Class 9 English - WEST-BENGAL
Poetry: A Legend of the Northland
A Legend of the Northland by Phoebe Cary is a narrative poem based on a Northland legend that teaches the vital moral lesson of selflessness and the evils of greed. Set in a cold northern region where days are short and nights are long, the story revolves around Saint Peter and a selfish little woman who bakes cakes. When Saint Peter, tired and hungry from preaching, asks her for a single cake, her greed prevents her from giving him even the smallest piece. For her cruel selfishness, she is transformed into a woodpecker. This chapter is very important for WBBSE Class 9 exams for testing comprehension and poetic device identification.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Narrative Poem
A poem that tells a story with characters, a plot, a setting, and a clear moral message, much like a traditional folk tale.
Setting of Northland
Set in a polar region where the winter nights are long and people cannot sleep through them, creating a bleak and magical atmosphere.
Theme of Greed vs. Generosity
The poem contrasts Saint Peter's humble need for food with the woman's extreme stinginess, highlighting how selfishness leads to punishment.
Metamorphosis (Transformation)
The supernatural element in the poem where the greedy woman is turned into a woodpecker that bores into hard wood for food.
Folk Legend
A traditional story passed down orally through generations that may not be historically true but carries an important cultural and moral truth.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) Class 9 English exams, this chapter typically carries around 5 to 8 marks. Common question types include multiple-choice questions (MCQs), short answer questions about the plot and characters, reference to context from specific stanzas, and long descriptive questions based on the central theme and moral lesson.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of the poem A Legend of the Northland?
The poem teaches us that selfishness and greed are wicked traits that bring punishment, and we should always be generous and kind to others.
Why was Saint Peter angry with the little woman?
Saint Peter was faint with hunger and asked her for a small piece of cake, but her greed made her bake smaller and smaller cakes, refusing to give him even the tiniest one.
Into what bird was the woman transformed and why?
She was turned into a woodpecker because she had to bore through hard dry wood to get her scanty food, just like a bird, as punishment for her greedy and selfish behavior.
Learn Poetry: A Legend of the Northland with Your AI Tutor
10 different ways to study this chapter. Free for 3 chapters per day.
Lecture
Key Points
Interactive
Quiz
Flashcards