The Duck and the Kangaroo

By Edward Lear

objectives

• To acquaint the children with nonsense genre of poetry.
• To develop the imagination power of the students.
• To enable them to critically evaluate the poem.
• To help the students use new words in their own language.

About the Poet

Edward Lear was born on May 12,1812.He was a British poet and painter. he wrote many humorous poems such as owl and the pussy cat. Edward Lear is remembered as the creator of the form and meter of modern limerick. He got famous for his absurd wit and landscape painting.

Introduction to the poem

This poem is presented in the form of a dialogue between two friends , the duck and the kangaroo. They are about to set out on a journey. The pond bound duck takes the help of his friend kangaroo to travel around the world.

Stanza I

Said the Duck to the Kangaroo ‘

Good gracious! how you hop!

Over the fields and the water too,� As if you never would stop!� My life is a bore in this nasty pond,� And I long to go out in the world beyond!� I wish I could hop like you!’� Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.

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Stanza II

‘Please give me a ride on your back!’� Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.�‘I would sit quite still, and say nothing but “Quack,”� The whole of the long day through!�And we’d go to the Dee, and the Jelly Bo Lee,�Over the land, and over the sea;—�    Please take me a ride! O do!’�    Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.

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Stanza III

Said the Kangaroo to the Duck,�   ‘This requires some little reflection;�Perhaps on the whole it might bring me luck,�    And there seems but one objection,�Which is, if you’ll let me speak so bold,�Your feet are unpleasantly wet and cold,�And would probably give me the roo-�    Matiz!’ said the Kangaroo

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Stanza IV

Said the Duck, ‘As I sate on the rocks,�    I have thought over that completely,�And I bought four pairs of worsted socks�    Which fit my web-feet neatly.�And to keep out the cold I’ve bought a cloak,�And every day a cigar I’ll smoke,�    All to follow my own dear true�    Love of a Kangaroo!’

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Stanza V

Said the Kangaroo, ‘I’m ready!�    All in the moonlight pale;�But to balance me well, dear Duck, sit steady!�    And quite at the end of my tail!’�So away they went with a hop and a bound,�And they hopped the whole world three times round;�    And who so happy,—O who,�    As the Duck and the Kangaroo?.

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New words

• Gracious – kind , polite
• Bore – weariness caused due lack of interest in something
• Nasty – very bad or unpleasant
• Long to – to want something
• Hop – to jump with both feet together
• Ride – a usually short journey on a horse or other animal
• Still – not moving
• Jelly Bo Lee – an imaginary place in the poem
• Require – need
• Reflection(here) – careful thought about something

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New words

• Objection – feeling of disapproval
• Bold – brave
• Unpleasantly – causing discomfort or unhappiness
• Thought over – to consider or ponder something
• Cloak – a shrug
• Worsted – woolen
• Web-feet – web feet have a piece of skin between the toast
• Steady – to keep from moving or shaking
• Bound – a limited line
• Pale – not bright or brilliant

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Central idea of the poem

This poem suggest the idea that we should try to help others in every possible way if we can it will give us immense pleasure and satisfaction in return.

Summary of the poem

In this poem the expresses her desire in front of her friend kangaroo that she wants to go on a trip to the beautiful world. As she cannot hop like him so she is not able to set out on such a long journey without his help. The duck suggests the kangaroo to let her sit on his back an take her to travel the world. The kangaroo reply that she has a good thought but he is afraid of her wet and cold web-feet which can cause him roo-matiz.

The duck politely tell him that she has thought over it. She comes with a plan that she would buy four pairs of woolen socks and a cloak to put on it will keep her warm during the journey. After discussing all the things , the kangaroo agrees to take her along with him. He asks the duck to sit quietly at the and of his tale. Then they happily hopped the whole world three times.

Poetic devices use in the poem

• Anaphora – repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of each line Ex : “ And I bought four pairs of worsted socks” “And quiet at the end of my tale”
• Antithesis – when to opposites are introduced together for contrasting effects Ex : “Over the fields and the water too”
• Alliteration – repetition of initial consonant sound Ex: “ Good Gracious” “one objection”

Exercise :-

1. Name the poet and the poem.
2. Why does the duck want to tour the world ?
3. What does the duck say to the kangaroo ?
4. “And there seems but one objection”. What is the objection ?
5. List out the suggestions given by the duck ?
6. Do you find this poem nonsense or humorous ?

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Recapitulation :-

Answer the following questions:

• Where did the duck live ?
• What was her wish ?
• What did she say to the kangaroo ?
• How did the kangaroo respond to the duck’s request ?
• What was the duck’s plan ?
• Did the kangaroo accept her proposal ?
• What do you learn from this ?

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