Class 9 English - RAJASTHAN

Poetry: The Duck and the Kangaroo

The chapter 'The Duck and the Kangaroo' is a delightful humorous poem written by Edward Lear, prescribed for Class 9 students under the Rajasthan Board (RBSE). The poem narrates a conversation between a dissatisfied Duck who is bored of her life in a pond and a lively Kangaroo. The Duck admires the Kangaroo's ability to hop and requests a ride on his back to see the world. The Kangaroo agrees on the condition that the Duck keeps her wet and cold feet still. This chapter is important for board exams as it tests students' comprehension of poetic devices, rhyming schemes, and central themes of friendship and mutual cooperation.

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Key Concepts

Nonsense Verse

A sub-genre of literature characterized by silly, whimsical elements, playful language, and absurd situations, which Edward Lear was famous for writing.

Rhyme Scheme

The pattern of rhymes at the end of each line in a poem, with this poem generally following an engaging and musical rhyme scheme like AABB or ABCB depending on the stanza.

Alliteration

The repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words, used for musical effect in the poem.

Refrain and Repetition

The repeating of phrases or words (like 'Quack' and 'Hop') to create rhythm, emphasize ideas, and add a cheerful tone to the narration.

Theme of Mutual Help

The core message that different individuals with unique traits can help each other overcome limitations, as seen in the Duck and Kangaroo's journey.

Important Formulas

Rhyme Scheme Identification: Match the ending sounds of lines using alphabets (A, B, C...) to find the pattern.
Stanza Analysis: Read stanza by stanza to extract who-said-what, speaker tone, and contextual meaning.
Summary Structure: Introduction of poet/poem -> Main plot (Duck's request) -> Condition & Agreement -> Conclusion (Happy journey).

Board Exam Info

In the Rajasthan Board (RBSE) Class 9 English exams, poetry chapters typically carry around 4 to 6 marks. Questions usually include reference-to-context (extract-based multiple choice or short answer questions), short answer questions testing the theme or character motives, and vocabulary or rhyming scheme identification.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the main problem of the Duck in the poem?

The Duck lived in a boring pond and wanted to see the world beyond it, but she could not hop like the Kangaroo.

What condition did the Kangaroo put forward before giving the Duck a ride?

The Kangaroo asked the Duck to sit steady, keep her feet quite still, and wear four pairs of worsted socks to prevent her cold, wet feet from giving him the rheumatics.

Who is the poet of 'The Duck and the Kangaroo'?

The poem was written by Edward Lear, a renowned English artist and poet famous for his literary nonsense.

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