NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive - Poem - A legend of Northland

Q1. Which country or countries do you think “the Northland” refers to?

Ans: The Northland could refer to extremely cold regions in the northern part of the Earth, including:

• Greenland
• northern regions of Russia
• Canada
• Norway

These areas are characterised by their harsh, icy climates.

Q2. What did Saint Peter ask the old lady for? What was the lady’s reaction?

Ans: Saint Peter asked the old lady for one of her baked cakes to satisfy his hunger.

The lady's reaction was to attempt to bake a small cake for him, but she struggled to part with it:

• She first made a small cake, but thought it was too large to give away.
• Then she kneaded another, even smaller cake, but it still seemed too big.
• Finally, she rolled a tiny scrap of dough into a wafer-thin cake, yet she couldn't bring herself to give it.

Q3. How did he punish her?

Ans: He punished the lady by transforming her into a woodpecker. In this new form, she had to:

• Build her home like birds do.
• Spend all day boring into hard, dry wood.
• Gather only a scant amount of food.

As a result, she now lives in the trees, constantly searching for food.

Q4. How does the woodpecker get her food?

Ans: The woodpecker obtains her food by:

• Boring holes into trees.
• Searching for insects and larvae hidden within the wood.
• Using her strong beak to create openings.

This method allows her to access food that is not visible on the surface.

Q5. Do you think that the old lady would have been so ungenerous if she had known who Saint Peter was? What would she have done then?

Ans: No, the old lady would not have been so ungenerous if she had known who Saint Peter was. Instead, she would have:

• Attempted to please him with her cakes.
• Given him a larger cake to satisfy her greedy desires.

Her actions would have reflected a desire to gain favour, rather than her initial selfishness.

Q6. Is this a true story? Which part of this poem do you feel is the most important? [Old NCERT]

Ans: No, this is not a true story; it is a legend. The most important part of the poem is when the old lady is transformed into a woodpecker. This moment highlights the consequences of her actions and teaches us the value of generosity and charity.

Q7. What is a legend? Why is this poem called a legend?

Ans: A legend is a traditional story from the past that many people believe, but its truth cannot be verified. These tales often carry a moral lesson and are commonly shared with children.

The poet expresses doubt about the truth of this story. The poem is titled a legend because it conveys a message about the importance of generosity towards others.

Q8. Write the story of ‘A Legend of the Northland’ in about ten sentences.

Ans: Once, Saint Peter visited an old lady's cottage, feeling hungry and weak after fasting. The lady was baking cakes and he asked her for one. However, she was selfish and thought each cake was too large to give away. After several attempts, she finally baked a wafer-thin cake but still refused to share it. Angered by her behaviour, Saint Peter declared that she was too selfish to live as a human. He punished her by transforming her into a woodpecker, forcing her to find food by boring into trees. Her clothes were burned away, leaving only her scarlet cap as she flew out through the chimney. To this day, she lives in the woods, where country schoolboys often see her.

Q9. Let’s look at the words at the end of the second and fourth lines, viz., ‘snows’ and ‘clothes’, true’ and ‘you’, ‘below’ and ‘know’. We find that ‘snows’ rhymes with ‘clothes’, ‘true’ rhymes with ‘you’ and ‘below’ rhymes with ‘know’. [Old NCERT]

Ans: The rhyming words include:

• Few and through
• Earth and hearth
• Done and one
• Lay and away
• One and done
• Flat and that
• Myself and shelf
• Faint and saint
• Form and warm
• Food and wood
• Word and bird
• Same and flame
• Wood and food

Q10. Go to the local library or talk to older persons in your locality and find legends in your language. Tell the class these legends.

Ans: Echo was a nymph who loved to talk and always wanted the last word. One day, she rudely spoke to the great Juno, who punished her by taking away her voice. From then on, Echo could only repeat the last words she heard, much like a parrot. Ashamed, she hid in the forest.

In the same forest lived Narcissus, a young man with golden hair and blue eyes, which were rare in Greece. While hiding, Echo admired him from afar. One day, Narcissus called out, “Who’s here?” Echo replied, “Here,” and stepped out to meet him. However, Narcissus was surprised to see a stranger and quickly walked away.

After this encounter, Echo never showed herself again and eventually faded away, becoming just a voice. This voice could be heard for many years in the forests and mountains, especially in caves. Hunters often heard it, sometimes mimicking their dogs or repeating their last words, creating a haunting and lonely atmosphere.