The Duck and The Kangaroo Poem Summary and Notes | CBSE Class 9 English Beehive

According to the CBSE Syllabus 2023-24, this chapter has been removed from NCERT Class 9 English (Beehive) textbook.

Summary of The Duck and The Kangaroo

The CBSE Class 9 English ‘Beehive’ book contains the poem The Duck and The Kangaroo. The poem is written by Edward Lear. Students can find detailed explanations of the poem and can prepare for their exams easily. Along with the explanations, we have also provided a summary of the poem to give a gist overview to the students. It will help them in the revision and preparation of the exam in a better way. The CBSE Class 9 English Notes are created by subject experts and are designed to help students prepare effectively for the exam. Studying from them will help students to secure high marks in the exam.

Students can also learn how to write an effective essay during the exam by going through the essays at BYJU’S to increase marks in Class 9 English papers.

CBSE Class 9 English Beehive The Duck and The Kangaroo Poem Summary

It is a humorous poem of a kind known as ‘Nonsense Verse’. It has a total of five stanzas. The poem is about a duck who is confined to a pond. The duck desires to go out and travel the world like the kangaroo. So, he requested the kangaroo to take him on a trip by allowing him to ride on his back. The kangaroo agreed to him and told him about his wet and cold feet. On this, the duck bought four pairs of woollen socks and solved this problem. Thus, they both went on a world tour happily.

CBSE Class 9 English Beehive The Duck and The Kangaroo Poem Explanation Notes

Students can find The Duck and The Kangaroo” poem and its detailed description below.

The Duck and The Kangaroo Poem and Explanation

I

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.

II

“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.

III

Said the Kangaroo to the Duck,

“This requires some little reflection;

Perhaps on the whole it might bring me luck,

And there seems but one objection,

Which is, if you’ll let me speak so bold,

Your feet are unpleasantly wet and cold,

And would probably give me the roo

Matiz!” said the Kangaroo.

IV

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!”

V

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?

By Edward Lear

The duck praises the kangaroo for his hopping ability. The duck says that the kangaroo has the ability to jump over fields and water bodies. His life is happening as he can move and go anywhere. The duck compares his life with the kangaroo. He feels that his life has become boring by staying in an unpleasant pond. He has a deep desire to go out and move around the world. He tells the kangaroo that he wishes he could move like him.

The duck requested the kangaroo to take him on a world tour by making him sit on his back. He further said that he would sit quietly and would say nothing. He will only make a quack sound for the whole day. He mentioned two places, i.e. Dee and the Jelly Bo Lee, which he wanted to visit. Adding on, he says that he would also like to visit seas and lands. So, he requested him to take him on a ride.

After listening to the duck, the kangaroo replies that the idea sounds nice. But he needs to think about it. He boldly spoke to the duck and informed him that his feet would become wet and cold by travelling the long trip. This would result in body pain.

The duck replied to him by saying that he thought about it when he was sitting on the rock. He said he had found the solution to it and had bought four pairs of wool socks. These socks would nicely fit into the web feet of a kangaroo. He added that he would wear a blanket to protect himself from the cold and would smoke a cigar every day. He will take care of his beloved kangaroo by protecting him from the cold.

After listening to the response of the duck, the kangaroo felt satisfied and replied that he was ready to take him on tour. As night time arrived, the pale light of the moon covered the entire sky. The duck quietly sat on the kangaroo’s tail at one end. It helped the kangaroo to make a proper balance. Finally, they started their journey with a hop, and the duck held the kangaroo’s tail tightly for his safety. They moved around the world 3 times. They were very happy to travel the whole world and enjoyed each other’s company.

We hope students liked this information on CBSE Class 9 English Beehive The Duck and The Kangaroo Poem Summary and Notes. Students can also go through the essay on Independence Day and essay on Republic Day to prepare for the English exam.