Class 9 Beehive Poem Chapter 5 Question Answers - A Legend of the Northland

Q1. What is the message of the poem?

Ans: This poem teaches us that true happiness comes from sharing with those in need. Greed prevents us from experiencing joy, while a charitable nature allows us to empathise with the suffering of others. The story revolves around a little woman who was baking cakes when a tired and hungry traveller asked her for something to eat. Despite having a large supply of cakes, she was selfish and kept making smaller ones, ultimately refusing to give any away. Her miserliness angered the weary traveller, who was revealed to be Saint Peter. He chastised her for being too selfish to live as a human, where she had food, warmth, and shelter. As punishment, he transformed her into a bird, destined to search for scarce food by pecking at hard, dry wood.

Q2. Describe Northland as done by the poet?

Ans: The Northland refers to the area surrounding the North Pole, which includes extremely cold regions such as Greenland, northern Russia (Siberia), and the Scandinavian countries like Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland. This region is characterised by its cold, snow-covered landscape, where days are short and nights are long. In winter, the nights are so lengthy and frigid that people often struggle to sleep through them. When it snows, locals use reindeer to pull their sledges. The extreme cold makes children appear like bear cubs in their amusing, furry clothing.

Q3. Briefly narrate the legend of the old woman and St Peter?

Ans: Once, Saint Peter visited an old lady's cottage, feeling hungry and weak after a day of fasting. The lady was baking cakes, and when Saint Peter asked for one, she attempted to make a tiny cake. However, as it baked, she thought it was too large to give away. She tried twice more, but even the smallest cake seemed too big for her to part with. This greediness annoyed the hungry saint, who cursed her for being too selfish to enjoy the comforts of human life, such as food, shelter, and warmth.

As a result, she was transformed into a woodpecker. All her clothes, except for her scarlet cap, were lost as she flew up the chimney. To this day, it is said that every schoolboy has seen her in the woods, boring into trees for food.