THE RATTRAP SUMMARY, POINTS, ANALYSIS CLASS XII ENGLISH CBSE
GIST OF THE CHAPTER
1 Rat Trap Man
. made living by selling rattraps
. business not profitable
. had to beg and steal
. even then poor
2. His Philosophy
. whole world was a rat trap
. if offered riches, joys, shelter, food etc., as bait.
. if tempted to bait, everything came to end
3. Simplicity of old man who gave shelter to Rat trap man
. one night rat trap man stayed at old man.s house
. old man happy to have someone
. simple, generous, hospitable
. offered big slice from tobacco roll, played cards
. told about past, was a crofter, prosperous
. now, his cow supported, earned thirty kronors
. showed the rat trap man pouch having Kroner
. next day, rat trap man stole money.
4. Rat trap man loses his way
. does not continue on public highway
. goes into woods, loses way
. walks endlessly, tired, realizes
. realizes he himself has been caught in rat trap
. hears sound of hammer strokes
. walks in that direction, reaches iron mill
. finds master smith, doesn.t notice rat trap man
. later, blacksmith grants permission to sleep.
5. Iron master and his daughter Edla
. owner of Ramsjo Iron Mill
. mistakes rat trap man as old acquaintance called von Stahle
. invites him to home to spend Christmas
. rat trap man doesn.t agree
. agrees when Edla comes and requests
. overwhelmed by her compassionate and friendly manner
6. Secret revealed
. rat trap man well groomed
. iron man realizes mistake
. rat trap man makes no attempt to hide
. ready to leave wearing old rags
. Edla requests father to allow him to stay
. they had promised Christmas cheer
7. The rat trap man turns a new leaf
. quietly eats food, sleeps
. next morning, father and daughter go to church
. hear that crofter robbed by a rat trap man
. daughter sad, informed rat trap man left gift
. small rat trap with thirty kronors and a note
. wishes money to be returned to crofter
. confesses that he had made a mistake
. got caught in his own rat trap
. thanks for treating him like a real captain
8. What we learn from the story
. Life is one big rat trap
. one gets trapped by own deeds
. everyone should get a second chance to improve oneself
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Rat Trap" written by Selma Lagerlof is a short story about an old disheartened beggar and thief who is taken in and shown generosity by a young woman, her kindness changes his bitter attitude about life. The peddler is a man who has fallen upon misfortune and now resorts to selling rattraps, begging, and thievery. He is very pessimistic about the world around him and sees the world as merely a "rat trap". He believes that society tempts us with riches and fine things, and when we accept, we are caught in the trap and are left with nothing.
The warmth of compassion extends its rays around the world, engraving mankind with its characteristic. Selma Legerlof supports the theory of compassion in her modern day short story "The Rat Trap" which depicts the powerful and positive impacts of such care. In the story, cynicism grips the protagonist rat trap peddler until the old man and the blacksmith's daughter infect the protagonist with their altruism. Thus, the peddler's inner soul experiences a rapid transformation form an ugly duckling to a dazzling swan.
Legerlof's first scene of compassion is from the old man's hospitality. Despite the fact that he did not know the peddler, the old man still opened his arms and acted charitable by providing food and shelter. This action is not typical in the today's world; a majority of us would turn a blind eye. However, although the old man showed a sign of compassion, it was not appreciated—the protagonist stole from the old man. As the peddler ponders on the road of guilt, he soon receives a second action of care from a little girl.
Compassion is illustrated when the blacksmith's daughter takes pity on the protagonist. Although she knew the fact that he was not Captain von Stahle, whom he claimed to be, the girl said, " I think he ought to stay with us today. I don't want him to go." The girl's compassionate words cracked the foundation of the protagonist's cynical world. Throughout the story, the protagonist only believed in the dismal side of human nature, survival of the fittest, and viewed the world as a battlefield. His whole belief system was shattered when he received the girl's pity and an opportunity to enjoy his first "true" Christmas.
Lagerlof's "The Rat Trap" strongly validates the concept that compassion revolves around humankind. She provides evidence when the old man and the blacksmith's daughter show compassion towards the protagonist. As a result, the girl acted as the North Star, guiding the protagonist out of the trap of cynicism.
Legerlof's first scene of compassion is from the old man's hospitality. Despite the fact that he did not know the peddler, the old man still opened his arms and acted charitable by providing food and shelter. This action is not typical in the today's world; a majority of us would turn a blind eye. However, although the old man showed a sign of compassion, it was not appreciated—the protagonist stole from the old man. As the peddler ponders on the road of guilt, he soon receives a second action of care from a little girl.
Compassion is illustrated when the blacksmith's daughter takes pity on the protagonist. Although she knew the fact that he was not Captain von Stahle, whom he claimed to be, the girl said, " I think he ought to stay with us today. I don't want him to go." The girl's compassionate words cracked the foundation of the protagonist's cynical world. Throughout the story, the protagonist only believed in the dismal side of human nature, survival of the fittest, and viewed the world as a battlefield. His whole belief system was shattered when he received the girl's pity and an opportunity to enjoy his first "true" Christmas.
Lagerlof's "The Rat Trap" strongly validates the concept that compassion revolves around humankind. She provides evidence when the old man and the blacksmith's daughter show compassion towards the protagonist. As a result, the girl acted as the North Star, guiding the protagonist out of the trap of cynicism.
Another lesson the mendicant learns throughout the course of the story is to be considerate of others. At the end of the novel, he makes amends with the old man by returning his money and writing Edla a thank you note. He understands what he did to the man was wrong and that was not returning the kindness and trust given to him. He apologized for lying to the girl and her father and leaves her a present, a rat trap and the stolen money(thirty croner bills) of the old man to be returned.
Comments
Post a Comment