NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Poem Chapter 5 A Legend of The Northland
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Poem Chapter 5 A Legend of The Northland: Students of class 9 must go through Poem 5 Class 9 English A Legend of the Northland Question Answer to understand the chapter more deeply. The faculty of Physics Wallah have developed A Legend of the Northland Class 9 solutions to help the students secure good marks in the exam. Poem 5 Class 9 English A Legend of the Northland Question Answer developed by Physics Wallah includes solutions to all the questions in the textbook.
Poem 5 Class 9 English A Legend of the Northland Question Answer
Students can check the Poem 5 Class 9 English A Legend of the Northland Question Answer based on the textbook below.
Thinking about the Text
I. Discuss in pairs and answer each question below in a short paragraph (30–40 words).
Question 1. “The sound was a familiar one.” What sound did the doctor hear? What did he think it was? How many times did he hear it? (Find the places in the text.) When and why did the sounds stop?
Answer: The doctor heard some noise from above when he opened the door. He thought that the sound was of rats. He heard it four times, including the sound he heard when he opened the door:
“Again I heard that sound from above.”
“Again came that noise from above.”
“Suddenly there came a dull thud as if a rubber tube had fallen to the ground…”
The sounds stopped when the snake appeared in front of the doctor.
Read More: NCERT Solutions Class 9 English Poem Chapter 1
Question 2. What two “important” and “earth-shaking” decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?
Answer: The two important and earth-shaking decisions that the doctor took while he was looking into the mirror are the following:
i. He would shave daily and grow a thin moustache to look more handsome.
ii. He would always keep that attractive smile on his face.
Read More: NCERT Solutions Class 9 English Poem Chapter 2
Question 3. “I looked into the mirror and smiled,” says the doctor. A little later he says, “I forgot my danger and smiled feebly at myself.”
What is the doctor’s opinion about himself when: (i) he first smiles, and (ii) he smiles again? In what way do his thoughts change in between, and why?
Answer: (i) When the doctor smiled first, he was thinking that his smile was very attractive.
(ii) When he smiled again, he was thinking that he was a poor and stupid doctor.
His thoughts changed from being a handsome doctor to being a stupid doctor between the two situations. His thoughts changed because his life was now in danger.
Read More: NCERT Solutions Class 9 English Poem Chapter 3
II. This story about a frightening incident is narrated in a humorous way. What makes it humorous? (Think of the contrasts it presents between dreams and reality. Some of them are listed below.)
Question 1. (i) The kind of person the doctor is (money, possessions)
(ii) The kind of person he wants to be (appearance, ambition)
Answer: (i) The doctor is a person whose earnings were meagre. His house was a small rented room. He only had 60 rupees, some shirts, dhotis and a black coat.
(ii) He believes in making himself look handsome. He decides that he would shave daily and grow a thin moustache.
Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Poem Chapter 4
Question 2. (i) The person he wants to marry
(ii) The person he actually marries
Answer: (i) He wants to marry a fat woman doctor who had plenty of money.
(ii) He marries a thin reedy person with the gift of a sprinter.
Question 3. (i) His thoughts when he looks into the mirror
(ii) His thoughts when the snake is coiled around his arm
Write short paragraphs on each of these to get your answer.
Answer: (i) When he looks into the mirror, he thinks that he has a very attractive smile. He decides to keep that smile on his face always and to shave daily. He seems contented when he looks into the mirror.
(ii) When the snake is coiled around his arm, he keeps sitting there holding his breath. He thinks that he is a poor and stupid doctor. He is terrified by the snake’s presence.
Thinking about Language
I. Here are some sentences from the text. Say which of them tell you that the author: (a) was afraid of the snake, (b) was proud of his appearance, (c) had a sense of humour, (d) was no longer afraid of the snake.
1. I was turned to stone.
2. I was no mere image cut in granite.
3. The arm was beginning to be drained of strength.
4. I tried in my imagination to write in bright letters outside my little heart the words, ‘O God’.
5. I didn’t tremble. I didn’t cry out.
6. I looked into the mirror and smiled. It was an attractive smile.
7. I was suddenly a man of flesh and blood.
8. I was after all a bachelor, and a doctor too on top of it!
9. The fellow had such a sense of cleanliness…! The rascal could have taken it and used it after washing it with soap and water.
10. Was it trying to make an important decision about growing a moustache or using eye shadow and mascara or wearing a vermilion spot on its forehead.
Answer:
(a) Was afraid of the snake: Sentences 1, 3, 4, 5.
(b) Was proud of his appearance: Sentences 6, 8.
(c) Had a sense of humour: Sentences 9, 10.
(d) Was no longer afraid of the snake: Sentence 2, 7.
Check out: CBSE Class 9 Sample Papers
II. Expressions used to show fear
Can you find the expressions in the story that tell you that the author was frightened? Read the story and complete the following sentences.
1. I was turned ________________.
2. I sat there holding ________________.
3. In the light of the lamp I sat there like ________________.
Answer:
1. I was turned to stone.
2. I sat there holding my breath.
3. In the light of the lamp I sat there like a stone image in the flesh.
III. In the sentences given below some words and expressions are italicised. They variously mean that one
• is very frightened.
• is too scared to move.
• is frightened by something that happens suddenly.
• makes another feel frightened.
Match the meanings with the words/expressions in italics, and write the appropriate meaning next to the sentence. The first one has been done for you.
1. I knew a man was following me, I was scared out of my wits. (very frightened)
2. I got a fright when I realised how close I was to the cliff edge.
3. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw the bull coming towards him.
4. You really gave me a fright when you crept up behind me like that.
5. Wait until I tell his story — it will make your hair stand on end.
6. Paralysed with fear, the boy faced his abductors.
7. The boy hid behind the door, not moving a muscle.
Answer:
1. I knew a man was following me, I was scared out of my wits. (very frightened)
2. I got a fright when I realised how close I was to the cliff edge. (very frightened)
3. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw the bull coming towards him. (to be suddenly surprised or frightened by something)
4. You really gave me a fright when you crept up behind me like that. (too scared/ frightened)
5. Wait until I tell his story — it will make your hair stand on end. (feel shocked or scared)
6. Paralysed with fear, the boy faced his abductors. (too horrified to move)
7. The boy hid behind the door, not moving a muscle. (too frightened to move)
IV. Reported questions
Report these questions using if/whether or why/when/where/how/which/what.
Remember the italicised verbs change into the past tense.
1. Meena asked her friend, “Do you think your teacher will come today?”
2. David asked his colleague, “Where will you go this summer?”
3. He asked the little boy, “Why are you studying English?”
4. She asked me, “When are we going to leave?”
5. Pran asked me, “Have you finished reading the newspaper?”
6. Seema asked her, “How long have you lived here?”
7. Sheila asked the children, “Are you ready to do the work?”
Answer:
1. Meena asked her friend if he/she thought his/her teacher would come that day.
2. David asked his colleague where he would go that summer.
3. He asked the little boy why he was studying English.
4. She asked me when we were going to leave.
5. Pran asked me if I had finished reading the newspaper.
6. Seema asked her how long she had lived there.
7. Sheila asked the children if they were ready to do the work.
Speaking
Using some of the expressions given above in exercise III, talk about an incident when you were very scared. You may have a competition to decide whose story was the most frightening.
Answer: Students are advised to try answering this question themselves.
Dictation
The following paragraph is about the Indian cobra. Read it twice and close your book. Your teacher will then dictate the paragraph to you. Write it down with appropriate punctuation marks.
The Indian cobra is the common name for members of the family of venomous snakes, known for their intimidating looks and deadly bite. Cobras are recognised by the hoods that they flare when angry or disturbed; the hoods are created by the extension of the ribs behind the cobras’ heads. Obviously the prevention is to avoid getting bitten. This is facilitated by the fact that humans are not the natural prey of any venomous snake. We are a bit large for them to swallow whole and they have no means of chopping us up into bite-size pieces. Nearly all snakebites in humans are the result of a snake defending itself when it feels threatened. In general snakes are shy and will simply leave if you give them a chance.
Answer: Do it yourself.
Check out: Class 9th Revision Books
Writing
Question 1: Try to rewrite the story without its humour, merely as a frightening incident. What details or parts of the story would you leave out?
Answer: Do it yourself.
Question 2: Read the description given alongside this sketch from a photograph in a newspaper (Times of India, 4 September 1999). Make up a story about what the monkey is thinking, or why it is looking into a mirror. Write a paragraph about it.
Answer: THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL
On a bright day, a monkey was having fun climbing and jumping across trees. Suddenly he saw a shining piece of mirror on the ground. He jumped down and had a close look at the mirror. At first, he could not understand what it was. After some time, he realised that the thing in his hand showed him his reflection.
He looked at his face in the mirror. He removed twigs and dust that were stuck on his face. He made several faces and kept looking at his reflection. He touched his head and rubbed his hair. He preened himself for long. Then he threw the mirror back on the ground and took a leap onto the next tree.
A Legend of the Northland Class 9 Summary
Students can check the summary of A Legend of the Northland Class 9 Poem below
"A Legend of the Northland" is a poem that tells the story of a woman living in a cold, northern land. She is described as selfish and greedy, only caring about her own needs. One day, she refuses to share her food with a hungry old man who comes to her door, asking for help. The old man is actually a magical figure, and he is disappointed by her unkindness.
As a punishment for her actions, he turns her into a bird. This bird is forced to live in the cold and harsh environment, where it must work hard to survive. It has to peck at the hard ground to find food and is no longer able to enjoy the comforts it once had. The poem shows how the woman’s selfishness leads to her downfall, and she learns that kindness is important.
The story serves as a moral lesson about the importance of generosity and compassion towards others. It reminds us that our actions have consequences, and that treating others with kindness can lead to a better life. The imagery of the cold Northland and the transformation into a bird emphasizes the harsh reality of her fate. Ultimately, the poem encourages readers to be caring and to think of others, rather than just themselves.
Read More: Boost CBSE Class 9 Scores with PW Revision Books
A Legend of the Northland Class 9 FAQs
Q1. What is the main theme of the poem A Legend of the Northland?
Ans. The main theme of the poem A Legend of the Northland is about kindness and generosity. The poem teaches us that being selfish can lead to serious problems and that it’s important to help others.
Q2. Who is the main character in the poem A Legend of the Northland?
Ans. The main character in the poem A Legend of the Northland is a woman living in a very cold, northern land. She is portrayed as greedy and unkind because she refuses to share her food with a hungry old man who comes to her door.
Q3. What happens to the woman after she denies the old man?
Ans. After she turns the old man away, he punishes her by transforming her into a small bird. Now, she must peck at the hard ground to find food, suffering in the very cold she once ignored.
Q4. Who wrote "A Legend of the Northland"?
Ans. The poem was written by Phoebe Cary, an American poet known for her simple and meaningful poetry that often carries important messages.
