The Rattrap Summary Class 12 English

Introduction

The fable "The Rattrap" provides us with a psychological understanding of human nature. The author emphasises how human beings are trapped by their hunger for material possessions. The narrative supports the idea that human beings' inherent goodness may through love and understanding, awakens. It emphasises the notion that the world is a rattrap. All of these tempting lures are used to catch humanity: wealth, joy, shelter, and food.

About Author

The works of Swedish author Selma Lagerlof (1858-1940) have been translated into other languages. The idea that knowledge and love may awaken a person's innate goodness runs through all of them as a common thread. This narrative takes place in the iron ore-rich Swedish mines, which are prominent in Swedish mythology and history. The narrative is presented in a way that resembles a fairy tale.

Overview

In the Rattrap synopsis, a man who is a peddler is described. He has a negative outlook on the world. The street vendor used to be a good man and has not always been this way. But owing to bad luck, he now turns to rattrap sales, begging, and even theft to make ends meet. Additionally, he sees the entire world as a giant rat trap. He argues that the world provides us materialistic items to entice us, much like the cheese we use to tempt mice. Therefore, when we fall for their tricks, they capture us and rob us of everything. In this tale, the rattrap vendor is taken in by a young, kind woman. Her kindness and charity alter his negative outlook on life as a result. This tale tells us about the fundamental kindness that each of us must possess.

Theme

The main theme of Selma Lagerlof's "The Rattrap" is the power of compassion and human connection to transform even the most jaded and mistrustful individuals. The story follows the journey of an elderly wanderer who gets a small rattrap from a kind and forgiving hostel owner. Along the trip, the tramp meets a number of people who, despite their own difficult circumstances, are kind and giving to him. After reflecting on his own life and deeds in light of this experience, the tramp is ultimately motivated to make amends and better himself. The underlying theme is that everyone can change and that even the tiniest act of kindness may make a significant difference in another person's life.

Summary

The tale opens with a rattrap vendor who is in rough shape. He appears to have been malnourished and is clothed in rags. He doesn't have a home, and he occasionally even steals and begs to get by. He lives a solitary existence with no one who is interested in him. One bright day, he suddenly realises that the entire universe is a rattrap. If we touch it, it will catch us and keep us there forever. He continues by speculating that there are those out there already caught in this trap and reaching for the bait. He approaches a cottage one chilly evening to request refuge.

The peddler was housed at the cottage by an elderly crofter. The crofter accepts the peddler because he needs companionship. He even provides him cigarettes to smoke as he eats hot meals. They begin conversing while playing cards. The peddler discovers that the crofter, who keeps his cow in a bag on the window frame, received thirty kronor for selling it. The peddler departs the following day, but returns to take the money bag after observing the crofter leave his home.

He steals it and then retreats into the woods to avoid detection. The peddler encounters an ironmaster in the woods who believes he is an old friend. He declines his invitation to come over for Christmas. After that, Edla, the ironmaster's daughter, comes to see him and begs him to stay. In the meanwhile, he regrets taking the crofter's money. They assist the street vendor in getting dressed well, giving him a makeover, and shaving off his beard. The ironmaster then realises his error, that the peddler was not his colleague.

As a result, the ironmaster decides to report him for fraud. Edla is adamant that he be allowed to stay and spend Christmas with them. Her father concurs, and the two of them share a Christmas celebration. The next day, the ironmaster and Edla learn from the church about the event at the elderly crofter's and discover that the peddler was actually a thief. They quickly leave because they assume he must have stolen all the silver. They were shocked to learn that the vendor didn't take anything. He placed a miniature rattrap as a letter for Edla. Additionally, there was a message praising her for her kindness in rescuing him from the rattrap he had become entangled in. Most significantly, he wrote a note requesting for the crofter's money to be returned.

Character Explanation

The Paddler

He serves as the story's protagonist and focal point. He is an unknown man who travels the countryside as a vagabond and sells rattraps.

The rattrap paddler also participates in minor theft and begs for money since he does not generate enough money from this to survive.

Edla Willmansson

The ironmaster's daughter is Edla. She is characterised as "not at all attractive, but modest and quite shy." She is really compassionate. She persuades the street vendor to visit her home, after which she persuades her father to let the vendor remain for Christmas Eve. She is the most admirable character in the narrative, and the peddler changes because of her kindness and charity.

Ironmaster

Ramsjo Ironworks is owned by Ironmaster, who is also the father of Edla Willmansson. Every day and night, he is a highly renowned ironmaster who monitors the job and checks the efficacy of his output. He used to be in the military, therefore he believes the vendor to be Captain von Stahle, a "old regimental comrade."

The Crofter

This elderly guy invites the street vendor to spend the night at his home.The elderly guy is glad to have company since he is lonely and offers the paddler food, cigarettes, and chat. He is an elderly man who is very nice and giving, but paddler pays him back by robbing him of thirty kronor.

Conclusion

We may infer from The Rattrap's summation that people behave appropriately when they are treated with respect. Life is worth living because of love, compassion, understanding, and respect, not because of hedonistic things like wealth, celebrity, or material possessions.On August 8, 1887, the Swedish newspaper G�teborgsposten first published The Rattrap. After that, it was reprinted in several more journals in other language editions. Of all the stories she wrote throughout her career, this one was the most popular. Even though The Rattrap is her most dismal piece, Selma Lagerl�f herself hailed it as her greatest. This tale has frequently been cited as "one of the best examples of Swedish literature from the 19th century."

It has also been likened to the French fable L'Homme aux petits pieds by Aesop, which tells the tale of a man who lives by building rattraps and is regarded as the finest tale ever written by some.Through the life of the main character, who leads a modest existence without a roof over his head or any warm clothing, the novel explores the social problem of poverty. Only by continuing to sell rat traps does he manage to stay alive.The persons Lagerl�f utilised as her characters are genuine people. Isak Skottsberg, the first character, is the actual Selma Lagerl�f's spouse, to whom she gave the last name "Lagerl�f".

Although Fredrik T�rne, the final character, is a real person, the name has been changed since the original publication due to a mistake. The names of the two genuine individuals?both men?have likewise been translated from Swedish to English. Isak Skottsberg is the first, while Fredrik T�rne is the second.

FAQ's

1. Who is Nils Olof in the fable "The Rattrap"?

The ironmaster at the forge mistook the peddler for Captain Von Stahle (Nils Olof). When he was asked to spend Christmas Eve with them at the manor house, things abruptly changed. He believed that he was entering the lion's lair.

2. Why is the Lesson named as The Rattrap?

People he encountered consistently gave the peddler a nasty time. He described the world as a rattrap and expressed his disappointment in humanity. He eventually changed his ways since he finally realised what respect meant thanks to Edla.

3. Who is the Captain in Rattrap?

The street vendor identified himself as Captain von Stable since Edla had thought of him as a captain. He went on to say that if he hadn't been promoted to captain, he would have been a rat stuck in the rattrap of this planet and could therefore extricate himself.

4. How is the fable symbolic?

The rattrap metaphor alludes to the idea that individuals are merely there to be lured into traps by the world. Every time someone gives in to the temptation of the pleasures, he becomes ensnared in a perilous trap.

5. Why is The Rattrap set in Christmas?

He left the rattrap for the girls as a Christmas gift and included a note of gratitude as a gesture of gratitude for their care, leaving behind the stolen money to be returned to its rightful owner. This is why it's important that the story's events take place around Christmas.