The Rattrap Essay Questions

How does Lagerlöf gesture to the rise of industrialism in Sweden at the turn of the 20th century?

When the peddler gets lost in the woods, he's saved by a conveniently located iron mill. Just as he begins to accept his fate, that he would freeze to death alone in the woods, the vagabond hears a sound that renews his hope. Lagerlöf writes that "just as he laid his head on the ground, he heard a sound—a hard, regular thumping. There was no doubt as to what that was" (68). The vagabond knows right away that this is the sound of an iron mill.

Lagerlöf subtly gestures toward the collapse of the Swedish iron industry at the feet of larger producers like the U.S. by telling the reader—from the narrator's future perspective outside of the temporal margins of the story—that the mill is now closed down. The crofter represents an old way of life. Aged out of the ability to engage in day labor and the new industrial economy, the old man has to rely on his milk cow to earn a living. And while the milk cow serves him well, it is still a precarious cottage industry that puts this man's entire livelihood in the hands of one cow. Perhaps "The Rat Trap" is Lagerlöf's way of drawing attention to the poverty that exists in Sweden at the turn of the century, as industrialization leaves a portion of society in the dust to struggle and scrounge to meet their basic needs.

Which elements of the story resemble a fairy tale?

With "The Rat Trap," Lagerlöf gives her readers a morality tale that formally and structurally resembles a fairy tale without including any actual fairies or magical elements. Lagerlöf seems to engage the genre of the fairy tale quite consciously by, for example, starting the story with "Once upon a time." However, there are other, subtler markers. For example, the case of mistaken identity is a classic trope in genre fiction. Fairy tales often feature a dramatic transformation. The vagabond, after being taken in on Christmas Eve, is washed, clothed, and shaved. Only at this point does the Ironmaster realize that he is not who he thought he was. However, another transformation takes place within the vagabond. This is an emotional and philosophical transformation that changes his outlook on life. Edla's kindness "transforms" the vagabond into Captain von Ståhle, as demonstrated by his note.

What is the significance of the story taking place around Christmas?

Part of "The Rat Trap"'s being a morality tale is its exemplification of Christian values like hospitality and charity. The gospel stories of the birth of Christ emphasize that Mary and Joseph are unable to find a place to stay when they come to Bethlehem, and as a result, Mary gives birth to Jesus in a barn, in a manger. It is no coincidence, then, that the protagonist of this story is a traveler in need of a place to stay. Unlike Mary and Joseph, the vagabond finds lodging fairly easily and is greeted with a level of generosity to which he is not accustomed. The reason for this unusual wealth of kindness and generosity is shown to be, at least in Edla's case, partially informed by the holiday. She feels a duty to provide this man, who lives in a fairly constant state of uncertainty, with a sense of safety and comfort on at least this one day of the year, Christmas. The holiday becomes somewhat of an inspiration for her kindness.