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NCERT Solutions For Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 5 A Legend Of The Northland - 2025-26

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A Legend Of The Northland Class 9 Questions and Answers - Free PDF Download

Vedantu offers comprehensive NCERT Solutions to Class 9 English Beehive A Legend of The Northland Question Answers. The poem is from the Beehive Reader, prescribed for Class 9 and teaches students about the evils of greed and selfishness. The solutions are curated and compiled by top subject matter experts at Vedantu, who ensure their accuracy and relevancy. 

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NCERT solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 5 are prepared by the Vedantu experts and updated regularly to keep them compliant with the latest Class 9 English CBSE Syllabus.

Access NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 5 Poem- A Legend of the Northland

Thinking about the Poem

I.

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

Ans: Northland refers to chilly regions of the world, especially those located in the Earth’s northern polar region. Countries in these regions include Norway, Canada, Greenland etc. 


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

Ans: The old lady was asked for one of her baked cakes to satisfy her hunger by Saint Peter. The lady went ahead and baked a small cake for him.


3. How did he punish her?

Ans: The saint got angry when the lady presented him with a small cake. The lady was punished by being changed 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: By boring holes into the trees, the woodpecker gets her food.


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: I don't think the old lady would have presented the saint with a smaller cake if she would have known he was a divine saint. If she would have known he was a saint, she would have given generously to please him and get his blessing.


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

Ans: The poem is a legend and isn't a true story. The part where the lady changes into a woodpecker is important since it teaches us the value of generosity and being caring and charitable. We shouldn't judge a person based on their looks and give as much as possible.


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

Ans: A ‘legend’ is a tale that’s carried down from generation to generation. They don't have a scientific explanation for the tales but are mythological. It has a message or moral. The poet starts by saying that he doesn't believe in the tale but finds the message enriching. This legend teaches us generosity towards other fellow beings.


8. Write the story of ‘A Legend of the Northland’ in about ten sentences.

Ans: The door of an old lady, who baked cakes, was knocked on by Saint Peter. He was hungry and weak after fasting for a day and wanted the lady to satisfy his hunger. He asked the lady to serve him one of the cakes in her store. The lady was selfish and didn't want to give a bigger cake to the saint. She baked smaller cakes multiple times for her but every time they were big enough for her to give. At last, she finally baked a cake as thin as a wafer but her inner consciousness wasn't ready to part with it either. The saint got infuriated with her behaviour and changed her into a woodpecker. She would have to bore into the rigid wood of the trees to build a nest to live in. The legend says that the bird still lives today in the woods.


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’.

Find more such rhyming words

Ans: 

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’ ‘Faint’ and ‘saint’

‘Form’ and ‘warm’ ‘Food’ and ‘wood’ ‘Word’ and ‘bird’

‘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: There was a nymph called Echo that talked a lot. There was a great Juno and Echo because of her nature, she spoke rudely to him. Juno punished her and changed her to a mere parrot. She could only repeat what others would have said. Echo lost her nature and hid herself in the forest because she was ashamed of herself. 

Once she was seen by Narcissus, a young gentleman with golden locks, who was searching for his friends in a forest. While following the voice he saw Echo, instead of his friends and walked away quickly. Since that day, Echo never came out of the forest again and became a mere voice. It always has the tone of a mourning individual and is only heard in lonely places and deep forests.


Value-based Questions

1. What is the moral of this poem?

Ans: From this poem, we learn that sharing with the needy brings true happiness. Greed cannot bring any happiness in our lives. Our charitable nature lets us gauge the pains and sorrows of the ones suffering and we have many friends. However, the ones who are greedy hardly have any friends and are generally lonely.

 

2. What quality do saints show based on this poem?

Ans: Based on the verses of the poem, saints are generally wise people, having gained some heavenly power. They are not moved by riches, which normal individuals often crave. Their only need is food in order to survive. They prefer to travel around the globe to learn lessons.


Benefits of NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 5

  • Vedantu offers comprehensive NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English A Legend of The Northland question answers. These solutions are easy to understand and provided in simple language to help students grasp and retain the material.

  • The solutions to the Class 9 English poem A Legend of The Northland Question answer are constantly checked and updated to align with the latest CBSE syllabus. 

  • Reading these solutions gives students a clear idea of the poem's content and plot.

  • NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 5, A Legend of The Northland, are available in PDF format for FREE download, allowing students to study anywhere, anytime.

  • The Class 9 English A Legend of The Northland question answer solutions cover all textbook questions, ensuring students have all the answers they need for their exams and saving them time from searching for solutions elsewhere.


Conclusion

The Class 9 English Chapter 5, A Legend of the Northland, highlights a Scandinavian tale that sheds light on the values of selflessness, kindness, and the quality of providing to those in need. Vedantu provides comprehensive NCERT Solutions to Class 9 English Poem A Legend of The Northland Question Answer which students can refer to equip themselves for the examination. These solutions are compiled, created, and vetted by top professionals and subject matter experts with years of experience dealing with the CBSE syllabus, thus ensuring the accuracy and authenticity of the solutions.


Important Study Material Links for Class 9 Chapter 5 Poem

S.No. 

Study Material Links for Chapter 5 A Legend Of The Northland

1

Class 9 A Legend Of The Northland Revision Notes

2

Class 9 A Legend Of The Northland Important Questions


Chapters-wise NCERT Class 9 English Beehive (Poem)


Chapters-wise NCERT Class 9 English Beehive


Other Book-wise Links for NCERT Solutions Class 9 English 

S. No

English Class 9 NCERT Solutions Bookwise Links 

1

Class 9 English Moments Solutions

2

Class 9 English Words and Expressions Solutions


Related Important Study Material of Class 9 English

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FAQs on NCERT Solutions For Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 5 A Legend Of The Northland - 2025-26

1. What is the central theme of 'A Legend of the Northland' that is essential for answering the NCERT questions?

The central theme is that greed and selfishness lead to dire consequences, while charity and compassion are virtues that should be practised. When solving NCERT questions, you should explain how the old woman’s inability to part with a small piece of cake, even for a starving saint, resulted in her being cursed. This moral lesson is the foundation for most answers in the textbook exercise.

2. How did Saint Peter punish the old woman for her greed, and how should this be explained in an NCERT-compliant answer?

Saint Peter punished the old woman by turning her into a woodpecker. For an NCERT-compliant answer, you should structure it as follows:

  • The Curse: State clearly that Saint Peter, angered by her selfishness, cursed her, saying she was too selfish to enjoy her human form, food, and warmth.
  • The Transformation: Describe her transformation into a woodpecker, forced to bore into hard, dry wood for her scarce food.
  • The Symbolism: Explain that this punishment was fitting because, just as she was unwilling to give from her store of cakes, she now has to work tirelessly for every tiny morsel of food.

3. Why is the little woman's selfish character a key focus in the NCERT solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 5?

The little woman's selfish character is a key focus because it is the driving force of the poem's narrative and its moral. The NCERT solutions require students to analyse her actions—baking smaller and smaller cakes and ultimately giving nothing—as direct evidence of her greed. Understanding her character is crucial for explaining the reason for Saint Peter's anger and the appropriateness of her punishment, which are common themes in the textbook questions.

4. What is the correct method to answer the value-based questions in the NCERT exercise for 'A Legend of the Northland'?

To correctly answer value-based questions for this poem, follow this method:

  • First, identify the core value being tested, such as generosity, compassion, or the dangers of greed.
  • Next, connect this value directly to the events in the poem, using the old woman's actions as a negative example and Saint Peter's expectation as the positive standard.
  • Finally, conclude with a personal reflection or a statement on why these values are important in our own lives, as prompted by the question. This demonstrates a deeper understanding beyond the literal story.

5. How does understanding the poem's structure as a 'ballad' help in framing the NCERT solutions for this chapter?

Understanding the poem as a ballad is key to explaining its features in NCERT answers. A ballad is a song or poem that tells a story, often with a moral lesson. Knowing this helps you explain:

  • Simple Language: The language is straightforward because ballads were meant to be understood by everyone.
  • Story-like Narrative: The poem tells a simple, chronological story of an event, which is characteristic of a ballad.
  • Repetition: Ballads often use repeated words or stanzas, like the description of the cakes.
  • Moral Lesson: It ends with a strong moral, which is a primary purpose of a traditional ballad.
Mentioning these points adds depth to your answers about the poem's style and form.

6. What specific details from the poem show that the old woman was greedy, which are important to mention when solving the textbook questions?

When solving textbook questions, you must cite specific evidence of the woman's greed. Key details to mention are:

  • She initially took out a cake to give but thought it was 'too large to give away'.
  • She then kneaded a smaller one, but it also appeared too large to her.
  • Finally, she made a wafer-thin cake, but her selfishness prevented her from parting with even that.
  • Her final action of putting all the cakes on the shelf instead of giving one to the hungry saint is the ultimate proof of her overpowering greed.