The Duck and the Kangaroo — Edward Lear

'Oh! KANGAROO! I wish I could hop like YOU!'

Full Poem

Said the DUCK to the KANGAROO:
'Good gracious! how you HOP!
Over the FIELDS and the WATER too,
As if you never would STOP!
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 QUIETLY, and I would not QUACK,
And I would not MOVE, and I would not SHOE you!
I would SIT quite still, and I would not BITE you,
And I would be a GREAT delight to you!'

Said the KANGAROO to the DUCK:
'This requires a LITTLE reflection.
Perhaps on the WHOLE, I might be LUCKY,
And that might be a GOOD connection.
But I have a DOUBT — and I must EXPRESS it:
Your FEET are UNPLEASANTLY WET, and COLD!'

Said the DUCK: 'As I SAT on the ROCKS,
I have thought THOROUGHLY, and I have thought of a CURE:
I'll buy four PAIRS of WORSTED SOCKS
And SQUARE my FEET with a KNITTING-NEEDLE!
And I'll buy a CLOAK, and I'll tie it ROUND my NECK,
And I'll look as NEAT as a BEAUTIFUL SPECKS!'

So the DUCK and the KANGAROO,
They HOPPED away!
Over the LAND and over the SEA!
Three times AROUND the world they WENT!
And all the world was HAPPY and GAY!

About the Poet — Edward Lear

Edward Lear (1812–1888) was an English artist, illustrator, and writer, famous for his LITERARY NONSENSE. He popularised the LIMERICK form and wrote beloved poems like 'The Owl and the Pussycat' and 'The Jumblies.' Lear's nonsense verse is characterised by its WHIMSICAL humour, inventive LANGUAGE, and JOYFUL absurdity. 'Lear wrote not for CHILDREN specifically — but for the CHILD in every adult.'

Summary and Meaning

A DUCK admires the KANGAROO's ability to HOP. The Duck asks for a RIDE on the Kangaroo's back — promising to sit QUIETLY, not quack, not move, not bite, and not 'shoe' (kick) the Kangaroo. The Duck promises to be a 'great delight.'

The Kangaroo is INTERESTED but has a PRACTICAL concern: the Duck's feet are 'UNPLEASANTLY WET and COLD.' The Duck solves the problem by promising to buy WORSTED SOCKS, keep its feet SQUARE, wear a CLOAK, and look NEAT.

SATISFIED, the Kangaroo agrees. They hop AWAY — 'over the land and over the sea, three times around the world they went.' The world is 'happy and gay.'

'On the surface, this is a SILLY poem about a duck and a kangaroo. But beneath the nonsense, it celebrates FRIENDSHIP, PROBLEM-SOLVING, and the JOY of ADVENTURE.'

Poetic Devices

• Nonsense Verse: Lear's signature style — playful, ABSURD, and IMAGINATIVE.
• Rhyme and Rhythm: The poem has a BOUNCING rhythm that MIMICS the kangaroo's hop.
• Dialogue: The poem is built on CONVERSATION — the Duck speaks, the Kangaroo RESPONDS, the Duck offers a SOLUTION.
• Repetition: 'Said the Duck to the KANGAROO' is repeated — creating a CHANT-like quality.
• Humour: The Duck's promises ('I would not quack, I would not move, I would not bite you') are FUNNY because they are specific and ABSURD.
• Imagery: Vivid pictures — 'hopping over the fields and the water,' 'worsted socks,' 'cloak tied round the neck.'
• Personification: The Duck and Kangaroo TALK, THINK, and NEGOTIATE like humans.

Vocabulary

1. Gracious — courteous, kind, and pleasant
2. Quack — the sound a duck makes
3. Reflection — serious thought
4. Connection — a relationship or partnership
5. Unpleasantly — in an unpleasant manner
6. Worsted — a type of woollen yarn
7. Cloak — a sleeveless outer garment
8. Neat — tidy and smart in appearance

Themes

1. Friendship Across Differences: A Duck and a Kangaroo are VERY different — but they become FRIENDS and travel together. 'Friendship does not require SAMENESS. It requires RESPECT and PROBLEM-SOLVING.'
2. Problem-Solving: The Duck does not GIVE UP when the Kangaroo raises an objection. Instead, she THINKS of a SOLUTION. 'Obstacles are not ENDINGS. They are CHANCES to be creative.'
3. Adventure and Curiosity: The Duck wants to EXPLORE the world. The Kangaroo makes it POSSIBLE. 'Adventure begins with a REQUEST.'
4. Consideration: The Kangaroo is THOUGHTFUL — he considers the PRACTICAL issues before agreeing. The Duck is RESPECTFUL — she promises to be well-behaved.
5. Joy and Playfulness: The poem CELEBRATES pure, uncomplicated JOY. 'Sometimes a poem does not need a DEEP meaning. It can just be FUN.'

Important Quotes

1. 'Oh! KANGAROO! I wish I could hop like YOU!'
2. 'Please give me a RIDE on your BACK!'
3. 'Your FEET are UNPLEASANTLY WET, and COLD!'
4. 'I'll buy four PAIRS of WORSTED SOCKS and SQUARE my FEET with a KNITTING-NEEDLE!'
5. 'Three times AROUND the world they WENT! And all the world was HAPPY and GAY!'

Exam-Focused Questions

Short Answer Questions (2–3 marks)

1. What did the Duck ask the Kangaroo? (Answer: The Duck asked the Kangaroo for a RIDE on his back. She wanted to EXPLORE the world by hopping with the Kangaroo. She promised to sit quietly, not quack, not move, and not bite.)
2. What OBJECTION did the Kangaroo raise? (Answer: The Kangaroo was worried about the Duck's WET and COLD feet. He said the Duck's feet were 'unpleasantly wet and cold' — which would be uncomfortable for him during their journey.)
3. How did the Duck SOLVE the Kangaroo's problem? (Answer: The Duck promised to buy WORSTED SOCKS for her feet, wear a CLOAK tied round her neck, and look NEAT. This would keep her feet DRY and warm and solve the Kangaroo's concern.)
4. What happened after the Kangaroo agreed to give the Duck a ride? (Answer: The Duck and the Kangaroo HOPPED away together — over land and sea, three times around the world. Everyone was HAPPY and GAY.)

Long Answer Questions (5–6 marks)

1. What does this NONSENSE poem teach about FRIENDSHIP and PROBLEM-SOLVING? (Answer: Despite its SILLY surface, the poem teaches VALUABLE lessons. The Duck has a DREAM (to travel) and asks for HELP. The Kangaroo LISTENS but voices a CONCERN. Instead of being OFFENDED, the Duck LISTENS — and finds a SOLUTION. 'True friendship is not about ALWAYS agreeing. It is about LISTENING to concerns and finding SOLUTIONS together.' The poem also shows that DIFFERENCES do not prevent friendship — a duck and a kangaroo are VERY different, but they become TRAVELLING companions. 'Friendship bridges DIFFERENCES when both sides are WILLING to ADAPT.')
2. Analyse the HUMOUR in the poem. Why is it FUNNY? (Answer: The humour comes from MULTIPLE sources. (1) ABSURDITY: A talking duck and kangaroo negotiating a ride is inherently ABSURD. (2) SPECIFICITY: The Duck's promises are hilariously SPECIFIC — 'I would not quack, I would not move, I would not bite you.' (3) PRACTICALITY IN AN ABSURD SITUATION: The Kangaroo's concern about wet feet is so PRACTICAL in a situation that is already IMPOSSIBLE. (4) THE SOLUTION: Worsted socks and a cloak for a duck! 'Lear's humour lies in TREATING the absurd with COMPLETE SERIOUSNESS. The Duck and Kangaroo negotiate like business partners — about hopping around the world.')

AP Board / Indian Context

While 'The Duck and the Kangaroo' is a BRITISH nonsense poem, its message of FRIENDSHIP across differences is UNIVERSAL. In India's DIVERSE society, children from DIFFERENT backgrounds, languages, and cultures LEARN together every day. 'Lear's poem is a gentle REMINDER that differences should not DIVIDE us — they can be BRIDGED through communication and CREATIVITY.' The poem also encourages children to be IMAGINATIVE and PLAYFUL — an important value in the otherwise SERIOUS world of Indian education.

Grammar and Writing Practice

Paraphrase: 'Oh! KANGAROO! I wish I could hop like YOU!' (Rewrite: The Duck expressed admiration for the Kangaroo's hopping ability and a desire to possess the same skill.)

Summary (75 words): A Duck admires a Kangaroo's hopping and asks for a ride to see the world. The Kangaroo worries about the Duck's wet, cold feet. The Duck solves the problem by promising to wear worsted socks and a cloak. Satisfied, the Kangaroo agrees. They hop over land and sea, three times around the world. A NONSENSE poem celebrating FRIENDSHIP, PROBLEM-SOLVING, and ADVENTURE.

Discussion Questions for Classroom

1. Why is the Kangaroo worried about the Duck's WET FEET?
2. What does the Duck's SOLUTION tell us about her CHARACTER?
3. Why are 'nonsense' poems important? Do they need to have a 'message'?
4. Have you ever solved a problem by THINKING CREATIVELY, like the Duck?
5. What ADVENTURE would YOU like to go on — and with whom?