Rattrap Class 12 English Flamingo

Key Points of the Story 

• The Rattrap summary is about a man who is a peddler. 
• He has a pessimistic attitude towards the world. 
• The peddler has not always been like this and was a fine man before. 
• However, due to misfortune, he now resorts to selling rattraps, begging and even stealing to survive. 
• Moreover, he also views the world as a big rat trap. 
• He believes that much similar to the cheese we put for mice, the world offers us materialistic things to lure us. 
• So, when we fall for these things, it traps us and takes everything away from us. 
• In this story, a young generous woman takes in the rattrap seller. 
• Thus, the generosity and kindness she shows changes his pessimistic take on life. 
• This story teaches us about the essential human goodness we all must possess.

Detailed Summary 

The narrative unfolds with the introduction of a destitute peddler, clad in tattered garments and suffering from extreme frailty and hunger. Homeless and abandoned, he resorts to begging and stealing for survival, leading a desolate existence devoid of any companionship. One day, he has an epiphany, likening the world to a rattrap that ensnares anyone who touches it, making escape impossible. He observes others falling prey to the same metaphorical trap.
On a cold evening, he seeks shelter at a cottage inhabited by an elderly crofter. The crofter, craving companionship, warmly welcomes the peddler, offering him food, tobacco, and camaraderie. During their interaction, the peddler discovers that the crofter possesses thirty kronor from selling his cow, kept in a pouch on the window frame. After leaving the cottage, the peddler succumbs to temptation, returning to steal the pouch.
While escaping, he encounters an ironmaster who mistakes him for an old acquaintance and invites him for Christmas. The peddler declines but later, the ironmaster's daughter, Edla, persuades him to stay. Stricken with guilt over his theft from the crofter, the peddler is eventually discovered by the ironmaster, who, believing him to be a fraud, plans to report him. However, Edla intercedes, convincing her father to let the peddler remain and celebrate Christmas with them.
The following day, they learn about the peddler's thieving ways through a church announcement regarding the incident at the crofter's home. Expecting a loss of silver, they hurry back, only to find the peddler had not stolen anything. Instead, he leaves a note shaped like a miniature rattrap, expressing gratitude for Edla's kindness and explaining how her compassion saved him from the metaphorical rattrap. Notably, he also returns the crofter's money, urging its rightful return.

Conclusion 

To sum up, The Rattrap summary, we learn that we can change the world through kindness and compassion; in addition, it teaches us that materialistic things never bring inner joy, only love and respect does.

Difficult Words

Word - Meaning

• Petty thievery = small thefts, minor stealing 
• Vagabond = wanderer, drifter 
• Plods = walks heavily, trudges 
• Meditations = deep thoughts, reflections
• Material = substance, resources 
• Sunken = hollow, concave
• Gleamed = shone, sparkled
• Monotonous = boring, repetitive
• Struck = hit upon, occurred to 
• Idea = thought, concept 
• Whole = entire, total
• Rattraps = traps, snares 
• Begging = asking for charity, seeking alms
• Profitable = beneficial, gainful 
• Vagabond = wanderer, drifter
• Purpose = aim, reason
• Riches = wealth, affluence 
• Shelter = protection, refuge 
• Tempted = enticed, attracted
• Unwonted = unusual, uncommon 
• Pastime = hobby, leisure activity
• Trudging = walking slowly, plodding
• Cottage = small house, dwelling
• Loneliness = solitude, isolation
• Porridge = cereal dish, gruel
• Confidences = trusts, secrets 
• Prosperity = wealth, success
• Crofter = small-scale farmer, peasant
• Incredulous = disbelieving, skeptical 
• Pouch = small bag, sack 
• Stuffed = pushed, crammed
• Crofter = small-scale farmer, peasant 
• Hurry = rush, haste
• Pouch = small bag, sack
• Pane = glass, window glass 
• Thrust = push, shove
• Smartness = cleverness, shrewdness
• Public highway = main road, open road 
• Confusing = puzzling, bewildering 
• Definite = clear, certain 
• Twisted = turned, coiled
• Impenetrable = unpassable, inaccessible
• Prison = jail, confinement
• Escape = get away, flee
• Season = time, period 
• Smashed = broke, shattered
• Carefully = cautiously, attentively 
• Realised = understood, recognized
• Direction = path, route 
• Recalled = remembered, recollected 
• Bait = lure, attractant
• Trunks = stems, bodies
• Branches = limbs, boughs
• Thickets = shrubs, brushwood
• Imprison = confine, detain 
• Descending = falling, lowering 
• Despair = hopelessness, distress
• Summoned = called, gathered
• Staggered = wobbled, tottered
• Smelter = furnace, melter
• Barges = boats, vessels
• Sifted = filtered, strained 
• Anvil = block, base 
• Glowing = shining, radiating
• Perspiration = sweat, moisture
• Bellows = blower, ventilator
• Charcoal = coal, black residue
• Waterfall = cascade, falls
• Vagabonds = wanderers, drifters
• Shelter = refuge, protection
• Intruder = invader, trespasser
• Indifferently = uncaringly, apathetically
• Ragged = torn, tattered
• Haughty = arrogant, proud
• Consent = approval, agreement
• Prominent = well-known, distinguished
• Ambition = goal, aspiration
• Inspection = examination, check 
• Steam = vapor, mist 
• Acquaintance = contact, associate
• Undeceive = enlighten, inform
• Comrade = companion, colleague
• Descending = coming down, lowering
• Dangling = hanging, swinging
• Nodded = moved head in agreement, signaled 
• Furnace = heater, oven 
• Rags = old clothes, tatters
• Resigned = quit, left 
• Regiment = military unit, troop 
• Acquaintance = contact, associate
• Alarmed = Worried, frightened 
• Voluntarily = Willingly, freely 
• Inconspicuously = Stealthily, unnoticed 
• Embarrassed = Ashamed, uncomfortable
• Abroad = Overseas, in a foreign country 
• Preferred = Chose, favored
• Heel = Back part of the foot, rear 
• Carriage = Vehicle, wagon
• Valet = Servant, attendant
• Modest = Humble, unassuming
• Shy = Reserved, timid 
• Apprentice = Trainee, learner
• Furnace = Heater, kiln 
• Stretched = Extended, lengthened
• Pig iron = Crude iron, raw iron
• Abruptly = Suddenly, unexpectedly
• Compassionately = Kindly, sympathetically
• Permission = Approval, consent
• Friendly = Amiable, affable
• Confidence = Trust, belief
• Valet = Attendant, servant
• Astonished = Amazed, surprised
• Forebodings = Apprehensions, misgivings
• Evidently = Clearly, obviously 
• Caught sight = Noticed, observed
• Compassionately = Kindly, sympathetically
• Frightened = Scared, terrified
• Permission = Approval, consent
• Bother = Trouble, disturb
• Astonished = Amazed, surprised
• Glance = Quick look, peek
• Forebodings = Apprehensions, misgivings
• Evil = Wicked, malevolent
• Devil = Demon, fiend
• Satisfaction = Contentment, pleasure
• Flesh = Muscle, meat
• Queer = Strange, odd
• Downhill = Deteriorate, worsen
• Educated = Learned, knowledgeable
• Patience = Tolerance, forbearance
• Embarrassed = Ashamed, self-conscious
• Tramp = Vagabond, wanderer
• Valet = Servant, attendant
• Starched collar = Stiffened neckband 
• Puckered brow = Wrinkled forehead
• Reflection = Image, likeness
• Uncertain = Unsure, doubtful 
• Thundered = Yelled loudly, roared 
• Dissimulate = Hide, conceal
• Splendour = Grandeur, magnificence
• Hesitating = Pausing, faltering
• Sheriff = Law enforcement officer
• Matter = Issue, subject 
• Struck = Hit, smacked
• Cheese rinds = Outer layer of cheese
• Pork = Pig meat, swine flesh
• Drag = Pull, haul 
• Locks up = Imprisons, Confines
• Caught = Trapped, Snared
• Embarrassed = Ashamed, Shy
• Homelike = Cozy, Comfortable
• Christmassy = Festive, Holiday-like
• Interceded = Intervened, Mediated 
• Vagabond = Wanderer, Nomad
• Chased away = Expelled, Driven away 
• Arrested = Detained, Captured
• Cross-examined = Interrogated, Questioned
• Peace = Calm, Serenity
• Mumbled = Muttered, Murmured
• Oppose = Resist, Contest
• Chase away = Expel, Drive away
• Christmas cheer = Festivity, Joyfulness
• Preach = Advocate, Instruct
• Parson = Clergyman, Priest
• Regret = Lament, Rue 
• Led = Guided, Directed
• Helped himself = Served, Took
• Interceded = Intervened, Mediated
• Passed = Occurred, Happened
• Trouble = Problem, Difficulty
• Forenoon = Morning, A.M. 
• Fare = Food, Meal
• Lighted = Illuminated, Lit
• Blinking = Winking, Flickering
• Candlelight = Flame light, Wax light
• Disappeared = Vanished, Faded
• Aroused = Awakened, Woken up 
• Porridge = Gruel, Oatmeal
• Present = Existing, Available
• Intention = Purpose, Aim
• Rest in peace = Sleep peacefully, Rest quietly
• Evil = Harm, Malice 
• Ironmaster = Metalworker, Iron worker
• Service = Worship, Ceremony
• Disturb = Interrupt, Bother
• Church = Chapel, Sanctuary
• Dejectedly = Sadly, Gloomily
• Crofters = Farmers, Tenants
• Ironworks = Foundry, Forge
• Robbed = Stolen, Looted
• Stranger = Outsider, Unknown 
• Thief = Robber, Burglar 
• Valet = Servant, Attendant
• Cry of joy = Cheer, Shout
• Rattrap = Mousetrap, Snare
• Wrinkled = Creased, Crumpled
• Kronor notes = Currency, Bills
• Jagged = Rough, Irregular
• Honoured = Respected, Esteemed
• Embarrassed = Ashamed, Shy 
• Roadside = Wayside, Kerbside
• Wanderers = Travellers, Nomads
• Caught = Captured, Trapped 
• High regard = Respect, Esteem