📘 A Legend of the Northland
By Phoebe Cary (Class 9 English – Beehive)
✅ 1–40: Short Question Answers (2–3 lines each with colorful bullets)
- Who wrote “A Legend of the Northland”? 🔵 Phoebe Cary, an American poet, wrote this ballad.
- What is the poem about? 🟢 It narrates a legend from the Northland where a selfish woman is punished by Saint Peter.
- Where is the Northland? 🟡 It’s a cold, snow-covered region, possibly near the North Pole.
- Why do people in Northland wear furry clothes? 🔴 Because the region is extremely cold and snowy.
- What is a legend? 🔵 A traditional story often passed down through generations.
- Who came to the woman’s door? 🟣 A hungry Saint Peter came to her house asking for food.
- What did the woman do when Saint Peter asked for food? 🟢 She pretended to be generous but gave him a very tiny cake.
- Why didn’t she give him a big cake? 🟡 She thought all the cakes were too big and didn’t want to share.
- How did Saint Peter react? 🔴 He was angry with her selfishness and cursed her.
- What was the curse? 🔵 He turned her into a woodpecker who had to find food by boring into trees.
- What did the woman do after turning into a bird? 🟣 She flew away into the forest.
- What did she look like after the curse? 🟢 She had a red cap and lived in the woods, pecking at trees.
- Why is the poem called a legend? 🟡 It’s a story passed on for generations with a moral lesson.
- What lesson does the poem teach? 🔴 It teaches not to be greedy or selfish.
- What is the woman compared to now? 🔵 A woodpecker pecking for food.
- Why did Saint Peter get angry? 🟣 Because despite being rich and healthy, the woman didn’t share food.
- What does the red cap of the bird signify? 🟢 It’s the only reminder of her previous human life.
- Was the woman poor? 🟡 No, she had enough food but was still unwilling to give.
- How did the poet create a legend feel? 🔴 Through rhymes and storytelling with a moral.
- What type of poem is this? 🔵 It is a ballad – a narrative poem with a story.
- What is the setting of the poem? 🟣 A cold region with reindeer, snow, and long nights.
- How many cakes did the woman bake? 🟢 She baked several but kept finding them too big to give.
- What happened to each cake she tried to give? 🟡 She found each one too big and ate them herself.
- Did the woman regret her actions? 🔴 It’s not mentioned, but her punishment shows the cost of greed.
- Why is Saint Peter respected in the story? 🔵 He represents holiness, generosity, and justice.
- What do the reindeer and snow symbolize? 🟣 The cold and distant land of Northland.
- What does pecking wood suggest in the curse? 🟢 Hard labor as punishment for her selfishness.
- What kind of rhyme scheme does the poem have? 🟡 A regular rhyme scheme typical of ballads.
- Why is the poem easy to remember? 🔴 Because of its rhythmic pattern and storytelling style.
- What moral value is highlighted in the poem? 🔵 Generosity and kindness are essential human qualities.
- Why does the poet use a legend to teach a lesson? 🟣 Legends are memorable and help convey strong messages.
- What is the woman’s transformation symbolic of? 🟢 The loss of humanity due to selfishness.
- What literary device is used in her transformation? 🟡 Metaphor – turning into a woodpecker represents a moral downfall.
- How does the poem appeal to readers? 🔴 Through storytelling, rhythm, and a clear message.
- What kind of imagery is used in the poem? 🔵 Snow, fire, baking cakes, and birds – all vivid and relatable.
- What is the tone of the poem? 🟣 Moralistic and reflective.
- What do cakes symbolize in the poem? 🟢 Sharing and generosity (or lack thereof).
- What does Saint Peter represent? 🟡 Divine justice and righteousness.
- Why is the ending powerful? 🔴 It shows transformation as a result of one’s choices.
- What is the woman’s punishment meant to teach us? 🔵 That selfishness leads to isolation and hard life.
✅ 41–45: Long Question-Answers (100–120 words)
41. Describe the character of the woman in the poem. 🟦 The woman in the poem is selfish and greedy. Although she has plenty of food, she is unwilling to share even a small cake with a hungry traveler, Saint Peter. She pretends to help but actually keeps the best for herself. Her actions show a lack of compassion and kindness. Because of her stingy behavior, she is punished by being turned into a woodpecker who has to search for food forever. Her transformation into a bird symbolizes the consequences of greed. She is a perfect example of how selfishness can lead to loneliness and suffering. The poet uses her character to teach a strong moral lesson.
42. How does the poem teach a moral lesson using a legend? 🟩 The poem uses a traditional legend to teach the importance of generosity. Through the story of a woman who refuses to give food to a hungry saint, it highlights the consequences of selfishness. The legend format makes the story memorable and impactful. The woman’s transformation into a bird is symbolic of her punishment. This change represents how greed can strip someone of their humanity. The poem also emphasizes that even divine figures like Saint Peter value kindness and fairness. By using a legend, the poet connects with readers of all ages and reinforces a timeless moral in a simple, rhythmic style.
43. What is the significance of the woman’s transformation into a bird? 🟥 The woman’s transformation into a woodpecker is both symbolic and moral. As a human, she refused to share food with a hungry saint. Turning her into a bird forced her to search for food herself, thus experiencing hunger and hardship. The red mark on her head symbolizes her past as a human and acts as a reminder of her mistake. This transformation shows that selfishness has lasting consequences. It also highlights that actions speak louder than appearances—while she looked like a regular woman, her inner nature was cold and ungenerous. The story encourages readers to be kind and helpful to others.
44. Why did Saint Peter punish the woman and was it justified? 🟨 Saint Peter punished the woman because she was extremely selfish and unkind. Even though she had enough to share, she offered nothing to a hungry stranger. Her actions were not only rude but also reflected a lack of humanity. Saint Peter, being a holy man, expected compassion and charity. When he saw her unwillingness to help, he cursed her to live as a bird that must work hard to find food. The punishment, while harsh, was symbolic. It served as a lesson for others to be generous. In the context of a legend, it was justified to highlight the importance of sharing.
45. What message does the poet want to give through “A Legend of the Northland”? 🟧 The poet wants to convey that greed and selfishness are serious flaws in human nature. Through the tale of a woman who refuses to share food and is transformed into a woodpecker, the poet teaches the importance of kindness and generosity. The story also shows that our actions have consequences. It uses simple language and a ballad form to reach readers of all ages. The transformation in the story is a metaphor for moral downfall. The poet encourages readers to be helpful and generous to those in need. The main message is that good deeds lead to peace, while selfishness leads to suffering.
✅ 46–50: Value-Based Questions
46. What moral lesson does the poem teach us? 🟦 That selfishness can lead to isolation and that kindness is always rewarded.
47. How does the poem help us develop empathy? 🟩 By showing the pain of others and the importance of sharing what we have.
48. What value does Saint Peter represent? 🟥 He represents compassion, justice, and holiness.
49. What does the transformation of the woman symbolize? 🟨 It symbolizes the loss of humanity due to greed and selfishness.
50. How can this poem influence young minds? 🟧 It teaches them to care for others, be generous, and understand the value of good deeds.