Class | Subject | Book | Chapter | Session | Questions covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XII | English | Flamingo (NCERT) | 4 – The Rattrap | 2026-27 | 32 of 32 |
Chapter at a glance
Aspect | Key point |
|---|---|
Author | Selma Lagerlöf (1858–1940), Swedish writer; first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature (1909) |
Setting | Värmland, Sweden — the Ramsjö ironworks |
Characters | The peddler (rattrap seller and petty thief); the old crofter; the ironmaster; Edla Willmansson, the ironmaster’s daughter |
Plot | The peddler thinks the whole world is a rattrap baited with riches; he steals the crofter’s thirty kronor; lost in the forest, he shelters at the forge; the ironmaster mistakes him for an old comrade, Captain von Stahle; Edla treats him kindly even after the truth is revealed; moved, he returns the money with a rattrap as a Christmas gift, signing himself “Captain von Stahle” |
Themes | Material greed as a trap; loneliness; the redemptive power of kindness, love and trust; essential goodness of human beings |
Think as you read
Question C1
From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Answer
One day, as he was trudging along the road, thinking of his rattraps, the idea suddenly struck him that the whole world — with its lands and seas, cities and villages — was nothing but a big rattrap. It existed to set baits for people — riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing — just as the rattrap offered cheese and pork; as soon as anyone let himself be tempted to touch the bait, it closed in on him, and then everything came to an end.
While trudging along the road thinking about the rattraps he sold, it struck him that the world itself is a big rattrap, offering riches, joys, food and shelter as bait to trap people.
Question C2
Why was he amused by this idea?
Answer
The world had never been kind to him, so it gave him unwonted joy to think ill of it in this way. It became a cherished pastime to think of people he knew who had let themselves be caught in the dangerous snare, and of others who were still circling around the bait.
Because the world had never been kind to him, it gave him unusual pleasure to think ill of it, imagining people already caught in the trap and others circling the bait.
Question C3
Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?
Answer
No. The peddler was used to seeing sour faces; when he knocked at the crofter’s door asking for shelter, he did not expect the old man to welcome him so warmly. The crofter, instead of refusing him, gave him shelter, served him porridge for supper, cut a big slice of his tobacco roll and played mjölis (a card game) with him till bedtime.
No. Used to sour faces, he was surprised that the lonely crofter welcomed him warmly, gave him porridge, tobacco and played cards with him.
Question C4
Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Answer
The crofter was an old man without wife or child, living alone; he was lonely and happy to have someone to talk to in his loneliness. So he was generous with his confidences and hospitality and told the peddler about his past, his cow and his earnings.
He was a lonely old man without wife or children and was happy to have company to talk to.
Question C5
Why did he show the thirty kroner to the peddler?
Answer
The crofter was proud of his earnings from his cow — he had received thirty kronor in payment for the milk that month. When the peddler seemed to doubt his story, the crofter took down the leather pouch and showed the money to prove it (and out of trust and pride), then hung the pouch back on a nail in the window frame.
To prove his claim and out of pride and trust, he showed the thirty kronor he had received for his cow’s milk, then hung the pouch back on the window frame.
Question C6
Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?
Answer
No. The next morning, after both had left, the peddler returned, smashed the window pane, stole the thirty kronor from the pouch and hung it back in its place. He betrayed the crofter’s trust and hospitality.
No. He returned after they had left, broke the window, stole the thirty kronor and hung the pouch back — betraying the crofter’s trust.
Question C7
What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Answer
After stealing the money, he left the main road and went into the forest to avoid being caught. He got lost in the big, confusing forest; he walked and walked but could not find a way out — he kept going round in circles. Darkness fell, and he realised he had let himself be fooled by the bait (the money) and had been caught — the forest closed in on him like a rattrap (“He had let himself be fooled by a bait and had been caught”).
After stealing the money, he got lost in a big forest, walking in circles with no way out as darkness fell — he realised he had taken the bait and been caught, like a rat in a trap.
Question C8
Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Answer
The ironmaster mistook the peddler for an old regimental comrade, Captain von Stahle, who he thought had fallen on hard times. He felt sorry for his supposed old friend and invited him home for Christmas, wanting to help him.
He mistook the peddler for his old regimental comrade, Captain von Stahle, fallen on bad times, and out of sympathy invited him home for Christmas.
Question C9
Why did the peddler decline the invitation?
Answer
The peddler knew he was not Captain von Stahle and had the stolen thirty kronor in his pocket. Going to the manor house would be like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion’s den — he feared his identity and theft would be discovered and he would be caught. He wanted to sleep at the forge and leave quietly.
He feared being exposed, as he was not the captain and had the stolen money; going to the manor would be like walking into the lion’s den.
Question C10
What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?
Answer
Edla spoke to him in a kind, friendly and compassionate manner; she seemed to understand his fear and assured him that he could leave just as freely as he came. Her friendliness and sympathy gave him confidence, so he accepted the invitation.
Edla’s kind, compassionate manner and her assurance that he could leave as freely as he came gave him confidence to accept.
Question C11
What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?
Answer
Edla noticed that the man was afraid; she thought that either he had stolen something or he had escaped from jail. When she saw him cleaned up in daylight, she doubted that he was her father’s acquaintance at all — she told her father, “Last night I did not think there was anything about him to show that he had once been an educated man.”
She noticed he was afraid and suspected he had either stolen something or escaped from jail, and later doubted that he was really her father’s old acquaintance.
Question C12
When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?
Answer
The next morning (Christmas Eve), after the valet had bathed, shaved and dressed the peddler in good clothes, the ironmaster saw him in daylight and realised that he was not Captain von Stahle, but a stranger.
On Christmas Eve morning, when he saw the peddler bathed, shaved and well-dressed in daylight, he realised the man was not Captain von Stahle.
Question C13
What did the peddler say in his defence when it was clear that he was not the person the ironmaster had thought he was?
Answer
The peddler said that he had never pretended to be anyone else; it was not his fault — he had tried to decline the invitation, and the ironmaster himself had made the mistake. He said he was willing to put on his rags again and go away. He also warned the ironmaster that the world is a rattrap and that the ironmaster too might be caught in it one day, and then he might like to be treated well (“a day may come when you yourself may want to get a big piece of pork”).
He said he had never pretended to be the captain and had tried to refuse; the mistake was the ironmaster’s. He offered to leave and warned that the world is a rattrap in which the ironmaster too might one day be caught and need kindness.
Question C14
Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
Answer
Edla was kind-hearted and compassionate. She felt that it was not right to drive away a person whom they had invited to celebrate Christmas, the season of peace and goodwill. She thought of how lonely and unhappy he must be, always wandering, and wanted him to enjoy at least one day of peace and a feeling of home. She persuaded her father to let him stay.
Out of compassion and the Christmas spirit, she felt they could not drive away a guest they had invited, and wanted the lonely, homeless man to enjoy one day of peace and home.
Question C15
Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Answer
The peddler left a rattrap with the thirty kronor in it and a letter asking her to return the money to the crofter. Edla was happy because her kindness and trust had transformed the peddler; he had rejected his thieving ways and become honest. It proved that her faith in his goodness was justified.
She was happy because the gift — a rattrap containing the stolen thirty kronor to be returned — proved that her kindness had reformed the peddler and that her faith in his goodness was justified.
Question C16
Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
Answer
Because Edla had treated him like a real captain, with respect and dignity, he wanted to live up to that. Her kindness had raised him in his own eyes and awakened his goodness. By signing as “Captain von Stahle”, he showed that he had been redeemed and wanted to be the honourable person she had believed him to be.
Because Edla had treated him with the respect due to a captain, he wanted to live up to it; signing as Captain von Stahle showed his redemption and new dignity.
Understanding the text
Question U1
How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter?
Answer
The peddler sees the world as a rattrap and interprets kindness through that lens: 1. Crofter – he takes the crofter’s hospitality and trust as an opportunity (bait) and steals his money; he does not value the kindness. 2. Ironmaster – he thinks the ironmaster’s invitation is a trap that would lead to his exposure; he declines. 3. Edla – her genuine kindness finally changes his interpretation. She treated him like a captain without expecting anything in return, so he could not see her kindness as a trap. It awakened his conscience and he reformed, returning the money.
At first he treats kindness as bait — exploiting the crofter’s trust by stealing, and suspecting the ironmaster’s invitation as a trap. Only Edla’s selfless kindness, which he could not interpret as a trap, awakened his conscience and made him reform.
Question U2
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
Ironmaster | Edla |
|---|---|
Hasty and impulsive — mistook the peddler for Captain von Stahle without looking closely | Observant — noticed the man was afraid and suspected he was a thief or an escaped prisoner |
His kindness was based on old friendship (for the captain), not the man himself | Her kindness was genuine and compassionate, for a lonely human being |
When he discovered the truth, he became angry and wanted to call the sheriff and turn the man out | She defended the man, insisted on letting him stay for Christmas, and treated him with respect |
Practical, proud, status-conscious | Kind, sensitive, understanding, generous |
The ironmaster was hasty (mistaking the peddler for von Stahle), kind only because of supposed old friendship, and angry enough to call the sheriff when he learnt the truth; Edla was observant, genuinely compassionate, defended the man and insisted he stay for Christmas, treating him with respect.
Question U3
The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’ behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.
Answer
- The crofter welcomed the stranger warmly and trusted him with his secret — unexpected for a tramp used to sour faces.
- The peddler stole the money of the man who had been so kind to him.
- The ironmaster mistook the peddler for an old comrade and invited him home.
- The peddler declined the invitation, though it promised comfort.
- Edla, despite her doubts, was kind to him and persuaded him to come.
- When the truth was revealed, instead of driving him away, Edla insisted he stay for Christmas.
- The biggest surprise: the peddler returned the stolen money with a rattrap as a gift and signed himself “Captain von Stahle”.
Surprises include the crofter’s warm welcome and trust; the peddler stealing from his host; the ironmaster mistaking him for a comrade; the peddler refusing the invitation; Edla’s kindness despite her doubts and her insistence that he stay after the truth was revealed; and finally the peddler returning the stolen money with a rattrap, signing as Captain von Stahle.
Question U4
What made the peddler finally change his ways?
Answer
Edla’s kindness, compassion and trust. She treated him with respect, as if he were a real captain, even after knowing that he was a poor tramp. She gave him food, rest and a feeling of home on Christmas without expecting anything in return, and even offered him the suit to keep and invited him to come again next Christmas. This unconditional goodness awakened his conscience and made him realise his own worth; he could not be a thief any more, so he returned the money.
Edla’s unconditional kindness and respect — treating him like a captain even after learning the truth, giving him a home for Christmas and inviting him again — awakened his conscience and self-respect, making him return the stolen money.
Question U5
How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
Answer
The rattrap metaphor suggests that the world sets baits — riches, comfort, pleasures, food and shelter — to tempt people; those who give in to greed are trapped and suffer. The peddler himself falls into this trap: tempted by the thirty kronor, he gets lost in the forest, caught as in a trap. It highlights the human predicament of greed and materialism, the moral weakness that leads people into wrongdoing and misery, and the loneliness of human beings. The story also shows the way out: love, kindness and trust can free a person from the trap. The rattrap he leaves for Edla symbolises his escape — “a Christmas present from a rat who would have been caught in this world’s rattrap if he had not been raised to captain”.
The rattrap stands for the world’s material temptations — riches, comfort, pleasure — that trap those who give in to greed, as the peddler was trapped after stealing the money. It highlights human greed, moral weakness and loneliness, while the ending shows that love and kindness can free people from the trap.
Question U6
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
- His philosophical idea that the world is a rattrap is stated with ironic wit; he enjoys thinking ill of the world.
- In his reply to the ironmaster, he humorously warns that the ironmaster too might one day be tempted by “a big piece of pork” and get caught — a witty turn on his rattrap theory.
- His letter to Edla is humorous and touching: “Written with friendship and high regard, Captain von Stahle”, and he calls the rattrap “a Christmas present from a rat who would have been caught in this world’s rattrap if he had not been raised to captain”.
- Effect: the humour lightens the serious themes of poverty, theft, greed and loneliness; it shows that he is not a hardened criminal but a witty, intelligent man made bitter by hardship. It makes him likeable and wins our sympathy, so his redemption feels natural.
His wry rattrap philosophy, his witty warning to the ironmaster about “a big piece of pork”, and his playful signed letter calling the gift a present from a rat raised to captain lighten the story’s serious themes of poverty, greed and loneliness, and show him as an intelligent, likeable man rather than a hardened criminal, winning our sympathy.
Talking about the text
Question T1
The reader’s sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning of the story. Why is this so? Is the sympathy justified?
Answer
Why: The peddler is introduced as a poor, ragged, hungry man who sells rattraps but cannot make a living from it; he has to resort to begging and petty thievery. He is lonely, homeless and has known little kindness — “The world had, of course, never been very kind to him”. His misery evokes pity.
Is it justified? Largely yes. Though he steals the crofter’s money, his theft results from poverty and bitterness, not wickedness. He is essentially good at heart, as shown when kindness transforms him and he returns the money. The story suggests that circumstances, not character, made him a thief. However, his betrayal of the crofter’s trust cannot be fully excused.
We sympathise because he is poor, ragged, hungry, homeless and lonely, and the world has never been kind to him. The sympathy is largely justified, since his theft comes from hardship and bitterness and his goodness emerges when he is treated kindly — though his betrayal of the crofter is not excusable.
Question T2
The story also focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others.
Answer
- The crofter is lonely — without wife or child — and welcomes the peddler eagerly, sharing confidences, tobacco and cards.
- The peddler is a lonely wanderer, an outcast; he longs for warmth but is used to rejection.
- The ironmaster and Edla live in a big manor house; Edla’s mother is dead, her brothers are abroad, and she wanted company for Christmas; the ironmaster is happy to think of reviving an old friendship.
- The story shows that human beings need love, companionship and understanding; kindness and bonding can heal loneliness and transform people (the peddler’s change).
The crofter, the peddler, the ironmaster and Edla are all lonely in different ways; the crofter welcomes company, Edla seeks companionship at Christmas, and the outcast peddler is transformed by warmth — showing the human need for bonds of love and understanding.
Question T3
Have you known/heard of an episode where a good deed or an act of kindness has changed a person’s view of the world?
Answer
(Sample.) Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables gives a famous example: Jean Valjean, a convict who had served nineteen years for stealing bread, becomes bitter. When Bishop Myriel gives him shelter, Valjean steals the bishop’s silverware. Caught by the police, he is brought back, but the bishop says he had given the silver as a gift and even adds two silver candlesticks, telling Valjean to use them to become an honest man. This act of mercy transforms Valjean, who devotes his life to helping others — very much like the peddler in The Rattrap.
(Students may also narrate a real-life incident, e.g. a classmate who became friendly and hardworking after a teacher’s encouragement.)
Sample: in Les Misérables, Bishop Myriel forgives Jean Valjean for stealing his silver and even gives him the candlesticks, transforming the bitter ex-convict into an honest, generous man — much like Edla’s kindness reforms the peddler.
Question T4
The story is both entertaining and philosophical.
Answer
Entertaining: it has an engaging plot with suspense and surprises — the theft, getting lost in the forest, the case of mistaken identity, the revelation, and the surprise ending; humour in the peddler’s wit and the ironmaster’s blunder; vivid scenes of the forge and the manor at Christmas; a fairy-tale quality.
Philosophical: it explores serious ideas — the world as a rattrap of material temptations, human greed, loneliness, and the redemptive power of love and kindness; the essential goodness in every human being; and the idea that compassion can change a person more than punishment.
It entertains through its suspenseful plot, mistaken identity, humour and surprise ending, and it is philosophical in exploring the world as a rattrap of temptations, greed and loneliness, and the redemptive power of kindness and the goodness in every person.
Working with words
Question W1
The man selling rattraps is referred to by many terms such as “peddler, stranger” etc. Pick out all such references to him. What does each of these labels indicate of the context or the attitude of the people around him?
Answer
Reference | What it indicates |
|---|---|
Peddler / man who went around selling rattraps | His occupation — a poor, humble seller |
Vagabond | A homeless wanderer, looked down upon |
Stranger | An unknown person — as seen by the crofter, the blacksmith and the ironmaster at first |
Tramp | A poor, ragged, homeless person — contempt |
Ragamuffin | Shabby and dirty — the ironmaster’s view when he discovers the truth |
Captain / Captain von Stahle / old regimental comrade | Mistaken identity; respect shown by the ironmaster and Edla |
Guest | Edla’s view — hospitality and respect |
Rat (in his letter) | His own humble view of himself, caught in the world’s trap |
The man / the rattrap peddler | Neutral references by the narrator |
These labels reveal how people’s attitudes changed with their perception of him — from contempt and suspicion to respect and kindness.
He is called peddler (occupation), vagabond and tramp (homeless, looked down upon), stranger (unknown), ragamuffin (shabby — the ironmaster’s contempt), Captain von Stahle/old comrade (mistaken respect), guest (Edla’s hospitality) and a rat (his own humble self-view) — showing the shifting attitudes of others.
Question W2
You came across the words plod, trudge, stagger in the story. These words indicate movement accompanied by weariness. Find five other such words with a similar meaning.
Answer
Shuffle, limp, lumber, drag (one’s feet), totter, hobble, slog, traipse, falter, crawl.
Shuffle, limp, lumber, totter, hobble (also slog, traipse, crawl, drag one’s feet).
Noticing form
Question N1
Notice the way in which reflexive pronouns have been used (pronoun + self) in: (1) He made them himself at odd moments. (2) He raised himself. (3) He had let himself be fooled by a bait and had been caught. (4) … a day may come when you yourself may want to get a big piece of pork. Pick out other examples of the use of reflexive pronouns from the story and notice how they are used.
Answer
Other examples from the story
Sentence from the story | Use |
|---|---|
“…as soon as anyone let himself be tempted to touch the bait…” | Reflexive (object = subject) |
“…people he knew who had let themselves be caught in the dangerous snare…” | Reflexive |
“…to come in to warm themselves in front of the fire.” / “…only to warm himself and sleep.” | Reflexive |
“…like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion’s den.” | Reflexive |
“…you cannot show yourself there.” | Reflexive |
“…no one at home except my oldest daughter and myself.” | Reflexive pronoun used in place of a personal pronoun (“me”) |
“But he laughed to himself as he went away…” | Reflexive |
“…better powers of persuasion than he himself.” | Emphatic |
“The stranger had stretched himself out on the floor…” | Reflexive |
“…you would bother with me yourself, miss.” | Emphatic |
“He could not bring himself to oppose her.” | Reflexive |
“…he only sat down and helped himself to the food.” | Reflexive |
“…he got power to clear himself.” | Reflexive |
Use: - Emphatic use – to stress the subject (e.g. “you yourself”, “he made them himself”, “than he himself”). - Reflexive use – when the object of the verb refers back to the subject (e.g. “he raised himself”, “he let himself be fooled”, “helped himself to the food”).
Examples: “let himself be tempted”, “let themselves be caught”, “warm themselves/himself”, “throwing himself into the lion’s den”, “show yourself there”, “laughed to himself”, “stretched himself out”, “bring himself to oppose her”, “helped himself to the food”, “clear himself” (reflexive), and “than he himself”, “bother with me yourself” (emphatic). Reflexive pronouns stress the subject (emphatic) or show that the object is the same as the subject (reflexive).
Thinking about language
Question L1
“The fire boy shovelled charcoal into the maw of the furnace with a great deal of clatter.” This is a phrase used in the specific context of an iron plant. Pick out other such phrases and words from the story that are peculiar to the terminology of ironworks.
Answer
Words and phrases related to ironworks in the story: forge, smelter, rolling mill, hammer strokes, furnace, maw of the furnace, pig iron, coal/charcoal, coal box, fire boy, blacksmith, master smith, bellows, ironmaster, ironworks, raking out the fire, sparks, slag, hearth, the big bellows groaned, the burning coal cracked, the hammer…
Ironworks terms in the story include forge, smelter, rolling mill, furnace, hammer, pig iron, charcoal, coal box, bellows, hearth, fire boy, blacksmith/master smith, ironmaster and slag.
Question L2
Mjolis is a card game of Sweden. Name a few indoor games played in your region. ‘Chopar’ could be an example.
Answer
Indoor games played in India include chaupar/pachisi, ludo, carrom, chess (shatranj), snakes and ladders (moksha patam), pallanguzhi (Tamil Nadu), chowka bhara (Karnataka), ganjifa (cards), antakshari, kancha/marbles, gilli-danda (outdoor), playing cards (rummy, teen patti), puzzles and table tennis.
Indoor games include chaupar/pachisi, ludo, carrom, chess, snakes and ladders, pallanguzhi, chowka bhara, ganjifa, card games like rummy, antakshari and table tennis.
Question L3
A crofter is a person who rents or owns a small farm especially in Scotland. Think of other uncommon terms for ‘a small farmer’ including those in your language.
Answer
Terms for a small farmer: smallholder, peasant, cottager, sharecropper, tenant farmer, yeoman, cotter/cottar, homesteader, ryot (raiyat), kisan, kashtkar, khetihar, marginal farmer, bataidar (sharecropper), krishak.
Smallholder, peasant, cottager, cotter, tenant farmer, sharecropper, yeoman, homesteader; in Indian languages — kisan, ryot (raiyat), krishak, kashtkar, bataidar.
Topic checklist
- ☒ Plot and character comprehension (C1–C16)
- ☒ Peddler, ironmaster and Edla; the rattrap metaphor (U1–U6)
- ☒ Loneliness, kindness, entertainment and philosophy (T1–T4)
- ☒ Labels and synonyms of movement (W1, W2)
- ☒ Reflexive pronouns and special vocabulary (N1, L1–L3)