets lost in the big and confusing forest. He walks for hours but finds himself moving in circles. He realizes that he has been caught in the world’s rattrap, with the stolen money as the bait. Exhausted and in despair, he collapses on the ground, believing his end is near.
Just then, he hears the thumping sound of a hammer from a nearby iron mill, the Ramsjö Ironworks. He follows the sound and finds shelter in the forge. The master blacksmith grants him permission to stay without much interest. Soon, the ironmaster (the owner of the mill) arrives on his nightly inspection. Mistaking the peddler in the dim light for an old regimental comrade, Captain von Stahle, he invites him to his manor house for Christmas. The peddler, alarmed at the idea of going to a manor house with stolen money in his pocket, firmly refuses the invitation.
The ironmaster then sends his daughter, Edla Willmansson, to persuade the peddler. Edla, who is kind and compassionate, speaks to the peddler in a friendly manner. She notices his fear and assures him that he will be free to leave whenever he wants. Her genuine kindness convinces the peddler, and he agrees to go with her.
The next morning, on Christmas Eve, the peddler is bathed, shaved, and dressed in the ironmaster’s clothes. When he appears in broad daylight, the ironmaster realizes his mistake and threatens to call the sheriff. The peddler, in his defense, explains his philosophy of the world being a rattrap, warning the ironmaster that he too might one day be tempted by a bait.
The ironmaster is amused but asks him to leave. However, Edla intervenes. She argues that they had promised the man Christmas cheer and it would be wrong to turn away a guest on Christmas Eve. She feels sorry for the peddler, who seems to have no home and is always chased away. Her father agrees, and the peddler is allowed to stay.
The peddler spends the day sleeping peacefully. In the evening, he joins the family for the Christmas festivities. Edla tells him that the suit he is wearing is a Christmas present and invites him to spend the next Christmas with them. This unparalleled kindness and respect deeply move the peddler.
The next morning, the ironmaster and Edla go to church, where they learn that a rattrap peddler has robbed an old crofter. The ironmaster worries that the peddler might have stolen their silver spoons. When they return home, the valet informs them that the peddler has left, but he has not taken anything. Instead, he has left a small package for Edla as a Christmas present.
Inside the package, Edla finds a small rattrap, the stolen thirty kronor, and a letter. The letter is addressed to her, thanking her for her kindness, which has helped him escape the world’s rattrap. He asks her to return the money to the crofter. The letter is signed, “Captain von Stahle,” indicating that her belief in him as a captain has inspired him to behave like one. The story ends on the note that genuine goodness and compassion can awaken the essential goodness in any human being.
2. Complete Textual Question and Answer Exercise
Here are the answers to all the questions given at the end of the chapter in your textbook.
Understanding the text
1. How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter?
Answer: The peddler interprets these acts differently based on his cynical worldview and experiences:
- The Crofter: The peddler is surprised by the crofter’s hospitality but remains suspicious. He sees the crofter’s kindness and the showing of the thirty kronor as a “bait,” which he ultimately takes by stealing the money.
- The Ironmaster: When the ironmaster mistakes him for an old comrade and invites him home, the peddler sees it as a potential trap. He thinks going to the manor house would be like “throwing himself voluntarily into the lion’s den” and refuses, fearing he will be caught with the stolen money.
- Edla Willmansson: Edla’s kindness is different. It is genuine, compassionate, and unconditional. She treats him with the dignity of a captain even after his true identity is revealed. Her goodness is not a bait but a sincere act of compassion, which the peddler interprets as a transformative force that allows him to “clear himself” and escape the world’s rattrap.
2. 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 and his daughter, Edla, have contrasting characters:
- Impulsiveness vs. Compassion: The ironmaster is impulsive. He invites the peddler home on a whim, mistaking him for a friend. When he realizes his mistake, he impulsively threatens to call the sheriff. Edla, on the other hand, is consistently compassionate and thoughtful.
- Conditional vs. Unconditional Kindness: The ironmaster’s hospitality is conditional on the peddler being his old comrade. The moment he discovers the truth, his attitude changes. Edla’s kindness is unconditional; she continues to treat the peddler with respect even after knowing he is not a captain.
- Lack of Insight vs. Perceptiveness: The ironmaster fails to see the peddler’s fear and desperation. Edla is more perceptive; she notices his fear and understands his lonely, difficult life, which is why she insists on showing him kindness.
3. The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’ behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.
Answer: The story is full of surprising reactions:
- The peddler is surprised by the crofter’s warm welcome, as he is used to being met with “sour faces.”
- The ironmaster is surprised when the peddler, whom he believes to be a captain, refuses his invitation to come home.
- The peddler is surprised by Edla’s compassionate plea for him to stay for Christmas.
- The ironmaster is surprised and angry when he sees the peddler in broad daylight and realizes his mistake.
- Edla is surprised by the peddler’s transformation and his act of leaving behind the stolen money and a thank-you gift. The final letter, signed “Captain von Stahle,” is the biggest surprise, showing his redemption.
4. What made the peddler finally change his ways?
Answer: The peddler’s transformation was brought about by the unconditional kindness, compassion, and respect shown to him by Edla Willmansson. For the first time in his life, someone treated him with dignity, not out of pity or mistake, but out of genuine human empathy. She trusted him and treated him like a real captain, even after his true identity was revealed. This act of raising him “to captain” gave him the “power to clear himself.” Her goodness awakened his own dormant conscience and inspired him to behave honorably, return the stolen money, and break free from the “rattrap” of his cynical worldview.
5. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
Answer: The metaphor of the rattrap is central to the story and highlights the human predicament in several ways. The peddler believes the world is a giant rattrap that uses baits like riches, joy, and comfort to lure people. Once tempted, the trap closes, and they are caught. This reflects a cynical view of human nature, suggesting that people are prone to temptation and are often trapped by their own desires and weaknesses. The peddler himself falls into this trap when he steals the crofter’s money. The metaphor serves to illustrate how circumstances and material temptations can lead people into a cycle of crime and despair, from which it is difficult to escape. It highlights the human condition of being vulnerable to temptation and the loneliness and isolation that can result from it.
6. 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’s sense of humor, though dark and cynical, lightens the otherwise serious theme of loneliness and poverty. His idea of the world being a giant rattrap is an amusing and entertaining thought. He enjoys thinking of people he knows who have been caught in the snare. This philosophical musing provides a break from the grim reality of his life. His witty defense in front of the ironmaster, where he warns him that he too might get caught in the rattrap one day, is another instance. This humor makes him more than just a pathetic victim; it gives his character depth and makes him more relatable and endearing to the reader, despite his flaws.
3. Previous Year AHSEC Question Answers (2015-2025)
Short Questions (2 Marks)
- Why did the peddler think that the world was a rattrap? (AHSEC 2015, 2018)
Answer: The peddler’s life was sad and monotonous, and he was treated unkindly by the world. This led him to develop a cynical philosophy that the whole world was a big rattrap, offering riches, joys, and shelter as baits to trap people. - Why did the peddler decline the invitation of the ironmaster? (AHSEC 2016, 2020)
Answer: The peddler declined the ironmaster’s invitation because he had the stolen thirty kronor in his pocket. He was afraid that going to the manor house would be like voluntarily walking into a trap where he might be caught by the sheriff. - Who was the crofter? How did he treat the peddler? (AHSEC 2017)
Answer: The crofter was a lonely old man who lived in a cottage by the roadside. He treated the peddler with unusual kindness and hospitality, offering him shelter, food, and companionship, unlike how the peddler was usually treated. - Why did Edla bring the peddler to her house for the Christmas cheer?
Answer: Edla brought the peddler to her house because she was a compassionate person. She felt sorry for his miserable and lonely life, where he was always chased away. She wanted him to enjoy at least one day of peace and Christmas cheer with them. - Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
Answer: The peddler signed himself as Captain von Stahle to show that he had transformed. Edla’s kindness and respect in treating him like a real captain had awakened his conscience and inspired him to live up to that honor. It was his way of thanking her for helping him redeem himself.
Long Questions (5-7 Marks)
- Describe the peddler’s meeting with the old crofter. How did the peddler repay the crofter’s kindness? (AHSEC 2019)
Answer: The peddler’s meeting with the old crofter was a rare moment of warmth in his otherwise bleak life. When he sought shelter, the crofter, being a lonely man without a wife or child, welcomed him happily. He immediately put the porridge pot on the fire, shared his supper, gave him tobacco for his pipe, and played cards with him. The crofter was so generous with his hospitality that he even shared his secrets, telling the peddler about the thirty kronor he had earned and showing him where he kept the money.
However, the peddler repaid this extraordinary kindness with betrayal. The next morning, after leaving the cottage, he was tempted by the “bait” of the money. He returned, smashed the windowpane, stole the thirty kronor from the leather pouch, and fled into the forest. This act of theft demonstrated his cynical belief that the world was a rattrap and he had just been tempted by its bait. - The story “The Rattrap” is a story of transformation. Discuss the role of Edla Willmansson in transforming the peddler.
Answer: The story “The Rattrap” is fundamentally about the transformation of a cynical, thieving peddler into an honorable man, and Edla Willmansson is the catalyst for this change. Her role is pivotal.
While the crofter showed him hospitality and the ironmaster offered it by mistake, it was Edla’s kindness that was genuine, unconditional, and transformative. Firstly, she showed empathy when she came to the forge. She sensed his fear and spoke to him kindly, winning his confidence.
Secondly, and most importantly, her compassion did not waver even after his true identity was revealed. When her father wanted to throw him out, Edla intervened. She argued that they had promised him Christmas cheer and should not turn him away. She treated him with the dignity and respect of a captain, regardless of his appearance or status.
This act of being treated like a gentleman, perhaps for the first time in his life, awakened the peddler’s dormant goodness. Her trust and respect gave him the “power to clear himself.” He was inspired to live up to the honor she bestowed upon him. His final act of returning the stolen money and leaving a gift for her, signed as “Captain von Stahle,” is a direct result of her influence. Thus, Edla proves that compassion and understanding can redeem even a person caught in the “rattrap” of life.
4. Most Important 10 Questions and Answers
- What is the peddler’s philosophy of the world?
Answer: The peddler’s philosophy is that the entire world is nothing but a big rattrap. It exists only to set baits for people, and all the riches, joys, food, and shelter are temptations that, once touched, trap a person forever. - Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Answer: The crofter was an old, lonely man who lived by himself. He was happy to have someone to talk to and share his feelings with, which is why he was so talkative and friendly with the peddler. - Why did the peddler feel he had been caught in a rattrap after stealing the money?
Answer: After stealing the money, the peddler avoided the public highway and went into the forest, where he got lost. As he wandered in circles, he realized that the thirty kronor had been the “bait” that had tempted him, and now the forest was the “rattrap” that had closed in on him. - Why did the ironmaster mistake the peddler for his old comrade?
Answer: The ironmaster saw the peddler in the dim, uncertain light of the furnace. The peddler was dirty and ragged, and the ironmaster, looking at his slumped figure, mistook him for an old regimental acquaintance, Captain von Stahle, who had fallen on hard times. - What did Edla notice about the peddler that made her feel sorry for him?
Answer: Edla noticed that the peddler was afraid. She thought that he had either stolen something or escaped from jail. She felt sorry for his difficult life, where he was always on the run and never felt welcome anywhere. - What was Edla’s Christmas gift to the peddler, and what did it signify?
Answer: Edla’s Christmas gift was allowing him to keep the suit of clothes he was wearing and inviting him to spend the next Christmas with them. It signified her unconditional acceptance and her desire to offer him genuine peace and security, treating him with dignity. - What did the peddler leave for Edla as a Christmas present?
Answer: The peddler left a small package containing a little rattrap, the stolen thirty kronor, and a letter. The letter thanked her for her kindness and asked her to return the money to the crofter. - How did the peddler redeem himself in the end?
Answer: The peddler redeemed himself by choosing to act honorably. Influenced by Edla’s kindness, he resisted the temptation to steal from her house, returned the money he had stolen from the crofter, and wrote a letter of thanks, signing it with the name of the honorable captain he was inspired to be. - What is the central theme of the story “The Rattrap”?
Answer: The central theme is the belief that the essential goodness in a human being can be awakened through understanding, love, and compassion. It shows that no one is beyond redemption and that kindness has the power to transform a person. - How is the title “The Rattrap” justified?
Answer: The title “The Rattrap” is justified as it is the central metaphor of the story. It represents the peddler’s cynical worldview and the trap of temptation that he himself falls into. Ultimately, it also symbolizes the trap from which he is liberated through an act of kindness, making the title symbolic of both human weakness and the possibility of redemption.
