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Explore NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Poem Chapter 5 – A Legend of the Northland to prepare thoroughly for your exams. This comprehensive resource will help you understand the poem, answer questions accurately, and improve your overall English skills. All the solutions are crafted by subject-matter experts, ensuring that they align with the CBSE guidelines.
Download Free PDF of Class 9 NCERT Solutions for A Legend of the Northland
To make your preparation smoother, we offer a free PDF download of Class 9 English Poem solutions. The PDF contains step-by-step answers to all the textbook questions, along with extra insights into the poem’s themes and literary devices. Access the solutions anytime, anywhere to reinforce your understanding.
Access Answers to NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 5 The Snake and the Mirror
Thinking about the Text
1. Which country or countries do you think the Northland refers to?
Ans. The Northland could refer to any extremely cold country in the Earth’s north polar region, such as Greenland, the northern regions of Russia, Canada, Norway etc.
2. What did Saint Peter ask the old lady for? What was the lady’s reaction?
Ans. Saint Peter asked the old lady for one of her baked cakes to satisfy his hunger. The lady tried to bake a small cake for the saint.
3. How did he punish her?
Ans. Saint peter punished the lady by changing her into a woodpecker that built “as birds do” and gathered scanty food by boring in the “hard, dry wood” all day long.
4. How does the woodpecker get her food?
Ans. The woodpecker gets her food by boring holes into trees.
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?
Ans. Had the old lady known that the man asking her for food was Saint Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, she would have been far more generous. She may have welcomed him into her house and baked him not one but several large cakes to eat and probably given him something to drink as well.
6. Is this a true story? Which part of this poem do you feel is the most important?
Ans. No, this is not a true story. The poem is a folklore. It passes on orally from one generation to the other. The main objectives of such poems or stories is to convey some values. Through some characters or incidents, some values are passed on from one generation to another. This method of spreading values is very effective. The poet himself says, “I don’t believe ’tis true.” It is a legend. The most important part of the poem is the one which conveys that one must not be greedy.
7. What is a legend? Why is this poem called a legend?
Ans. A ‘legend’ is a popular story from the past which is believed by many but one cannot prove whether it is true or not. It usually contains a message or a moral and is narrated to children. The poet himself says that he doesn’t believe this tale to be true. This poem, a ‘legend’, preaches generosity towards fellow beings.
8. Write the story of ‘A Legend of the Northland’ in about ten sentences.
Ans. Once Saint Peter stopped by an old lady’s cottage because he was feeling hungry and weak after the day’s fasting. The lady was baking cakes on the hearth. Since he was weak with fasting, he asked her for a cake from her store of cakes. The selfish lady tried to bake small cakes but each time they seemed too big for her to give away.
Finally, she baked one that was as thin as a wafer. Unable to part with it too, she put it on a shelf and did not give any cake to the Saint. Saint Peter was very angry with her behaviour and said she was too selfish to live as a human and have food, shelter and a fire to keep her warm.
He punished her by changing her into a woodpecker that would have to build a nest to live in, bore for food in the trunks of trees. Her clothes were burned and she was left with her scarlet cap on her head as she flew out through the chimney. Even today she still lives in the woods and is seen by all the country school boys.
More Resources for Class 9
- NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Maths
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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’.
A. The rhyming words are:
‘Few’ and ‘through’ Myself and ‘shelf’
‘Earth’ and ‘hearth’ ‘Faint’ and ‘saint’
‘Done’ and ‘one’ ‘Form’ and ‘warm’
‘Lay’ and ‘away’ ‘Food’ and ‘wood’
‘One’ and ‘Word’ and ‘bird’
‘Flat’ and ‘that’ Same’ and ‘flame’
‘Wood’ and ‘food’
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.
Ans. Echo was a nymph who talked too much. She was very fond of having the last word. One day she spoke rudely to the great Juno, who said that for this offence Echo should never use her voice again, unless to repeat what she had just heard, but since she was very fond of last words, she might repeat the last words of others.
This was almost as bad as if Juno had changed her into a parrot. Echo was very much ashamed, and hid herself in the forest. Narcissus, a young man who had hair as yellow as gold and eyes as blue as the sky, – a very rare thing in Greece, where most people were very dark, – used to hunt in the forest where Echo was hiding. As she was peeping out shyly from some cave or from behind a great tree, Echo often saw Narcissus, and she admired him very much.
One day Narcissus became separated from his friends, and hearing something rustle among the leaves, he called out, “Who’s here?”
“Here,” answered Echo.
“Here I am. Come!” said Narcissus.
“I am come,” said Echo; and, as she spoke, she came out from among the trees.
When Narcissus saw a stranger, instead of one of his friends as he had expected, he looked surprised and walked quickly away.
After this, Echo never came out and allowed herself to be seen again, and in time she faded away till she became only a voice.
This voice was heard for many, many years in forests and among mountains, particularly in caves. In their solitary walks, hunters often heard it. Sometimes it mocked the barking of their dogs; sometimes it repeated their own last words. It always had a weird and mournful sound, and seemed to make lonely places more lonely still.
Important Questions for Class 9 English Chapter 5
This poem includes several significant themes and literary elements, making it important for your exam. Below are some of the important questions for Class 9 English Chapter 5, extracted from the NCERT textbook:
- What is the central theme of the poem “A Legend of the Northland”?
- Explain the transformation of the woman in the poem.
- Discuss the moral lesson conveyed by Saint Peter.
These questions are crucial for exam preparation and are included in our NCERT Solutions with detailed explanations.
Comprehensive Solutions for A Legend of the Northland Questions
Our NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 5 provide detailed answers to all the questions from the Beehive textbook. Each answer is carefully structured to help students understand the core concepts and improve their writing skills. Our solutions include:
- In-depth explanations of stanzas.
- Literary devices used in the poem, such as imagery, simile, and metaphor.
- Analysis of key themes like selflessness and punishment for greed.
By studying these solutions, you will not only prepare for your exams but also gain a deeper appreciation for English literature.
Why Choose Our NCERT Solutions?
- Each solution is carefully crafted to meet CBSE standards, ensuring accuracy.
- The solutions are presented in simple language, making it easier for students to grasp complex concepts.
- All the solutions are available in printable PDF format for free, making them accessible anywhere.
- Our content is regularly updated to reflect the latest CBSE syllabus changes, ensuring you stay ahead in your preparation.
Chapter-wise NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English
Along with Chapter 5 – A Legend of the Northland, we also provide chapter-wise NCERT solutions for Class 9 English, helping you prepare for the entire syllabus. You can explore solutions for poems like Rain on the Roof and The Road Not Taken, along with prose chapters like My Childhood and The Fun They Had.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What do you mean when you say legend? What makes this poem, 'A Legend of the Northland,' a legend?
Legends are traditional stories that usually extol great deeds or teach noble virtues. Legends are frequently not vetted or authenticated by meaningful evidence. Legends, on the other hand, are stories that are more well known among people verbally, and elderly people often recount famous stories to young children. The poet expresses his skepticism about the story's veracity. This poem, 'A Legend of the Northland,' is called a legend because it encourages charity toward other people.
What is the 'A Legend of the Northland' poem's summary?
The poem A Legend of the Northland tells the story of a saint and an elderly lady. Saint Peter happened to pass by an old lady's cottage when she was preparing cakes one day. Fasting had made the saint weak, so he requested the old lady for assistance with a cake. The old lady persevered in her attempts to create a tiny cake for him. Every cake she cooked, on the other hand, seemed to be large enough for her to eat. Her most recent cake was the size of a wafer, but she wasn't ready to give it away. As a result, she put it on the shelf. The saint was enraged by her treatment of him, so he transformed her into a woodpecker.
In the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 5- A Legend of The Northland, how many questions are there?
The NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 5- A Legend of the Northland contains ten questions. The first four questions are short-response questions, the next four are a little more detailed, and the final two are value-based questions. All of these questions are answered in the NCERT solutions for this poem on INFINITY LEARN, which you may use to learn more about the poetry.
Is it possible to use the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 5- A Legend of The Northland on INFINITY LEARN to help with exam preparation?
Yes, the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 5- A Legend of The Northland, which is available on INFINITY LEARN, are quite useful for test preparation. INFINITY LEARN subject matter specialists provided these NCERT English solutions. They've written the solutions according to the NCERT recommendations for Class 9 so that kids can use them to study for their exams. You may obtain these solutions for free from INFINITY LEARN and read them to get an idea of how to write NCERT English answers in the proper way. These solved NCERT questions can also be used as a study guide for your upcoming exam.
Is Chapter 5 English for Class 9 difficult?
For some pupils in Class 9, English as a literature topic might be challenging. Proper descriptions, on the other hand, will help students learn more. Students will gain confidence and be able to produce better responses if they fully comprehend Chapter 5. In order to do well in exams, literature subjects frequently have deeper implications that must be fully understood. Understanding what is being given in Chapter 5 can assist students in acing the exam. You can get this information through the INFINITY LEARN website or app.
Who is the author of A Northland Legend?
A Legend of the Northland is actually a poem composed by Phoebe Cary and originally published as a ballad. The song told the story of an elderly Saint Peter seeking shelter and sustenance from an elderly woman who baked cakes. It was written as a fable or folk story about one's morality, the value of caring about something, and the virtue of unselfishness. All of this is recounted in the poem in the same way.
What did St. Peter inquire of the elderly lady?
St. Peter was said to be going to the old woman's residence in the Northlands. He went in quest of a place to stay and some food to eat. Because the elderly lady was known for baking cakes, St. Peter requested her for a piece of cake to eat. The old lady was unaware of the man's true identity; therefore, it was a disguised test of her qualities. This notion is based on a legend from the past. Students can learn more about the story by visiting the INFINITY LEARN website or downloading the INFINITY LEARN app.
What did the old lady do when St. Peter requested a piece of cake?
The selfish and greedy lady was not persuaded by the idea that she was required to feed someone for free, so she cooked a cake for St. Peter that was as small as possible. If she had known who she was going to feed, she would not have done it. This demonstrated how low our moral ideals are, as well as her lack of compassion and sympathy for those in need. By creating such a modest cake for her visitor, the elderly lady had actually failed the exam.
