Class 9 English - GUJARAT
Poetry: The Duck and the Kangaroo
The chapter 'The Duck and the Kangaroo' is a delightful nonsense verse written by Edward Lear, featured in the Class 9 Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSEB) English curriculum. The poem narrates a charming conversation between a dissatisfied Duck who wants to travel the world and a kind Kangaroo who agrees to carry her on his back. Through their interaction, the poem explores themes of friendship, mutual help, and cooperation. For board exams, students must focus on comprehension, poetic devices like rhyme scheme, central ideas, and character traits, as questions frequently test both literal understanding and appreciation of humor.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Nonsense Verse
A humorous genre of poetry characterized by whimsical, silly elements, imaginary situations, and playful language, which Edward Lear is famous for.
Rhyme Scheme
The pattern of rhymes at the end of each line in a poem; in this poem, the stanzas follow a distinct rhyming pattern like AABB or ABCB to create a musical rhythm.
Mutual Assistance
The core moral of the poem showing how two completely different creatures help each other fulfill their desires—the Duck gets to see the world, and the Kangaroo enjoys pleasant company.
Alliteration
A literary device used in the poem where consecutive words begin with the same consonant sound, such as 'thoughtfully and quietly'.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Gujarat (GSEB) Class 9 English board examinations, this chapter typically carries around 3 to 5 marks. Questions commonly include short answer questions (SAQs) about the plot, reference to context (RTC) lines from the poem, vocabulary-based questions, and multiple-choice questions (MCQs) testing comprehension and poetic devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main theme of 'The Duck and the Kangaroo'?
The main theme is friendship and mutual cooperation, showing how two different individuals can help each other overcome limitations.
Why does the Duck want to leave the pond?
The Duck feels bored living in a nasty pond all her life and wants to see the wide world beyond it.
What condition does the Kangaroo put forward before taking the Duck on a ride?
The Kangaroo asks the Duck to sit quietly and keep her wet and cold feet still to avoid catching the 'roo-Matiz'.
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