1. Summary in English
2. Summary in Hindi
3. Analysis in English
4. Analysis in hindi
5. 20 MCQs Questions and Answers
Lesson 4: The Rattrap
📚 THE RATTRAP – SUMMARY & ANALYSIS
1. ⭐ SUMMARY (English)
“The Rattrap” by Selma Lagerlöf is a story about a poor peddler who sells rattraps. He is lonely, hungry, and often steals to survive. He believes that the world is a big rattrap—riches and pleasures are like bait that trap human beings.
One day, he steals money from an old crofter and escapes into the forest. But soon he loses his way, proving his belief that the world truly is a rattrap.
Later, he takes shelter at Ramsjo Ironworks, where the Ironmaster mistakes him for his old friend. The peddler refuses their help, but Edla, the Ironmaster’s daughter, insists on letting him stay for Christmas.
Her kindness, trust, and compassion change the peddler’s heart. Feeling guilty, he decides to return the stolen money. He leaves behind a rattrap gift for Edla with a letter saying that her kindness helped him escape from the “rattrap of the world.”
The story highlights human goodness and the power of compassion to transform lives.
2. ⭐ SUMMARY (Hindi)
“द रैट ट्रैप” (The Rattrap) की लेखिका सेल्मा लेगरलोफ़ हैं। कहानी एक गरीब फेरीवाले (peddler) की है जो चूहेदानी बेचता है। वह अकेला और गरीब है तथा कभी-कभी चोरी करके अपना गुज़ारा करता है। उसका मानना है कि यह दुनिया एक बड़ी चूहेदानी है, जहाँ धन-दौलत और सुख-सुविधाएँ मनुष्यों को फँसाने का चारा हैं।
एक दिन वह एक क्रॉफ्टर (किसान) के घर से पैसे चुरा लेता है और जंगल में भटक जाता है। उसे लगता है कि सचमुच दुनिया ने उसे अपने जाल में फँसा लिया है।
बाद में वह रैम्सजो आयरनवर्क्स पहुँचता है। वहाँ का आयरनमास्टर उसे अपना पुराना दोस्त समझ लेता है। उसकी बेटी एडला विलमसन उसे क्रिसमस पर घर आने के लिए मनाती है।
एडला का दयालु व्यवहार, विश्वास और मानवीयता पेडलर के अंदर परिवर्तन लाती है। वह अपने किए पर पछताता है और क्रॉफ्टर के पैसे लौटा देता है। वह एडला के लिए एक चूहेदानी छोड़ जाता है और एक पत्र लिखता है कि उसकी दया ने उसे “दुनिया की चूहेदानी” से निकलने में मदद की।
कहानी यह दिखाती है कि मानव प्रेम और करुणा किसी भी इंसान को बदल सकती है।
3. 🎯 ANALYSIS (For Exams – Easy Points)
1. Theme
- Human compassion can transform lives
- World as a metaphorical rattrap—temptations trap human beings
- Redemption—anyone can improve with love and trust
2. Characters
Peddler:
- Poor, lonely, mistrustful
- Represents the “fallen man”
- Changes after receiving kindness
Edla:
- Symbol of goodness
- Her empathy reforms the peddler
Ironmaster:
- Represents society’s judgemental attitude
- Kind but superficial
3. Symbols
- Rattrap: Temptations of life
- Forest: Confusion in life
- Christmas Season: Spiritual rebirth / compassion
4. Moral
- Kindness can bring out the best even in those who seem lost.
- Never judge a person by their appearance or past.
5. Why Important for Exams
- Strong moral message
- Symbolism-based
- Character development
- Popular long-answer question in CBSE & MP Board
Here is the Hindi translation of your exam-focused analysis:
4. 🎯 विश्लेषण (परीक्षा के लिए – आसान बिंदु)
1. थीम (Theme / विषय-वस्तु)
- मानवीय करुणा किसी का भी जीवन बदल सकती है।
- दुनिया एक रूपक (metaphor) के रूप में चूहेदानी है — जहाँ लालच और प्रलोभन मनुष्य को फँसा लेते हैं।
- पश्चाताप और सुधार — प्रेम और विश्वास से कोई भी व्यक्ति बदल सकता है।
2. पात्र (Characters)
फेरीवाला / पैडलर:
- गरीब, अकेला, अविश्वासी
- “गिरा हुआ मनुष्य” (fallen man) का प्रतीक
- दया और सहानुभूति मिलने पर बदल जाता है
एडला:
- भलाई और मानवता का प्रतीक
- उसकी सहानुभूति पेडलर को सुधारती है
आयरनमास्टर:
- समाज के आलोचनात्मक और निर्णयात्मक रवैये का प्रतिनिधित्व
- दयालु है पर सतही (superficial)
3. प्रतीक (Symbols)
- चूहेदानी (Rattrap): जीवन के प्रलोभन और लालच
- जंगल (Forest): जीवन की उलझन और भटकाव
- क्रिसमस का मौसम: आध्यात्मिक पुनर्जन्म, करुणा और दया
4. नैतिक शिक्षा (Moral)
- दया और करुणा से सबसे भटके हुए व्यक्ति में भी अच्छाई जगाई जा सकती है।
- किसी को उसकी बाहरी स्थिति या पिछले कर्मों के आधार पर मत आंकिए।
5. परीक्षा में क्यों महत्वपूर्ण (Why Important for Exams)
- मजबूत नैतिक संदेश
- गहन प्रतीकवाद (symbolism)
- चरित्र-चित्रण (character development) शानदार और स्पष्ट
5. ✅ 20 MCQs – The Rattrap
1. Who is the author of “The Rattrap”?
a) Pearl S. Buck
b) Selma Lagerlöf
c) John Galsworthy
d) William Blake
Answer: b) Selma Lagerlöf
2. What did the peddler sell?
a) Buttons
b) Toys
c) Rattraps
d) Shoes
Answer: c) Rattraps
3. What was the peddler’s major belief about the world?
a) It is full of kind people
b) It is like a big rattrap
c) It is meaningless
d) It is a battlefield
Answer: b) It is like a big rattrap
4. Why did the crofter welcome the peddler?
a) He wanted company
b) He wanted to sell him food
c) He was afraid of being alone
d) He wanted money
Answer: a) He wanted company
5. How much money did the peddler steal from the crofter?
a) 10 kronor
b) 20 kronor
c) 30 kronor
d) 50 kronor
Answer: c) 30 kronor
6. Where did the peddler get lost after stealing the money?
a) In the village
b) In the forest
c) In the town market
d) On a mountain
Answer: b) In the forest
7. Who first mistook the peddler for an old regimental friend?
a) The blacksmith
b) The crofter
c) The ironmaster
d) Edla
Answer: c) The ironmaster
8. What was the ironmaster’s daughter’s name?
a) Christine
b) Edla
c) Mary
d) Anna
Answer: b) Edla
9. Who convinced the peddler to come home for Christmas?
a) Ironmaster
b) Crofter
c) Edla
d) The blacksmith
Answer: c) Edla
10. What made the ironmaster realize his mistake the next morning?
a) The peddler confessed
b) The crofter informed him
c) The peddler looked poor and dirty
d) Daylight revealed his real identity
Answer: d) Daylight revealed his real identity
11. What did the peddler leave as a gift for Edla?
a) 30 kronor
b) A rattrap
c) His coat
d) A poem
Answer: b) A rattrap
12. What did the peddler enclose inside the rattrap gift?
a) A letter
b) Flowers
c) Money
d) A key
Answer: c) Money (and a letter)
13. What message did the peddler write in his letter?
a) “I am sorry.”
b) “The world is a rattrap.”
c) “Thanks for saving me from the rattrap.”
d) “I am leaving forever.”
Answer: c) “Thanks for saving me from the rattrap.”
14. What does the rattrap symbolize?
a) Poverty
b) The temptations of life
c) Wealth
d) Fear
Answer: b) The temptations of life
15. What was Edla’s nature?
a) Harsh and rude
b) Jealous and insecure
c) Kind and compassionate
d) Greedy and selfish
Answer: c) Kind and compassionate
16. What did the ironmaster want the peddler to do for him?
a) Work in the factory
b) Stay forever
c) Join the army
d) Sell rattraps
Answer: a) Work in the factory
17. Why did the peddler refuse the ironmaster’s first invitation?
a) He disliked the ironmaster
b) He feared being exposed
c) He was ill
d) He had stolen money
Answer: b) He feared being exposed
18. What is the central theme of the story?
a) Money brings happiness
b) Punishment reforms criminals
c) Power of human kindness
d) Survival of the fittest
Answer: c) Power of human kindness
19. What did the peddler call himself in the letter?
a) Captain
b) Thief
c) A poor trader
d) A rat who was saved
Answer: a) Captain (He signed as “Captain von Stahle”)
20. Why is Christmas important in the story?
a) A time for celebration
b) Symbol of spiritual rebirth and kindness
c) Time of snowfall
d) Time for traveling
Answer: b) Symbol of spiritual rebirth and kindness
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