Class 9 English - MP
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 English syllabus for Madhya Pradesh (MPBSE) students. The poem describes a humorous conversation between a bored Duck who wants to travel the world and a kind Kangaroo who agrees to carry her on his back. Through this imaginative tale, the poem teaches the importance of friendship, helping others, and appreciating different perspectives. For board exams, students must understand the central theme, rhyme scheme, poetic devices used by Lear, and be able to answer reference-to-context questions based on the text.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Nonsense Verse
A humorous genre of poetry characterized by whimsical, silly elements and impossible situations, which Edward Lear was famous for writing.
Theme of Friendship and Cooperation
The poem highlights how the Duck and the Kangaroo help each other fulfill their mutual desires through polite negotiation and teamwork.
Rhyme Scheme
The poem follows a consistent and musical rhyme scheme (like AABB or ABAB depending on the stanza) that makes it enjoyable to read aloud.
Alliteration
A poetic device used frequently in the poem, where consonant sounds are repeated at the beginning of neighboring words (e.g., 'quack and crack').
Refrain and Repetition
Lear uses repetitive phrases like 'Said the Duck to the Kangaroo' to maintain rhythm and narrative flow throughout the poem.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Madhya Pradesh Board (MPBSE) Class 9 English examinations, this chapter typically carries around 3 to 5 marks. Questions commonly include short answer questions about the plot, extract-based comprehension (reference to context), vocabulary questions, and identifying poetic devices like rhyme scheme or alliteration from the given stanzas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main wish of the Duck in the poem?
The Duck is bored of living in a nasty pond and wishes to hop over the world like the Kangaroo to see the 'dee-ant' (distant) lands.
Why does the Kangaroo hesitate to carry the Duck?
The Kangaroo hesitates because the Duck's feet are unpleasantly wet and cold ('four cold web-feet'), which might give him the 'roo-Matiz' (rheumatism).
How do the Duck and the Kangaroo solve their problem?
The Duck buys four pairs of worsted socks and a cloak to keep her feet warm, and then sits quietly at the end of the Kangaroo's tail to enjoy the trip around the world.
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