The Duck and the Kangaroo by Edward Lear
The Duck and the Kangaroo is a classic poem by Edward Lear, first published in 1871. It tells the story of a duck who meets a kangaroo in the Australian outback. The duck is amazed by the kangaroo's ability to hop and decides to ask him for a ride. The kangaroo agrees and the two set off on an adventure. Along the way, they encounter a variety of animals, including a wombat, a koala, and a platypus. They also meet a variety of strange creatures, such as a bandicoot, a dingo, and a lyrebird. Eventually, the duck and the kangaroo reach their destination, where the duck is reunited with his family. The poem ends with the duck thanking the kangaroo for his kindness.
By Edward Lear · First published 1888 · Genre: Children's Literature, Humor, Fantasy · 463 words
Editions
First lines
I.
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo, / "Good gracious! how you hop! / Over the fields and the water too, / As if you never would stop! / 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 to the Kangaroo.
What this Textopian page supports
The Duck and the Kangaroo is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edward Lear, dated 1888 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Edward Lear
- Date: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Humor, Fantasy, Poetry
- Length: 463 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Duck and the Kangaroo by Edward Lear
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Similar titles
- Nonsense Drolleries by Edward Lear
- The Good Ship Rover by Robina F. Hardy
- The Nursery Alice by Lewis Carroll
- The Man In The Moon by Walter Crane
- The Jumblies by Edward Lear
- Little Downy The History Of A Field Mouse by Catharine Parr Strickland Traill
Genres
- Children's Literature — The Duck and the Kangaroo is a classic children's poem written by Edward Lear, and is often used in classrooms to teach children about rhyme and rhythm.
- Humor — The poem is written in a light-hearted and humorous tone, with a playful and whimsical story.
- Fantasy — The poem features talking animals, which is a common element of fantasy literature.
- Poetry — The Duck and the Kangaroo is a poem, written in a traditional rhyme and meter.
Tags
English · Nonsense verses · beyond · bore · bought · cold · could · day · dear · duck · feet · fields
More by Edward Lear
- Nonsense Drolleries (1889)
- The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs (1888)
- The Cummerbund. An Indian Poem (1888)
- The Dong with a Luminous Nose (1888)
- Calico Pie (1888)
- The Courtship of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo (1888)
- Incidents in the Life of My Uncle Arly (1888)
- How Pleasant to Know Mr. Lear! (1871)
- All works by Edward Lear