The Rattrap Class 12 English Flamingo
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| Key Points of the Story |
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| Detailed Summary |
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| Theme/Message |
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| Difficult Words |
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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 Rattrap" by Selma Lagerlöf is a story that explores themes of human kindness, redemption, and the pitfalls of materialism. The protagonist is a vagabond who makes and sells rattraps but is also forced to beg and steal to survive. One day, he is struck by the idea that the world is a giant rattrap, offering various baits like wealth and joy to trap people.
One evening, seeking shelter, he arrives at the cottage of an old crofter who generously provides him with food, tobacco, and company. The crofter proudly shows the vagabond his thirty kronor, earnings from his cow's milk. The next morning, the vagabond steals the money and runs into the forest, where he gets lost and feels trapped, much like the rattrap he imagines the world to be.
Desperate and cold, he finds his way to the Ramsjö Ironworks, where he is mistaken for an old regimental comrade by the ironmaster. Despite the vagabond's protests, the ironmaster insists on taking him home. However, the vagabond's fear of being caught with the stolen money makes him reluctant. Eventually, the ironmaster's daughter, Edla, convinces him to come, assuring him he can leave freely.
At the ironmaster's home, the vagabond is treated with kindness, especially by Edla, who senses his fear and vulnerability. On Christmas morning, the ironmaster realizes his mistake and demands the vagabond leave, threatening to involve the sheriff. The vagabond responds with a poignant reflection on the rattrap metaphor, warning the ironmaster that he too could one day be trapped by his greed.
Edla persuades her father to let the vagabond stay for Christmas. Her compassion deeply affects him, and he spends the holiday peacefully. The next day, Edla learns about the robbery at the crofter's place but is relieved when she finds a package left by the vagabond. Inside is the stolen money and a small rattrap, along with a letter in which he signs himself as Captain von Stahle, expressing his gratitude and acknowledging that Edla's kindness has helped him redeem himself.
The story highlights the transformative power of understanding and compassion, showing that even those who have fallen into dishonest ways can be redeemed through love and kindness.
Theme/Message
Theme: The theme of the story revolves around redemption and kindness, highlighting how unexpected acts of compassion can lead to personal transformation.
Message: The story conveys that everyone deserves a chance at redemption and understanding. It emphasizes the power of empathy, forgiveness, and the potential for change within individuals, no matter their past actions or circumstances. It also underscores the significance of treating others with kindness and humanity, as shown through the ironmaster's daughter's compassion towards the rattrap peddler.
Difficult Words
- Rattrap: A device used to catch rats or mice.
- Vagabond: A person who wanders from place to place without a home or job.
- Mediations: Deep thoughts or contemplations.
- Unwonted: Not customary or usual; unexpected.
- Crofter: A person who rents or owns a small farm or cottage.
- Incredulous: Unwilling or unable to believe something.
- Impenetrable: Impossible to pass through or enter.
- Gloom: Partial or total darkness; a state of depression or despondency.
- Dejectedly: Feeling disheartened or sad.
- Compassionately: Showing sympathy and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.
- Redemption: The action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.
- Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
- Forgiveness: The act of pardoning an offense or mistake.
- Transformation: A thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance.
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FAQs on The Rattrap Class 12 English Flamingo
| 1. What is the central theme of "The Rattrap"? |  |
| 2. Who is the main character in "The Rattrap"? | |
| 3. How does the tramp's perception of the world change throughout the story? | |
| 4. What role does the rattrap play in the story's plot? | |
| 5. How does the theme of transformation manifest in "The Rattrap"? | |
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Nov 15, 2024 Last updated |
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