The Rattrap By Selma Lagerlof - ( English - XII)

Summary

The Red Trap tells the tale of a man who makes a living selling rat traps and stealing, viewing life as a trap that lures people to their downfall. After stealing from a kind craftsman, he finds himself lost in a forest and later mistaken for an acquaintance by an iron master. Despite his initial intentions to deceive for profit, he is touched by the kindness of the iron master's daughter, Edla, and decides to return the stolen money as a Christmas gift, realizing he has escaped life's trap.

Takeaways

• 🐭 The protagonist makes and sells small wire red traps but also steals to survive.
• 💡 He contemplates that the world is a trap, luring people to their downfall.
• 🏡 He visits a lonely crafter, who offers him food and shelter.
• 🃏 They play cards and the crafter reveals his source of income and where he keeps his money.
• 💸 The protagonist steals the crafter's money after leaving the house.
• 🌲 He gets lost in the forest and realizes he too has been lured by bait.
• 🔨 He finds an iron mill and asks for shelter, where he's mistaken for an old acquaintance.
• 👨‍🔧 The iron master initially wants to give him money but later realizes his mistake.
• 🎅 He spends Christmas with the iron master's family, eating and sleeping.
• 💌 He leaves a rat trap and a letter for Edla, asking her to return the stolen money to the crafter.
• 🎁 The rat trap is a Christmas present for Edla, symbolizing his gratitude for her kindness.

Q & A

What was the primary occupation of the protagonist known as 'the Red'?

The Red made and sold small wire red traps.

Why did the Red also engage in stealing?

Selling rat traps was not profitable enough, so he stole to have enough to eat and stay alive.

What did the Red realize about the world one evening?

The Red realized that the world was little more than a bait to draw people to their own destruction.

What did the crafter offer the Red when he knocked on his door?

The crafter offered the Red a hot meal and tobacco, and they spent the evening talking and playing a card game.

How did the Red betray the crafter's trust?

The Red smashed a window pane and stole the crafter's money after learning where he kept it.

What happened to the Red when he decided to walk to the forest?

The Red got lost in the forest and realized he too had allowed himself to be fooled by bait.

Where did the Red find shelter after getting lost in the forest?

The Red found shelter at Ramsey's Iron Works after hearing the sound of hammer strokes.

Why did the Iron Master initially mistake the Red for an old acquaintance?

The Iron Master mistook the Red for an old acquaintance from the army.

What did the Red do to convince the Iron Master not to call the sheriff?

The Red convinced the Iron Master that the world is a rat trap and that he himself might get snared one day.

How did Edla, the Iron Master's daughter, influence the Red's stay at their house?

Edla's friendly manner caused the Red to change his mind and go with her to their house, and later she convinced her father to let the Red spend Christmas with them.

What did the Red leave behind for Edla after he left the Iron Master's house?

The Red left a rat trap and a letter for Edla, expressing his desire to reciprocate her kindness and asking her to return the money to the poor crafter.