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Chapter 5 A Legend of the Northland (Poem)
Answer: The “Northland” may refer to any of the countries among Greenland, Norway, Russia, Canada, etc.
प्रश्न 1. आपको क्या लगता है कि "नॉर्थलैंड" किस देश या देशों को संदर्भित करता है?
उत्तर: "नॉर्थलैंड" ग्रीनलैंड, नॉर्वे, रूस, कनाडा, आदि में से किसी भी देश को संदर्भित कर सकता है।
Question 2. What did Saint Peter ask the old lady for? What was the lady’s reaction?
Answer: Saint Peter asked the old lady for a piece of cake. She was very selfish and kept reducing the size of the cake as to her it seemed too big to give away.
प्रश्न 2. संत पीटर ने बुढ़िया से क्या मांगा ? महिला की प्रतिक्रिया क्या थी?
उत्तर: संत पीटर ने बुढ़िया से केक का एक टुकड़ा माँगा। वह बहुत स्वार्थी थी और केक के आकार को कम करती जा रही थी क्योंकि उसे देना बहुत बड़ा लग रहा था।
Question 3. How did he punish her?
Answer: He cursed her to become a woodpecker as a punishment for being so selfish.
प्रश्न 3. उसने उसे कैसे दण्ड दिया?
उत्तर उसने उसे इतने स्वार्थी होने की सजा के रूप में कठफोड़वा बनने का श्राप दिया।
Question 4. How does the woodpecker get her food?
Answer: The woodpecker needs bore all day in the hard, dry wood to get itself some food.
प्रश्न 4. कठफोड़वा अपना भोजन कैसे प्राप्त करती है ?
उत्तर: कठफोड़वा को अपने लिए कुछ भोजन प्राप्त करने के लिए पूरे दिन कड़ी, सूखी लकड़ी में बोर करने की आवश्यकता होती है।
Question 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?
Answer: I don’t think the old lady would have been so ungenerous if she had known who Saint Peter really was. She would have given him as large a piece of cake she could so as to please him in order to get rewarded.
प्रश्न 5. क्या आपको लगता है कि बुढ़िया इतनी असभ्य होती अगर उसे पता होता कि सेंट पीटर वास्तव में कौन है? तब उसने क्या किया होगा?
उत्तर: मुझे नहीं लगता कि बुढ़िया इतनी असभ्य होती अगर उसे पता होता कि सेंट पीटर वास्तव में कौन है। इनाम पाने के लिए वह उसे खुश करने के लिए केक का एक बड़ा टुकड़ा दे सकती थी।
Question 6. Is this a true story? Which part of this poem do you feel is the most important?
Answer: No, this is not a true story. It is a legend.The part of the poem that, according to me, is the most important is:
And he said, “You are far too selfish
To dwell in a human form,
To have both food and shelter,
And fire to keep you warm.
This shows that we must do go things for the humanity as we are capable of doing so in our human form. We should have gratitude for having food, shelter and fire. We should be generous to people.
प्रश्न 6. क्या यह एक सच्ची कहानी है? आपको इस कविता का कौन सा भाग सबसे महत्वपूर्ण लगता है?
उत्तर: नहीं, यह सच्ची कहानी नहीं है। यह एक किंवदंती है।
कविता का वह अंश जो मेरे अनुसार सबसे महत्वपूर्ण है वह है:
और उसने कहा, “तुम बहुत ज्यादा स्वार्थी हो
मानव रूप में रहने के लिए,
भोजन और आश्रय दोनों के लिए,
और आग आपको गर्म रखने के लिए।
इससे पता चलता है कि हमें मानवता के लिए काम करना चाहिए क्योंकि हम अपने मानव रूप में ऐसा करने में सक्षम हैं। हमें भोजन, आश्रय और अग्नि के लिए कृतज्ञता का भाव रखना चाहिए। हमें लोगों के प्रति उदार होना चाहिए।
Question 7. What is a legend? Why is this poem called a legend?
Answer: A legend is a folklore that is believed to be true by tellers and listeners but it has not been proven to have happened. It usually imparts some morals or message.
This poem is called a legend because it also imparts the message of generosity.
प्रश्न 7. लोककथा क्या है ? इस कविता को किंवदंती क्यों कहा जाता है?
उत्तर: एक किंवदंती एक लोककथा है जिसे बताने वाले और सुनने वाले मानते हैं लेकिन यह साबित नहीं हुआ है कि यह हुआ है। यह आमतौर पर कुछ नैतिकता या संदेश प्रदान करता है।
इस कविता को किंवदंती कहा जाता है क्योंकि यह उदारता का संदेश भी देती है।
Question 8. Write the story of ‘A Legend of the Northland’ in about ten sentences.
Answer: A Legend of the Northland Once, Saint Peter was feeling very hungry and he asked for alms from an old lady. He asked if she could give him a piece of cake to eat. The lady was very selfish. She kept reducing the size of the cake as she felt that the size of the cake was too big to be given away as alms. At last she did not give him any cake.
Saint Peter grew angry and cursed her to become a woodpecker. He said that from now on, she will have to bore dry, hard wood in order to get food. All her clothes got burnt in the chimney and till this day, woodpeckers bore all day long for food and water.
प्रश्न 8. 'ए लेजेंड ऑफ द नॉर्थलैंड' की कहानी को लगभग दस वाक्यों में लिखिए।
उत्तर: ए लेजेंड ऑफ द नॉर्थलैंड एक बार सेंट पीटर को बहुत भूख लग रही थी और उन्होंने एक बूढ़ी औरत से भिक्षा मांगी। उसने पूछा कि क्या वह उसे खाने के लिए केक का एक टुकड़ा दे सकती है। महिला बहुत स्वार्थी थी। वह केक के आकार को कम करती रही क्योंकि उसे लगा कि केक का आकार भीख के रूप में देने के लिए बहुत बड़ा है। अंत में उसने उसे कोई केक नहीं दिया।
सेंट पीटर ने क्रोधित होकर उसे कठफोड़वा बनने का श्राप दे दिया। उसने कहा कि अब से उसे भोजन प्राप्त करने के लिए सूखी, कठोर लकड़ी खोदनी पड़ेगी। उसके सारे कपड़े चिमनी में जल गए और आज तक कठफोड़वा दिन भर भोजन और पानी के लिए बोर करता है।
II.
Question 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.
Answer: Here are more such rhyming words from the poem: earth-hearth, done-one, lay-away, flat-that, myself-shelf, faint-saint, form-warm, food-wood, wordbird and same-flame
प्रश्न 1. आइए दूसरी और चौथी पंक्ति के अंत में दिए गए शब्दों को देखें, जैसे 'स्नो' और 'कपड़े', 'सच' और 'आप', 'नीचे' और 'जानें'। हम पाते हैं कि 'स्नो' ' कपड़े' के साथ गाया जाता है, 'सच' 'आप' के साथ गाया जाता है और 'नीचे' 'पता' के साथ गाया जाता है।
ऐसे और तुकांत शब्द खोजिए।
उत्तर: यहाँ कविता से ऐसे ही और तुकांत शब्द हैं: अर्थ-हार्थ, डन-वन, ले-अवे, फ्लैट-दैट, मैं-शेल्फ, फेन-सेंट, फॉर्म-वार्म, फूड-वुड, वर्डबर्ड और सम-फ्लेम
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1. Away, away in the Northland,
Where the hours of the day are few,
And the nights are so long in winter
That they cannot sleep them through; (Page 65)
Word Notes : Away - far away, दूर, काफी दूर ; Few -- very less in number, बहुत कम संख्या में; They the people living there, वहाँ के लोग ; Cannot sleep them through-can't sleep throughout the night, सारी रात सो कर नहीं बिता सकते।
Questions
(a) What is the scene of the story ? What kind of place is it ?
(b) Why are the hours of the day ‘few’ and the nights so long in the Northland ?
(c) Why can’t the people sleep through the long nights ?
(d) Explain : Away, away
Answers
(a) The scene of the legend is the Northland. It is a far off place in the north. In winter it is always snowing. Here days are short and nights are quite long.
(b) In the polar region, like the Northland, the nights are longer. The days are shorter. Therefore, they have ‘few’ hours of the day.
(c) In the Northland, the nights are very long. The people of Northland can’t sleep for such long hours during the wintry nights.(d) Remote region in the north.
2. Where they harness the swift reindeer To the sledges, when it snows ;
And the children look like bear’s cubs
In their funny, furry clothes : (Page 65)
जहाँ के लोग जब वहाँ बर्फ पड़ती है तेज दौड़ने वाले रेडियर को बर्फ गाड़ी से बाँधते हैं; और जहाँ के बच्चे बालों वाले लोमचर्म के अपने अजीब कपड़ों में रीछ के शावकों जैसे प्रतीत होते हैं।
Word Notes: Harness (here) fastening of a reindeer to a sledge, रेडियर का स्लेज में जोतना Swift—(here) fast moving, तेज चलने वाला ; Reindeer-an animal found in the polar regions, रेडियर ; Sledges wheel less carts drawn on snow, बर्फ पर चलने वाली बिना पहियों की गाड़ी ; Bear's of the bear, रीछ के ; Cubs— little ones, बच्चे, शावक ; Funny — strange, विचित्र ; Furry clothes— clothes made from the fur skin of animals, जानवरों के बालों वाली खाल से बने कपड़े।
Questions
(a) Where do they harness the swift reindeer and why ?
(b) What is a sledge ? Where is it generally used ?
(c) How do the children of the Northland look like and why ?
(d) Explain the phrase : like bear’s cubs.
Answers
(a) The people of the Northland harness the swift reindeer to the sledges. In these areas, reindeer is used to pull the wheel-less carts. It also pulls the sledges on the snow.(b) A sledge is a wheel-less cart. It is used in the polar region like the Northland. It is generally pulled by reindeers on the snow.
(c) The children of the Northland look like the bear’s cubs. They look so because they wear funny, furry dresses.
I don’t believe ’tis true ;
And yet you may learn a lesson
If I tell the tale to you. (Page 65)
Questions
(a) Why does the poet call it a ‘curious story’ ?
(b) Do you believe that the story is true ? Give one reason.
(c) What lesson does the tale give to you ?
(d) Find a word from the passage which mean the following: strange.
Answers
(a) The poet calls it a curious or a strange story. The poem is a legend of an old lady. She made St. Peter angry to curse her to be a bird. The story is a popular ballad. It may not be true. But the change of the lady to a bird is quite strange.
(b) The poem is a popular legend. No, it is not based on true facts. The line ‘I don’t believe ’tis true’ clears this point.
(c) The tale conveys an important lesson or message. Greed is a great vice. It kills human values in us. Greedy persons like the old lady are always punished in the end.
(d) curious.
Lived in the world below,
Just as he did, you know, (Page 65)
Questions
(a) Is St. Peter alive today ? Which lines answer the question ?
(b) Who was St. Peter and what did he use to do ?
(c) Explain or interpret in detail :
‘And walked about it, preaching’.
(d) Find a word from the passage which mean : sermonising.
Answers
(a) No, St. Peter is not alive today. He is in heaven. ‘Once, when the good St. Peter/ Lived in the world below’. The above mentioned lines clearly tell us that St. Peter is not ‘in the world below’ or alive today.
(b) St. Peter was an apostle of Christ. His mission was to preach the teachings of Christ among the people. For this purpose he travelled far and wide.
(c) St. Peter was a missionary. He walked about different places and preached the teachings of Christ.
(d) preaching.
5. He came to the door of a cottage,
In travelling round the earth,
Where a little woman was making cakes,
And baking them on the hearth ; (Page 65)
इस पृथ्वी का चक्कर लगाते हुए वे एक कुटिया के द्वार पर आये, जहाँ एक छोटे कद की औरत केक बना रही थी और उन्हें भट्ठी पर सेक रही थी ।
Word Notes : Cottage — (here) house, घर; Baking-cooking in an oven, भट्ठी पर पकाना, सेकना ; Hearth-stove, भट्ठी ।
Questions
(a) Why did St. Peter travel round the earth ?
(b) Where did he come at the end of the day ?
(c) What did St. Peter see when he came to the door of a cottage ?
(d) Find a word from the passage which means ‘oven’.
Answers
(a) St. Peter was an apostle of Christ. His mission was to preach the teachings of Christ to the people. For this mission he had to ‘travel round the earth’.
(b) At the end of the day he came to the door of a cottage.
(c) He saw a little woman baking cakes.
(d) It is ‘hearth’.
6. And being faint with fasting,
For the day was almost done,
He asked her, from her store of cakes,
To give him a single one. (Page 65)
और उपवास रखते-रखते वे कमजोर हो गये थे क्योंकि दिन भी लगभग समाप्त हो चुका था, उन्होंने उस (महिला) को केक के अपने भण्डार से उसे एक केक देने को कहा। Word Notes: Faint weak, कमजोर; Fasting-stop eating on a particular religious day, उपवास रखना; Store place for stocking, भण्डार ।
Questions
(a) What part of the day was it when St. Peter reached the door of the cottage ?
(b) Describe St. Peter’s condition when he arrived at the cottage.
(c) What did St. Peter ask for and why ?
(d) Explain the phrase : the day was almost done.
Answers
(a) It was almost the time for the sun-set. The day had almost ended.
(b) St. Peter was fasting. Travelling and fasting had made him weak, tired and hungry,
(c) St. Peter asked for a single cake from her store of cakes because he was hungry.
(d) the day was about to end.
7. So she made a very little cake,
But as it baking lay,
She looked at it, and thought it seemed
Too large to give away. (Page 66) (Imp.)
और उपवास रखते-रखते वे कमजोर हो गये थे क्योंकि दिन भी लगभग समाप्त हो चुका था, उन्होंने उस (महिला) को केक के अपने भण्डार से उसे एक केक देने को कहा। Word Notes: Faint-weak, कमजोर : Fasting-stop eating on a particular religious day, उपवास रखना; Store place for stocking, भण्डार।
Questions
(a) Why did she make a very ‘little’ cake ? Why not a big one ?
(b) How did the ‘little’ cake appear to her ?
(c) Why didn’t the old lady give that ‘little’ cake to St. Peter ?
(d) Find a word from the passage which means : ‘appeared’.
Answers
(a) The little woman was very greedy. She didn’t make a big cake. Knowingly, to save some dough, she made a ‘small’ and not a “bigger’ cake.
(b) Even that small cake seemed very big to her. She didn’t want to give it away.
(c) The little lady was a greedy creature. Knowingly, she made a “very little’ cake for St. Peter. But even it appeared too big to her. She didn’t want to give it away.
(d) seemed’.
8. Therefore she kneaded another,
And still a smaller one ;
But it looked, when she turned it over,
As large as the first had done. (Page 66) (V. Imp.)
इस प्रकार उसने दूसरी केक के लिए आटा गूंधा, और पहले से भी छोटा एक केक बनाया। लेकिन जैसे ही उसने इसे (केक को) पलटा, तो वह उसे उतना ही बड़ा दिखाई दिया जितना कि पहले बना था ।
Word Notes: Kneaded -made dough, आटा गूंधा, माँडा ; Turned it overturn over and under, पलटा ; The first had done as she had made the first, जैसी पहले बनी थी।
Questions
(a) Why did she knead another ?
(b) What was the size of the second cake ?
(c) Why didn’t she give the second cake to St. Peter ?
(d) Explain the following: kneaded another.
Answers
(a) The little old lady was very greedy. She couldn’t afford to give a big cake to St. Peter. She wanted to save some more flour. So she kneaded the flour again and again to make a smaller cake.
(b) The second cake was smaller in size than the first one.
(c) Even the second cake appeared to be too big to be given away. So she didn’t give it to St. Peter.
(d) The old lady kneaded the flour to make another cake.
9. Then she took a tiny scrap of dough,
And rolled and rolled it flat;
And baked it thin as a wafer —
But she couldn’t part with that. (Page 66) (M. Imp.)
फिर उसने गूंधे हुए आटे का छोटा सा टुकड़ा लिया और उसे ढुलका दुलका कर चौरस बना दिया। और फिर उसे एक छोटी
सी पतली गोल रोटी की तरह सेका-लेकिन वह उसे भी अपने हाथ से जुदा करना (देना) नहीं चाहती थी। Word Notes : Tinya small, छोटी सी ; Scrap-piece, टुकड़ा; Dough — kneaded flour, गूँधा हुआ आटा, लोई ; Wafer - ( here) a small thin round bread, एक छोटी-सी पतली गोल रोटी ; Part with — give away, देना, जुदा करना।
Questions
(a) Why did the old lady take a tiny scrap of dough ?
(b) Why was the dough rolled flat ?
(c) Why did she bake the cake thin as a wafer ?
(d) Explain the following: thin as a wafer.
Answers
(a) The greedy lady wanted to make still a smaller cake for St. Peter. She wanted to save some flour.
(b) The dough was rolled flat to make a specially thin and small cake.
(c) She did so as she wanted to save some dough.
(d) made the cake thin like a wafer to save more dough.
10. For she said, “My cakes that seem too small
When I eat of them myself
Are yet too large to give away.”
So she put them on the shelf. (Page 66) (Imp.)
क्योंकि उसने कहा, “मेरे केक जब मैं उन्हें खाती हूँ तो वे बहुत छोटे दिखते हैं (लेकिन) वे अभी भी ' (किसी को) देने के लिए बहुत बड़े हैं।" इस प्रकार उसने केकों को ताक/खाने में रख दिया। Word Notes : Shelf-ledge inside, अलमारी का खाना, ताक ।
Questions
(a) Why did her cakes look too small when she ate them herself ?
(b) Why did they look too large to give them away ?
(c) Why did she put them on the shelf ?
(d) Find a word from the passage which means: ‘flat space made in the wall or cupboard’.
Answers
(a) The old lady was very greedy. Her greed made her think so. The cakes she ate looked too small to her.
(b) The cakes appeared too large to be given away. It reflects the greed of the lady. She couldn’t part with anything. She couldn’t sacrifice even a wafer-like cake for anyone.
(c) At last, she decided not to give away any cake to St. Peter. So she placed all her cakes on the shelf.
(d) ‘shelf’
11. Then good Saint Peter grew angry,
For he was hungry and faint;
And surely such a woman
Was enough to provoke a saint. (Page 66) (CBSE)
क्योंकि भले सेंट पीटर भूखे और कमजोर हो चुके थे इसलिए वे क्रोधित हो गये। निश्चित रूप से इस प्रकार की स्त्री एक सन्त को (भी) उत्तेजित करने के लिए काफी थी। Word Notes: Faint - weak, कमजोर Provoke-incite, उत्तेजित करना, उकसाना ।
Questions
(a) Why did a good saint like St. Peter grow angry ?
(b) Was such a woman enough to provoke a saint ? How ?
(c) What do these lines show about : (i) the old lady (ii) St. Peter
(d) Find a word from the passage which means : ‘incite’.
Answers
(a) Even a ‘good’ saint like St. Peter lost his temper. He had become weak with travelling and fasting. He just asked for a single cake. The lady did not oblige him. It made St. Peter angry.
(b) The old lady lacked honesty and decency. She didn’t want to oblige even a saint. She couldn’t part even with a wafer-like cake. Surely her greed and her insulting behaviour provoked a noble saint like St. Peter.
(c) (i) her greedy nature, (ii) his human nature—he could also be provoked like other men.
(d) It is ‘provoke’.
12. And he said, “You are far too selfish
To dwell in a human form,
To have both food and shelter,
And fire to keep you warm. (Page 66) (M. Imp.)
और उसने कहा, 'तुम इतनी ज्यादा स्वार्थी हो कि मनुष्य रूपी शरीर में रहने के योग्य नहीं। और तुम इस योग्य भी नहीं कि तुम्हें दोनों भोजन और निवास मिलते रहें और गर्म रखने के लिए तुम्हें आग मिलती रहे।' - Word Notes: Dwell - live in, रहना ; Human form – ( here ) in the shape of human body, मानव रूपी शरीर; Shelter-place for protection, बचाव का स्थान, अर्थात् घर आदि ।
Questions
(a) Why was St. Peter provoked ?
(b) What did he say to the ‘greedy woman’ ?
(c) Do you agree with the words of St. Peter ? If yes, why ?
(d) Explain : ‘dwell in human form’,
Answers
(a) St. Peter was provoked by the insulting behaviour and greed of the old lady.
(b) He told the lady that she was too selfish. She didn’t deserve to he a woman and a human being. She did not deserve food, shelter and other comforts of human life.
(c) Yes, I agree with the words of St. Peter. The old woman was a disgrace to womanhood.
(d) She didn’t deserve to be a human being. She was a disgrace to womanhood.
13. Now, you shall build as the birds do,
And shall get your scanty food
By boring, and boring, and boring,
All day in the hard, dry wood.” (Page 66) (V. Imp.)
'अब, तुम उसी प्रकार (घोंसले) बनाओगी जिस प्रकार पक्षी बनाते हैं। और सारा दिन सख्त, सूखी लकड़ी में छेद पर छेद करती रहने के बाद ही तुम्हें थोड़ा सा भोजन मिलेगा।' Word Notes: Build — build nests, घोंसले बनाओगी ; Scanty - very little, बहुत थोड़ा; Boring (by) making a hole, सूराख बनाकर ।
Questions
(a) How does St. Peter curse the old woman ?
(b) What will the old lady build for her living ?
(c) What will the old lady have to do to get her scanty food ?
(d) Find a word from the passage which means : ‘making holes in hard wood’.
Answers
(a) St. Peter curses the woman to be a bird. She will have to build a nest as the birds do. She will get her scanty food by boring hard wood all the day.
(b) The old lady has been changed to a woodpecker. So she will have to build a nest for her dwelling like a woodpecker.
(c) The old lady will get scanty food even after boring the hard wood all day.
(d) ‘boring’.
14. Then up she went through the chimney,
Never speaking a word,
And opt of the top flew a woodpecker,
For she was changed to a bird. (Page 66)
फिर वह (कुटिया की) चिमनी में से होकर बिना कोई शब्द बोले ऊपर चली गयी। और फिर चोटी पर ऊपर से एक कठफोड़ा निकला, क्योंकि उसे एक पक्षी में परिवर्तित कर दिया गया था। Word Notes: Chimney-structure in the roof through which smoke is carried away, छत में से धुंआ निकलने का स्थान Woodpecker — a bird कठफोड़ा पक्षी।
Questions
(a) What was the effect of St. Peter’s curse on the little lady ?
(b) What did the old lady do after she had been changed to a bird ?
(c) What particular bird was she changed to ?
(d) Find a word from the passage which means: ‘space in the roof for the smoke to come out’.
Answers
(a) St. Peter’s curse had its immediate effect. She was changed to a bird.
(b) She went up through the chimney. She never uttered a word and flew away.
(c) She was changed to a woodpecker.
(d) It is ‘chimney’.
15. She had a scarlet cap on her head,
And that was left the same ;
But all the rest of her clothes were burned
Black as a coal in the flame. (Page 67)
उसके सिर पर एक सिंदूरी टोपी थी, और उसे वैसा ही छोड़ दिया गया; लेकिन उस (औरत) के बाकी के सभी कपड़े (अग्नि की) लौ में जला कर कोयले जैसे काले कर दिये गये।
Word Notes : Scarlet-bright red, सिन्दूरी रंग ; Left the same—not touched, उसे वैसा ही छोड़ दिया गया ; Rest of all others, बाकी के ; Flame-flame of fire, आग की लौ ।
Questions
(a) Which’part of her dress was left the same even when the old lady was changed to a woodpecker ?
(b) What happened to the clothes the old lady was wearing ?
(c) What light do these lines throw on St. Peter ?
(d) Find a word from the passage which means : Visible part of a fire’.
Answers
(a) The old lady’s scarlet cap was left untouched. She was changed to a woodpecker. But the colour of her cap (head) remained the same.
(b) All her clothes were burnt in the fire. They were changed to black. It means the wood-pecker’s body became black in colour.
(c) St. Peter was a noble saint. Generally, saints are not easily provoked. But St. Peter also suffered from this little human weakness. He became angry when the greedy lady didn’t oblige him by giving a cake.
(d) It is ‘flame’.
16. And every country schoolboy
Has seen her in the wood,
Where she fives in the trees till this very day,
Boring and boring for food. (Page 67) (Imp)
और प्रत्येक देहाती स्कूल जाने वाले बालक ने उसे जंगल में देखा है, जहाँ वह आज (के दिन) भी वृक्षों में रहती है और खाने के लिए (लकड़ी में) छिद्र पर छिद्र करती रहती है। Word Notes: Wood-forest, जंगल; This very day even today, आज तक।
Questions
(a) The poem is a legend of an old and greedy lady. How ?
(b) How has her story become a part of the folklore of the Northland ?
(c) What does every country schoolboy see in the wood even today ?
(d) Give the rhyme scheme in this stanza.
Answers
(a) The poem is a legend of an old and greedy lady. She was cursed by St. Peter. It is an old story. The people of the Northland have been narrating it down the ages, since St. Peter’s times.
(b) The story of the greedy old woman has become a part of the folklore of the Northland. Every country school boy knows it. The story has been passed on orally from St. Peter’s times to the coming generations.
(c) Every country schoolboy claims that he has seen the old lady. She lives in the trees of the forest till this very day.
(d) It is ab ab.
II. TEXTUAL QUESTIONS
(Page 67)
Thinking About the Poem
I. 1. Which Country or countries do you think “the Northland” refers to ?
2. What did Saint Peter ask the old lady for ? What was the lady’s reaction ?
3. How did he punish her ?
4. How does the woodpecker get 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 ?
6. 7s this a true story ? Which part of this poem do you feel is the most important ?
7. What is a legend ? Why is this poem called a legend ?
8. Write the story of‘A Legend of the Northland’ in about ten sentences.
Answers
1. It is a country in the extreme north. Days are short and nights are very long there.
2. St. Peter asked the old lady for a single cake. She made a very little cake. But it looked bigger. So she reduced its size again.
3. He punished her by changing her into a woodpecker.
4. The woodpecker goes on boring into the dry hard wood. Only then it gets little food.
5. It is very difficult to say with certainty. Perhaps she would have given him very very thin cake if she had known St. Peter.
6. The story is not true. It is a legend. Even the poet says, ‘I don’t believe ’tis true’. Stanza three is the most important. It describes what it is.
7. A legend is an old story handed down from the past. It is generally of doubtful nature. The title of the poem is a ‘legend’. It is an old story of the Northland. The poet himself says, “I don’t believe ’tis true’.
8. Story of ‘A Legend of the Northland’.
The poem is a legend of an old woman. She had angered St. Peter because of her greed. In the Northland lived an old lady. Once St. Peter came to the door of her cottage. He had become weak with fasting and travelling. The old lady was baking cakes on the hearth. St. Peter asked her for a single cake. The greedy lady made a very little cake. But even that looked too big to be given away. She went on reducing the size of the cake. At last, she baked a thin cake. It looked like a wafer. But still she thought it too big to be given away. She gave nothing to St. Peter. She put all the cakes on the shelf. St. Peter was provoked. He found her too selfish to be a woman. She didn’t deserve food, shelter and fire to keep her warm. So out of anger he changed her to a woodpecker. She went up through the chimney and flew away. She was often seen in the wood living in the trees. She continued boring into hard wood for her little food. It was the result of St. Peter’s curse.
कक्षा 10 Exam रिवीजन
कक्षा 10 की तैयारी सुनकर 
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