Literary notes about duck (AI summary)
The word "duck" in literature serves many roles, acting as a literal animal, a metaphor, and a vehicle for wordplay. In some passages, it denotes the traditional waterfowl populating pastoral and exotic landscapes ([1], [2]), while in others it lends itself to vivid similes and metaphors—for instance, failures that slide off "like July rain off a duck's back" highlight its symbolic use to depict resilience ([3]). Authors also transform the duck into a character that speaks wisdom or humor ([4]), and even employ the term within culinary, zoological, or absurd contexts to enrich the narrative texture of their works ([5], [6]).
- A few sea-birds frequented this desolate coast, gulls, great albatrosses, as well as wild duck, for which Pencroft had a great fancy.
— from The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne - A narrow inlet, still and deep, Affording scarce such breadth of brim As served the wild duck's brood to swim.
— from The Lady of the Lake by Walter Scott - Failures slide off them like July rain off a duck's back feathers.
— from Tom Brown's School Days by Thomas Hughes - ,” answered the Duck, “every one must make a beginning, and parents cannot be too patient.”
— from The Happy Prince, and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde - Nancy praised the lobster bisque and Anthony asked for a second helping of roast duck.
— from The Gay Cockade by Temple Bailey - My gun was in the tent, and, besides, I had no bullets—only duck shot.
— from The Country of the Blind, and Other Stories by H. G. Wells
