The-Rattrap.pptx

english project

1. INDEX About the Author Introduction Theme, Sub-theme, Plot Characters Summary Sequence & Key-Points Vocabulary Points to Ponder Character Sketch Assignment - Selma Lagerlof (1858-1940) The Rattrap

2. The Rattrap S elma Lagerlof was a Swedish writer whose stories have been translated into many languages. A universal theme runs through all of them — a belief that the essential goodness in a human being can be awakened through understanding and love . This story is set amidst the mines of Sweden, rich in iron ore, which figure large in the history and legends of that country. The story is told somewhat in the manner of a fairy tale. - Selma Lagerlof (1858-1940) About the Author :

3. Sweden

4. Introduction : The story is about an old disheartened peddler who is shown generosity by a young woman. Her generosity and kindness change his bitter attitude towards 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 ‘rattrap’. He believes that the world tempts us with riches and fine things, and when we accept, we are caught in the trap and are left with nothing. The story conveys a universal message that the essential goodness in a human being can be awakened through love, respect, kindness and understanding. The story also highlights human predicament. Material benefits are the traps that most human beings are prone to fall into. Human beings do have a tendency to redeem themselves from dishonest ways as does the peddler at the end of the story. The Rattrap

5. The Rattrap Theme : The trap of material benefit that most human beings are prone to fall into. Sub-Theme : The human tendency to redeem oneself from dishonest ways. Plot : Life of the protagonist (a peddler) – his philosophy about the world - at the crofter’s house – trapped in the forest - at the iron mill – at the Ironmaster’s house – the redemption The story emphasises the consequences of loneliness and the need for companionship

6. The Peddler - The protagonist Crofter – A lonely old man Ironmaster – Owner of Ramjo ironworks Edla Williamson – Daughter of the Ironmaster Master Smith – A worker at the iron mill The Rattrap CHARACTERS : - Selma Lagerlof

7. SUMMARY The Rattrap is a story about a rattrap seller who leads a very poor life as his earnings are very low. He resort to thievery and begging to make his living. He is alone in this whole world and leads a miserable life. So he starts knitting up various thoughts. One of these thoughts is of the whole world being a big rattrap. His believes that the world offers us various types of baits in the form of comforts of life. This in return traps us in the rattrap of the world and leads us to our miseries. Every night, the peddler had to search for shelter as he had no home. One evening he was offered shelter by an old crofter. The next morning he stole the crofter’s money which he had earned by selling his cow’s milk. To safeguard himself, the peddler chose the path through the forest which was secluded, but soon found himself trapped in the forest as he wasn’t able to find the way out of the dense forest. Later on, he finds a way to a forge and takes shelter there. Then something unusual happens. The ironmaster who comes to his mill for a nightly round of inspection, sees the peddler and mistakes him as an old regimental comrade Captain Von Stahle and invites him to his house. The Rattrap

8. The poor peddler rejects the offer due to the fear of being caught. Soon he is invited by the ironmaster‘s daughter. The next morning his real identity is revealed and the ironmaster threatens him saying that he would report the matter to sheriff. The peddler tries to defend himself and leave the house at once. But he is somehow stopped by the ironmaster’s daughter for Christmas Eve. The next day after Christmas, when the iron master and his daughter visit the church, they come to know that the man is a thief who had stolen money from an old crofter. The iron master and his daughter repent for sheltering a thief and wonder at what all things he would have stolen by that time. Here comes a twist as instead of stealing, the peddler gifts the ironmaster’s daughter a rattrap. She finds a letter of thanks and the stolen money inside a rattrap left by the peddler. The peddler thanks Edla for her kindness and requests her to return the stolen money to the crofter.  This story gives us the message that goodness in a human being can be awakened at any time with your own good deeds. SUMMARY The Rattrap

9. The Rattrap : Sequence & Key Points 1 2

10. The Rattrap : Sequence & Key Points 3 4

11. The Rattrap : Sequence & Key Points 5 6

12. The Rattrap : Sequence & Key Points 7 8

13. The Rattrap : Sequence & Key Points 9 10

14. The Rattrap : Sequence & Key Points Vocabulary

15. Vocabulary

16. Vocabulary

17. Vocabulary

18. Vocabulary

19. POINTS TO PONDER Life of the peddler The metaphor of the world being a rattrap Meeting with the crofter Life of the crofter Hospitality of the crofter & his confidence in the peddler Stealing by the peddler The predicament of the peddler in deep forest Shelter at the iron mill Mistaken identity of the peddler by the ironmaster at night Life of the ironmaster & his daughter The peddler’s deception Edla’s love and understanding, persuasion Drama at the ironmaster’s house Argument between the ironmaster and his daughter Redemption of the peddler The deep realisation The Rattrap

20. Peddler /Vagabond/Tramp/Rattrap seller/ signed himself as Captain Von Stahle: The peddler was a poor vagabond. He sold rattraps to earn his living or keep his body and soul together. He also resorted to thievery when required. He was struck with a dark realisation that the world is itself a rattrap and all men and women are just like rats that are vulnerable to trap Initially, the peddler was cynical, a victim of loneliness He was inherently not a bad person. He had some goodness in him that was awakened by Edla, the iron master’s elder daughter. In the end, he transformed himself His subtle sense of humour – e.g. to be cited Character Portrayal The Rattrap

21. Edla Willmannsson: She was the eldest daughter of the Ironmaster She was not that pretty but seemed modest and quite shy Kind-hearted Compassionate Full of understanding Intuitive, smart enough to understand rightly from the peddler’s eyes that he might have escaped from jail or stolen something By being a good host she actually elevated peddler’s nature to that of a Captain. She was a great human being Character Portrayal The Rattrap

22. The Ironmaster (Ironworks owner): The Ironmaster was the owner of the large iron factory i.e. Ramsjo Ironwork. His greatest ambition was to ship out good iron to the market. Hard-working and conscious of his duties as he used to go to the forge for nightly inspection. He mistakes the rattrap seller as his old acquaintance and his basic instinct was to help him irrespective of his condition, which shows that just like his daughter even he was kind-hearted and helpful. He took him to his own house and cared for him. Character Portrayal The Rattrap The Crofter : He was lonely and had nobody to talk to. He was happy to see the peddler and gave him shelter. This gesture made the peddler feel welcomed and comfortable because he was used to seeing sour and unwelcomed faces. He was generous. Trusted the stranger easily/ took him into confidence.  

23. ASSIGNMENT : QUESTIONS TO TEST COMPREHENSION Short Answer Questions (30-40 words) Why was the peddler amused by his idea of the rattrap? How did the peddler get the idea of the world? Why was the crofter so talkative? Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain Von Stahle? Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler? Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth? Why did the peddler decline the invitation made by the ironmaster? Why did the peddler accept the invitation of Edla Willmansson? What doubts did Edla have about the peddler? Why did the ironmaster mistake the peddler as his old comrade? Why didn’t the peddler reveal the truth when he was mistaken by the ironmaster as his old regimental comrade? Why did the crofter show the thirty cronor to the peddler? What did the peddler say in his defence when his real identity was revealed to the ironmaster? Why did the peddler finally change himself? How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight human predicament? Justify the title of the story. The Rattrap - Next slide for long answer questions

24. ASSIGNMENT : QUESTIONS TO TEST COMPREHENSION Long Answer Questions (100-125 words) : Bring out the differences between the iron master and his daughter. 2. The story exemplifies the truth that essential goodness of human beings can be awakened through understanding and love. Discuss. 3. The story focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Elucidate. 4. Interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter. The Rattrap