Class 9 English - RAJASTHAN
Poetry: A Legend of the Northland
A Legend of the Northland is a narrative poem by Phoebe Cary that tells the story of Saint Peter and a selfish little woman who angered him with her greed. Set in the cold Northland region where hours of daylight are short and nights are long, the poem uses a folk tale format to impart a moral lesson about selflessness, generosity, and the harsh consequences of greed. For Rajasthan Board (RBSE) Class 9 students, this chapter is crucial for board examinations as it tests comprehension of poetic devices, rhyming schemes, stanza-by-stanza explanation, and the ability to extract central moral themes from literature.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Ballad
A poem or song narrating a story in short stanzas, traditionally passed down orally, which often features a folk tale or moral lesson.
Rhyme Scheme
The pattern of rhymes at the end of each line of a poem, which in this chapter follows an ABCB or similar ballad structure.
Alliteration
The repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words, used for musical effect in the poem.
Greed vs. Generosity
The central thematic conflict contrasting the saint's need for simple sustenance with the woman's unwillingness to share even a tiny cake.
Metamorphosis
The magical transformation of the greedy woman into a woodpecker as a punishment by Saint Peter, doomed to bore for food in hard wood.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Rajasthan Board (RBSE) Class 9 English examinations, poetry chapters like 'A Legend of the Northland' typically carry around 4 to 6 marks. Common question types include reference to context (RTC) stanzas with short-answer questions, character sketches of the little woman, explanation of the central theme, and questions regarding poetic devices used in the poem.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main theme of 'A Legend of the Northland'?
The main theme is that extreme greed and selfishness are punished, and human beings should always be generous and kind to others.
Why was Saint Peter angry with the little woman?
Saint Peter was weak and hungry after fasting, but the woman kept baking smaller and smaller cakes because she was too greedy to give him a proper one.
What punishment did Saint Peter give to the woman?
He turned her into a woodpecker that had to build its scanty food by boring in the hard, dry wood all day long.
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