Class 9 English - GUJARAT
Poetry: A Legend of the Northland
A Legend of the Northland by Phoebe Cary is a narrative poem that tells the story of a little old woman who angered Saint Peter because of her extreme greed. Set in the cold Northland region where days are short and nights are long, the poem uses folklore to teach an important moral lesson about generosity, kindness, and the evils of selfishness. For GSEB Class 9 board exams, this chapter is crucial for testing reading comprehension, poetic devices like rhyme scheme, and the ability to extract central themes and character traits from verse.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Setting of the Northland
The poem is set in the extreme north where the hours of the day are few and winter nights are so long that people cannot sleep through them.
Saint Peter's Test
Saint Peter travels the earth preaching and arrives at the cottage of a greedy little woman, feeling weak and hungry after fasting, to test human charity.
The Woman's Greed
Despite baking small cakes, the woman is too selfish to give even the smallest piece to Saint Peter, keeping the thinnest dough layer for him instead.
The Punishment
Angered by her selfishness, Saint Peter transforms her into a woodpecker who must bore through hard, dry wood to get meager food.
Poetic Form and Legend
Written in four-line stanzas (quatrains) with an ABCB rhyme scheme, the poem is a traditional legend passed down through generations with a moral lesson.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Gujarat (GSEB) Class 9 English board examinations, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 6 marks. Common question types include short answer questions based on the plot, extract-based comprehension questions, questions analyzing the character of the old woman, and identifying poetic devices like rhyme scheme.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a legend?
A legend is a traditional story passed down from generation to generation, which usually carries a moral lesson or supernatural element, though it may not be historically true.
Why did Saint Peter turn the woman into a woodpecker?
Saint Peter turned her into a woodpecker as punishment for her extreme greed and selfishness, forcing her to live a hard life of boring into dry wood for food.
What is the rhyme scheme of 'A Legend of the Northland'?
The poem follows an ABCB rhyme scheme in almost all of its four-line stanzas (quatrains).
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