THE TALE OF CUSTARD THE DRAGON : SEBA / SMEBA / NCERT CLASS 10 ENGLISH SOLUTIONS

SEBA / SMEBA / NCERT CLASS 10 ENGLISH SOLUTIONS (FIRST FLIGHT)

CHAPTER  : THE TALE OF CUSTARD THE DRAGON

 

The Tale of Custard the Dragon

ASSAM CLASS 10 (SEBA / NCERT / CBSE) English

দশম শ্রেণী ইংরাজী

পাঠ : THE TALE OF CUSTARD THE DRAGON (কাষ্টার্ড ড্রাগনের কাহিনী)

লেখক - Ogden Nash

 

THE TALE OF CUSTARD THE DRAGON (কাষ্টার্ড ড্রাগনের কাহিনী)

Substance :

Belinda lived in a little white house with a kitten name Ink, a mouse name Blink, a dog name Mustard, a dragon name Custard and a wagon. Custard had sharp teeth, spikes on his back, a mouth like a fire place and toes like daggers, Belinda felt herself safe with her brave pets except Custard who was a coward and wanted to remain in a cage for safety. She tried to encourage him and all other animals laughed at him..

One day suddenly a pirate with pistols in both hands entered the house. Seeing the dangerous pirate, all the animals but Custard fled away. Custard prepared himself to put up a brave fight and finally he made the pirate into pieces and ate him up.

When the danger was over, the pet animals came out and demanded that they were two or three times more brave than Custard who admitted that they were more courageous than he was.

সারাংশ:

বেলিন্দা ইঙ্ক নামক একটি বিড়ালছানা ব্লিংক নামে একটি ইঁদুর, মাষ্টার্ড নামে একটি কুকুর, কাষ্টার্ড নামে একটি ড্রাগন (সর্পের মত পক্ষী বিশেষ) এবং লাল রঙের একটি মালগাড়ীর সঙ্গে একটি সাদা ঘরে বাস করিত। কাষ্টার্ডের তীক্ষ্ণ দাঁত, পিঠে খোঁটাযুক্ত, অগ্নিকুণ্ডের মত মুখ এবং ছুরির মত পায়ের নখ ছিল। এই দুর্দান্ত প্রাণীসমূহের জন্য বেলিন্দা নিরাপদ অনুভব করিত। কিন্তু কাষ্টার্ড ভীতু ছিল এবং নিরাপদে থাকার জন্য খাঁচায় থাকিতে চাহিত। বেলিন্দা তাহাকে উৎসাহিত করিত। অন্যান্য প্রাণীগুলি তাহকে উপহাস করিত।

একদিন হঠাৎ একজন জলদস্যু দুই হাতে দুইটি পিস্তল নিয়া ঘরের ভিতরে ঢুকিয়া পরিল। তাহার উগ্রমূর্তি দেখিয়া কাষ্টার্ড ছাড়া অন্য প্রাণীগুলি পলায়ন করিল। কাষ্টার্ড সাহস করিয়া তাহার সঙ্গে যুদ্ধ করিয়াছিল এবং পরিশেষে তাহাকে টুকরা টুকরা করিয়া গিলিয়া ফেলিল।

বিপদ কাটার পর অন্যান্য প্রাণীগুলি কাষ্টার্ড অপেক্ষা নিজেদের দুই বা তিনগুণ বেশী সাহসী বলিয়া দাবী করায় কাস্টার্ড মানিয়া লইল।

Word Meanings (শব্দার্থ)  

Wagon - A heavy vehicle of four wheel (বৃহৎ মালগাড়ী); Custard - Flavored mixture of eggs and milk (ডিম এবং দুধের সুগন্ধী মিশ্রণ) ; spike - a sharp projection point (সূচিমুখ) ; tickle - to stir sense of humour (সুড়সুড়ি বা কাতুকুতা দেওয়া ; pirate - sea-robber (জলদস্যু); snort - sound like engine (ইঞ্জিনের ঘর ঘর শব্দ); gape - to stare (একাধারে চাহিয়া থাকা); grog - a kind of wine (এক প্রকার মদ); flagon - a container, bottle (পাত্র, বটল) ; gyrate - round (গোলাকার); fluster - become afraid (হৈ চৈ করা)

 

বাংলা অনুবাদ (স্ট্যানজা-1):

বেলিন্দা একটি ছোট সাদা ঘরে বাস করিত। তাহার সঙ্গে ছিল একটি কালো বিড়ালের ছানা, একটি ছাই রঙের ইদুর, একটি হলুদ রঙের কুকুর, এবং একটি লাল মালগাড়ী এবং একটি ছোট পোষা সাপ (ড্রাগন) ছিল।

বাংলা অনুবাদ (স্ট্যানজা-2):

কালো বিড়াল ছানাটির নাম ছিল ইঙ্ক এবং ছাই রঙের ইদুরটিকে সে ব্রিংক বলিয়া ডাকিত। ছোট বুদ্ধিমান কুকুরটির নাম ছিল মাষ্টার্ড। কিন্তু ড্রাগনটি খুব ভীতু ছিল এবং সে ইহাকে কাষ্টার্ড বলিয়া ডাকিত।

বাংলা অনুবাদ (স্ট্যানজা-3):

কাষ্টার্ড নামক সাপটির বড় তীক্ষ্ণ দাঁত ছিল এবং দেহের উপরিভাগ সূচানো ছিল, নিম্নভাগ চর্মে আবৃত, মুখটি অগ্নিকুণ্ডের মত এবং নাকটি ছিল চিমনির মত এবং নখগুলি প্রকৃতপক্ষে ছোরার মত ছিল।

বাংলা অনুবাদ (স্ট্যানজা-4):

বেলিন্দা ভালুকের মত সাহসী ছিল এবং ইঙ্ক ও ব্লিঙ্ক সিঁড়ির নিচে সিংহগুলিকে তাড়াইয়া দিত। মাষ্টার্ড এক উগ্র বাঘের মত সাহসী ছিল, কিন্তু কাষ্টার্ড একটি ভাল এবং সুরক্ষিত খাঁচা খুজিয়াছিল।

বাংলা অনুবাদ (স্ট্যানজা-5):

বেলিন্দা তাহাকে নির্দয়ভাবে কাতুকুতু দিত। ইংক, ব্লিংক এবং মাষ্টার্ড তাহাকে ‘পার্চিভেল’ বলিয়া ডাকিত। তাহারা লাল মালগাড়ীতে উঠিয়া বাস্তবিকভাবে এবং সত্যি সত্যি সাপটির সঙ্গে ঠাট্টা তামাসা করিত।

বাংলা অনুবাদ (স্ট্যানজা-6):

বেলিন্দার হাসির শব্দে ঘরটি কাপিয়া উঠিয়াছিল। ব্লিংক ‘ওয়েক’ বলিয়া ডাকিত। তাহা ইদুরের হাসির শব্দ। ইংক এবং মাষ্টার্ড নির্দয়ভাবে তাহার বয়স জানিতে চাহিয়াছিল। তখন কাষ্টার্ড এক সুন্দর এবং সুরক্ষিত খাঁচার জন্য চিৎকার করিতেছিল।

বাংলা অনুবাদ (স্ট্যানজা-7):

হঠাৎ তাহারা একটি বিকট শব্দ শুনিতে পাইল। মাষ্টার্ড গর্জন। করিতেছিল, সকলে চারিদিকে তাকাইল। ইংক মীউছ’ বলিয়া চিৎকার দিল এবং বেলিন্দা ‘ওহ’ বলিয়া চিৎকার দিল। কারণ একটি জলদস্যু জানালা দিয়া ভিতরে প্রবেশ করিয়াছিল।

বাংলা অনুবাদ (স্ট্যানজা-8):

তাহার ডান এবং বা হাতে পিস্তল ছিল। এবং দুই পাটি দাঁতের মধ্যে একটি চক্ চক্ করা ছুড়ি রাখিয়াছিল। তাহার দাড়ি ছিল কালো এবং একটি পা ছিল কাঠের, ভাল উদ্দেশ্য নিয়া সে যে আশে নাই তাহা স্পষ্টভাবে প্রকাশ পাইয়াছিল।

বাংলা অনুবাদ (স্ট্যানজা-9):

ভয়ে বেলিন্দার মুখ পাণ্ডুবর্ণ হইয়া গেল এবং সাহায্য চাহিয়া চিৎকার করিল। কিন্তু মাষ্টার্ড এক ভয়সূচক চিৎকার করিয়া পলায়ন করিল। ইংক ঘরটির একেবারে নিচের তলায় ধীরে ধীরে নামিয়া গেল এবং ক্ষুদ্র ইদুরটি অতি কৌশলে গর্তে ঢুকিয়া গেল।

বাংলা অনুবাদ (স্ট্যানজা-10):

কিন্তু মাষ্টার্ড নাকের সাহায্যে ইণ্ডিনের মত শব্দ করিয়া লাফাইয়া উঠিল। সে তাহার লেজের দ্বারা অন্ধকূপে হওয়া লৌহ শৃঙ্খল এবং তলোয়ারের ঝনঝননির মত কর্কশ শব্দ সৃষ্টি করিয়া জলদস্যুর উপর রবিন পাখি যেমন পোকার উপর ঝাপাইয়া পরে ঠিক সেইভাবে তাহার উপর ঝাপাইয়া পরিল।

বাংলা অনুবাদ (স্ট্যানজা-11):

জলদস্যুটি বেলিন্দারের ড্রাগনটির দিকে একাধারে চাহিয়া রহিল। তারপরে সে পকেটে থাকা বোতল হইতে কিছু মদ বাহির করিয়া তারাতারি খাইল। সে দুইটি গুলি ফুটাইল যদিও সেইগুলি ড্রাগনের গায়ে লাগে নাই। কাষ্টার্ড এক সময়ে তাহাকে গ গ করিয়া গিলিয়া ফেলিল।

বাংলা অনুবাদ (স্ট্যানজা-12):

বেলিন্দা তাহাকে জড়াইয়া ধরিল। মাষ্টার্ড তাহাকে চাটতে আরম্ভ করিল। কেহই মৃত জলদস্যুর জন্য দুঃখ প্রকাশ করিল না। ইংক এবং ব্লিংক জলদস্যুটিকে খাইয়া হজম করা ড্রাগনটিকে ঘেরিয়া আনন্দে নাচিতে লাগিল।

বাংলা অনুবাদ (স্ট্যানজা-13):

কিন্তু সেই সময়ে ছোট ও মাষ্টার্ড বলিয়া উঠিল যে যদি সে উত্তেজিত না হইত তাহা হইলে ড্রাগন অপেক্ষা দ্বিগুণ সাহসী হইত। ইংক এবং ব্লিংক বলিল যে তাহারা তিন গুণ বেশী সাহসী এবং কাষ্টার্ড বলিল যে আমি তাহাদের সঙ্গে একমত হইতে পারিলাম যে তাহারা সকলে আমার চাইতে বেশী সাহসী।”

বাংলা অনুবাদ (স্ট্যানজা-14):

বেলিন্দা এখনও তাহার সেই ছোট সাদা ঘরটিতে ক্ষুদ্র কালো বিড়াল ছানার, ছাই রঙের ক্ষুদ্র ইদুর, হলুদ রঙের ছোট কুকুর এবং তাহার লাল চার চাকার গাড়ীটির এবং প্রকৃতপক্ষে সেই সত্যিকারের ড্রাগনের সঙ্গে বাস করে।

বাংলা অনুবাদ (স্ট্যানজা-14):

বেলিন্দা ভালুকের মত সাহসী এবং ইংক এবং ব্লিংক সিঁড়ির নিচে সিংহগুলিকে তাড়াইয়া দেয়। মাষ্টার্ড এক উগ্র বাঘের মত সাহসী কিন্তু কাষ্টার্ড একটি সুন্দর খাঁচার জন্য সবসময় কঁদিতে থাকে।

Question and Answers

 

CLASS 10 ENGLISH FIRST FLIGHT CHAPTER 10 : THE TALE OF CUSTARD THE DRAGON

 

Central Idea of he Poem

 

‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ is a funny poem that tells the story of a little girl Belinda and her pets. Belinda lives with her little pets, a kitten, a mouse, a dog and a dragon, in her little house. Belinda and all her pets except the dragon have been described as very brave creatures. Even the mouse and the kitten have been shown to be so brave that they can chase lions but the dragon is such a coward, that it is always looking for the safety of a cage.

The dragon, however, surprised everyone with his heroic act of killing a pirate, who had come to Belinda’s house and meant harm to her and her pets. All the bravery of Belinda and rest of her pets failed and they ran screaming for help but the dragon, whom everyone thought was a coward, rescued them from the pirate.

 

 

STANZA-WISE EXPLANATION

Stanza 1
Belinda lived in a little white house,
With a litde black kitten and a little gray mouse,
And a little yellow dog and a little red wagon,
And a realio, trulio, little pet dragon.

 

WORD MEANINGS
Wagon – a carriage
Realio – really (used in the poem for effect)
Trulio – truly (used in the poem for effect)

 

Explanation – The poem opens with introducing the characters of the poem, namely, Belinda, who lived in a little white house with her pets and a wagon. Her pets include a black kitten, a little grey mouse, a little yellow dog and a little dragon.

 

Stanza 2
Now the name of the little black kitten was Ink,
And the little gray mouse, she called her Blink,
And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard,
But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard.

 

WORD MEANING
Coward – one who fears a lot

 

Explanation – Belinda had named her little black kitten as Ink and her little gray mouse was called Blink. The colour of her dog was as sharp and yellow as mustard and her dragon was called custard. Here, the readers are introduced to the cowardice of custard as he was not brave and feared a lot.

 

Stanza 3
Custard the dragon had big sharp teeth,
And spikes on top of him and scales underneath,
Mouth like a fireplace, chimney for a nose,
And realio, trulio, daggers on his toes.

 

WORD MEANINGS
Spikes – sharp pointed structures on the body.
Scales – thin hard plates that covers the body.
Fireplace – the place where fire is burnt to keep the house warm
Chimney – a long pipe that opens on the roof to let out the smoke released from the fireplace.
Dagger – small sword

 

Explanation – The description of Custard’s physical appearance seems quite surprising to the readers as it has been shown as carrying all the features of a dragon that makes dragons powerful, scary and brave. It has big sharp teeth and spines on its back that could easily scare anyone away. Custard also has the ability to spit fire which makes its mouth look like a fireplace showing his power. And his nose becomes the chimney through which the smoke comes out from the fire in his mouth. Custard’s toes are so pointed and sharp that they could cut anything like a dagger. ~

 

Stanza 4
Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears,
And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs,
Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage,
But Custard cried for a nice safe cage.

 

WORD MEANINGS
Barrel – a box (usually used for keeping liquids)
Chase – to follow in order to capture.
Rage – anger

 

Explanation – All the members of the house except custard are very brave. Belinda’s bravery has been compared to the bravery of many bears combined together. Ink and Blink, despite being so small in size have the power to scare and ., chase away someone as strong as a lion. Her dog’s bravery has been compared to that of a tiger’s anger. But custard is completely opposite to his physical description and instead of being brave, always looks for a nice safe cage.

 

Stanza 5
Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful,
Ink, Blink and Mustard, they rudely called him Percival,
They all sat laughing in the little red wagon
At the realio, trulio, cowardly dragon.

 

WORD MEANINGS
Tickle – to touch (a body part) lightly to cause laughter
Unmerciful – cruelly
Rudely – not civil or mannerless

 

Explanation – Belinda used to tickle the dragon without stopping and she did it quite cruelly to make it laugh. It should be noted here that tickling is a very soft touch on body and it is related to softness. Since the dragon was such a coward, tickling worked on him. It does not work on rough bodies; hence it’s another proof of the dragon’s softness. It was named as Percival by Ink, Blink and Mustard. Seeing the dragon react to the tickling made all of them laugh and they laughed sitting in the wagon at the cowardly dragon.

 

Stanza 6
Belinda giggled till she shook the house,
And Blink said Week!, which is giggling for a mouse,
Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age,
When Custard cried for a nice safe cage.

 

WORD MEANING
Giggle – laughter

 

Explanation – Belinda laughed a lot at the dragon, she laughed so hard that it seemed that the house is shaking due to her laughter. Blink, the mouse used to say ’Week’, which is the giggling sound for mouse. Ink and Mustard asked dragon’s age to make fun of him as it shows that the dragon behaved like a small kid would do but he was not a small kid. Custard just wanted a nice safe cage for himself.

 

Stanza 7
Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound,
And Mustard growled, and they all looked around.
Meowch! cried Ink, and Ooh! cried Belinda,
For there was a pirate, climbing in the winda.

 

WORD MEANINGS
Nasty – unpleasant .
Growl – the sound of growling as made by animals
Pirate – dacoit
Winda – window

 

Explanation – While all of them were busy making fun of the dragon, there came a very unpleasant sound from the house. Mustard, the dog, looked around for the source of that sound. Ink cried ‘Meowch’ and Belinda cried ‘Ooh’ when they saw that there was a pirate climbing the window of the house to loot it.

 

Stanza 8
Pistol in his left hand, pistol in his right,
And he held in his teeth a cutlass bright,
His beard was black, one leg was wood;
It was clear that the pirate meant no good.

 

WORD MEANINGS
Cutlass – a short sword (very sharp blade)
Meant – intended

 

Explanation – The appearance of the pirate seemed very dangerous as he was carrying many arms with him. He had a pistol in both hands and he was carrying a bright sharp blade between his teeth as well. He had black beard and a wooden leg indicating that he was a tough man, who must have lost his leg in some fight or battle. His looks made it very clear to the housemates that the pirate meant to harm the house and the people and pets living there.

 

Stanza 9
Belinda paled, and she cried, Help! Help!
But Mustard fled with a terrified yelp,
Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,
And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed.

 

WORD MEANINGS
Paled – became pale due to fear
Terrified – horrified
Yelp – cry
Trickled – step down
Strategically – planning
Mouseholed – holes made by a mouse (it is not a word but has been made into a word to fit the rhyming scheme)

 

Explanation – Looking at the pirate, Belinda became pale with fear and cried for help. All her brave pets could not help her and everyone fled from the scene. Mustard made a huge cry and ran away; Ink silently went to the bottom of the house and Blink very smartly disappeared in a mouse hole, leaving Belinda all alone in front of the pirate. Their bravery could not do them any good.

 

Stanza 10
But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,
Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon,
With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm
He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm.

 

WORD MEANINGS
Snorting – huge sound made through nose
Clashed – strike
Dungeon – an underground prison
Clatter and a clank and a jangling – sounds of two metal striking
Squirm – to move in a twisted manner
Robin – a bird

 

Explanation – When everyone fled on seeing the pirate, it was the coward dragon, Custard, who came to rescue and fought the pirate bravely. He jumped in front of the pirate and made large noises through his nose like*an engine, indicating his anger. He started to move his tail and it made clattering sounds like an iron rod striking the walls of a prison in a dungeon. With all this dangerous sounds, he followed the pirate like a robin follows a worm to eat it.

 

Stanza 11
The pirate gaped at Belinda’s dragon,
And gulped some grog from his pocket flagon,
He fired two bullets but they didn’t hit,
And Custard gobbled him, every bit.

 

WORD MEANINGS
Gaped – watch
Gulped – swallowed
Grog – wine
Flagon – a flask
Gobble – eat

 

Explanation – Custard shocked the pirate and he took a good look at him and drank some wine from a bottle that he carried in his pocket. The pirate then took out his pistol and fired two bullets at Custard. But, he failed to hit him and Custard remained unharmed. Then Custard swallowed the whole of the pirate, without leaving any trace of him.

 

Stanza 12
Belinda embraced him, Mustard licked him,
No one mourned for his pirate victim
Ink and Blink in glee did gyrate
Around the dragon that ate the pirate.

 

WORD MEANINGS
Embrace – to hug
Licked – to touch with tongue
Mourn – to grieve
Victim – one who suffers
Glee – happiness
Gyrate – circular movements

 

Explanation – After the custard ate the pirate, to everyone’s surprise, there was joy all over the house. Belinda embraced him to express gratitude for saving everyone. Mustard licked the dragon as that’s how a dog show its love for someone. Everyone celebrated the death of the pirate and there was no grief. Ink and blink started dancing around the dragon out of happiness.

 

Stanza 13
But presently up spoke little dog Mustard,
I’d have been twice as brave if I hadn’t been flustered.
And up spoke Ink and up spoke Blink,
We’d have been three times as brave, we think,
And Custard said, I quite agree
That everybody is braver than me

 

WORD MEANINGS
Flustered – to get nervous
Quite – completely

 

Explanation – It became very clear that, who is brave and who is a coward after the pirate incident. But, Mustard started to give excuses for his cowardice and said that he would have been twice as brave as Custard if he had not got nervous, when the pirate came. Ink and Blink said that they would have been thrice as brave as the dragon. They could not believe that Custard, the coward dragon, had done such a heroic act and so they started giving excuses for running away. The humble dragon accepted that he was the most coward and everyone was braver than him.

 

Poetic Devices Used in the Poem

Simile
(i) Mouth like a fireplace
(ii) Belinda was as brave as a barrel.
Repetition
(i) And the little.
(ii) Suddenly, suddenly they heard.
(iii) Belinda paled and she cried Help! Help!
Simile
(i) Snorting like an engine
(ii) Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon
(iii) He went atthe pirate like a robin at the worm.
Alliteration
(i) And he held in his teeth.
Rhyme Scheme
Every stanza of the poem has the rhyme scheme aabb.
In stanza 13, rhyme scheme is aabbcc.

 

Thinking about the Poem

 

 1. Who are the characters in this poem? List them with their pet names.

Answer:  The characters in this poem are Belinda, a little black kitten, a little grey mouse, a little yellow dog, a little pet dragon and a pirate.

Character	Pet name
Kitten	Ink
Mouse	Blink
Dog	Mustard
Dragon	Custard

2.Why did Custard cry for a nice, safe cage? Why is the dragon called a “cowardly dragon”?

Answer:  Custard cried for a nice, safe cage because it was a coward. It is called a ‘cowardly dragon’ because everybody else in the house was brave. Belinda was as brave as a barrel of bears. Ink and Blink are described as so brave that they could chase lions down the stairs and Mustard was as brave as a tiger in rage. Compared to them, Custard cried asking for a nice and safe cage, which is why it is called a coward.

3.“Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful…” Why?

Answer:  Belinda tickled the dragon unmercifully because it was very scared and cried for a safe cage. They all laughed at it as it was a coward.

4.The poet has employed many poetic devices in the poem. For example: “Clashed his tail like iron in a dungeon” − the poetic device here is a simile. Can you, with your partner, list some more such poetic devices used in the poem?

Answer :  In the entire poem, the poet has made extensive use of similes. Apart from simile, another poetic device that has been used is repetition. For example, the repetitive use of the word ‘little’ in the first stanza to emphasise how everything from the house to Belinda to her pets were all little. Also, in the seventh stanza, the poet has made use of incorrect spelling as a poetic device to maintain the rhyme scheme of the poem. He has chosen to write ‘winda’ instead of ‘window’ as ‘winda’ rhymes with ‘Belinda’, whereas ‘window’ does not. He has also used alliteration in the poem. For example, in the tenth stanza, ‘Custard’ has ‘clashed’ his tail with a ‘clatter’ and a ‘clank’. Similarly, in stanza eleven, the pirate ‘gaped’ at the dragon and ‘gulped’ some ‘grog’.

6.Can you find out the rhyme scheme of two or three stanzas of the poem?

Answer:  The rhyme scheme of each stanza of this poem is aabb.

7. Writers use words to give us a picture or image without actually saying what they mean. Can you trace some images used in the poem?

Answer:  Some such images used in the poem are ‘mouth like a fireplace’, ‘chimney for a nose’, ‘brave as a barrel full of bears’, ‘brave as a tiger in a rage’, ‘went at the pirate like a robin at a worm’, etc.

8.               Do you find The Tale of Custard the Dragon to be a serious or a light-hearted poem? Give reasons to support your answer.

9.Answer: The Tale of Custard the Dragon is a light-hearted poem. It is almost a parody. The names of the pets of Belinda are all rhyming and funny. Belinda has been compared to a barrel full of bears. The kitten and mouse, both little, could chase lions down the stairs. The little yellow dog was as brave as a tiger, while the dragon was a coward and they all teased him. However, when the pirate came to their little house, all of them were engulfed in fear and had hid themselves. Ironically, the ‘cowardly’ dragon came to their rescue and jumped snorting like an engine. It clashed its tail and charged at the pirate like a robin at a worm and ate him up. Even as everybody became happy to see the bravery of the dragon, they again came back to glorifying themselves that they could have been twice or thrice braver than the dragon. Finally, at the end of the poem, the situation again came back to the other pets being brave and the dragon being the coward.

 

Summary

 

This is a story of a girl Belinda, who has some strange pets. They have queer names. She calls the black kitten Ink, the little grey mouse as Blink, the yellow dog as Mustard and the cowardly dragon Custard. Belinda’s, the kitten, the mouse and the dog were very brave but the dragon was a coward. One day, a pirate came armed with a pistol into their house except the dragon, Custard and all the others were terrified of the pirate. Custard attacked the pirate and gobbled him up. Belinda then embraced him while Mustard licked him. Even after this brave incident, Custard did not give up his cowardly ways. He still kept on crying for a safe cage.

 

Extract Based Questions

(4 marks each)

 

Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow:
Question 1.

Now the name of the little black kitten was Ink,

And the little grey mouse, she called him Blink,

And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard,

But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard.

(a) Here ‘she’ refers to ………..           

(b) Belinda did not live with the ………….

(c) Actually the dragon was not ……..        

(d) The yellow dog was ………….. 

Answer:           (a) Belinda.       (b) green parrot.      

(c) coward.        (d) sharp as mustard.

Question 2.

Custard the dragon had big sharp teeth,

And spikes on top of him and scales underneath,

Mouth like a fireplace, chimney for a nose,

And realio, trulio daggers on his toes.

(a) Who was Custard ?                        

(b) What was beneath his body ?

(c) How does his nose looked like ?  

(d) Which poetic device is used in the above lines ? 

Answer: a) Custard was dragon.                                

(b) There were scales beneath his body.

(c) His nose looked like chimney.               

(d) Simile

Question 3.

Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful,

Ink, Blink and Mustard, they rudely called him Percival,

They all sat laughing in the little red wagon At the realio, trulio, cowardly dragon.

(a) Who is Belinda ?          

(b) How did Belinda and the other pets laugh at the dragon ?

(c) Which word in this extract means the same as ‘unkind’ ?

(d) Name the poem and the poet. 

OR
(a) With whom was Belinda unmerciful ?

(b) Who are Ink and Blink ?

(c) Why did they make fun of the dragon ?        

(d) What was the colour of the wagon. 

Answer:
(a) Belinda is a little girl who lived in a little white house and had a dog, a kitten, a mouse and a dragon for a pet. She also had a red wagon.
(b) Belinda was a brave girl and so were her pets-Ink, the kitten, Blink, the mouse and mustard, her dog. But custard, the dragon, though fierce looking was extremely timid and cowardly and so the others ridiculed him and laughed at the dragon.

(c) ‘Unmerciful’ means unkind.        

(d) The Poem ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ is written ‘Ogden Nash’

OR
(a) Custard.               

(b) Ink is a cat and Blink is a rat.

(c) They made fun of the dragon because he was very cowardly.       

(d) Red

Question 4.

Pistol in his left hand, pistol in his right,

And he held in his teeth a cutlass bright,

His beard was black, one leg was wood;

It was clear that the pirate meant no good.

(a) Who held the pistols ?          

(b) What did the dragon do to him ?

(c) What does the expression ‘the pirate meant no good’ convey ?

(d) Which word means the same as ‘thief’ ? 

OR
(a) Name the poem and the poet.               

(b) Who is ‘he’ in the second line ?

(c) What was wrong with his one leg ?               

(d) What did he hold in both hands ? 

Answer:
(a) the pirate.            

(b) ate him.

(c) that he was going to do some harm.              

(d) Pirate.

OR
(a) ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ by Ogden Nash.        

(b) the pirate.

(c) It was made of wood.                              

(d) Pistol in right and left hand

Question 5.

Belinda paled, and she cried Help ! Help !

But Mustard fled with terrified yelp,

Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,

And little mouse Blink strategically mousehold. 

(a) Why did Belinda cry for help ?          

(b) What did Mustard, Ink and Blink do ?

(c) Name the rhyme scheme of the stanza.  

(d) Which poetic device is used in the passage ? 

Answer: (a) Because a pirate had broken into her house.

(b) They all ran away in fear at the sight of the pirate.      

(c) a a b b.        

(d) Alliteration

Question 6.

The pirate gaped at Belinda’s dragon,

And gulped some grog from his pocket flagon.

He fired two bullets but they didn’t hit,

And custard gobbled him every bit. 

 (a) What was the pet name of Belinda’s dragon ?

(b) What did the pirate do when he gaped at Belinda’s dragon ?

(c) ‘Gobbled’ means …………               

(d) How many bullets did he fire ? 

Answer:
(a) Custard.     
(b) The Pirate drank some wine from a bottle that he carried in his pocket while watching the dragon.

(c) swallowed.           

(d) Two bullets.

Question 7.

Belinda embraced him, Mustard licked him, No one mourned for his pirate victim.

Ink and Blink in glee did gyrate Around the dragon that ate the pirate.
(a) In glee did gyrate means that ……………       

(b) Everyone embraced Custard because ……………

(c) Name the bravest creature who saved everybody in Belinda’s house ?

(d) Which word means the same as ‘hug’ ?

Answer:
(a) they danced happily circular movement.              

(b) he killed the pirate.

(c) Custard the dragon                                           

(d) Embraced

OR
(a) Whom did Bilenda embrace ?              

(b) What did the dragon do ?

(c) The word mourned means ………..                 

(d) Name the poem and the poet.

Answer:

(a) Bilenda embraced Custard, the dragon.      

(b) He gobbled the Pirate and Killed him.

(c) Mourned means to grieve.  

(d) The poem ‘The Tale of custard the Dragon’ is written by Ogden Nash

OR
(a) Who does him stand for in the first line ?              

(b) Who is the victim ?

(c) Rhyme scheme of the stanza is …………                  

(d) Which word means the same as culprit ?

Answer:           (a) Custard-dragon            (b) Pirate          

(c) aabb                                (d) Victim

 

Short Answer Type Questions

(30-40 words & 2 marks each)

 

Question 1. Describe the appearance of the dragon ?

Answer: Custard, the dragon had a formidable appearance, with sharp teeth, toes like daggers, spikes on back and scales on the belly. Its mouth was a fireplace and the nose was always fuming like a chimney. However, in sharp contrast to the appearance its temperature was extremely timid.

Question 2.  Do you find ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ to be a serious or a light-hearted comedy ? Give reasons to support your answer. 
Answer: ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ is a humorous, light hearted poem as the characters display behavioural attributes contrary to their appearance as well as nature. It is extremely funny to imagine a fierce looking dragon crying for a safe cage or mouse raging like a Hon.

Question 3.  Is there a hidden message that the poet is wishing to convey or do you think that entertainment is the sole purpose of writing this poem ?

Answer:  The interpretation of the message in the poem may vary for different readers. The situation narrated underscores a basic truth that the real test of courage is during a crisis. The dragon though never put his strength on display but exhibited it in action when it was required to do so.

Question 4.  What do you think changed the attitude of the other animals and that of Belinda towards the dragon ?

Answer:  The dragon, Custard, initially commanded no amount of respect from Belinda and the other pets, on account of its cowardice; but when the house was attacked by an armed pirate and all others panicked and ran for shelter, the dragon savagely attacked the pirate and ate it up. Thus, the other animals realised his worth and came to respect him genuinely.

 

Long Answer Type Question

(4 marks each)

 

Question 1. ‘Bravery is spontaneous’ Explain with reference to the poem.

Answer: Custard was truly brave and did not boast like Belinda and her other pets. Custard had the courage to face real danger, whereas everyone only boasted of their bravery. Custard faced the pirate and killed him, and he proved it by not running away. Bravery and courage are qualities which are, exhibited when someone actually faces a dangerous situation. Thus these qualities are spontaneous, taking the example of custard.

 

Extract Based Questions

[3 Marks each]

 

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.  With a little black kitten and a little gray mouse, And a little yellow dog and a little red wagon, And a realio, trulio, little pet dragon.
(a) Where did Belinda live?                

(b) How many pets did she have?

(c) Which word in the stanza means “carriage”?                

(d) Whose young one known as a ‘kitten’?

Answer:
(a) Belinda lived in a little white house.    

(b) She had four pets, a kitten, a mouse, a dog and a dragon.

(c) The word is ‘Wagon’.  

(d) A cat’s young one is known as a kitten.

Question 2. Now the name of the litde black kitten was Ink, And the little gray mouse, she called her Blink, And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard,

But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard.

(a) What is the colour of Belinda’s dog?             

(b) What were the kitten and the mouse called?

(c) Which word is the stanza means “fear easily”?

(d) ‘Blink’ here is the name of a mouse but what actually the word means?
Answer:
(a) Belinda’s dog is yellow as mustard.

(b) The Kitten was called Ink and the mouse was called Blink by Belinda.
(c) The word is ‘Coward’.

(d) The word ‘blink’ means to shut and open eyes frequendy in quick succession.

Question 3. Custard the dragon had big sharp teeth, And spikes on top of him and scales underneath, Mouth like a fireplace, chimney for a nose, And realio, trulio, daggers on his toes.

(a) What did the dragon look like?             

(b) Why is the dragon’s mouth called a chimney?

(c) Which word in the stanza means the same as “a small sword”?

(d) Find from the passage a word which means a structure through which smoke or steam is carried up away from a fire.

Answer:
(a) The Dragon had spikes on top and scale underneath. His mouth was like a fireplace and nose was like a chimney. He looked dangerous as his toes looked like daggers.

(b) Dragons can spit fire, therefore Custard’s mouth has been called a fireplace.
(c) The word is ‘Dagger’.                     

(d) The word is ‘Chimney’.

Question 4. Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears, And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs, Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage, But Custard cried for a nice safe cage.

(a) How brave were the Kitten and the mouse?         

(b) Why did Custard cry for a nice safe cage?

(c) Which word is similar to “anger”?

(d) Which figure of speech has been used in the first and the third line of the passage.

Answer:
(a) The kitten and the mouse were so brave that they could scare away lions.
(b) Custard cried for a nice safe cage because he was a coward.
(c) The word is ‘Rage’.               

(d) Figure of speech used in first and third line is Simile.

Question 5. Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful, Ink, Blink and Mustard, they rudely called him Percival, They all sat laughing in the little red wagon At the realio, trulio, cowardly dragon.
(a) Why did everyone laugh?             

(b) What did the other three pet call the dragon?

(c) What does realio, trulio mean?   

(d) Give the synonym of ‘un merciful’.

Answer:
(a) Everyone laughed at the Dragon because Belinda tickled him unmerciful.
(b) The other three pet, Ink, Blink and Mustard rudely called Custard Percival.
(c) Realio, trulio actually mean really and truly. The words have been changed by the poet so as to give rhythm to the poem.                  

(d) The synonym of‘un merciful’ is ‘merciless’.

Question 6. Belinda giggled till she shook the house, And Blink said Week!, which is giggling for a mouse, Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age, When Custard cried for a nice safe cage.

(a) What did shake the house?          

(b) How did the mouse giggle?

(c) Write the antonym for giggle.      

(d) Find the antonym of the word ‘insecure’ from the passage.

Answer:
(a) Belinda giggled so hard that it shook the house.  

(b) The giggling sound of mouse is ‘week’.

(c) The word is ‘Cry’.                                               

(d) The antonym of insecure is ‘Safe’.

Question 7. Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound, And Mustard growled, and they all looked around. Meowch! cried Ink, and Ooh! cried Belinda, For there was a pirate, climbing in the winda.

(a) Which poetic device is used in these lines?           

(b) Why was everyone frightened?

(c) Which word in the stanza means “unpleasant”?  

(d) What does a ‘nasty sound’ refer to?

Answer:
(a) In the first line, the poet has used repetition in ‘Suddenly, suddenly’.

(b) Everyone was frightened because a pirate was climbing up the window.
(c) The word is ‘Nasty’.              

(d) A nasty sound refers to the entry of a pirate into the house.

Question 8. Pistol in his left hand, pistol in his right, And he held in his teeth a cudass bright, His beard was black, one leg was wood; It was clear that the pirate meant no good.

(a) How many weapons was the pirate carrying?               

(b) Describe the physical appearance of the pirate.

(c) What does cutlass mean?

(d) What is the rhyming scheme adopted in the stanza?

Answer:
(a) The pirate was carrying two pistols in each hand and a cutlass in his teeth.
(b) The pirate’s beard was black and he had one wooded leg. He looked very frightening.

(c) Cutlass is a small sword like weapon with a very sharp blade.
(d) The rhyme scheme adopted is aabb.

Question 9.  Belinda paled, and she cried, Help! Help! But Mustard fled with a terrified yelp, Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household, And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed.

(a) How did the people in the house react on seeing the pirate?
(b) Why did everyone cry for help?  

(c) What does ‘mouseholed’ mean?

(d) Write the antonym of ‘bottom’.

Answer:
(a) Belinda became pale with fear and the Mustard fled the scene. Ink went to the bottom of the house and Blink vanished in a mouse hole. They all cried for help.

(b) Everyone cried for help because they all got frightened of the pirate.
(c) Mouseholed has been used by the poet to mean the hole made by the mouse in which it disappeared.

(d) The antonym of bottom is ‘brim’.

Question 10.  But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine, Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon, With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm.
(a) Why did Custard jump?                

(b) What sounds did Custard’s body make?

(c) What does dungeon mean?

(d) Find at least two words from the passage which are examples of onomatopaea (a figure of speech).

Answer:
(a) Custard jumped to fight the pirate.

(b) Custard’s tail clashed like irons in a dungeon and he moved with a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm.

(c) Dungeon means an underground prison cell.                

(d) Words are clattes, clank, jangling.

Question 11. The pirate gaped at Belinda’s dragon, And gulped some grog from his pocket flagon, He fired two bullets but they didn’t hit, And Custard gobbled him, every bit.

(a) What did the pirate do on seeing the dragon?      

(b) What did Custard do to the pirate?

(c) Which word means the same as “swallow”?

(d) Find from the passage a word which means a large bottle or similar container with a handle in which wine etc is sold or served.

Answer:
(a) The pirate gulped some wine from his bottle.      

(b) Custard swallowed the pirate and left no trace of him.

(c) The word is ‘Gobble’.           

(d) The word is ‘flagon’.

Question 12.

Belinda embraced him, Mustard licked him, No one mourned for his pirate victim Ink and Blink in glee did gyrate Around the dragon that ate the pirate.

(a) What was everyone’s reaction after Custard gobbled the pirate?

(b) Why is the pirate called a victim here?        

(c) What does gyrate mean?

(d) Give a synonym of the word ‘mourn’.

Answer:
(a) Everyone became happy and hugged Custard. Ink and Blink started to dance around him.

(b) The pirate is called a victim because he suffered death at the hands of Custard as he ate him up.

(c) Gyrate stands for circular movements.                  

(d) A synonym of the word mourn is ‘Lament’.

 

Short Answer Type Questions

[2 Marks each]

 

Question 1. Where did Belinda live and with whom?

Answer: Belinda lived in a little white house with her four pets and a wagon. She had a black kitten named Ink, a grey mouse named Blink, a yellow dog named Mustard and a coward dragon named Custard.

Question 2.  What did Custard look like? 

Answer:  Custard looked really dangerous with spikes on his top and scales underneath. His mouth was like a fireplace and nose like a chimney. His toes looked like daggers.

Question 3. Did Custard match his physical appearance?

Answer:  No. Custard barely matched his appearance as he looked ferocious but he actually was a coward. He always cried for a nice and safe cage and everyone laughed at him for his cowardice.

Question 4.  Describe the bravery of everyone in the house.
Answer:  Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears. Ink and Blink were brave enough to chase lions away. Mustard’s bravery was like a tiger’s rage. It was only Custard, who was a coward, everyone else was very brave.

Question 5.  Was everyone really as brave as they claimed?

Answer:  Belinda and her three pets, excluding Custard, were very proud of their bravery but they were not really brave. It was only Custard, who had the courage to face the pirate so he was the real brave.

Question 6.  What did everyone do when the pirate came?

Answer:  When the pirate came, Belinda cried for help and became pale with fear. Mustard ran away with a terrified cry and Ink trickled to the bottom of the house while Blink disappeared in his mouse hole. Custard jumped in front of the Pirate to fight him.

Question 7.  How did Custard face the pirate?

Answer:  Custard jumped in front of the pirate to fight him. The pirate fired two bullets at him but missed both of them. Then Custard gobbled whole of the pirate and left no trace of him.

Question 8.  ‘But Custard cried for a nice safe cage. ’ Who is Custard? Why did he cry for a ‘nice safe cage’? 

 Answer:  Custard is Belinda’s pet Dragon. He cried for a nice safe cage because he was a coward, who feared easily and looked for comfort and safety of himself.

Question 9.  How did everyone react after Custard ate the pirate?

Answer: Belinda embraced Custard because he had saved everyone by killing the pirate. Mustard licked him to show his affection while Ink and Blink started dancing around Custard out of happiness.

Question 10. How did the other three pet boast of their bravery?

Answer: After Mustard, Ink and Blink fled on seeing the pirate, it was Custard, who fought him and killed him. The other pets soon made excuses for their cowardice and said that they would have been twice and thrice as brave as Custard.

Question 11. Did Custard accept his cowardice and their bravery?

Answer: Yes, Custard seemed like a really humble animal as even after killing the pirate he accepted that he is a coward and everyone else is braver than him

 

Long Answer (Value Based) Type Questions

[8 Marks each]

 

Question 1. The dragon, custard was considered a coward. The humble dragon proved his bravery in adversity. Analyse that certain qualities like bravery and courage are situational and spontaneous. Express your views with reference to the poem.

Answer: Custard’s humbleness won every reader’s heart as he showed true bravery and did not boast like Belinda and her other pets. Everyone boasted of their bravery but when they faced real danger, it was only Custard, who had the courage to face it. And he proved his bravery by not running away and facing the pirate and killing him. Qualities like bravery and courage can only be tested when someone is actually put in a dangerous situation. Therefore, these qualities are situational as becomes clear from Custard’s example. Custard looked for comfort all the time but this did not mean that he was a coward.

Question 2. Do you think that one should be made fun of because of their preferences and choices in life? Explain in the context of Custard, the dragon.

Answer: It is not right to make fun of anyone on the basis of their life style and their choices. Custard, the dragon, always wanted comfort and safety for him and therefore always cried for a nice safe cage. Belinda and other pets of the house made fun of him because they thought that he was a coward. Custard proved that just because he likes comfort, he is not a coward. In fact, he was the only one, who had the courage to face the pirate and kill him.

 

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q.1. Where did Belinda live?

Ans Belinda lived in a little white house.

Q.2. How did Custard the Dragon attack the pirate?

Ans. Custard jumped up at the pirate snorting like an engine and fought with his tail like irons in a dungeon. He jumped at the pirate like a robin jumps at a worm.

Q.3. What did the pirate do when he saw the dragon?

Ans. The pirate stared at the Dragon for some time and then hurriedly took some wine from the container kept in his pocket. He fired two bullets at the dragon but they could not hurt him.

Q.4. What did Mustard say when Custard ate the pirate?

Ans. When Custard ate the Pirate, then the little dog Mustard said that he would have been twice as brave if he had not been excited at that moment.

Q.5. Can you add a moral to the poem?

Ans. The poem has a moral. It teaches us that we should never look down upon others.

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