Poem 6: The Duck and the Kangaroo

Summary

The Duck and the Kangaroo, both were very good friends. As the duck lived in a pond and does not get a variegated life of visiting world, he wanted to have a pleasure tour all around the world. So he requested the kangaroo to allow him to sit on the top of his tail and have a pleasure tour. The kangaroo accepted the wish, but at the same time put some conditions too. According to him the duck’s feet were unpleasantly wet and cold. This may cause with rheumatism. At this the Duck assured him with the remedies he thought about. According to him he has already bought four pairs of woolen socks to put on. Besides he has bought a cloak to cover himself and he will smoke cigar too. In this way both the duck and the kangaroo started their tour and continued their happy journey.

Textual Questions and Exercises

Q1. Taking words that come at the end of lines, write five pairs of rhyming words. Read each pair aloud. For example, pond – beyond

Ans. Five pairs of rhyming words are as follows:
(i) Hop – stop

(ii) Back – Quack

(iii) Duck – luck

(iv) Reflection – objection

(v) Bold – cold
Q2. Complete the dialogue.

Ans. Duck: Dear Kangaroo! Why don’t you give me a ride on your back?

Kangaroo: With pleasure, my dear Duck, though your feet are unpleasantly wet and cold and I might catch rheumatism.

Duck: That won’t be a problem. I will wear worsted socks and cloak and smoke a cigar every day to keep out the cold.
Q3. The Kangaroo does not want to catch ‘rheumatism’. Spot this word in stanza 3 and say why it is spelt differently. Why is it in two parts? Why does the second part begin with a capital letter?

Ans. The word ‘rheumatism’ is spelt differently and is in two parts so that it can rhyme with ‘kangaroo’ in the following line. As a result of splitting the word into two and changing its spelling, ‘roo’ rhymes with ‘kangaroo’. The second part ‘Matiz’ begins with a capital letter because it is the first word of the line. In a poem, every line begins with a capital letter even if it is in continuation with the previous line. Hence, this has been done in order to enhance the poetic effect of the lines.
Q4. Why duck wants to go out for tour?

 Ans. The duck wanted to saw world beyond his pond so he wanted went out for tour.

Q5. What objection Kangaroo have?

 Ans. The kangaroo’s objection is that the duck’s webbed feet are cold and damp and it would give him the roo-matiz.

Q6. What are the conditions put by Kangaroo for the duck?

 Ans. The conditions put by Kangaroo for the duck is that he sit steady at the end of his tail so he can balance himself.