A Legend of the Northland
About the poem: A Legend of the Northland
“A Legend of the Northland” is a poem by Phoebe Cary. It tells a folktale-like story set in the northern regions, focusing on themes of generosity, kindness, and the consequences of selfishness. The poem is presented as a legend or myth meant to teach a moral lesson.
The story within the poem centres around Saint Peter and a selfish old woman. While travelling and preaching, Saint Peter feels hungry and asks the woman for food. The woman, however, is stingy and doesn’t want to share her baked cakes, making each cake smaller and smaller in an attempt to avoid giving him any. Frustrated by her greed, Saint Peter curses her, transforming her into a woodpecker destined to bore into hard wood to find food.
The poem’s setting in the cold, snowy “Northland” creates an atmosphere that contrasts with the warmth and generosity Saint Peter represents. It reflects the cultural importance of generosity and the belief in punishment or transformation as consequences for selfish behaviour. The tale also gives readers a mythical explanation for why woodpeckers peck at wood.
Table of Contents
Question Answers of A Legend of the Northland
I. Thinking About the Poem
- Which country or countries do you think “the Northland” refers to?
- Answer: “The Northland” likely refers to countries in the northern, colder parts of the world, such as Norway, Sweden, or Finland. These places are known for their cold climate, long winters, and snowy landscapes, similar to the description in the poem.
- What did Saint Peter ask the old lady for? What was the lady’s reaction?
- Answer: Saint Peter, feeling hungry after a long day of preaching, asked the old lady for a cake to eat. However, the lady was very selfish and kept making smaller and smaller cakes, unwilling to part with even a small piece of food for him.
- How did he punish her?
- Answer: Saint Peter punished the old lady by turning her into a woodpecker. He cursed her to spend her life boring into hard wood to find her food, as a consequence of her greed and lack of generosity.
- How does the woodpecker get her food?
- Answer: The woodpecker gets her food by boring into the bark of trees to find insects and grubs. This is a difficult way to obtain food, symbolizing the hardship she must endure as punishment for her selfishness.
- 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?
- Answer: If the old lady had known that it was Saint Peter, she may have been more generous out of respect or fear. However, the moral of the story suggests that kindness should be shown to all, regardless of their identity or status.
- Is this a true story? Which part of this poem do you feel is the most important?
- Answer: No, this is not a true story; it is a legend meant to convey a moral lesson. The most important part is Saint Peter’s curse, as it emphasizes the consequences of greed and the importance of kindness and generosity.
- What is a legend? Why is this poem called a legend?
- Answer: A legend is a traditional story passed down through generations, often with moral or cultural lessons. This poem is called a legend because it conveys a moral message and explains, through an imaginative tale, why woodpeckers peck at trees for food.
- Write the story of ‘A Legend of the Northland’ in about ten sentences.
- Answer: In a cold northern land, Saint Peter, after a long day of preaching, felt very hungry. He stopped at the house of a miserly old woman who was baking cakes. He asked her for a cake, but she was so stingy that she kept making smaller cakes, feeling each one was too big to give away. Angry at her greed, Saint Peter cursed her, turning her into a woodpecker. As a woodpecker, she now had to bore into hard wood to get her food, suffering the hardship of finding sustenance. Her red cap turned into the red feathers on a woodpecker’s head, and she flew out of the chimney. The story serves as a moral lesson on the importance of kindness and generosity.
II. Additional Exercises
- Let’s look at the words at the end of the second and fourth lines, viz., ‘snows’ and ‘clothes’, ‘true’ and ‘you’, ‘below’ and ‘know.’ We find that ‘snows’ rhymes with ‘clothes’, ‘true’ rhymes with ‘you’, and ‘below’ rhymes with ‘know’. Find more such rhyming words.
- Answer: Here are more rhyming words from the poem:
- “done” and “one”
- “flat” and “that”
- “same” and “flame”
- “wood” and “food”
- Go to the local library or talk to older persons in your locality and find legends in your own language. Tell the class these legends.
- This is an activity-based question where students would gather legends from their own cultures and share them in class. Common elements might include stories of local heroes, moral lessons, or natural phenomena explained through mythical tales.
MCQs of A Legend of the Northland Class 9
1. Which region does “the Northland” in the poem refer to?
- a) Northern India
- b) A cold country near the North Pole
- c) Southern Europe
- d) Western Asia
- Answer: b) A cold country near the North Pole
2. Who is the central character in the poem, besides Saint Peter?
- a) A young boy
- b) A king
- c) An old lady
- d) A woodcutter
- Answer: c) An old lady
3. Why does Saint Peter ask the old lady for food?
- a) He wants to test her generosity
- b) He is starving after travelling
- c) He is curious about her food
- d) He wants to punish her
- Answer: b) He is starving after travelling
4. What food item does the old lady make in the poem?
- a) Cake
- b) Bread
- c) Porridge
- d) Rice
- Answer: a) Cake
5. How does the old lady react to Saint Peter’s request?
- a) She gives him food
- b) She makes him wait
- c) She refuses to share her cake
- d) She asks him to leave
- Answer: c) She refuses to share her cake
6. What punishment does Saint Peter give to the old lady?
- a) He curses her to lose all her food
- b) He transforms her into a woodpecker
- c) He banishes her from her home
- d) He makes her invisible
- Answer: b) He transforms her into a woodpecker
7. Why does Saint Peter punish the old lady?
- a) For being rude
- b) For her stinginess
- c) For lying
- d) For stealing
- Answer: b) For her stinginess
8. What characteristic of the Northland is described in the poem?
- a) Long, hot summers
- b) Dark, rainy weather
- c) Long nights and cold winters
- d) Bright, sunny days
- Answer: c) Long nights and cold winters
9. What is the old lady transformed into?
- a) A raven
- b) An owl
- c) A woodpecker
- d) A sparrow
- Answer: c) A woodpecker
10. What does the woodpecker do for food?
- a) Finds food on the ground
- b) Pecks in the wood for insects
- c) Hunts small animals
- d) Eats berries from trees
- Answer: b) Pecks in the wood for insects
11. What is the poem “A Legend of the Northland” primarily about?
- a) Greed and selfishness
- b) Friendship and love
- c) Adventure and excitement
- d) Mystery and suspense
- Answer: a) Greed and selfishness
12. Who is the author of the poem “A Legend of the Northland”?
- a) Robert Frost
- b) Phoebe Cary
- c) William Wordsworth
- d) Emily Dickinson
- Answer: b) Phoebe Cary
13. The poem “A Legend of the Northland” is an example of which type of story?
- a) Fable
- b) Myth
- c) Legend
- d) Folktale
- Answer: c) Legend
14. What lesson does the poem convey?
- a) Be brave
- b) Be kind and generous
- c) Work hard for success
- d) Always tell the truth
- Answer: b) Be kind and generous
15. Why does the old lady make smaller cakes each time?
- a) She wants to save flour
- b) She doesn’t want to give any away
- c) She has less dough
- d) She doesn’t like baking
- Answer: b) She doesn’t want to give any away
16. What does the poem suggest about Saint Peter’s personality?
- a) He is forgiving
- b) He is strict about generosity
- c) He is humorous
- d) He is fearful
- Answer: b) He is strict about generosity
17. How does the old lady feel about sharing her cake?
- a) Generous
- b) Fearful
- c) Annoyed
- d) Reluctant and stingy
- Answer: d) Reluctant and stingy
18. The transformation of the old lady into a woodpecker is meant to show:
- a) That selfishness has consequences
- b) The power of nature
- c) The kindness of Saint Peter
- d) The old lady’s love for birds
- Answer: a) That selfishness has consequences
19. Which of the following best describes the poem’s setting?
- a) Desert
- b) Mountains
- c) North Pole
- d) Urban City
- Answer: c) North Pole
20. What does the old lady’s transformation imply about her new life?
- a) She is now wealthy
- b) She is blessed with happiness
- c) She must now work hard to find food
- d) She has become a queen
- Answer: c) She must now work hard to find food
Extra Question Answer A Legend of the Northland Class 9
1-Mark Questions
- Where is the poem “A Legend of the Northland” set?
- The poem is set in a cold region near the North Pole.
- Who wrote “A Legend of the Northland”?
- The poem was written by Phoebe Cary.
- Who visited the old lady in the poem?
- Saint Peter visited the old lady.
- What does the old lady turn into at the end of the poem?
- The old lady is transformed into a woodpecker.
- What was the old lady baking when Saint Peter arrived?
- She was baking cakes.
2-3 Marks Questions
- Why does Saint Peter ask the old lady for food?
- Saint Peter is hungry and tired after travelling for a long time. He asks the old lady for food to satisfy his hunger, hoping for her generosity.
- What was the old lady’s reaction to Saint Peter’s request?
- The old lady, being very stingy, made smaller cakes each time as she felt that the cake was too large to give away. She kept reducing the size until it was so small that she didn’t offer it to him at all.
- How does Saint Peter punish the old lady for her greed?
- Saint Peter punishes her by transforming her into a woodpecker, a bird that must work hard pecking at trees for food. This punishment is meant to make her learn the value of generosity.
- What does the transformation of the old lady into a woodpecker signify?
- The transformation signifies that selfishness and greed have consequences. Her new life as a bird that must continuously search for food reflects the hardship she brought upon herself by refusing to help others.
- What moral lesson does “A Legend of the Northland” convey?
- The poem conveys that generosity is an essential virtue, and selfishness can lead to punishment. It teaches us the importance of sharing with others and being kind-hearted.
5 Marks Question
- Write a summary of “A Legend of the Northland.”
- “A Legend of the Northland” is a poem by Phoebe Cary that tells the story of a stingy old lady in a cold northern land. Saint Peter, who is weary and hungry, stops at her door and requests some food. Although she agrees, she keeps making smaller cakes, unwilling to give up even a small portion. Finally, Saint Peter becomes angry with her selfishness and punishes her by turning her into a woodpecker. As a woodpecker, she now has to search for food by pecking at trees. This transformation serves as a punishment for her lack of generosity. The poem is a legend that imparts a moral lesson on the importance of sharing and kindness. Cary uses this story to emphasize that selfish actions can have consequences, and generosity should be practiced by all.
2. A legend of the northland stanza wise explanation.
Stanza 1
Away, away in the Northland,
Where the hours of the day are few,
And the nights are so long in winter
That they cannot sleep them through;
Explanation: The poet describes a distant, cold place in the North, where the days are very short, and the nights are extremely long. The setting emphasizes the harsh, cold climate of this northern land, hinting at the challenges of living there.
Stanza 2
Where they harness the swift reindeer To the sledges,
when it snows;
And the children look like bear’s cubs
In their funny, furry clothes.
Explanation: In this Northland, people use reindeer to pull sledges, a common mode of transport in snowy regions. The children wear thick, furry clothes to stay warm, making them resemble bear cubs. The description brings out the charm and toughness of life in such a cold place.
Stanza 3
They tell them a curious story—
I don’t believe ’tis true;
And yet you may learn a lesson
If I tell the tale to you.
Explanation: The poet introduces a “curious story” or legend from the Northland. While it might not be factually true, it holds a moral lesson that is worth learning, suggesting the poem’s purpose as a moral story.
Stanza 4
Once, when the good Saint Peter
Lived in the world below,
And walked about it,
preaching, Just as he did, you know,
Explanation: The poet sets up the story of Saint Peter, a Christian apostle known for his teachings. Saint Peter is depicted as walking on Earth, preaching and spreading goodness. This sets the stage for a divine figure to interact with the mortal world.
Stanza 5
He came to the door of a cottage,
In travelling round the earth,
Where a little woman was making cakes,
And baking them on the hearth;
Explanation: Saint Peter arrives at a cottage while journeying on Earth. Inside, an old woman is busy baking cakes. The simple scene reflects a common, humble life.
Stanza 6
And being faint with fasting,
For the day was almost done,
He asked her, from her store of cakes,
To give him a single one.
Explanation: Saint Peter, tired and hungry from a day of fasting, kindly asks the old woman for a single cake to satisfy his hunger. His request is simple, showing his need and humility.
Stanza 7
So she made a very little cake,
But as it baking lay,
She looked at it,
and thought it seemed
Too large to give away.
Explanation: The old woman makes a small cake for Saint Peter, but as she watches it bake, she feels that even this small cake is too large to give away. Her selfishness is clear here, as she is unwilling to part with even a small amount of food.
Stanza 8
Therefore she kneaded another,
And still a smaller one;
But it looked, when she turned it over,
As large as the first had done.
Explanation: Attempting to be even stingier, she makes a second, even smaller cake. Yet when she looks at it, she again feels it’s too big to give away, highlighting her extreme selfishness.
Stanza 9
Then she took a tiny scrap of dough,
And rolled and rolled it flat;
And baked it thin as a wafer—
But she couldn’t part with that.
Explanation: She makes a third cake, so thin and small it resembles a wafer. Despite its tiny size, she still cannot bring herself to give it to Saint Peter, showing the depth of her greed.
Stanza 10
For she said, “My cakes that seem too small
When I eat of them myself
Are yet too large to give away.”
So she put them on the shelf.
Explanation: The old woman reasons that her cakes, which seem small when she eats them, appear too large to give away. She selfishly decides to keep all the cakes for herself, putting them away.
Stanza 11
Then good Saint Peter grew angry,
For he was hungry and faint;
And surely such a woman
Was enough to provoke a saint.
Explanation: Saint Peter becomes angry at her selfishness. Despite his humility and patience, her behavior is so frustrating that it even provokes a saint, who is supposed to be forgiving.
Stanza 12
And he said, “You are far too selfish
To dwell in a human form,
To have both food and shelter,
And fire to keep you warm.
Explanation: Saint Peter tells the old woman that her selfish nature makes her unworthy of the comforts of human life. Her behavior shows she does not deserve the food, shelter, and warmth she takes for granted.
Stanza 13
Now, you shall build as the birds do,
And shall get your scanty food By boring,
and boring, and boring,
All day in the hard, dry wood.”
Explanation: As punishment, Saint Peter curses her to become a bird, specifically a woodpecker. Now she must work hard, pecking at trees to get a small amount of food, teaching her a lesson about effort and generosity.
Stanza 14
Then up she went through the chimney,
Never speaking a word,
And out of the top flew a woodpecker,
For she was changed to a bird.
Explanation: The old woman is transformed into a woodpecker and flies up through the chimney. Her silence symbolizes her acceptance of the punishment.
Stanza 15
She had a scarlet cap on her head,
And that was left the same;
But all the rest of her clothes were burned
Black as a coal in the flame.
Explanation: As a woodpecker, she retains her scarlet cap, symbolizing her original appearance, but the rest of her clothing turns black, like the plumage of a woodpecker, as a result of the transformation.
Stanza 16
And every country schoolboy
Has seen her in the wood,
Where she lives in the trees till this very day,
Boring and boring for food.
Explanation: The poem concludes by noting that even schoolchildren today can see woodpeckers in the woods. The woodpecker, formerly the old woman, still searches for food by pecking at trees, embodying the lesson she learned through Saint Peter’s punishment.
2 thoughts on “A Legend of the Northland | Question Answers |Assamese Medium 2025”