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THE DUCK AND THE KANGAROO

By- Edward Lear

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THE POET

Edward Lear was an English artist, illustrator , musician, author and poet now known mostly for his literary nonsense in poetry and prose and especially his limericks, a form he popularised. His principle areas of work as an artist were threefold : as a draughtsman employed to illustrate birds and animals.

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THEME

The poem “ The Duck and the Kangaroo” is a nonsensical poem. But reading between the lines shows that it actually deals with the significance of love for adventure. Adventure makes life worth living and adds colour and joy to it. The poem also deals with the theme of friendship. Friends, who help others, not only give joy but also experience happiness themselves.

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INTRODUCTION

The Duck wanted to see the world around. She thought that she would visit the ‘Dee’ and the ‘Jelly Bo Lee’. She promised the kangaroo that she would sit still on the tail and say nothing but quack. The Kangaroo said that he required some thought. He had an objection. The Duck’s feet were wet and cold . He might get sick . But he agreed to give her a ride on his tail. The Duck bought four pairs of worsted socks. She also bought a cloak to protect her from the cold. She promised to smoke a cigar every day. She Would follow his direction.

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The duck’s request

The Duck requested the Kangaroo that he was expert in hoping and her life was boring in the dirty pond she request that she also likes to hop like him.

The Duck’s promise to the kangaroo

The Duck said that she would sit still she would only quack. She will enjoy to go to the Dee, and the Jelly Bo Lee.

Kangaroo’s Objection.

The kangaroo objected that her feet were unpleasantly wet and cold which might give him the roomatiz.

Duck’s reply

The Duck promise that she would do everything to keep away from cold. For this she had bought four pairs of worsted shocks, a cloak and cigar.

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CONCLUSION

The duck sat at the end of Kangaroos tail. In this way they hopped whole world three times and both enjoyed the journey a lot.

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TEST YOURSELF

  1. Where did the Duck want to go? What did she promise the kangaroo?
  2. How did the Kangaroo react to her request?
  3. What did the Duck do to remove his objection?
  4. ‘My life is a bore in this nasty pond, And I long to go out in the world beyond!’ Who is the speaker? What does the speaker wish? Why?
  5. ‘I would sit quite still, and say nothing.” Who is ‘I’? Where would it sit? Why?
  6. “Your feet are unpleasantly wet and cold.” Who is the speaker? Whose feet are wet and cold? Why?
  7. How did the Duck and Kangaroo go round the world?