Class 9 English - HARYANA
Poetry: A Legend of the Northland
A Legend of the Northland by Phoebe Cary is a narrative poem based on a Northland legend. It tells the story of a little old woman who made cakes and baked them on a hearth. When Saint Peter, tired and hungry from preaching, asked her for a single piece of cake, her greediness led her to bake smaller and smaller cakes, refusing to give him even the tiniest one. Angered by her selfishness, Saint Peter cursed her to become a woodpecker, doomed to bore for food in hard wood. For Haryana Board (BSEH) exams, this chapter is crucial for testing comprehension, poetic devices, and moral values.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Legend
A traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but not authenticated, often carrying a moral lesson.
Northland
A cold, northern region near the North Pole where days are short and nights are long, setting a bleak tone for the story.
Greed and Selfishness
The central negative trait displayed by the little woman who was unwilling to part with her cakes to feed a hungry traveler.
Poetic Transformation
The mythological turning point where Saint Peter transforms the greedy woman into a woodpecker as a punishment.
Moral Lesson
The poem teaches that selfishness, greed, and lack of hospitality are grave sins that invite punishment, while kindness is rewarded.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Haryana Board (BSEH) Class 9 English exams, this chapter typically carries around 3 to 5 marks. Questions commonly include reference to context (RTC) stanzas, short answer questions about the plot, and value-based questions focusing on the moral lesson of greed versus generosity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Saint Peter punish the little woman?
Saint Peter punished the little woman because of her extreme greed and selfishness, as she refused to give him even a tiny piece of cake when he was weak and hungry.
What bird was the little woman turned into?
The little woman was transformed into a woodpecker that bores into dry wood all day to get its scanty food.
What is the main message of the poem A Legend of the Northland?
The poem teaches us the importance of being kind, generous, and hospitable, and warns against the evils of human greed.
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