The Rattrap Class 12 Summary

Summary

A man, struggling to survive by selling rat traps and committing petty thefts, realizes that the world is a vast trap designed to catch people with its baits. After stealing money from an old man, he finds himself lost in a forest and trapped by the very system he exploited. Seeking refuge at an ironworks, he is mistaken for someone else, but his true identity is revealed. On Christmas Eve, he leaves behind a rat trap, money, and a letter of gratitude to the kind woman who helped him, acknowledging his transformation from a mere peddler to a ‘captain’ of his fate.

Takeaways

• 😀 A man, selling rat traps, resorts to petty thefts to survive, seeing the world as a giant rat trap set to deceive people.
• 😀 He meets an old man living alone, who shows him kindness and introduces him to his cow, a source of support.
• 😀 The old man leaves 30 kroners in a pouch hanging in the window, which the rat trap seller steals after breaking the window.
• 😀 The seller runs into a forest, but becomes trapped, realizing he had fallen victim to the very bait he set for others.
• 😀 In the midst of his struggle, the rat trap seller hears hammer strokes from an iron mill and follows the sound for warmth.
• 😀 The iron mill is run by a master blacksmith, who mistakes the rat trap seller for his old comrade due to his appearance in the dark.
• 😀 The iron master invites the seller to his home, but the seller initially refuses, sensing he’s being trapped again.
• 😀 The iron master's daughter, Edla, persuades the seller to stay at their home for Christmas, believing he’s just frightened.
• 😀 The seller stays with them and experiences kindness, enjoying a warm meal, fish, and porridge on Christmas Eve.
• 😀 The next morning, the rat trap seller leaves behind a rat trap, the 30 kroners, and a letter, thanking Edla for her kindness and redemption.
• 😀 In the letter, the rat trap seller requests that the stolen money be returned to its rightful owner and admits that he has become a victim of his own traps.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the story?

The central theme of the story is the idea of the world being like a rat trap, where individuals are lured by baits (temptations) and ultimately get caught in their own actions, leading to inevitable consequences.

What leads the rat trap seller to steal the 30 kroners from the old man?

The rat trap seller, driven by desperation to survive, succumbs to temptation when he sees the 30 kroners hanging in the old man’s window, believing that taking the money will provide him relief. This moment marks his downfall as he is caught in his own trap.

How does the rat trap seller end up in the forest?

After stealing the money from the old man, the rat trap seller attempts to escape but finds himself lost in the forest, realizing that he is now trapped, just as he had trapped others with his rat traps.

What significance does the iron mill have in the story?

The iron mill, where the rat trap seller finds shelter, represents a place of warmth and hope. It is here that he encounters the iron master and his daughter, Edla, who show him kindness, offering him a temporary escape from his dire situation.

Why does the iron master mistake the rat trap seller for his old comrade?

The iron master mistakes the rat trap seller for his old comrade due to the seller’s beard, hat, and the darkness of the forge, which obscures his true identity.

What role does Edla play in the rat trap seller’s experience?

Edla plays a compassionate role, convincing her father to allow the rat trap seller to stay with them for Christmas Eve. Her kindness and empathy provide the seller with comfort and a sense of dignity, which contrasts with the harshness he has experienced.

What is the rat trap seller’s view of the world?

The rat trap seller believes that the world is a giant rat trap, with people being lured by temptations or 'baits' only to be caught in them, much like he himself was caught in his own actions of theft.

Why does the iron master get angry with the rat trap seller the next day?

The iron master becomes angry when he realizes that the rat trap seller is not the old comrade he mistook him for. The seller’s true identity, combined with his humble and downcast demeanor, frustrates the iron master.

How does the story end for the rat trap seller?

The story ends with the rat trap seller leaving the ironworks after being rejected by the iron master. However, before he leaves, he leaves a note and a rat trap as a gift for Edla, thanking her for her kindness and expressing regret for his actions.

What is the significance of the rat trap left by the seller in the final scene?

The rat trap left by the seller symbolizes his final act of redemption. It is a reflection of the trap he set for himself, but it also represents a shift in his understanding, as he recognizes the consequences of his actions and seeks to make amends by leaving the money he stole and the trap as a gift.