CBSE Class 9 English (Beehive) Important Questions Chapter 5 Poem - A Legend of the Northland

1. Where is the story set?
Answer: The story is set in the Northland, a place where the days are short and the winters are long.

2. Why did Saint Peter come to the old woman’s house?
Answer: Saint Peter came to the old woman’s house because he was tired and hungry after a long day of fasting and preaching.

3. What was the old woman doing when Saint Peter arrived?
Answer: The old woman was baking cakes on the hearth when Saint Peter arrived.

4. What did Saint Peter ask the old woman for?
Answer: Saint Peter asked the old woman for a single cake from her store of cakes.

5. What kind of clothes do the children wear in the Northland?
Answer: The children in the Northland wear furry clothes, which make them look like bear cubs.

6. What lesson does the poet say we can learn from the story?
Answer: The poet says that although the story may not be true, we can still learn an important lesson about the dangers of greed and selfishness. The old woman’s refusal to give a cake to Saint Peter, despite having enough, shows how greed can lead to punishment.

7. How did the old woman respond to Saint Peter’s request for a cake?
Answer: The old woman was unwilling to share a large cake, so she made a smaller one, but even that seemed too large to her. She kept making smaller cakes, but she still could not bring herself to give any to Saint Peter.

8. What was the old woman’s main flaw, according to the poem?
Answer: The old woman’s main flaw was her greed. Even though she had plenty of cakes, she was too selfish to share even a small one with Saint Peter.

9. How does the setting of the Northland contribute to the poem's atmosphere?
Answer: The Northland, with its long winters and short days, creates a cold, harsh atmosphere that reflects the old woman’s cold-heartedness. The snowy landscape and reindeer sleds add to the story’s fairy-tale-like quality, making it feel distant and magical.

10. Why does the poet say, "I don't believe 'tis true"?
Answer: The poet says, "I don't believe 'tis true" to suggest that the story may be a legend or fable rather than a real event. Despite this, the poet believes the story contains an important moral lesson.

11. Describe the encounter between Saint Peter and the old woman.
Answer: When Saint Peter arrived at the old woman’s house, he was weak and hungry from fasting. He kindly asked her for a single cake, but the old woman, despite having enough cakes, was too greedy to share. She first baked a large cake, but it seemed too big to give away. She then made a smaller one, but even that appeared too large to her. Finally, she made an extremely small cake, but her greed prevented her from giving even that to Saint Peter. Angered by her selfishness, Saint Peter punished her by turning her into a woodpecker, condemning her to peck at wood for her food. This encounter shows how greed and unwillingness to share can lead to harsh consequences.

12. What punishment did Saint Peter give the old woman and why?
Answer: Saint Peter punished the old woman by turning her into a woodpecker because she was too greedy to share a small cake with him. He felt that her selfishness and lack of compassion deserved punishment, so he cursed her to live as a bird that must peck at hard wood to find food. The punishment was fitting because it symbolized her refusal to give away even a tiny portion of food, and now she would struggle to find sustenance for herself.

13. How does the poet use the story of the old woman to teach a moral lesson?
Answer: The poet uses the story of the old woman to illustrate the consequences of greed and selfishness. The old woman’s refusal to share a cake with a hungry Saint Peter, despite having plenty for herself, highlights her lack of generosity. Saint Peter’s decision to turn her into a woodpecker serves as a reminder that selfish behavior can lead to punishment. The moral lesson is that it is important to be kind and share with others, especially those in need, or else one may face consequences.

14. What does the transformation of the old woman into a woodpecker symbolize?
Answer: The transformation of the old woman into a woodpecker symbolizes the consequences of greed and selfishness. Just as the old woman hoarded her cakes and refused to share, the woodpecker must now work hard to find food by pecking at trees. This punishment reflects the idea that selfish people may be forced to struggle for survival, just as the woodpecker must search for food in a difficult way. The woodpecker’s life of constant pecking symbolizes the hard life the old woman must now endure because of her greed.

15. What role does Saint Peter play in the poem, and why is he important?
Answer: Saint Peter plays the role of a holy man who tests the generosity of the old woman. He represents goodness and selflessness, in contrast to the old woman’s greed. Saint Peter’s importance lies in the fact that he is not just an ordinary traveler but a saint, making the old woman’s refusal to help him even more significant. His decision to punish her by turning her into a woodpecker serves as a moral lesson about the importance of generosity and kindness. Saint Peter’s role is crucial because he brings out the woman’s true nature and teaches her, and the readers, a valuable lesson about greed.

16. Do you think the punishment given to the old woman was justified? Why or why not?
Answer: The punishment can be seen as justified because the old woman’s greed and selfishness were extreme. Despite having plenty of food, she was unwilling to give even a small cake to a hungry man. Her punishment, being turned into a woodpecker, serves as a lesson about the consequences of greed. However, some might argue that the punishment was harsh, as turning her into a bird for life seems severe for refusing food. In either case, the poem teaches that acts of selfishness can lead to serious consequences.

17. Why do you think the poet set the story in the Northland?
Answer: The poet may have set the story in the Northland to create a cold and harsh atmosphere that reflects the old woman’s cold-heartedness and selfishness. The long winters, snow, and reindeer create a distant, almost magical setting, making the story feel like a timeless legend. The harsh conditions of the Northland mirror the harsh punishment that the old woman receives for her greed. Additionally, setting the story in a faraway place adds to its mythical quality.

18. What lesson can be learned from the old woman’s behaviour?
Answer: The lesson that can be learned from the old woman’s behaviour is that greed and selfishness can lead to negative consequences. By refusing to share even a small cake with a hungry Saint Peter, the old woman demonstrated her lack of compassion and generosity. Her punishment shows that acts of kindness and sharing are important, and those who are selfish may suffer as a result. The poem teaches the value of generosity and the dangers of being greedy.

19. How does the poet use the old woman’s transformation to emphasize the moral of the story?
Answer: The poet uses the old woman’s transformation into a woodpecker to emphasize the moral of the story, which is the importance of generosity and the consequences of greed. By turning her into a bird that must work hard to find food, Saint Peter ensures that the old woman will forever struggle to survive, just as she refused to help someone in need. This transformation highlights the idea that selfish people may face difficulties in life, while those who are generous will find peace. The woodpecker’s life of constant pecking is a fitting punishment for the old woman’s refusal to share her food.

20. What does the poet suggest about human nature through the old woman’s character?
Answer: Through the old woman’s character, the poet suggests that human nature can be flawed by selfishness and greed. The old woman’s refusal to share her food, even when she had enough, shows how some people prioritize their own needs over helping others. The poem serves as a reminder that generosity and kindness are important virtues, and those who act selfishly may face negative consequences. The poet uses the old woman’s behavior to illustrate the dangers of greed and the importance of thinking about others.

21. What lesson does the poem teach about greed?
Answer: The poem teaches that greed can lead to punishment and suffering. The old woman’s refusal to give even a small cake to Saint Peter shows how selfishness can have negative consequences. The lesson is that we should be generous and kind, especially to those in need.

22. How does the poet describe the Northland?
Answer: The poet describes the Northland as a cold place with short days and long winters. The people use reindeer to pull sledges in the snow, and the children wear furry clothes that make them look like bear cubs.

23. Why couldn’t the old woman part with even a small cake?

Answer: The old woman couldn’t part with even a small cake because she was too greedy and selfish. Every time she made a cake, she felt it was too large to give away, showing how her greed prevented her from being generous.

24. What did the old woman turn into, and why?
Answer: The old woman was turned into a woodpecker by Saint Peter as a punishment for her greed and refusal to share a cake with him. Now, as a bird, she must search for food by pecking at trees, a fitting punishment for her selfishness.

25. What does the woodpecker symbolize in the poem?
Answer: The woodpecker symbolizes the consequences of greed and selfishness. Just as the old woman refused to share her food, she is now cursed to struggle for her food as a bird, pecking at hard wood. The transformation represents the hard life that awaits those who are unwilling to be generous.

Benefits of CBSE Class 9 English (Beehive) Important Questions for Chapter 5 A Legend of the Northland

• The PDF typically includes important questions from all chapters in the Beehive textbook, ensuring thorough preparation across prose, poetry, and supplementary materials.

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Conclusion:

A Legend of the Northland by Phoebe Cary is a simple yet powerful poem that teaches us about the importance of kindness and generosity. The story of the old woman who was turned into a woodpecker serves as a reminder of what can happen when we let greed take over. Through this legend, the poet shows us that being selfish can lead to negative consequences, while kindness is always rewarded. Vedantu's important questions FREE PDF for this chapter helps students understand the poem’s moral and themes, making it easier to prepare for exams and build a deeper understanding of the lesson.

Additional Study Material for Class 9 English (Beehive) Chapter 5 Poem

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