NCERT Solutions Class 9 English Beehive Poetry: Chapter 5 – A Legend of the Northland
NCERT Solutions of Class 9 English Beehive Poetry: Chapter 5 – "A Legend of the Northland" prepared as per the updated NCERT syllabus and CBSE guidelines. These Solutions will assist students to learn in detail about the chapters and Ease of understanding. Each question from the textbook has been answered accurately and it will guide students to understand the poem, the use of literary devices and the lessons of morals.
"A Legend of the Northland" by Phoebe Cary is a narrative poem of traditional style and it is included in NCERT Solutions of Chapter 5 English Beehive poetry textbook of Class 9. The poem is about a selfish woman who refuses to share with a poor old woman from her plenteous bounty. And as a punishment, she is changed into a woodpecker. The poem is a charming legend around kindness, generosity and the result of selfishness.
1.0Download NCERT Solutions Class 9 English Beehive [Poetry] Chapter 5 – A Legend of the Northland: Free PDF
Free download of NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Poetry Chapter 5 – A Legend of the Northland. Accurate answers and easy explanations designed for effective study and revision.
2.0Class 9 English Chapter 5 – A Legend of the Northland: Brief Explanation
In this Class 9 English Chapter 5 – A Legend of the Northland poem, a poor old woman approaches a greedy lady for a piece of her Christmas pie. The lady rejects her and shows no compassion in her refusal. The old woman curses her and the greedy lady turns into a woodpecker. The woodpecker must peck trees to find food. The lesson in the poem is clear, selfishness will come back to punish you and kindness is valued in this world.
Some points to consider in the story regard the Theme of Generosity vs. Selfishness:
- Emphasizes generosity and sharing with others and kindness.
- The Moral Lesson: shows that cruelty can bring negative consequences, whereas generosity is good and noble.
- Folklore Style of telling a story that is meaningful, basic language and basic narrative form.
- Use of Imagery and Symbolism. The pie and cookies, the curse of a greedy person and turning into a woodpecker.
- The organized structure of Rhythm and Rhyme scheme involved the readers and made the story easier to remember.
3.0NCERT Class 9 English Chapter 5: Detailed Solutions
1. Which country or countries do you think "the Northland" refers to?
Ans. "The Northland" could refer to any extremely cold country in the Earth's north polar region, such as Greenland, the northern regions of Russia, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland etc.
2. What did Saint Peter ask the old lady for? What was the lady's reaction?
Ans. Saint Peter asked the old lady for one of her baked cakes to satisfy his hunger as he had been fasting all day. The lady baked three cakes in succession (one after the other), each smaller than the first one, but she could not bear to give any of them to Saint Peter.
3. How did he punish her?
Ans. He punished the lady by changing her into a woodpecker that build nests "as birds do" and gathered scanty food by boring in the "hard, dry wood" all day long.
4. How does the woodpecker get her food?
Ans. The woodpecker gets her food by boring holes into trees.
5. Do you think that the old lady would have been so ungenerous if she had known who Saint Peter really was? What would she have done then?
Ans. No, the old lady would not have been so ungenerous if she had known who Saint Peter really was. Instead, she would have tried to please him with her cakes for the fulfillment of her greedy desires.
6. Is this a true story? Which part of this poem do you feel is the most important?
Ans. No, this not a true story; it is a legend.
I feel that the point in the story where the old lady is changed into a woodpecker is the most important. This is because the punishment meted out to the lady teaches us the value of generosity and charity.
7. What is a legend? Why is this poem called a legend?
Ans. A 'legend' is a popular story from the past which is believed by many but one cannot prove whether it is true or not. It usually contains a message or a moral and is narrated to children. The poet himself says that he doesn't believe this tale to be true. This poem is called a 'legend' because it preaches generosity towards fellow beings.
8. Write the story of 'A Legend of the Northland' in about ten sentences.
Ans. Once Saint Peter stopped by an old lady's cottage because he was feeling hungry and weak after the day's fasting. The lady was baking cakes on the hearth. Since he was weak with fasting, he asked her for a cake from her store of cakes. The selfish lady tried to bake small cakes but each time they seemed too big for her to give away.
Finally, she baked one that was as thin as a wafer. Unable to part with it too, she put it on a shelf and did not give any cake to the Saint. Saint Peter was very angry with her behaviour and said she was too selfish to live as a human and have food, shelter and a fire to keep her warm. He punished her by changing her into a woodpecker that would have to build a nest to live in, bore for food in the trunks of trees. Her clothes were burned and she was left with her scarlet cap on her head as she flew out through the chimney. Even today she still lives in the woods and is seen by all the country school boys.
4.0Key Features and Benefits of Class 9 English Chapter 5 A Legend of the Northland
- Responses follow CBSE-patterned exams and updated NCERT syllabus
- Simple and clear language allows for ease of understanding
- Thoroughly engages with themes, characters, and moral lessons
- Strengthens analytical and interpretative skills that are important in exams
- Provides students with confidence to answer poetry questions with clarity and insight.