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A Legend of the Northland Stanza-Wise Summary

A Legend of the Northland Stanza-Wise Summary: “A Legend of the Northland” is a ballad written by Phoebe Cary that tells a moral tale in a simple, narrative style. The poem is set in the cold, snowy region of the Northland and revolves around a curious legend involving Saint Peter and a selfish woman. Saint Peter, after fasting for a long time, asks the woman for a small cake. However, her greed prevents her from giving him even the tiniest portion of food. As punishment, she is transformed into a woodpecker, destined to peck at trees for her food. The poem imparts a moral lesson about the consequences of selfishness and emphasizes the importance of generosity and kindness.

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Through its simple language, rhythmic structure, and vivid imagery, the poem appeals to readers of all ages, making it both entertaining and instructive.

A Legend of the Northland Stanza-wise Summary

Stanza 1-2:

The poem begins by setting the scene in the Northland, a cold, snowy region where days are short, and nights are long during the winter. The people there use reindeer to pull sledges through the snow, and children wear thick, furry clothes that make them look like bear cubs. The poet introduces a story that people of the Northland tell, hinting that while it may not be true, it contains a valuable lesson.

कविता उत्तर-देश के एक ठंडे और बर्फीले इलाके का दृश्य प्रस्तुत करती है, जहाँ दिन छोटे होते हैं और सर्दियों की रातें इतनी लंबी होती हैं कि लोग पूरी रात सो भी नहीं पाते। वहाँ के लोग बर्फबारी में अपने स्लेज खींचने के लिए तेज दौड़ने वाले हिरन (रेनडियर) का उपयोग करते हैं। बच्चे मोटे और रोएंदार कपड़े पहनते हैं, जिससे वे छोटे भालुओं जैसे दिखते हैं। कवि कहता है कि इस जगह के लोग एक दिलचस्प कहानी सुनाते हैं, जो शायद सच न हो, लेकिन इससे एक महत्वपूर्ण सबक मिलता है।

Stanza 3-6: A Legend of the Northland Stanza-Wise Summary

The story starts with Saint Peter, who was once traveling around the world, preaching to people. One day, after fasting and feeling weak, he reached the house of a little woman who was baking cakes. Saint Peter, being hungry, asked the woman for a small cake to satisfy his hunger.

कहानी शुरू होती है संत पीटर से, जो कभी दुनिया में घूम-घूमकर लोगों को धर्म का उपदेश देते थे। एक दिन, वे काफी लंबे समय से भूखे थे और कमजोर महसूस कर रहे थे। तभी वे एक छोटे से घर के दरवाजे पर पहुँचे, जहाँ एक औरत चूल्हे पर केक बना रही थी। भूख से बेहाल संत पीटर ने उस औरत से एक छोटा केक माँगा।

Stanza 7-9: A Legend of the Northland Stanza-Wise Summary

The woman agreed to bake a cake for Saint Peter. However, as she baked a small cake and saw it, she thought it was too large to give away. So, she made another smaller cake, but even that seemed too big for her to give. She then made an even tinier one, but in the end, she couldn’t bring herself to part with any of them and put them all on the shelf, deciding not to give anything to the hungry saint.

औरत ने सहमति से एक छोटा केक बनाने का सोचा, लेकिन जब केक बना, तो उसे लगा कि यह देने के लिए बहुत बड़ा है। फिर उसने एक और छोटा केक बनाया, लेकिन वह भी उसे बहुत बड़ा लगा। अंत में उसने एक और बहुत छोटा सा केक बनाया, लेकिन फिर भी उसे वह देने के लिए तैयार नहीं हुई। उसने सोचा कि उसके लिए ये केक खाने के लिए तो छोटे हैं, लेकिन देने के लिए बहुत बड़े। उसने सारे केक एक तरफ रख दिए और संत पीटर को कुछ नहीं दिया।

Stanza 10-12: A Legend of the Northland Stanza-Wise Summary

Saint Peter grew angry at the woman’s selfishness. He felt that such a person, who had food and shelter but was unwilling to share, did not deserve to live as a human. As punishment, Saint Peter told her that she would become a bird and, like birds, have to find food by working hard.

संत पीटर उस औरत की स्वार्थी प्रवृत्ति देखकर बहुत क्रोधित हो गए। उन्हें लगा कि ऐसी स्वार्थी महिला, जिसे खाने और रहने के लिए सब कुछ मिला हो, लेकिन वह किसी भूखे इंसान को कुछ भी देने के लिए तैयार न हो, इंसान के रूप में जीने के लायक नहीं है। उन्होंने उसे श्राप दिया कि अब वह एक पक्षी बनकर, जैसे पक्षी अपना भोजन ढूंढते हैं, वैसे ही उसे भी कठिन परिश्रम करके अपना खाना ढूंढना होगा।

Stanza 13-15:

After the saint’s curse, the woman was transformed into a woodpecker. She flew up through the chimney, and her head was still covered with the red scarf she wore, but the rest of her clothes were burned black as coal. Since then, the woman, now a woodpecker, has lived in the woods, pecking at trees to find food.

संत के श्राप के बाद वह औरत एक कठफोड़वा पक्षी बन गई और चिमनी के रास्ते उड़ते हुए बाहर चली गई। उसके सिर पर लाल टोपी अब भी थी, लेकिन बाकी सारे कपड़े जलकर काले हो गए थे। तब से वह औरत, कठफोड़वा बनकर जंगल में पेड़ों को छेदकर अपना खाना ढूंढती है।

Conclusion: A Legend of the Northland Stanza-Wise Summary

The poem ends by mentioning that children can still see woodpeckers in the forest today. The story emphasizes the moral that selfishness can lead to undesirable consequences, teaching the importance of generosity and kindness.

कविता इस बात पर खत्म होती है कि आज भी बच्चे जंगलों में उस कठफोड़वा को देख सकते हैं। इस कहानी का उद्देश्य यह है कि स्वार्थी होना बुरी चीज है, और यह हमें उदारता और दया का महत्व सिखाती है।

A Legend of the Northland Theme:

The central theme of “A Legend of the Northland” is the moral lesson about selfishness and generosity. The poem highlights how greed can lead to dire consequences, serving as a cautionary tale about the importance of sharing and being considerate of others’ needs. Through the character of the woman who refuses to share her food, the poem illustrates the negative impacts of selfish behavior and the necessity of compassion and kindness.

Central Idea of A Legend of the Northland

The central idea of the poem revolves around a narrative that emphasizes the transformation of a selfish woman into a woodpecker as a consequence of her actions. Saint Peter’s interaction with her serves as the catalyst for this transformation, showcasing the idea that those who have been blessed with resources and comfort should not withhold their generosity from others. The poem conveys that a life of selfishness can lead to a loss of humanity and a life of hardship, reinforcing the value of empathy and communal sharing.

In essence, “A Legend of the Northland” serves as a reminder that acts of kindness not only enrich our lives but also foster a sense of community and well-being.

A Legend of the Northland Poetic Devices

1. Rhyme Scheme : The poem follows a simple and consistent rhyme scheme of ABCB in each quatrain (four-line stanza). This rhyme scheme adds to the musicality of the poem, making it easy to read and remember.

Example:
“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.”

2. Alliteration : Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close proximity. This device adds rhythm and emphasis to certain lines.

Example:
“Where they harness the swift reindeer” (repetition of “h”)
“And the children look like bear’s cubs” (repetition of “c”)

3. Repetition : Repetition is used to emphasize particular ideas or phrases, making them stand out. In this poem, phrases like “away, away” and “boring, boring” are repeated to create emphasis and rhythm.

Example:
“Away, away in the Northland”

4. Simile : A simile is a comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as.” The poet uses similes to describe and add vividness to the imagery.

Example:
“And the children look like bear’s cubs” (comparing children in furry clothes to bear cubs)

5. Imagery : Imagery involves using descriptive language to create a picture in the reader’s mind. The poem is rich in visual imagery, especially in descriptions of the Northland and the transformation of the woman into a woodpecker.

Example:
“Where the nights are so long in winter / That they cannot sleep them through” (evokes a cold, desolate image)
“She had a scarlet cap on her head, / And that was left the same” (vivid imagery of the woodpecker)

6. Metaphor : While the poem uses more similes, there is an implied metaphor when the woman is transformed into a woodpecker. Her change from human to bird metaphorically represents the consequence of her selfishness.

Example:
The transformation of the woman into a woodpecker serves as a metaphor for punishment and the result of greed.

7. Personification : The poet uses personification by giving human traits to non-human elements, making them more relatable and engaging.

Example:
“For the day was almost done” (giving human-like action to the day)

8. Moral Allegory : The entire poem can be considered a moral allegory, where the story of the selfish woman and Saint Peter conveys a moral lesson about the consequences of greed and selfishness.

Example:
The transformation of the woman into a bird as a consequence of her greed serves as a moral lesson for readers.

9. Narrative Style : The poem is written in a narrative style, telling a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, which makes it a legend or folktale.

10. Tone : The tone of the poem is moralistic and cautionary, guiding the readers to reflect on the importance of generosity and kindness.

These poetic devices work together to create a rhythmic, memorable, and didactic poem that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.