Class 9 English Chapter 1 Question Answers - A Legend of the Northland

Q1. What is a legend? Why is this called a legend?

Ans: A legend is an ancient story that may not be entirely true, often recounting a famous event or person. These tales typically convey a moral lesson. This poem is termed a legend because it narrates an old story from the Northland about a greedy woman who angered Saint Peter. As a result of her greed, she was transformed into a woodpecker. The poet even mentions, "I don’t believe it is true," highlighting the tale's mythical nature.

Q2. Why does the poet say that the hours of the day are few?

Ans: In the poem, the poet mentions that the Northland is a cold, snow-covered area near the North Pole. In this region, the days are shorter and the nights are longer, resulting in very few hours of daylight.

Q3. ‘And the children look like bear’s cubs.’ What have the children been compared to? Why?

Ans: The children in Northland wear furry dresses to keep warm in the cold climate. These outfits make them resemble bear cubs.

Q4. What does the poet tell us about the story she is about to narrate? Why does she want to tell the tale?

Ans: The poet shares that she will narrate a strange tale from the Northlands. Although she acknowledges that the story may not be true, she feels compelled to tell it because it offers a valuable lesson in generosity and philanthropy. Her intention is for readers to learn from the poem.

Q5. Who came to the woman’s house and what did he ask for?

Ans: Saint Peter, while travelling the world, arrived at the woman's cottage. He was weary and hungry after a long day. Noticing her baking cakes, he asked her for one from her large supply.

Q6. Why was Saint Peter tired and hungry?

Ans: Saint Peter was one of Jesus Christ's apostles who travelled extensively to spread his teachings. During his journeys, he often faced a lack of food and water, which left him feeling tired and hungry. Additionally, he sometimes observed fasts, further contributing to his exhaustion.

Q7. What did Saint Peter ask the woman for? What was the woman’s reaction?

Ans: Saint Peter asked the old lady for a cake from her collection. The woman, being quite greedy, was reluctant to part with her cakes, believing they were too large to give away. She attempted to make a smaller cake, but it still seemed too big to share. Ultimately, she crafted a very small and thin cake, yet even that she could not bring herself to give to Saint Peter, choosing instead to place it on the shelf.

Q8. What happened to the cakes the woman baked for Saint Peter?

Ans: The woman was greedy. When Saint Peter arrived at her cottage, tired and hungry from his travels, he asked her for a cake from her large store. However, she was unwilling to share. The woman attempted to bake a smaller cake each time, but even when the cake was as thin as water, she still thought it was too large to give away. Ultimately, she placed it on her shelf instead of offering it to Saint Peter.

Q9. Explain: ‘And surely such a woman was enough to provoke a saint.’ Who was the lady and how did she provoke the saint?

Ans: The woman, who was baking cakes when the saint visited, was both mean and greedy. Despite noticing that the visitor was tired and hungry, she refused to offer him any food. She kept making smaller and smaller cakes until she created one as thin as a wafer, yet she could not bear to part with it. The old lady's refusal to help the hungry saint angered him, leading him to curse her.

Q10. Why did Saint Peter curse the woman? What did he turn her into?

Ans: Saint Peter cursed the woman for being miserly and selfish. He believed she did not deserve to live in a human form and enjoy the comforts of food, shelter, and warmth. As a punishment, he transformed her into a woodpecker, forcing her to build her nest like a bird and spend her days boring into hard, dry wood to find her meagre food.

Q11. ‘For she was changed to a bird.’ Who was she and why was she changed to a bird?

Ans: A woman from the Northland was transformed into a woodpecker by Saint Peter as punishment for her selfishness. She refused to give even a small cake to the hungry saint, insisting that her cakes were too large to share. In response to her greed, Saint Peter declared that she was too selfish to remain in human form. Consequently, she was condemned to live as a bird, spending her days boring into wood to find her food.

Q12. Describe the theme of the poem ‘A legend of the Northland’?

Ans: The theme of the poem centres on the consequences of greed and selfishness. It tells the story of a selfish woman in the Northland who refuses to share even a small cake with the hungry Saint Peter. Her unwillingness to be generous angers him, resulting in a curse that transforms her into a woodpecker. This punishment forces her to work hard to find food. The poem highlights the importance of generosity and the negative effects of being self-centred.

Q13. What is a ballad? Is this poem a ballad?

Ans: A ballad is a type of song that tells a story through short stanzas. These poems are part of folk culture and are traditionally passed down orally from one generation to the next. The poem ‘A Legend of the Northland’ qualifies as a ballad because it narrates the tale of a selfish old woman and has been shared through the ages, as indicated by the line, “They tell them a curious story.”

Q14. What do you learn about the woman in the poem?

Ans: The woman in the poem is greedy and selfish. Despite having a large supply of cakes, she refuses to share even a small one with a tired and hungry traveller.

Q15. What do you learn about Saint Peter in the poem?

Ans: Saint Peter travels the land, sharing the message of God. During his journey, he often faces hunger and thirst, as he sometimes lacks food and water. He also observes fasts, which leaves him feeling tired and weak. Despite being a saint, he becomes angry with a woman who refuses to share her food. In his frustration, he curses her, transforming her into a woodpecker. As a saint, he should have shown her mercy instead of anger.