CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 10: A Legend of the Northland NCERT Solutions

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 9 PDF

This is a summary of the NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 9 English Beehive, Chapter 10, 'A Legend of the Northland'. The solutions offer a deep dive into the poem's story, focusing on the characters of Saint Peter and the greedy old woman. They clearly explain the poem's central message about the value of kindness and sharing. Additionally, the solutions explore literary elements such as the poem's rhyme scheme and the nature of a legend, ensuring students gain a thorough appreciation of the text. This guide aims to help students understand the poem's core themes and prepare well for their examinations by simplifying difficult concepts and presenting well-organized answers.

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BoardCBSE
ClassClass 9
SubjectEnglish Beehive
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 10

Chapter summary

Chapter 10 of the CBSE Class 9 English Beehive textbook, 'A Legend of the Northland', is presented with NCERT Solutions. These solutions focus on understanding the narrative of Saint Peter's encounter with a selfish old lady, her transformation into a woodpecker, and the moral lesson about generosity. The exercises cover character analysis, thematic interpretation, identification of rhyming words, and the definition of a legend, providing a complete study guide for the poem.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the narrative and characters in 'A Legend of the Northland'.
  • Identify the moral lesson of generosity and charity presented in the poem.
  • Define and recognize the characteristics of a legend.
  • Analyze the poem for its rhyming words and poetic devices.
  • Summarize the story of 'A Legend of the Northland' effectively.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Poem Comprehension
  • Character Analysis (Saint Peter, Old Lady)
  • Moral of the Story (Generosity vs. Selfishness)
  • Literary Devices (Rhyme Scheme)
  • Definition of a Legend
  • Story Summarization
  • Vocabulary (Northland, Woodpecker)
  • Poetic Interpretation

Important topics

  • Understanding the legend's moral
  • Character analysis of the old lady
  • Defining and identifying a legend
  • Summarizing the poem's narrative
  • Rhyming words identification

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Questions and Solutions

1. Which country or countries do you think "the Northland" refers to?

Which country or countries do you think "the Northland" refers to?
Solution: The term "the Northland" in the poem likely refers to regions in the extreme northern parts of the Earth, characterized by cold climates and long winters. This could include countries such as Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, or the northernmost parts of Russia and Canada, where such harsh conditions are common.

2. What did Saint Peter ask the old lady for? What was the lady's reaction?

What did Saint Peter ask the old lady for? What was the lady's reaction?
Solution: Saint Peter, feeling weak and hungry after a day of fasting, asked the old lady for a single cake from her baking. Initially, the lady attempted to bake a small cake for him, but her reaction was one of reluctance and stinginess.

3. How did he punish her?

How did he punish her?
Solution: As a punishment for her extreme selfishness and lack of charity, Saint Peter transformed the old lady into a woodpecker. This meant she would forever have to work hard, boring into wood to find scarce food, and would have to build her own shelter.

4. How does the woodpecker get her food?

How does the woodpecker get her food?
Solution: The woodpecker, which was once the selfish old lady, gets her food by using its beak to bore holes into the trunks of trees. It searches for insects and larvae hidden within the hard, dry wood.

5. Is this a true story? Which part of this poem do you feel is the most important?

Is this a true story? Which part of this poem do you feel is the most important?
Solution: No, this is not a true story; it is a legend, a traditional story that may have some basis in fact but is largely fictional and often told to convey a moral. The most important part of the poem is arguably the transformation of the old lady into a woodpecker. This event serves as the climax and the core of the moral lesson, vividly illustrating the consequences of greed and the virtue of generosity.

6. What is a legend? Why is this poem called a legend?

What is a legend? Why is this poem called a legend?
Solution: A legend is a popular story from the past that is widely told and believed by many people, although its historical accuracy cannot be proven. Legends often contain elements of folklore, myth, and moral teachings. This poem is called a legend because it recounts a tale that is not presented as factual history but rather as a narrative meant to teach a lesson about kindness and sharing, specifically highlighting the consequences of selfishness through a supernatural event.

7. Write the story of 'A Legend of the Northland' in about ten sentences.

Write the story of 'A Legend of the Northland' in about ten sentences.
Solution: Once, Saint Peter, weakened by fasting, visited a kindly old lady's cottage to ask for a cake. The lady was baking cakes, but she was very selfish and found each cake too large to give away. She first tried to bake small cakes, but they still seemed too big. Finally, she baked a wafer-thin cake, but even that she refused to share. Angered by her stinginess, Saint Peter declared she was too selfish to live as a human. He punished her by transforming her into a woodpecker. As a woodpecker, she would have to continuously work hard, boring into trees to find her food. Her clothes vanished, leaving only her scarlet cap, and she flew up the chimney to live in the woods. Even today, woodpeckers are seen searching for food in the trees, a reminder of the lady's greed.

II. 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 'clothes', 'true' rhymes with 'you' and 'below' rhymes with 'know'.

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 'clothes', 'true' rhymes with 'you' and 'below' rhymes with 'know'.
Solution: The poem uses rhyme to create a musical quality. Here are some pairs of rhyming words found at the end of lines in the poem: * snows / clothes * true / you * below / know * few / through * Earth / hearth * done / one * lay / away * one / done * flat / that * myself / shelf * faint / saint * form / warm * food / wood * word / bird * same / flame

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.

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.
Solution: (Note: This question requires personal research and sharing, so a sample legend is provided below as an example of what students might find or recount.) **Example Legend: Echo and Narcissus** In ancient Greece, there was a beautiful nymph named Echo who loved to talk incessantly and always wanted to have the last word. One day, she offended the goddess Juno with her chatter. As punishment, Juno cursed Echo, decreeing that she could only repeat the last words spoken by others. Ashamed, Echo hid herself in the forests. One day, she saw Narcissus, a handsome young hunter, and fell deeply in love with him. When Narcissus became separated from his companions and called out, "Who's here?", Echo replied, "Here!". He then called, "Come out to me!", and she responded, "To me!". When she emerged, Narcissus rejected her. Heartbroken, Echo faded away until only her voice remained, forever repeating the last words she heard. This legend, like 'A Legend of the Northland', is a story from the past that explains a natural phenomenon (the echo) and carries a moral about the consequences of excessive talkativeness or unrequited love.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing a legend with a factual historical account.
  • Misinterpreting the character motivations of Saint Peter and the old lady.
  • Difficulty in identifying all rhyming pairs within the poem.
  • Failing to articulate the central moral of the story clearly.

Revision tips

  • Read the poem aloud to better understand its rhythm and rhyme.
  • Focus on the transformation of the old lady and its symbolic meaning.
  • Practice summarizing the legend in your own words.
  • Review the definition of a legend and why this poem fits the description.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What was Saint Peter's primary reason for visiting the old lady's cottage?

Q2. What did the old lady become as a punishment for her selfishness?

Q3. According to the poem, what is a 'legend'?

Q4. How does the woodpecker (the transformed old lady) get her food?

Q5. What moral lesson does 'A Legend of the Northland' primarily convey?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of the poem 'A Legend of the Northland'?

The main theme of the poem is the importance of generosity and charity, contrasting it with the negative consequences of selfishness, as illustrated by the story of the old lady.

Who are the main characters in 'A Legend of the Northland'?

The main characters are Saint Peter, who is depicted as a holy figure testing human kindness, and a selfish old lady who refuses to share her cakes.

Why is the poem called 'A Legend of the Northland'?

It is called a legend because it is a popular story from the past, believed by many but not historically proven, which typically contains a moral lesson. This poem fits the description as it teaches about generosity.

How does Saint Peter punish the old lady?

Saint Peter punishes the old lady for her extreme selfishness by transforming her into a woodpecker, forcing her to spend her days boring into wood for scarce food.

What are some examples of rhyming words from the poem?

Examples of rhyming words from the poem include 'snows'/'clothes', 'true'/'you', 'below'/'know', 'few'/'through', and 'hearth'/'earth'.

How can these NCERT Solutions help students prepare for exams?

These solutions provide clear, structured answers to comprehension questions, explain the poem's moral and literary aspects, and help students understand the narrative, aiding in effective revision and exam preparation.

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