The Legend of the Northland

Solutions

I.

1. Which country or countries do you think “the Northland” refers to?
“The Northland” refers to the cold northern regions of the world such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, or parts of Russia. These places experience long winters, snowfall, and short days. The poet describes snow, reindeer, and cold weather, which are common in these northern countries.

2. What did Saint Peter ask the old lady for? What was the lady’s reaction?
Saint Peter, who was feeling tired and hungry, asked the old lady for a small cake to eat. The old lady was very selfish and unwilling to share her food. Even after baking several cakes, she thought each one was too big to give away and finally refused to give him anything.

3. How did he punish her?
Saint Peter became angry at the woman’s greed and selfishness. He punished her by turning her into a woodpecker. He also cursed her to live in the forest and struggle for food by boring holes into trees for the rest of her life.

4. How does the woodpecker get her food?
The woodpecker gets her food by pecking holes into tree trunks and searching for insects hidden inside the wood. She has to work hard every day to find food, which reminds her of the punishment for her selfish behaviour.

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?
No, the old lady would not have behaved so selfishly if she had known that the visitor was Saint Peter. She would probably have treated him respectfully and offered him the best food she had. Her behaviour shows that she helped people only based on their identity, not out of kindness.

6. Is this a true story? Which part of this poem do you feel is the most important?
No, this is not a true story. It is imaginary and meant to teach a moral lesson. The most important part of the poem is the transformation of the old lady into a woodpecker because it shows that greed and selfishness lead to punishment.

7. What is a legend? Why is this poem called a legend?
A legend is a traditional story that is passed from generation to generation and usually teaches a moral lesson. It often mixes imagination with cultural beliefs. This poem is called a legend because it explains, in a fictional way, how the woodpecker got its red cap and habit of pecking trees.

8. Write the story of ‘A Legend of the Northland’ in about ten sentences.
Once Saint Peter travelled to the cold Northland and felt hungry. He went to an old woman who was baking cakes and asked for food. The woman was very greedy and thought every cake was too big to give away. She finally refused to help him. Saint Peter became angry at her selfishness. He punished her by turning her into a woodpecker. He also cursed her to live in the forest. From then on, she had to make holes in trees to find food. Her red cap reminds people of her punishment. The story teaches us that kindness and generosity are important virtues.