OUTLINE OF LESSON –THE RATTRAP

                                              MAIN  POINTS

1)      ‘The Rattrap’ is a story that underlies a belief that essential goodness in human beings can be aroused through sympathy, understanding and love.

2)      Once a man went around selling small rattraps but he took to begging and thievery to keep his body and soul together.

3)      One day he was struck with the idea – the whole world is a big rattrap and it offers riches as bait.

4)      People let themselves be tempted to touch the bait then it closes in on them bringing an end to everything.

5)      One dark evening the rattrap peddler sought shelter in an old crofter’s roadside cottage.

6)      The old man gave him food, tobacco they enjoyed the card game too.

7)      Next morning the peddler stole away his thirty kroners.

8)      The rattrap peddler escaped into a big confusing forest and got lost.

9)      While resting on the ground he recollected his idea that the world is a rattrap and thought his end was near.

10)  Hearing a thumping sound he reached Ramsjo ironworks for a night shelter.

11)  The owner came on his nightly rounds and noticed the ragged wretch near the furnace.

12)  He took him as an old acquaintance ‘Nils Olof.’

13)  He invited him to stay with them for Christmas but the stranger declined the offer.

14)  His daughter Edla Willmansson persuaded to go home with him.

15)  She requested him to stay for Christmas Eve only.

16)  On his way to the Manor House the peddler thought that he had thrown himself into the lion’s den.

17)  The next day in broad day light the iron master realized the stranger was not captain and threatened to call the sheriff.

18)  Edla pleaded for him and asked him to stay back.

19)  Christmas Eve at Ramsjo was as usual and the stranger slept and slept.

20)  She made him understand that if he wanted rest and peace he would be welcome next Christmas also. This had a miraculous effect on him.

21)  Next morning they went for early church service leaving behind the guest who was asleep.

22)  They learnt at church that a rattrap peddler had robbed an old crofter.

23)  Edla becomes very upset.

24)  They reach home immediately and learn that the peddler had already left but had not taken anything at all with him. Instead, he had left a small packet for the young girl as a Christmas present.

25)  She opens the packet and finds a rattrap, three wrinkled ten-Krona notes and also a letter with a request to return the Kroners to the crofter.