“The Duck and the Kangaroo” is a delightful nonsense poem written by the celebrated English poet and artist Edward Lear (1812–1888), who is widely regarded as the master of literary nonsense. The poem is included in the ASSEB Class 9 English textbook Beehive as Poem 7. It tells the charming story of a dissatisfied duck who longs to explore the world beyond its pond and convinces a kangaroo to give it a ride. The poem is playful, imaginative, and full of humour, and it beautifully conveys themes of friendship, cooperation, ambition, and the spirit of adventure.
The Poem
The Duck and the Kangaroo
— Edward Lear
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo,
‘Good gracious! how you hop!
Over the fields and the water too,
As if you never would stop!
My life is a bore in this nasty pond,
And I long to go out in the world beyond!
I wish I could hop like you!’
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.
‘Please give me a ride on your back!’
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.
‘I would sit quite still, and say nothing but “Quack”
The whole of the long day through!
And we’d go to the Dee, and the Jelly Bo Lee,
Over the land, and over the sea;—
Please take me a ride! O do!’
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.
Said the Kangaroo to the Duck,
‘This requires a little reflection;
Perhaps on the whole it might bring me luck,
And there’s one objection,
And that is, if you’ll allow,
Your feet are unpleasantly wet and cold,
And would probably give me the roo-
Matiz!’ said the Kangaroo.
Said the Duck, ‘As I sat on the rocks,
I have thought over that completely,
And I bought four pairs of worsted socks
Which fit my web-feet neatly.
And to keep out the cold I’ve bought a cloak,
And every day a cigar I’ll smoke,
All to follow my own dear true
Love of a Kangaroo!’
Said the Kangaroo, ‘I’m ready!
All in the moonlight pale;
But to balance me well, dear Duck, sit steady!
And quite at the end of my tail!’
So away they went with a hop and a bound,
And they hopped the whole world three times round;
And who so happy,—O who,
As the Duck and the Kangaroo?
Summary / Central Idea
The poem “The Duck and the Kangaroo” by Edward Lear is a humorous and imaginative narrative poem about a duck who is bored with its life in a pond and wishes to see the world. The duck admires the kangaroo’s hopping ability and requests a ride on the kangaroo’s back. The kangaroo agrees in principle but raises one objection — the duck’s wet, cold feet might cause rheumatism. The clever duck, having anticipated this problem, reveals that it has already bought four pairs of worsted socks to keep its feet warm, a cloak to protect against the cold, and plans to smoke a cigar each day. Impressed by the duck’s thoughtfulness and preparation, the kangaroo agrees enthusiastically. The duck sits at the end of the kangaroo’s tail for balance, and together they hop around the entire world three times, joyful and content. The central idea of the poem is that when two friends work together with mutual understanding, compromise, and respect for each other’s needs, they can overcome obstacles and achieve great happiness.
Stanza-wise Explanation
Stanza 1
In the opening stanza, the duck speaks to the kangaroo with admiration and envy. The duck is amazed at how effortlessly the kangaroo hops across fields and over water without stopping. The duck feels bored and trapped in its “nasty pond” and longs to travel and explore the world beyond. The exclamation “Good gracious!” conveys the duck’s excitement and wonder. The duck wishes it could hop like the kangaroo — expressing a desire to be free and adventurous. The repetition of “Said the Duck to the Kangaroo” at the beginning and end of the stanza creates a musical, song-like quality typical of Lear’s nonsense verse.
Stanza 2
Emboldened by its desire for adventure, the duck makes a formal and polite request — it asks the kangaroo to give it a ride on its back. The duck promises to be the ideal travelling companion: it will sit perfectly still and make no noise except for an occasional “Quack.” The duck uses the magical, made-up place names “the Dee” and “the Jelly Bo Lee” to paint a picture of exciting, faraway lands. These invented names are characteristic of Edward Lear’s nonsense poetry — they sound delightful and whimsical without having any real meaning. The duck’s repeated pleading (“Please… O do!”) shows its eagerness and longing.
Stanza 3
The kangaroo does not refuse outright. It says the request “requires a little reflection” — showing that it is a thoughtful and reasonable creature. The kangaroo is open to the idea and even thinks it “might bring me luck.” However, it raises one important practical objection: the duck’s feet are “unpleasantly wet and cold,” and carrying such wet feet might give the kangaroo “rheumatism” — a painful joint disease. Edward Lear splits the word “rheumatism” across two lines — “roo-Matiz” — creating a humorous pun on the word “roo” (short for kangaroo) and a comic visual effect.
Stanza 4
This stanza reveals the duck’s intelligence, preparation, and deep affection for the kangaroo. The duck says that while sitting on the rocks (thinking), it had already anticipated the kangaroo’s concern and taken steps to address it. It has bought four pairs of worsted (woollen) socks that fit its webbed feet perfectly — solving the problem of wet, cold feet. It has also bought a warm cloak to protect against the cold. Additionally, the duck says it will smoke a cigar every day. The line “All to follow my own dear true / Love of a Kangaroo!” expresses the duck’s deep fondness and devotion.
Stanza 5
In the final stanza, the kangaroo enthusiastically agrees — “I’m ready!” — and the two friends set off together in the pale moonlight. The kangaroo gives one practical instruction: the duck must sit steadily at the very end of its tail to maintain balance during hopping. The two then set off with great energy (“a hop and a bound”) and proceed to hop around the entire world three times! The concluding question — “And who so happy,—O who, / As the Duck and the Kangaroo?” — is a rhetorical one, suggesting that no one in the world could be as happy as these two friends.
Thinking about the Poem (Textbook Questions)
Q1. The Duck felt bored with its life in the pond. What problems did it face?
Answer: The duck was deeply dissatisfied with its life in the pond. It felt that the pond was “nasty” and that its existence there was dull and monotonous — “My life is a bore in this nasty pond.” It longed to go out into the wider world and explore life beyond the pond. Watching the kangaroo hop freely over fields and water made the duck envy the kangaroo’s freedom and mobility. The duck felt restricted and trapped, unable to travel or see new places from within the confines of its pond.
Q2. What did the Duck want the Kangaroo to do?
Answer: The duck wanted the kangaroo to give it a ride on its back so that it could travel and explore the world. The duck promised that it would sit perfectly still during the journey and would only say “Quack” — not disturb the kangaroo in any way. It dreamed of going to distant, exotic places like “the Dee” and “the Jelly Bo Lee,” travelling over land and sea. The duck was very eager and pleaded with the kangaroo repeatedly, saying “Please take me a ride! O do!”
Q3. The Kangaroo did not say yes immediately. What problem did it point out?
Answer: The kangaroo did not agree immediately. It said the request required “a little reflection.” The kangaroo’s main objection was a practical one — the duck’s feet were “unpleasantly wet and cold.” The kangaroo feared that if the duck sat on its back with wet, cold feet, it might develop rheumatism (a painful joint condition). Lear humorously splits the word “rheumatism” as “roo-Matiz,” creating a pun on the word “roo” (part of “kangaroo”). The kangaroo was not unkind — it was simply raising a genuine health concern.
Q4. How did the Duck address the Kangaroo’s concern?
Answer: The duck showed that it had already thought about the kangaroo’s concern and had made thorough preparations. It had bought four pairs of worsted (woollen) socks that fit its webbed feet perfectly, which would keep its feet dry and warm. It had also bought a warm cloak to guard against the cold. Additionally, the duck said it would smoke a cigar every day to keep itself comfortable during the journey. These preparations showed the duck’s intelligence, foresight, and genuine devotion to the kangaroo — it had done all of this out of love and the desire to travel with its dear kangaroo.
Q5. The Kangaroo agreed to give the Duck a ride. What condition did it put forward?
Answer: Once the duck addressed the concern about wet feet, the kangaroo agreed enthusiastically — “I’m ready!” The kangaroo’s only condition was a practical one regarding balance: the duck must sit quite steadily at the very end of the kangaroo’s tail. This was important because the kangaroo hops vigorously, and if the duck did not sit still and in the right position, it could throw the kangaroo off balance. By sitting at the tail end, the duck’s weight would be evenly distributed and would not interfere with the kangaroo’s hopping motion.
Q6. Where did the Duck and the Kangaroo go? How many times did they travel?
Answer: Once the kangaroo agreed, the two friends set off together in the pale moonlight. They hopped across the entire world — over fields, water, land, and sea — and they went around the whole world not once or twice but three times. The poem states: “And they hopped the whole world three times round.” This is a humorous exaggeration (hyperbole) typical of nonsense poetry — it is meant to convey the boundless joy and energy of the two friends as they finally got to travel together.
Q7. What does the last stanza tell us about the Duck and the Kangaroo’s happiness?
Answer: The last stanza ends with a joyful rhetorical question: “And who so happy,—O who, / As the Duck and the Kangaroo?” This implies that the two friends were supremely, incomparably happy. No one in the world was as content as the duck and the kangaroo after their journey together. The question does not expect an answer — it is a way of saying that their happiness was unmatched. The joyful ending reflects the poem’s central message: when two friends respect each other, make compromises, and work together, they achieve true happiness.
Additional Questions and Answers
Short Answer Questions
Q1. Who wrote “The Duck and the Kangaroo”? What type of poem is it?
Answer: “The Duck and the Kangaroo” was written by Edward Lear (1812–1888), an English poet, artist, and author famous for his nonsense poetry and limericks. The poem is a nonsense poem — a humorous, lighthearted poem that uses invented words, absurd situations, and playful imagery. It is also a narrative poem as it tells a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Q2. What does the phrase “My life is a bore in this nasty pond” tell us about the duck?
Answer: This phrase tells us that the duck is bored, restless, and unhappy with its limited, monotonous life in the pond. The word “nasty” shows the duck’s strong negative feelings about its surroundings. The duck is not content to simply live in the pond day after day — it has a deep yearning for adventure, travel, and new experiences. This makes the duck a relatable character, as many people feel the desire to break free from routine and explore the wider world.
Q3. What is the significance of the setting “moonlight pale” in the last stanza?
Answer: The setting of “moonlight pale” in the last stanza creates a magical, dreamlike atmosphere, perfectly suited to the nonsense and fantasy elements of the poem. The pale moonlight suggests that the duck and the kangaroo set off on their adventure at night, giving the journey a romantic, almost fairy-tale quality. It reinforces the poem’s whimsical tone and adds to the charm of the story.
Q4. What do the place names “the Dee” and “the Jelly Bo Lee” suggest?
Answer: “The Dee” and “the Jelly Bo Lee” are invented, nonsensical place names that Edward Lear created for the poem. They have no real geographical meaning but serve an important poetic purpose. They make the poem sound playful and fantastical, suggesting that the duck and kangaroo’s journey is truly into the unknown — beyond any real map or boundary. These names are characteristic of Lear’s nonsense style and give the poem its unique charm. They represent the limitless possibilities of imagination and the spirit of free adventure.
Q5. What qualities of the duck are revealed in the poem?
Answer: The poem reveals several admirable qualities of the duck. The duck is ambitious and adventurous — it is not satisfied with a dull life and wants to explore the world. It is intelligent and thoughtful — it had already anticipated the kangaroo’s objection and prepared solutions (socks, cloak, cigars) before even raising the topic. It is polite and persuasive — it makes its request respectfully and promises to be a considerate companion. The duck is also loving and devoted — it expresses deep affection for the kangaroo, calling it its “dear true love.”
Q6. What does the poem teach us about friendship and cooperation?
Answer: The poem beautifully illustrates the importance of friendship, mutual respect, and cooperation. The duck and the kangaroo are very different creatures — one lives in water, the other hops on land — yet they find a way to make their friendship work. The duck is honest about its desire, the kangaroo listens and raises a genuine concern, and the duck responds with thoughtful solutions. Both make compromises: the duck wears socks and sits at the tail end; the kangaroo agrees to carry its unusual companion. The result is joy for both. The poem shows that differences need not be barriers — with understanding and goodwill, any friendship can flourish.
Q7. Identify the humour in the word “roo-Matiz” in the poem.
Answer: The word “roo-Matiz” is a humorous way of spelling and splitting the word “rheumatism” — a painful joint condition. Edward Lear splits it as “roo- / Matiz” across two lines. The humour lies in the pun: “roo” is also the informal short form of “kangaroo.” So the kangaroo is essentially saying it might get “kangaroo-matism,” which is comically fitting since it is the kangaroo speaking. This kind of clever wordplay — where the sound of the word overlaps with the speaker’s own name — is a perfect example of Lear’s wit and skill as a writer of nonsense verse.
Q8. Why did the duck buy four pairs of worsted socks? What does this reveal about its character?
Answer: The duck bought four pairs of worsted (woollen) socks specifically to cover its webbed feet and keep them warm and dry, so that its cold, wet feet would not cause the kangaroo to develop rheumatism. This reveals that the duck is remarkably foresighted and considerate. It had been sitting on rocks, thinking about the kangaroo’s possible concerns, and had planned ahead before even making its request. This shows the duck’s intelligence, empathy, and deep affection for the kangaroo — it was genuinely concerned about the kangaroo’s comfort and well-being.
Long Answer Questions
Q1. “The Duck and the Kangaroo” is a poem about friendship and the spirit of adventure. Discuss with reference to the poem.
Answer: Edward Lear’s “The Duck and the Kangaroo” is fundamentally a poem about the bonds of friendship and the human (or in this case, animal) desire for adventure and exploration. The duck, confined to its small and boring pond, looks at the kangaroo with wonder and admiration. It doesn’t resign itself to a dull existence — instead, it speaks up, makes a request, and works to make its dream a reality. This represents the spirit of adventure: the willingness to step beyond one’s comfort zone and explore the wider world.
The friendship between the duck and the kangaroo is built on honest communication, mutual respect, and compromise. When the kangaroo raises a concern about the duck’s wet feet, the duck does not become offended or give up. Instead, it shows that it has already thought the matter through and prepared appropriate solutions. This kind of thoughtful, proactive response is a sign of genuine friendship — considering the other’s needs as much as one’s own.
The kangaroo, in turn, does not dismiss the duck’s wish. It listens carefully, reflects on it, and ultimately agrees — placing one small, reasonable condition (sitting at the tail end for balance). Together, they travel around the entire world three times, ending the poem in a state of incomparable happiness. The poem teaches us that when two beings support each other’s dreams and make room for each other’s differences, they can achieve great happiness together.
Q2. How does Edward Lear use humour and nonsense elements in “The Duck and the Kangaroo”? Give examples from the poem.
Answer: Edward Lear is the undisputed master of literary nonsense, and “The Duck and the Kangaroo” is a fine example of his craft. Lear uses several devices to create humour and nonsense throughout the poem.
Invented place names: The most obvious nonsense element is the use of imaginary, whimsical place names — “the Dee” and “the Jelly Bo Lee.” These words have no real meaning, but they sound delightful and exotic, perfectly capturing the spirit of a fantastical journey.
Wordplay and puns: Lear splits the word “rheumatism” humorously as “roo-Matiz” — where “roo” echoes the word “kangaroo.” The kangaroo is thus afraid of getting a disease that contains its own name, which is inherently comic.
Absurd solutions: The duck’s preparations — four pairs of woollen socks for webbed feet and daily cigar smoking — are comically exaggerated. The image of a duck carefully putting on four pairs of tiny socks is inherently funny and adds to the poem’s charm.
Talking animals: The entire premise of a duck and a kangaroo having a polite, rational conversation is itself a form of nonsense — yet Lear presents it with such seriousness and logic that it becomes believable within the world of the poem.
Hyperbole: The claim that the two hopped around the entire world three times is a delightful exaggeration that adds to the poem’s joyful, over-the-top celebration of friendship and adventure. Through all these devices, Lear creates a poem that is joyful, funny, and deeply charming.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q1. Who is the poet of “The Duck and the Kangaroo”?
(a) William Wordsworth
(b) Edward Lear
(c) Robert Frost
(d) Ogden Nash
Answer: (b) Edward Lear
Q2. What does the duck find boring?
(a) Hopping in the fields
(b) Its life in the pond
(c) Travelling the world
(d) Talking to the kangaroo
Answer: (b) Its life in the pond
Q3. What does the duck request from the kangaroo?
(a) A meal
(b) A pair of socks
(c) A ride on its back
(d) A home near the field
Answer: (c) A ride on its back
Q4. What was the kangaroo’s main objection to giving the duck a ride?
(a) The duck was too heavy
(b) The duck’s feet were wet and cold
(c) The duck talked too much
(d) The kangaroo was tired
Answer: (b) The duck’s feet were wet and cold
Q5. What did the duck buy to keep its feet warm?
(a) Two pairs of leather shoes
(b) Four pairs of worsted socks
(c) A pair of rubber boots
(d) Three pairs of cotton gloves
Answer: (b) Four pairs of worsted socks
Q6. What condition did the kangaroo put before agreeing to take the duck?
(a) The duck must sing songs
(b) The duck must not quack
(c) The duck must sit steadily at the end of its tail
(d) The duck must wear a hat
Answer: (c) The duck must sit steadily at the end of its tail
Q7. How many times did the duck and kangaroo hop around the world?
(a) Once
(b) Twice
(c) Three times
(d) Four times
Answer: (c) Three times
Q8. The word “roo-Matiz” in the poem is a humorous reference to which disease?
(a) Malaria
(b) Influenza
(c) Rheumatism
(d) Arthritis
Answer: (c) Rheumatism