Class 9 English - BIHAR
Poetry: The Duck and the Kangaroo
The chapter 'The Duck and the Kangaroo' is a delightful nonsense verse written by Edward Lear, prescribed for Class 9 Bihar Board (BSEB) students under the English curriculum. The poem narrates a charming conversation between a bored Duck and an adventurous Kangaroo. The Duck admires the Kangaroo's ability to hop across fields and water, leading to a polite request for a ride on the Kangaroo's back. To ensure a safe and comfortable journey, the Duck plans ahead by buying warm socks and a cloak. This poem teaches students about friendship, mutual help, problem-solving, and vivid imagination through poetic devices.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Nonsense Verse
A humorous genre of poetry that uses whimsical, surreal, and absurd elements to entertain readers while maintaining a strict rhythm and rhyme scheme.
Rhyme Scheme
The pattern of rhymes at the end of each line in a poem. In this poem, Edward Lear mostly uses an AABB or AABCC rhyme scheme.
Alliteration
The repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words, used musically in the poem like 'dreadful dukkah'.
Theme of Friendship and Cooperation
The poem highlights how two completely different creatures help each other fulfill their desires—the Duck gets a world tour, and the Kangaroo enjoys good company.
Personification
A literary device where animals are given human qualities, such as the Duck and Kangaroo conversing politely and planning a trip together.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Bihar Board (BSEB) Class 9 English examinations, questions from this chapter typically carry around 3 to 5 marks. Common question types include objective multiple-choice questions (MCQs) about the author and plot, short answer questions explaining the Duck's request, and reference-to-context questions based on stanzas from the poem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the poet of 'The Duck and the Kangaroo'?
The poem is written by the famous English author and artist Edward Lear, known for his literary nonsense.
Why did the Duck want to sit on the Kangaroo's back?
The Duck lived in a nasty pond and felt bored, longing to see the world beyond the water, so she requested a ride on the Kangaroo's back.
How did the Duck prepare for the cold weather during the trip?
The Duck bought four pairs of worsted socks to fit her webbed feet and a cloak to keep out the cold wind.
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