GSEB Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 5 A Legend of the Northland Solutions

Question 1. Which country or countries do you think 'The Northland' refers to?
Answer: 'The Northland' could mean any very cold country in the Earth's north polar area. Examples include Greenland, the northern parts of Russia, Canada, and Norway.
In simple words: The Northland probably refers to a very cold area near the North Pole, like Greenland or parts of Russia.

Exam Tip: When asked about geographical references in literature, consider the descriptive words used (e.g., 'cold,' 'north polar region') to identify potential real-world locations.

Question 2. What did Saint Peter ask the old lady for? What was the lady's reaction?
Answer: Saint Peter asked the old lady for one of her baked cakes because he was very hungry. The lady tried to bake a small cake for the Saint.
In simple words: Saint Peter asked the old lady for a cake because he was hungry, and she started making a small one for him.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to initial interactions between characters as they often set the stage for the story's main conflict or moral.

Question 3. How did the Saint punish the old lady?
Answer: Saint Peter punished the old lady by changing her into a woodpecker. This woodpecker had to build a nest, like other birds, and search for its small amount of food all day long by boring into hard, dry wood.
In simple words: Saint Peter turned the old lady into a woodpecker. She then had to spend all day drilling into wood to find food.

Exam Tip: Understand the transformation and its lasting consequences, as this often symbolizes the lesson learned in a legend.

Question 4. How does the woodpecker get her food?
Answer: The woodpecker gets her food by making holes into trees.
In simple words: The woodpecker finds food by drilling into trees.

Exam Tip: For straightforward questions, provide a concise and direct answer based on the text.

Question 5. Do you think that the old lady would have been so ungenerous if she had known who Saint Peter really was? What would she have done then?
Answer: No, the old lady would not have been so unkind if she had known Saint Peter's true identity. Instead, she would have tried to please him with her cakes to fulfill her own selfish desires.
In simple words: If the lady knew who Saint Peter was, she wouldn't have been mean. She would have tried to make him happy to get something for herself.

Exam Tip: When asked for an opinion ("Do you think..."), always support your answer with reasons from the text.

Question 6. Is this is a true story? Which part of this poem, do you feel, is the most important?
Answer: No, this is not a true story; it is a legend. I feel that the point in the story where the old lady is changed into a woodpecker is the most important. This is because the punishment given to the lady teaches us the importance of generosity and charity.
In simple words: This isn't a real story, it's a legend. The most important part is when the lady turns into a woodpecker, because it shows us we should be generous.

Exam Tip: Differentiate between literal truth and the moral message conveyed by a story. Legends often serve to teach a lesson.

Question 7. What is a legend? Why is this poem called a legend?
Answer: A 'legend' is a popular story from the past about people and events that many believe, but its truth cannot be proven. It usually carries a message or a moral and is often told to children. The poet himself states that he does not believe this tale to be true. This poem is called a 'legend' because it teaches generosity towards others.
In simple words: A legend is an old, popular story that might not be true but teaches a lesson. This poem is a legend because it teaches people to be generous.

Exam Tip: Define key terms clearly and then apply the definition to the specific context of the poem.

Question 8. Write the story of 'A Legend of the Northland' in about 10 sentences.
Answer: One day, Saint Peter stopped at an old lady's cottage because he was hungry and weak after a day of fasting. The lady was baking cakes on the hearth. Since he was weak from fasting, he asked her for a cake from her many cakes. The selfish lady attempted to bake small cakes, but each time they appeared too large for her to give away. Finally, she baked one that was as thin as a wafer. Unable to part with it, she placed it on a shelf and gave no cake to the Saint. Saint Peter became very angry with her behavior and said she was too selfish to live as a human, with food, shelter, and fire for warmth. He punished her by changing her into a woodpecker that would have to build a nest and bore for food in tree trunks. Her clothes were burned, and she was left with her red cap as she flew out through the chimney. Even today, country schoolboys still see her in the woods, living in trees and boring for food.
In simple words: Saint Peter, hungry after fasting, asked an old lady for a cake. She was too selfish to give even a tiny one, so he got angry. He cursed her, changing her into a woodpecker that must bore for food in trees.

Exam Tip: When summarizing, focus on the main events, characters, and the central conflict and resolution. Use transition words to ensure a smooth flow.

II.

Question 1. 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 I 'clothes', and 'below' rhymes with 'know'. Find more such rhyming words.
Answer: The rhyming words are:
'Few' and 'through'
'Earth' and 'hearth'
'Done' and 'one'
'Lay' and 'away'
'One' and 'done'
'Flat' and 'that'
'Myself' and 'shelf'
In simple words: The task is to identify pairs of words that sound alike at the end of lines in the poem.

Exam Tip: To identify rhyming words, focus on the sounds at the end of the words, not just their spelling.

Question 2. Go to the local library or talk to older persons in your locality and find legends in your own language. Tell the class these legends.
Answer: Echo was a nymph who talked too much and loved having the last word. One day, she spoke rudely to Juno, who cursed her so she could only repeat the last words she heard. Echo, ashamed, hid in the forest. Narcissus, a handsome young man, hunted in the same forest. Echo often saw and admired him. One day, Narcissus got separated from his friends. Hearing a rustle, he called out, “Who's here?” Echo replied, “Here.” Narcissus said, “Come!” and Echo responded, “I am come.” When Narcissus saw a stranger instead of his friends, he looked surprised and quickly left. After this, Echo never showed herself again and slowly faded until she became only a voice. Her voice was heard for many years in forests and mountains, often mocking barks or repeating last words, making lonely places feel even lonelier.
In simple words: Echo, a nymph who talked too much, was cursed by Juno to only repeat the last words she heard. She fell in love with Narcissus, who rejected her. Echo faded away, becoming only a voice that repeats sounds in lonely places.

Exam Tip: When recounting a story, ensure you include the main characters, the conflict, key events, and the resolution or outcome clearly.

GSEB Class 9 English A Legend of the Northland Additional Important Questions and Answers

Reading Comprehension

Read the following stanzas and answer the questions given below them:

Question 1.
Away, away in the Northland,
Where the hours of the day are few,
And the nights are so long in winter

That they cannot sleep them through;
Where they harness the swift reindeer
To the sledges, when it snows;
And the children look like bear's cubs
In their funny, furry clothes :
They tell them a curious story-
I don't believe 'tis true;
And yet you may learn a lesson
If I tell the tale to you.
(1) How long are the nights in winter in the Northland?
(2) Why do children look like bear's cubs?
(3) Why is the poet eager to tell the s imaginary tale?
Answer:
(1) The nights in winter in the Northland are so long that even if someone finishes their usual sleeping hours, the night still does not end.
(2) In the very cold winter of polar regions, children especially cover themselves completely with furry woolen clothes, making them look like hairy bear cubs.
(3) The poet is keen to tell an imaginary story to awaken curiosity among readers, and as a result, they might learn a lesson from it.
In simple words: (1) Northland winters have very long nights that never seem to end. (2) Children wear thick, furry clothes in the extreme cold, making them resemble bear cubs. (3) The poet wants to tell an imaginative story to make people curious and teach them something.

Exam Tip: When answering comprehension questions based on a stanza, ensure your answer directly addresses the question and is supported by details from the text.

Question 2.
Once, when the good Saint Peter
Lived in the world below,
And walked about it, preaching,
Just as he did, you know,
He came to the door of a cottage,
In travelling round the earth,
Where a little woman was making cakes,
And baking them on the hearth;
And being faint with fasting,
For the day was almost done,
He asked her, from her store of cakes,
To give him a single one.
(1) What did Saint Peter do?
(2) What did Saint Peter see in a cottage?
(3) Give the meaning of 'the day was almost done.
Answer:
(1) As was customary in those days, Saints traveled from place to place to preach religion, and Saint Peter was also doing the same, going from one place to another on foot.
(2) Standing at the door of a cottage, Saint Peter saw a small woman making cakes by baking them on the hearth.
(3) The meaning of 'the day was almost done' means 'the day had ended' or 'it was the time after sunset'.
In simple words: (1) Saint Peter was traveling on foot, preaching religion from one place to another. (2) He saw a small woman baking cakes on her hearth. (3) 'The day was almost done' means the day was over, or it was after sunset.

Exam Tip: For vocabulary questions, use context clues from the poem to infer the meaning of phrases. For factual questions, quote directly or paraphrase accurately from the given lines.

Question 3.
So she made a very little cake,
But as it baking lay,
She looked at it and thought
it seemed Too large to give away.
Therefore she kneaded another,
And still a smaller one;
But it looked, when she turned it over,
As large as the first had done.
Then she took a tiny scrap of dough,
And rolled and rolled it flat;
And baked it thin as a wafer-
But she couldn't part with that.
(1) Why did the lady not give the already prepared cake to Saint Peter?
(2) The second time, to the lady, the cake looked (Complete the sentence.)
(3) Identify and explain the Figure of Speech in the line :
'And baked it thin as a Wafer'.
Answer:
(1) The lady did not give the already prepared cake to Saint Peter because she felt it was too big to give away.
(2) The second time, to the lady, the cake looked as large as the first one she had prepared.
(3) Simile. There is a comparison between the thinness of the cake she prepared and the thinness of a wafer. The word 'as' shows this comparison.
In simple words: (1) The lady didn't give Saint Peter the cake because she thought it was too big. (2) The second cake she made seemed as large as the first. (3) The figure of speech is a Simile, comparing the cake's thinness to a wafer using 'as'.

Exam Tip: When asked to identify a figure of speech, always provide the name and then explain how it is used in the given line, referencing key words if possible.

Question 4.
For she said, "My cakes that seem too small
When I eat of them myself
Are yet too large to give away.”
So she put them on the shelf.
Then good Saint Peter grew angry,
For he was hungry and faint;
And surely such a woman
Was enough to provoke a saint.
And he said, You are far too selfish
To dwell in a human form,
To have both food and shelter,
And fire to keep you warm.
(1) What did the lady think about the cakes she had prepared?
(2) Why did Saint Peter grow angry?
(3) How was the lady not eligible to live as a human being?
Answer:
(1) The lady was too selfish. She believed that the cakes she had made were too small for her to eat but too big to give away to others.
(2) Saint Peter was nearly fainting from hunger. He asked for something to eat from a lady who was baking cakes. Each time she made thinner and thinner cakes, they were still not enough to satisfy Saint Peter's hunger. She kept putting these on the shelf without giving them away. This selfish behavior made Saint Peter angry.
(3) The lady was far too selfish and lacked any kindness, even to feed a hungry man. As a human, she had all essential life facilities like food, shelter, and fire, but she truly did not deserve to live as a human.
In simple words: (1) The lady felt her cakes were too small for her to eat but too large to share. (2) Saint Peter grew angry because the lady, despite his hunger, kept making smaller cakes but refused to give any away due to her selfishness. (3) She was too selfish and unkind to a hungry person, even though she had basic human comforts, showing she didn't deserve to be a human.

Exam Tip: When evaluating a character's actions or motives, always refer back to their words or specific deeds described in the text to support your points.

Question 5.
Now, you shall build as the birds do,
And shall get your scanty food
By boring, and boring, and boring,
All-day in the hard, dry wood.
Then up she went through the chimney,
Never speaking a word,
And out of the top flew a woodpecker,
For she was changed to a bird.
She had a scarlet cap on her head,
And that was left the same;
But all the rest of her clothes were burned
Black as a coal in the flame.
And every country schoolboy
Has seen her in the wood,
Where she lives in the trees till this very day,
Boring and boring for food.
(1) What curse did Saint Peter give to the ! selfish woman?
(2) Why does a woodpecker have a scarlet cap on her head, according to this legend?
(3) How does a woodpecker get her food?
Answer:
(1) Saint Peter cursed the selfish woman to turn into a bird that would get its limited food by continuously boring into dry wood all day.
(2) According to the legend, when Saint Peter cursed the little woman to become a bird, she was wearing a scarlet cap. Besides the scarlet cap, when she transformed into a bird, all her body clothes burned away and turned black. Thus, the woodpecker still has a scarlet cap today.
(3) A woodpecker obtains its food by boring into dry wood throughout the day.
In simple words: (1) Saint Peter cursed the selfish woman to become a bird, destined to bore into wood all day for scarce food. (2) The woodpecker wears a scarlet cap today because the lady had one on when she was cursed, and it remained. (3) A woodpecker gets food by constantly drilling into dry wood.

Exam Tip: Legends often explain natural phenomena or characteristics (like the woodpecker's red cap) through a supernatural event; trace these connections carefully.

Figures of Speech

Choose the most appropriate Figures of Speech in the following lines :

Question 1. 'Away, away in the Northland'.
(a) Repetition
(b) Assonance
(c) Apostrophe
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Answer: (d) Both (a) and (b)
In simple words: The phrase "Away, away" shows repetition, and the repeated 'a' sound in "Away, away" is an example of assonance.

Exam Tip: Repetition involves repeating words or phrases, while assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within non-rhyming words.

Question 2. 'And the children look like bear's cubs.
(a) Alliteration
(b) Simile
(c) Metaphor
(d) Both 'A' and 'B'
Answer: (d) Both 'A' and 'B'
In simple words: The words "children" and "cubs" show alliteration, and comparing children to bear's cubs using "like" is a simile.

Exam Tip: A simile uses 'like' or 'as' to compare two different things, while alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds.

Question 3. 'In their furry, furry clothes'.
(a) Repetition
(b) Consonance
(c) Metaphor
(d) Both 'A' and 'B'
Answer: (d) Both 'A' and 'B'
In simple words: "furry, furry" repeats the word, and the repeated 'r' sound is an example of consonance.

Exam Tip: Repetition is simply repeating a word or phrase, while consonance is the recurrence of similar consonant sounds within a sentence or phrase.

Question 4. 'Just as you did, you know.
(a) Metaphor
(b) Simile
(c) Alliteration
(d) Apostrophe
Answer: (b) Simile
In simple words: The phrase uses "as" to make a comparison, which is the key characteristic of a simile.

Exam Tip: Look for comparison words like 'as' or 'like' to quickly identify similes.

Question 5. 'In travelling around the earth'.
(a) Onomatopoeia
(b) Metaphor
(c) Exaggeration
(d) Anastrophe
Answer: (c) Exaggeration
In simple words: Saying someone is "travelling around the earth" for a short journey is an exaggeration or overstatement.

Exam Tip: Hyperbole or exaggeration is used to emphasize a point or create a humorous effect by overstating something.

Question 6. 'And being faint with fasting'.
(a) Repetition
(b) Alliteration
(c) Metaphor
(d) Onomatopoeia
Answer: (b) Alliteration
In simple words: The repeated 'f' sound in "faint with fasting" is an example of alliteration.

Exam Tip: Alliteration specifically refers to the repetition of initial consonant sounds in words close to each other.

Question 7. 'And rolled and rolled it flat'.
(a) Repetition
(b) Consonance
(c) Metaphor
(d) Both 'A' and 'B'
Answer: (a) Repetition
In simple words: The word "rolled" is repeated twice to show the continuous action.

Exam Tip: Repetition emphasizes an action or idea, making it more impactful in the text.

Question 8. 'By boring, and boring, and boring'.
(a) Repetition
(b) Consonance
(c) Metaphor
(d) Both 'A' and 'B'
Answer: (a) Repetition
In simple words: The word "boring" is repeated three times to stress the continuous and tedious nature of the action.

Exam Tip: Repetition can convey persistence, emphasis, or monotony depending on the context.

Question 9. 'Black as a coal in the flame'.
(a) Metaphor
(b) Simile
(c) Alliteration
(d) Transferred Epithet
Answer: (b) Simile
In simple words: The phrase compares something to a coal using "as", indicating a simile.

Exam Tip: A simile makes a direct comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'.

Question 10. 'Never speaking a word.
(a) Onomatopoeia
(b) Metaphor
(c) Litotes
(d) Both 'A' and 'B'
Answer: (c) Litotes
In simple words: Saying "never speaking a word" is an understatement to emphasize complete silence, which is an example of litotes.

Exam Tip: Litotes is a figure of speech that uses understatement, often with a negative assertion, to express an affirmative idea, such as "not bad" for "good."

Questions - Answers

Answer the following questions in three to four sentences each:

Question 1. Why does the poet say that the hours of the day are few?
Answer: In the poem, the poet uses the name Northland. In this area, the nights are longer, and the days are shorter. As a result, there are very few daylight hours in a day.
In simple words: The poet says days are short in the Northland because its long winter nights leave only a few hours of daylight.

Exam Tip: Connect descriptions of geographical locations to their climatic realities to fully explain poetic observations.

Question 2. Who came knocking at the door of the old woman? Why was he there?
Answer: In the Northland, an old lady lived in a small house. Saint Peter came knocking at her door while she was baking cakes. He had become weak from fasting and traveling. He was very hungry and was looking for something to eat.
In simple words: Saint Peter, weak from fasting and traveling, came to the old woman's door looking for food.

Exam Tip: Identify the main characters and their initial actions to understand the plot's foundation.

Question 3. Is this a true story? Which part of the poem do you think is really important?
Answer: This is a legend; it is not a true story. Even the poet believes that it is not true. The most important part of the poem is the moment we realize that the old woman is very greedy. She could not give up her cakes for a hungry man.
In simple words: This isn't a true story, it's a legend. The most important part is when the old woman's greed is revealed as she refuses to share her cakes.

Exam Tip: Focus on the moral or central message of a legend, as this is often its most important aspect.

Question 4. Is this poem correct in being known as a legend? Explain.
Answer: A legend is a semi-true story that has been shared from person to person for ages. This legend has an important meaning or symbolism for the culture where it began. A legend includes some truth or is based on historical facts, but with mythical elements. The Saint eventually curses the old woman. This poem can also be considered a folktale, which is a story told from one generation to another, perfectly fitting the definition of a legend.
In simple words: Yes, this poem is rightly called a legend because it's an old story passed down, containing a moral message and mythical elements, even if not entirely true.

Exam Tip: To explain why a story is a legend, refer to its characteristics: traditional nature, moral lesson, and blend of fact and myth.

Answer the following questions in four to five sentences each :

Question 1. What are the poetic devices in the ballad A Legend of the Northland?
Answer: The main literary devices, also called poetic devices, in 'A Legend of the Northland' by Phoebe Cary, include resonance, which means the repetition of vowel sounds. This appears in line 1: "Away, away..." Another notable literary element is the structure of the quatrain stanzas (four lines per stanza) that have no end punctuation. Each line flows into the next through enjambment, which works very well in most places. The rhyme scheme of the poem involves alternate unrhymed lines with rhymed ones in an 'abeb' pattern. The primary literary technique is sensory imagery, which uses vision, taste, and sound, as Saint Peter (an example of Biblical allusion) approaches the cottage and sees the cakes being baked, then turns the woman into a woodpecker whose tapping can be heard on a tree.
In simple words: The poem uses several poetic devices like resonance (repeated vowel sounds), enjambment (lines flowing into each other), and an 'abeb' rhyme scheme. It also uses sensory imagery to describe Saint Peter's experience and the woman's transformation, which creates a vivid picture.

Exam Tip: When analyzing poetic devices, name the device, provide an example from the text, and briefly explain its effect or function in the poem.

Question 2. What is a dramatic narrative? Is our poem a form of dramatic narrative?
Answer: Poems with a dramatic narrative are a type of poetry that has a plot and tells a story. Poems in this style can vary in length and often tell a complex story. Many times, these poems use the voices of characters and a narrator. Usually, the story is written in metered verse. This poem is a dramatic narrative told within a frame, where the speaker introduces the story to the listener.
In simple words: A dramatic narrative poem tells a story with a plot and characters, often in metered verse. Our poem is a dramatic narrative because it tells a story from start to finish, with a speaker introducing the tale.

Exam Tip: Understand that a "dramatic narrative" combines elements of drama (story, plot, characters) with poetry (verse, rhythm). Clearly link the poem's features to this definition.

A Legend of the Northland Summary in English

A Legend of the Northland Introduction:

Phoebe Cary (September 4, 1824 -July 31, 1871) was an American poet and the younger sister of poet Alice Cary (1820- 1871). The sisters co-published poems in 1849, and after that, each went on to publish their own volumes. After their deaths in 1871, joint collections of the sisters' unpublished poems were also created.

A Legend of the Northland Summary:

The poem is a legend about an old lady who angered Saint Peter because of her great greed. The story unfolds like this: In Northland, a very selfish and greedy lady lived. One day, Saint Peter reached her door while preaching to the world. She was making cakes and baking them on a hearth. Saint Peter was weak from hunger. He asked the lady to give him a piece of cake. The cake she was baking then seemed too big, so she did not give him a piece from it and baked another smaller one. That also appeared too big, so she did not give him that either. Now she took a very tiny piece of dough and rolled it. She made it as thin as a wafer but was still unable to part with it. This greatly angered Saint Peter. He said that she should not live in human form and enjoy food and warmth. He cursed her and changed her into a woodpecker, who now has to bore into hard and dry wood to get its scarce food. She can still be seen in the trees all day, boring for food.

9th Std English Questions And Answers: