Class 9 English - KERALA
Poetry: A Legend of the Northland
A Legend of the Northland by Phoebe Cary is a narrative poem that tells the story of a selfish old woman who is punished by Saint Peter for her greed. Set in the cold Northland region where days are short and nights are long, the ballad teaches the timeless moral value of generosity, kindness, and the negative consequences of selfishness. For Kerala (SCERT) Class 9 board exams, this chapter is crucial for testing stanza comprehension, poetic devices, and character analysis. Students must focus on the central theme of hospitality and the background behind why the woodpecker got its form.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Ballad Structure
A ballad is a song or poem that tells a story in short stanzas, often featuring a simple rhythm and rhyme scheme (usually ABCB).
Setting of the Northland
The poem is set in the extreme polar region where the hours of daylight are very few and winter nights are long enough for people to sleep through them.
Saint Peter's Test
Saint Peter travels the earth preaching and visits the old woman's cottage, weary and fasting, to test human charity and kindness.
Greed and Punishment
The woman's cakes get smaller and smaller as she bakes, showing her extreme stinginess; as punishment, Saint Peter turns her into a woodpecker.
Mythological Origin
The poem serves as a folk legend explaining the origin of the woodpecker, which bores into hard wood for food and wears a scarlet cap.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In Kerala (SCERT) Class 9 English exams, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 8 marks. Common question types include RTCs (Reference to Context), short answer questions on the old woman's character, paragraph questions on the moral of the poem, and identification of poetic devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a legend?
A legend is a traditional story handed down from the past, which is believed to have some historical basis although it may not be entirely true.
Why did Saint Peter punish the old woman?
Saint Peter punished the old woman because she was extremely selfish and refused to give him even a tiny piece of cake when he was weak with hunger.
What bird was the old woman transformed into?
She was transformed into a woodpecker that has to bore through hard wood all day to get scanty food.
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