The Duck and the Kangaroo Summary

About the Poet:

English poet, artist, author, and musician Edward Lear was renowned for his absurd poetry. Through his poetry, he seeks to elicit laughter from the audience and transports us to a realm of fantasy. Additionally, he wrote 12 musical arrangements of the poem by Tennyson.

Introduction:

The poem describes a duck's desire to leave the pond's boundaries and travel the world just like the kangaroo. The duck wants to see land and seas and thus asks the kangaroo to take him on a world tour. The poem further shows the conversation between the duck and the kangaroo.

Theme:

The poem is an exchange of words between a duck and a kangaroo. The duck begged the kangaroo to take it on a global tour by carrying the duck on his back. The duck yearns to visit Dee and Jelly Bo Lee. The kangaroo replies by saying that the idea sounds good, but the duck's feet are cold and wet, which would result in pain in its body. The duck responds to this perplexity by saying it has given it some thought and has already purchased four pairs of socks that would fit the kangaroo perfectly. The duck would also smoke a cigar all day to keep the kangaroo warm. The kangaroo agrees, and they both leave and begin their quest.

Highlights of the Poem:

'The Duck and the Kangaroo' tells the tale of the conversation between the two animals. The kangaroo receives praise from the duck, who seems impressed by his ability to travel anywhere. He can hop and visit diverse locations. The duck, however, finds its existence monotonous because he has to spend his entire life in the pond. Duck asks to ride on the kangaroo's back so that it can travel the world and go to locations like Dee and jelly boy Lee.

The kangaroo says that due to the duck's wet and cold feet, it would need time to consider his request. But the duck answers the kangaroo that it has bought four pairs of socks that fits perfectly. The duck also tells the kangaroo that it would smoke cigars to keep the kangaroo warm. The kangaroo eventually consents to offer the trip. The duck finally climbs onto the back, and they proceed to travel the world.

Summary:

The kangaroo's remarkable skills leave the duck speechless. The kangaroo is said to be able to hop constantly over fields and waterways, according to the duck. The duck thinks his life is dull in comparison to kangaroo. It is because the duck can never leave the pond. The duck also expresses a desire to leave the pond's confines. Additionally, the duck exhibits a wish to hop like a kangaroo.

The duck then asks for something crucial. It wants to ride on the kangaroo's back, so it makes the request. The duck also promises to sit quietly on the kangaroo's back and only quack for the day. The duck also cites the locations he wants to go to. Dee and Jelly Bo Lee are the locations that the duck yearns to visit. The duck adds that they would also travel to the sea and the land. Then the duck received a crucial response from the kangaroo.

The kangaroo responds that he needs to consider the duck's request. Even though the plan would be advantageous to him, the kangaroo objected. It was due to the duck's feet being cold and wet. The kangaroo became afraid of experiencing physical discomfort as a result. The duck then claims to have found a solution while daydreaming while perching on the rocks. To avoid it, the duck bought four sets of worsted socks. These worsted socks also suited its web and gave feet good form. The duck would also smoke cigars every day and wear a blanket to keep the kangaroo warm. What is most amazing is that the duck would go to all these lengths to preserve its beloved kangaroo from the cold.

The kangaroo was satisfied with the response of the duck. Consequently, it gave its consent to give a ride to the duck. With the arrival of the night-time, the pale light of the moon filled the sky. Finally, the kangaroo and the duck began their trip with a hop. The duck was instructed by the kangaroo to grip it tightly while traveling. Moreover, the duck and the kangaroo traveled together around the world three times. Furthermore, both were happy in each other's company.

Conclusion:

An important lesson of The Duck and the Kangaroo Summary is the value and significance of friendship. The kangaroo takes the duck on its back to show it the world, whereas the duck does everything to keep the kangaroo warm.