Summary of The Rattrap
‘The Rattrap’ is the 4th chapter of the CBSE English textbook for Class 12 – Flamingo. The story is written by Selma Lagerlöf. It talks about how humanity has innate goodness in it and how a proper treatment of people’s problems with kindness and understanding can really bring out the hidden or lost faith in humanity again. The main character is a vendor who sells rattraps and considers the whole world to be an evil trap where human beings are waiting to be caught like rats. Read on to get ‘The Rattrap’ Class 12 summary, and for further content on English related to Class 12th you can refer to CBSE Notes on the official BYJU’S website. Our website also has a section on CBSE Summary where you can find short and concise summaries meant for quick revisions and reference to chapters in the CBSE English textbooks.
CBSE Class 12 English The Rattrap Summary
The story is set in the mines of Sweden where iron is extracted from ores. It is about a rattrap seller who tries to earn his living by selling rattraps made from materials he gathers by either begging at stores and farms or by stealing. He led a hard life – full of struggles and suffering which made him view the world around him pessimistically. He started developing an idea that the world was like a rattrap where the beautiful elements of nature like seas and lands and other human needs like riches, clothes, food, etc. were like baits offered to rats, and the desire to enjoy these things would lure them into this trap. These thoughts became a habit for him and he started enjoying daydreaming about this new idea during his spare time.
One day, while selling goods, he came across a small cottage by the roadside. It was evening and he knocked on the door to ask the owner for shelter during the night. The rattrap vendor was usually used to being ill-treated by others. But this time, he was welcomed wholeheartedly by his host, who not only offered him food and shelter, but also engaged in a merry conversation with him. The host, who was an old man without a wife or children, told the rattrap seller about how he used to work at a mine earlier but presently depended on his cow for his livelihood. He also showed his earnings of thirty kronor to the rattrap seller – three notes of ten kronor – to prove his point. The next day both men set out from the cottage together. But the rattrap seller came back again to the cottage in his host’s absence, stole the thirty kronor and went on his way to somewhere else.
The rattrap seller felt very impressed with his own deed. As he continued his journey, he entered a forest and felt lost, tired and cold as the night approached.He felt trapped as he tried to find his way out. He was about to give up when he heard thumping noises and finally discovered an iron mill that was still in operation. He went inside to find a master smith and his helper working at the furnace. The smith had no objections about providing him a shelter for the night at the mill. After sometime, the owner of the mill – an ironmaster – noticed the rattrap seller and mistook him for an old friend of his at the regiment where he had served in the earlier years of his life. The rattrap seller considered this to be another opportunity for earning money and played along with the ironmaster.
The ironmaster invited him to his house for a stay since it was Christmas season and said that he would love some company. The rattrap seller, finding this overwhelming and uncomfortable, – refused to go to the ironmaster’s house. The ironmaster then sent his daughter to persuade him to stay. As soon as she met the seller, she could understand that the man had done something wrong like stealing or escaping from jail. She assured him in a friendly manner that he would be allowed to leave whenever he wanted; and they wanted him to stay only till Christmas eve. He agreed and went to the manor where he was treated with care and affection by his hosts. The next day at dinner the ironmaster discovered to his shock that it was not his old friend but a stranger whom he had invited to his house. He threatened to turn him over to the sheriff. But, considering that it was Christmas eve, he did not want to trouble the sheriff. The rattrap seller also expressed his views on being trapped like a rat by the good hospitality of his host – the ironmaster. As he was preparing to leave, the daughter had a change of heart and wanted the rattrap seller to stay back for Christmas no matter what the conditions were.
Therefore, the rattrap seller stayed back and spent Christmas with the ironmaster and his daughter at the manor. At night after dinner, when it was time for presents, the daughter told him that her father wanted the coat worn by the rattrap seller to be a Christmas gift for him. She also told him that if he wanted to spend the next Christmas in peace he was welcome at their house. He did not reply as he felt mesmerised by the girl’s kind words and behaviour. The next day, the ironmaster and his daughter went to the church for service. There they had found out that one old employee of the mill was robbed by a man selling rattraps. When they returned home, they found that their guest – the rattrap seller – was gone. He had left a present for the daughter – a rattrap and the thirty kronor he had stolen. He had also written a note in which he asked the daughter to return the stolen money back to its owner. He also explained that it was a Christmas present from a rat who was freed by their kind hospitality.
Conclusion of The Rattrap
This story captures the essence of faith in humanity. The daughter knew that the rattrap seller was not the person her father had assumed to be and his intentions were wrong. Still, she believed that her care and sincerity towards that person might make him believe in the goodness of humanity again. The seller always considered the world an evil place and compared it to a rat trap. After reading The Rattrap Class 12 summary we understand that the rattrap seller in the story, indeed, had some goodness and compassion for people around him. He was finally able to realise the consequences of his wrong deeds and thoughts, and resolved to do the right thing.
This particular chapter from the Class 12 syllabus for CBSE English entails a valuable lesson. Understanding this chapter is crucial for scoring good marks in the literature section of your board examination. BYJU’S offers multiple sources of learning materials on English that will help you tackle any kind of problem confidently.
