Class 9 English - ODISHA
Poetry: A Legend of the Northland
A Legend of the Northland by Phoebe Cary is a narrative poem that teaches an essential moral lesson about greed, selfishness, and charity. Set in the cold northern region where days are short and nights are long, the ballad tells the story of a selfish little woman who angered Saint Peter by refusing to share a single small cake of her baking. Transformed into a woodpecker as punishment, she continues to search for food through hard boring wood. This chapter is very important for Odisha BSE board exams as questions frequently test narrative comprehension, poetic devices, and the central theme.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Ballad
A poem or song narrating a story in short stanzas, often featuring folk tales or legends passed down through generations.
Setting of the Northland
The extreme polar region where hours of daylight are few and winter nights are so long that people cannot sleep through them all.
Saint Peter's Test
Saint Peter travels the earth preaching and visits the cottage of a selfish woman, fasting and feeling faint, to test her generosity.
The Punishment
Angered by the woman's extreme greed in making smaller and smaller cakes for him, Saint Peter turns her into a woodpecker.
Moral of the Story
The poem teaches that selfish behavior and lack of empathy towards the hungry and needy lead to punishment and social condemnation.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Odisha (BSE) Class 9 English examination, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 6 marks. Common question types include multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on the plot, short answer questions about Saint Peter and the woman, and long-form questions focusing on the central theme and moral lesson of the poem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Saint Peter become angry with the little woman?
Saint Peter became angry because the woman was too greedy to share even the smallest cake she baked with a tired and hungry traveler.
Into what bird was the woman transformed and why?
She was transformed into a woodpecker because she refused to show charity, and the bird's habit of boring into wood for food symbolizes her selfish nature.
What is the main message of 'A Legend of the Northland'?
The poem conveys the message that human beings should be kind, generous, and unselfish, and that greed brings misery and punishment.
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