The poem 'A Legend of the Northland' by Phoeby Cary is a :

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Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. It is distinguished by its structure, typically consisting of four-line stanzas (quatrains) with a strict rhyme scheme (often ABCB or AABB) and a rhythmic meter. The defining characteristic of a ballad, however, is that it tells a story, often focusing on a single, dramatic episode. 'A Legend of the Northland' fits this description perfectly as it narrates the folk legend of Saint Peter and the greedy old woman who is turned into a woodpecker as punishment. The poem's simple, narrative style, the focus on a moral lesson, and its division into quatrains are all hallmarks of the ballad form. Furthermore, it is classified as a narrative poem, a broader category under which ballad is a specific type.

The incorrect option is 1:

A Sonnet is a poem of fourteen lines, typically written in iambic pentameter, and following a specific rhyme scheme, such as the Shakespearean (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG) or the Petrarchan (ABBA ABBA CDE CDE). 'A Legend of the Northland' is a lengthy narrative poem composed of many stanzas and does not adhere to the rigid 14-line structure, meter, or rhyme pattern required of a sonnet.

The incorrect option is 3:

A Lyric poem is a short poem that expresses personal feelings or emotions rather than telling a story. While 'A Legend of the Northland' contains emotional elements related to greed and punishment, its primary function is to narrate a tale, making it distinctly narrative rather than purely lyrical. Lyric poetry, by definition, focuses on the speaker's state of mind or deep personal sentiment, which is not the main purpose of Cary's poem.

The incorrect option is 4:

An Elegy is a mournful or melancholic poem, usually written to lament the death of a person or to express sorrow over a past time. The poem 'A Legend of the Northland' is not focused on death, sorrow, or commemoration of the deceased. Instead, it is a brisk, moralistic tale designed to be recited or sung, which directly contrasts with the somber and reflective tone of an elegy.