Notes For All Chapters English Beehive Class 9
About the Poet
Edward Lear (May 12,1812—January 29, 1888) was an English artist, illustrator, musician, author and poet. He is best known for his literary nonsense in poetry and prose especially his limericks. He began his career as an artist at the age of 15.
His father, a stockbroker of Danish origins, was sent to debtor’s prison when Lear was only 13. So, he was forced to earn a living. He quickly gained recognition for his work and in 1832, he was hired by the London Zoological Society to execute illustrations of birds.
He composed his first book of poems, A Book of Nonsense for the grandchildren of the Derby household. Between 1837 and 1847, he travelled throughout Europe and Asia. His travel journals were published in several volumes as The Illustrated Travels of a Landscape Painter. He wrote many deeply fantastical poems about imaginary creatures. Such as The Dong with the Luminous Nose. His books of humorous verse also include Nonsense Songs and Laughable Lyrics.
Central idea of the Poem
In the poem ‘The Duck and the Kangaroo’, the poet tells us that we can get any difficult work done by others, if we have the virtues of sweetness, politeness and obedience. The Duck requests the Kangaroo to make her visit the beautiful world by allowing her to ride on his back. The Kangaroo accepts her wish, because of her sw’eetness and politeness. Then Kangaroo tells the duck about her wet, cold feet. At this the Duck buys four- pairs of woollen socks and a cloak to cover herself. Besides, she assures the Kangaroo that she would smoke cigar too. Thus, the Kangaroo lets her ride on her tail and they went for a pl easure tour to the world.
Short Summary
In this poem, the Duck tells the Kangaroo that her life is bore in the pond and she wants to visit the beautiful world. But she is unable to do so as she cannot hop like the Kangaroo. She requests the Kangaroo to allow her a ride on his back. She assures the Kangaroo that she would not speak anything except ‘Quack’.
The Kangaroo tells the Duck to let him consider about this. Then the Kangaroo tells the Duck that her wet and cold feet can cause him roo-matiz.
The Duck sits on the rock and think about the solution of the problem. Then she buys four pairs of woollen socks and a cloak to make herself warm. She also assures the Kangaroo that she would smoke cigar too.
Eventually, the Kangaroo accepts the request of the Duck. He tells the Duck to sit steady and quite at the end of his tail. They hopped the whole world three times and both felt very happy.
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