KANHAN VALLEY SCHOOL,

DUNGARIYA

DISTT. CHHINDWARA (M.P.)

(AFFILIATED TO CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION)

English Assignment Project

(Session 2024-2025)

Topic – The Rattrap

Submitted to - Submitted by -

Ms. Sarita Sengar Mam Shweta

Somkuwar

KVS Dungariya 12th (PCB)

Date:- Roll No. :-

 INDEX

Acknowledgement

Certificate

Objectives

Author’s Biography

Theme

Major characters

Sketch of major characters

Summary

Social message

Significance – The letter by Rattrap

peddler

Bibliography
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like extend my sincere and heart

felt obligation towards all those who
have helped me in making me this
project. Without their active guidance,
help, cooperation and encouragement, I
would not have been able to present the
project on time.
I am extremely thankful and pay my
sincere gratitude to my teacher Ms.
Sarita Senger mam for her valuable
guidance and support for completion of
this project.
I also acknowledge with a deep sense of
reverence, my gratitude towards my
parents, other faculty members of the
school and friends for their valuable
suggestion given to me in completing
the project.
 CERTIFICATE

This is certifying that the project work

on “The Rattrap” based on the
curriculum of CBSE has been completed
by Shweta Somkuwar of class XII “PCB”
of Kanhan Valley School Dungariya. The
above mentioned project work has been
completed under my guidance during
the academic year 2024-25.

Teacher’s Signature
Principal’s Signature

External’s Signature
THE RATTRAP
 AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHY

Born Selma Ottilia Lovisa

Lagerlof
20 November 1858
Mårbacka, Sweden

Died 16 March 1940 (aged 81)

Mårbacka, Sweden

Occupati Writer
on

Notable Nobel Prize in Literature

awards 1909
Selma
Lagerlof
(1858-1940) was
born in Ostra Emterwik, Varmland, Sweden. She
was brought up on Marbacka, the family estate,
which she did not leave until 1881, when she
went to a teachers’ college at Stockholm. In 1885
she became a teacher at the girls’ secondary
school in Landskrona. She had been writing
poetry ever since she was a child, but she did not
publish anything until 1890, when a Swedish
weekly gave her the first prize in a literary
competition and published excerpts from the
book which was to be her first, best, and most
popular work. Gosta Berlings Saga was published
in 1891, but went unnoticed until its Danish
translation received wide critical acclaim and
paved the way for the book’s lasting success in
Sweden and elsewhere. In 1895 financial support
from the royal family and the Swedish
Academy encouraged her to abandon teaching
altogether. She travelled in Italy and
wrote Antikrists mirakler (1897) [The Miracles of
Antichrist], a novel set in Sicily. After several
minor works she published Jerusalem (1901-
1902) [The Holy City], a novel about Swedish
peasants who emigrated to the Holy Land and
whom she had visited in 1900. This work was her
first immediate success. A book intended as a
primer for elementary schools became one of the
most charming children’s books in any
language: Nils Holgerssons underbara resa
genom Sverige (1906) [The Wonderful
Adventures of Nils].

None of her later works matched the power or

success of Gosta Berlings Saga. In the mid-
twenties she published the historical
trilogy: Lowenskoldska Ringen (1925), Charlotte
Lowenskoldska (1927), and Anna Sward (1928)
[The Ring of the Lowenskoldska, 3 vols.]. She
also published several volumes of reminiscences
under the title Marbacka (1922-32).

From Nobel Lecture Literature 1901-1967, Editor Horst

Frenz, Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 1969
Selma Lagerlof died on March 16, 1940.
 THEME

The tale “Rattrap” examines a number of

subjects, such as;

Identity: According to the narrative, a person’s

identity is not static and it’s subject to change
depending on their environment and interactions
with others.as he interacts with the Crofter and
Edla, the Vagabond, who initially portrays himself
as a thief and a beggar, changes into a more
upbeat and hopeful character.
Kindness and Compassion: The narrative
emphasizes the significance of displaying
kindness and compassion for others. He is
profoundly affected by the Crofter and Edla’s
kindness to the wanderer, which finally causes
him to alter his behavior.

Materialism and Greed: The ironmaster’s

persona serves as a metaphor for the story’s
condemnation of the materialistic and greedy
nature of society. He is alone and unhappy
because he is only concerned with acquiring
wealth and power.

The Power of Storytelling: A reoccurring

theme in the narrative is the vagabond’s
propensity for telling tales. His tales have the
ability to inspire and change those who hear
them in addition to amusing them. This shows
that creating stories can be an effective means of
forming relationship with people and defining
one’s own identity.
Overall, the narrative emphasizes the value of
compassion, empathy, and the transformational
potential of human connection.
MAJOR CHARATERS
 SKETCH OF MAJOR
CHARACTERS
A tiny ensemble of individuals, each with
own characteristics and objectives, makes
up the story “Rattrap”.

THE VAGABOND: A homeless guy who relies on

begging and theft as a means of subsistence is
the story’s protagonist in “The Vagabond “. He is
described as unkempt, disheveled man who is
constantly on the go. The vagrant, despite his
harsh demeanor, has a good heart and an
inquisitive mind.

THE CROFTER: He is a peasant farmer who resides in

a tiny cabin in the woods. He welcomes the wanderer
into his home and shares his little resources with him
because he is a nice and generous man.
EDLA WILLMANSSON: She is a young lady who
runs into the wanderer while he is a posing as a
street vendor. She starts discussion with the
wanderer because she is interested in him.

THE IRON MASTER: He is a wealthy individual

who lives close to the crofter’s home and is the
owner of sizable estate. He is shown to be cold,
uncaring individual who is solely concerned with
his own fortune and power.
 SUMMARY

The lesson of the story “Rattrap” is that even the

most trying situations; there is still hope for
redemption and power of human connection.

The narrative implies that a person’s identity is

malleable and subject to change depending on
their environment and interactions with others.
As he interacts with the Crofter and Edla, the
Vagabond, who initially portrays himself as a
thief and a beggar, changes into a more upbeat
and hopeful character. They have shown him
warmth and understanding, which have enabled
him to see himself in a new light and have made
this transition possible.

The narrative also stresses the value of having

empathy, compassion, and kindness towards
others. He is profoundly affected by the Crofter
and Edla’s kindness to the wanderer, which
finally causes him to alter his behavior. The
moral of the story is that no matter what their
situation or social standing, we should treat
everyone with love and empathy.
The moral of the story is one of hope and
redemption, highlighting the value of treating
others with kindness and comparison as well as
the transformational power of human connection
 SOCIAL MESSAGE
“Rattrap” is a short story with a powerful social
message on the plight of the underprivileged and
disadvantaged in society. The author illustrates
the hardships of individuals who must live on the
periphery of society and are continuously fighting
for survival via the perspective of the vagrant.

The moral of the story emphasize the value of

having empathy and sympathy for those who are
less fortunate. The Crofter's consideration for the
wanderer an Edla’s readiness to talk to him in
spite of his looks shows how human connection
has the ability to change lives.

In addition, the Ironmaster’s character serves as

a critique of society’s materialism and
selfishness. The Ironmaster suffers from
loneliness and sadness because he only cares
about money and the power.

Overall, the narrative might be interpretative as

a plea for more caring and accepting society, one
that treats the weaker members of society with
respect and dignity.
 SIGNIFICANCE – THE LETTER
BY RATTRAP PEDDLER

Critical Piece: The peddler leaves a Christmas

gift for Edla, consisting of a small rattrap
containing money and a letter.

Significance: This gesture symbolizes the

peddler’s gratitude and redemption. The rattrap,
now transformed into a gift, represents the
peddler’s acknowledgment of Edla’s kindness.
The accompanying letter reinforces the theme of
human connection and highlights the potential
for positive change, emphasizing the impact of
unexpected acts of generosity.

The letter, signed by “Captain Von Stahle,”

thanked her for her kindness and explained that
the rattrap was a Christmas present from a rat
raised to captaincy, symbolizing redemption. The
story unfolds as a poignant exploration of human
loneliness, compassion, and unexpected
redemption.
As Christmas gift, the peddler left a package for
Edla Williamson. It contained a rattrap, three ten
kronor notes and a letter. In the letter, the
peddler had expressed his regret for robbing the
crofter and his gratitude towards Ms. Williamson
for treating him like a captain.

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 the rattrap. The peddler thanks Edla for
her kindness and requests her to return the
stolen money to the crofter.

Through the act of giving the rattrap as a gift,

Edla demonstrates trust and compassion towards
the peddler. Despite being aware of his past
actions, she sees beyond his exterior and treats
him with kindness.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

For successfully completing my project file. I have done

this project with the help of the following;
 Wikipedia

 Class XII Textbook- Flamingo

 Success Ds

 Learn CBSE

 Toppr

 Byju’s

 Arihant All in One