This is Jody’s Fawn Explanation & Solution -CBSE Class 8 English Honeydew 

"The Duck and the Kangaroo" is a whimsical and playful poem by Edward Lear, known for his nonsense poetry. It's a lighthearted narrative that follows the conversation between a duck and a kangaroo, where the duck expresses its desire to travel and see the world.

Stanza-wise Explanation:

Stanza 1:

Said the Duck to the Kangaroo,

"Good gracious! how you hop!

Over the fields and the water too,

As if you never would stop!

Introduction: The poem begins with the duck marveling at the kangaroo's hopping abilities, expressing surprise and admiration at its continuous hopping.

Stanza 2:

My life is a bore in this nasty pond,

And I long to go out in the world beyond!

I wish I could hop like you!" said the Duck:

"O please teach me how to hop!

The Duck's Desire: The duck, feeling bored and confined in its pond, expresses a desire to travel and explore the world. It wishes to learn how to hop like the kangaroo.

Stanza 3:

"Ankle-deep in the river—-cried the Kangaroo:

"Such a thing as that, I never knew!

Off a jump from the bank of this billabong,

And I'll show you how you can jump!"

Kangaroo's Offer: The kangaroo, surprised by the duck's request, offers to teach the duck to jump by demonstrating a leap from the bank of the billabong (a small pond or waterhole).

Stanza 4:

Said the Duck: "I gladly agree!

Come on, then! Let's do it, and see!

Jump sideways first!"—cried the Kangaroo,

"And then, if you like, we'll try forward too."

Agreement and Instruction: The duck eagerly agrees to learn and suggests trying to jump sideways first, showing enthusiasm for the lesson.

Stanza 5:

So they hopped, and they jumped, and they pranced and they raced,

Till the fields and the meadows were brown.

Then they stopped, panting, and rested awhile,

And sat down together, to rest and to smile.

Jumping Lessons: The duck and the kangaroo enthusiastically hop, jump, and have fun together, enjoying their time until they exhaust themselves, resting and smiling afterward.

Stanza 6:

And the Kangaroo felt very pleased with the day,—

But the Duck said, "Good gracious! I've come away

With a notion that I could hop like you—

If I only had spring—water too!

Reflection: The kangaroo is pleased with the day's activities, but the duck, while happy, realizes that to hop like the kangaroo, it needs the aid of spring water.

Class 8 English Honeydew Poem Chapter 6 The Duck and the Kangaroo Questions From Textbook

WORKING WITH THE POEM

Question 1:

Taking words that come at the end of lines, write five pairs of rhyming words. Read each pair aloud.

For example, pond — beyond

Answer:

Kangaroo — too; hop — stop

back — quack; pond — beyond;

duck — luck.;

Question 2:

Complete the dialogue.

Duck : Dear Kangaroo! Why don’t you

Kangaroo : With pleasure, my dear Duck, though

___________________________

Duck : That won’t be a problem. I will

___________________________

Answer:

Duck: Dear Kangaroo, why don’t you plan a world tour with-with me.

Kangaroo: With pleasure, my dear Duck though I am afraid your webbed feet would trouble me.

Duck: That won’t, be a problem. I will cover them with woollen socks.

Question 3:

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?

Answer:

roo — Matiz = rheumatism

The word ‘roo’ rhymes with the Kangaroo.

The other word ‘Matiz’ refers subtly to rheumatism. The word ‘rheumatism’ has been split in two parts for the sake of rhyme and a disease.

Question 4:

Do you find the poem humorous? Read aloud lines that make you laugh.

Answer:

Yes, the poem is humorous. Take for example:

“But quite at the end of my tail.”

“And every day a cigar I’ll smoke”.