The Duck and the Kangaroo (poem) (summary, glossary, antonyms, synonyms and comprehension questions and answers

 The Duck and the Kangaroo (Poem)

Summary:

The poem "The Duck and the Kangaroo" by Edward Lear is about a duck and a kangaroo who have a conversation and go on an adventure together. The duck is tired of its boring life in a pond and admires the kangaroo's ability to hop. It asks the kangaroo for a ride on its back, promising to be a quiet passenger. The duck imagines traveling to different places, like the Dee and the Jelly Bo Lee, over land and sea.

The kangaroo hesitates and expresses concern about the duck's wet and cold feet, worrying it might catch a cold or rheumatism. However, the clever duck reveals that it has prepared by buying socks that fit its webbed feet perfectly and has a cloak to stay warm. The duck even plans to smoke a cigar every day to stay comfortable. Convinced by the duck's preparations, the kangaroo agrees to the adventure.

They set off in the moonlight, with the duck sitting at the end of the kangaroo's tail for balance. Together, they hop around the world three times, experiencing happiness and joy throughout their journey. The poem ends by emphasizing the immense happiness of the duck and the kangaroo as they explore the world together.

In summary, the poem tells the story of a duck that seeks adventure and asks a kangaroo for a ride. Despite initial concerns, the duck convinces the kangaroo with its preparedness. They embark on a thrilling journey, hopping around the world and finding great joy in their companionship and exploration.

Glossary:

1.     Gracious: Showing politeness and kindness.

2.     Hop: To move by jumping with one foot or both feet.

3.     Bore: Something that is dull or uninteresting.

4.     Nasty: Unpleasant or disagreeable.

5.     Pond: A small body of still water.

6.     Beyond: On the other side; in a different place.

7.     Quack: The sound a duck makes.

8.     Dee and Jelly Bo Lee: A fictional place mentioned in the poem.

9.     Reflection: Thinking carefully and deeply about something.

10.  Luck: Good fortune or success.

11.  Objection: A reason for disagreeing or opposing something.

12.  Unpleasantly: In a way that is not pleasing or enjoyable.

13.  Wet: Covered or saturated with water or another liquid.

14.  Cold: Low temperature; not warm.

15.  Roo-Matiz: referring to a possible illness the kangaroo could get.

16.  Socks: Garments worn on the feet to provide warmth and comfort.

17.  Cloak: A long, loose outer garment worn for warmth or protection.

18.  Cigar: A tightly rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco leaves.

19.  Moonlight: Light from the moon, usually soft and pale.

20.  Balance: To keep steady and not fall over.

21.  Pale: Light in color; lacking intensity or brightness.

22.  Hop and bound: To jump or move quickly with energy and excitement.

23.  Happy: Feeling or showing joy and contentment.

24.  Companionship: The state of being with someone and enjoying their company.

25.  Explore: To travel or investigate new places or ideas.

26.  Journey: A trip or adventure from one place to another.

Synonyms:

1.     Gracious: Kind, polite, courteous

2.     Hop: Jump, leap, bound

3.     Bore: Tedious, dull, monotonous

4.     Nasty: Unpleasant, disagreeable, gross

5.     Pond: Pool, lake, waterhole

6.     Beyond: Further, farther, outside

7.     Quack: Honk, cackle, squawk

8.     Luck: Fortune, chance, serendipity

9.     Objection: Disapproval, protest, disagreement

10.  Unpleasantly: Disagreeably, distastefully, undesirably

11.  Wet: Moist, damp, soaked

12.  Cold: Chilly, frigid, icy

13.  Socks: Stockings, hosiery, foot coverings

14.  Cloak: Cape, shawl, wrap

15.  Cigar: Cigarette, stogie, smoke

16.  Balance: Stability, equilibrium, poise

17.  Pale: Light, faded, washed-out

18.  Happy: Joyful, delighted, content

19.  Companionship: Friendship, camaraderie, fellowship

20.  Explore: Discover, investigate, venture

21.  Journey: Trip, voyage, expedition

Antonyms:

1.     Gracious: Rude, impolite, discourteous

2.     Hop: Stay, stillness, halt

3.     Bore: Exciting, interesting, captivating

4.     Nasty: Pleasant, agreeable, delightful

5.     Pond: Ocean, sea, river

6.     Beyond: Within, inside, close

7.     Quack: Whisper, silence, quiet

8.     Luck: Misfortune, bad luck, unluckiness

9.     Objection: Agreement, acceptance, approval

10.  Unpleasantly: Pleasantly, agreeably, enjoyably

11.  Wet: Dry, arid, parched

12.  Cold: Warm, hot, heated

13.  Socks: Barefoot, shoeless, uncovered

14.  Cloak: Expose, reveal, uncover

15.  Cigar: Non-smoker, abstainer, teetotaler

16.  Balance: Imbalance, instability, unsteadiness

17.  Pale: Dark, vibrant, vivid

18.  Happy: Sad, unhappy, miserable

19.  Companionship: Solitude, loneliness, isolation

20.  Explore: Ignore, neglect, disregard

21.  Journey: Stagnation, standstill, immobility

Comprehension Questions and Answers for better understanding:

1. Who is the poem about?

Ans: The poem is about a duck and a kangaroo.

2. What does the duck want to do beyond its pond?

Ans: The duck wants to explore the world beyond its pond.

3. What does the duck admire about the kangaroo?

Ans: The duck admires the kangaroo's hopping ability.

4. How does the duck describe its life in the pond?

Ans: The duck describes its life in the pond as boring.

5. What sound does the duck say it will make during the journey?

Ans: The duck says it will say "Quack" during the journey.

6. What places does the duck mention wanting to visit with the kangaroo?

Ans: The duck mentions wanting to visit the Dee and the Jelly Bo Lee.

7. Why is the kangaroo hesitant about giving the duck a ride?

Ans: The kangaroo is hesitant because the duck's wet feet might make it sick.

8. What does the duck say it has bought to address the kangaroo's concern?

Ans: The duck says it has bought socks and a cloak to keep warm.

9. What does the kangaroo worry it might get from the duck's wet feet?

Ans: The kangaroo worries it might get rheumatism (roo-matiz) from the duck's wet feet.

10. Where does the duck say it has thought about the kangaroo's concern?

Ans: The duck says it has thought about the kangaroo's concern while sitting on rocks.

11. What does the duck say it will do to stay warm during the journey?

Ans: The duck says it will smoke a cigar to stay warm.

12. How does the duck suggest sitting on the kangaroo's back?

Ans: The duck suggests sitting at the end of the kangaroo's tail for balance.

13. In what light do they set off on their journey?

Ans: They set off in the moonlight.

14. How many times do they hop around the world?

Ans: They hop around the world three times.

15. How do the duck and the kangaroo feel during their adventure?

Ans: They feel happy and joyful.

16. What does the poem say about the duck and the kangaroo at the end?

Ans: The poem says that they are very happy.

17. What kind of life does the duck want to escape from?

Ans: The duck wants to escape from its life in the pond.

18. What does the duck ask the kangaroo for?

Ans: The duck asks the kangaroo for a ride on its back.

19. What does the kangaroo worry about regarding the duck's feet?

Ans: The kangaroo worries about the duck's wet and cold feet.

20. What do the duck and the kangaroo do together?

Ans: They go on an adventure and travel together.