Navigating through the English Language and Literature curriculum for Class 10 requires an in-depth understanding of narrative verse, comic ballads, parody, character irony, and rhythmic structure. Poem 9 of First Flight, “The Tale of Custard the Dragon” by celebrated American humorist Ogden Nash, is a delightful mock-heroic ballad. Written in a playful, musical style with deliberate poetic license, the poem tells the story of Belinda and her four pets who boast constantly of their immense courage, while ridiculing Custard the dragon for his desire for a peaceful, safe cage. However, when a real crisis strikes in the form of an armed pirate, the true nature of each character is revealed. To help students master every aspect of this high-weightage unit, this comprehensive solutions guide offers textbook-accurate, highly structured, and pedagogically sound responses strictly aligned with the latest CBSE marking schemes and word limits.
Every question presented in the official NCERT textbook—ranging from character naming and ballad analysis to simile identification, rhyme scheme breakdowns, and an expanded set of 15 board-level FAQs—has been solved with exhaustive detail. Short-answer responses are calibrated strictly to the official 30–40 word limit, while long-answer analytical questions meet the 100–120 word board standard. Key scoring terms, literary devices (such as ballad, mock-heroic satire, onomatopoeia, simile, metaphor, and situational irony), and character dynamics have been highlighted to ensure students secure maximum marks in their CBSE Board Examinations.
NCERT Class 10 English The Tale of Custard the Dragon Solutions
The poem is set in a little white house where Belinda lives with her four pets: a little black kitten named Ink, a little grey mouse named Blink, a little yellow dog named Mustard, and a pet dragon named Custard. Belinda and her three small pets consider themselves extraordinarily brave—Belinda claims to be as brave as a barrel of bears, Ink and Blink boast of chasing lions down the stairs, and Mustard claims to be as brave as an enraged tiger. In contrast, Custard is dismissed as a coward because he cries for a “nice safe cage.”
The turning point occurs when a terrifying, pistol-wielding pirate climbs through the window. Overcome with sudden terror, Belinda turns pale and cries for help, Mustard flees with a terrified yelp, Ink hides at the bottom of the household, and Blink scurries into his mousehole. Only Custard the dragon steps forward bravely, snorting like an engine and clashing his tail to swallow the pirate whole. Ironically, once the danger has passed, the boastful pets resume making excuses for their cowardice, and humble Custard politely agrees that everyone else is braver than him. Below are the complete, textbook-accurate solutions.
Thinking about the Poem (Page No. 132-133)
Question 1 Who are the characters in this poem? List them with their pet names. (Page No. 132) [BOARD EXAM FAVORITE]
Answer: The characters in the poem consist of a young girl named Belinda and her four animal pets, listed with their rhyming pet names:
- Ink: The little black kitten.
- Blink: The little grey mouse.
- Mustard: The little yellow dog, who is sharp as mustard.
- Custard: The cowardly pet dragon.
- The Pirate: An intruder armed with pistols and a cutlass.
Question 2 Why did Custard cry for a nice safe cage? Why is the dragon called “cowardly dragon”? (Page No. 132) [BOARD EXAM FAVORITE]
Answer: Custard cried for a “nice safe cage” because he was a peace-loving, gentle dragon who preferred security, comfort, and quiet solitude over unnecessary conflict and danger.
He was called a “cowardly dragon” because, despite possessing massive physical strength, sharp teeth, and fearsome daggers on his toes, he never showed aggression or boasted of his power, unlike the other pets who constantly bragged of their bravery.
Question 3 “Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful…” Why? (Page No. 132)
Answer: Belinda tickled Custard unmercifully to tease, mock, and laugh at him for his perceived cowardice.
Tickling is a physical gesture used to provoke a reaction, and Belinda and her other pets used it to mock his timid nature and make fun of his continuous demands for a safe cage.
Question 4 The poet has employed many poetic devices in the poem. For example: “Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon” — the poetic device here is a simile. Can you list some more such poetic devices used in the poem? (Page No. 132) [BOARD EXAM FAVORITE]
Answer: Ogden Nash employs a rich variety of figurative and poetic devices throughout the ballad:
- Similes:
- “As brave as a barrel of bears” (Belinda’s bravery).
- “As brave as a tiger in a rage” (Mustard’s bravery).
- “Snorting like an engine” (Custard’s furious breathing).
- “Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon” (The metallic sound of Custard’s tail).
- “Went at the pirate like a robin at a worm” (The swift attack of Custard).
- Metaphors:
- “Chimney for a nose” (Directly comparing Custard’s fiery nostrils to a chimney).
- “Daggers on his toes” (Comparing his razor-sharp claws to daggers).
- Onomatopoeia (Sound Words):
- “Meowch!” (Ink’s cry), “Weeck!” (Blink’s laugh), “Clatter,” “Clank,” and “Jangling.”
- Alliteration:
- “Belinda lived in a little…” (repetition of ‘l’ sound).
- “Gulped some grog” (repetition of ‘g’ sound).
Question 5 Read stanza three again to know how the poet describes the appearance of the dragon. (Page No. 132) [BOARD EXAM FAVORITE]
Answer: In stanza three, the poet describes Custard as a physically formidable, terrifying creature:
- He had big, sharp teeth for defense.
- His back was covered with sharp spikes on top and protective scales underneath.
- His mouth was described as a fiery fireplace, and his nose functioned like a chimney emitting smoke.
- His toes were equipped with razor-sharp claws that looked like real daggers.
Question 6 Can you find the rhyme scheme for two or three stanzas of the poem? (Page No. 132)
Answer: The poem follows a simple, musical, and consistent aabb rhyme scheme throughout its stanzas.
For example, in Stanza 1:
- house (a)
- mouse (a)
- wagon (b)
- dragon (b) Rhyme Scheme: aabb
In Stanza 2:
- Ink (c)
- Blink (c)
- Mustard (d)
- Custard (d) Rhyme Scheme: ccdd (aabb pattern)
Question 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? (Page No. 133)
Answer: The poem is filled with dynamic visual, auditory, and kinetic imagery:
- Visual Imagery: “Little white house,” “little yellow dog,” “little red wagon,” “mouth like a fireplace,” “black beard and one wooden leg.”
- Auditory / Sound Imagery: “Sudden, nasty sound,” “pirate cried ‘Meowch!’,” “yelp of Mustard,” “snorting like an engine,” “clatter and a clank.”
- Action Imagery: Custard jumping up, striking his tail on the ground, charging the pirate, and gobbling him up in one bite.
Question 8 Do you find The Tale of Custard the Dragon to be a serious or a light-hearted poem? Give reasons from the poem to support your answer. (Page No. 133) [BOARD EXAM FAVORITE]
Answer: The Tale of Custard the Dragon is an unmistakably light-hearted, humorous, and satirical poem.
Reasons from the text that establish its comic tone include:
- Humorous Characterization: The tiny mouse and kitten claim they can chase fierce lions, creating comical exaggeration.
- Invented Words and Rhymes: The poet playfully invents words like “realio, trulio” and rhymes “dungeon” with “engine” to create whimsical musicality.
- Satirical Irony: The characters who boast the loudest flee in panic during danger, while the timid dragon calmly eats the pirate and then agrees that everyone else is braver than him.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Class 10 English Poem 9
Question 1: Who is the poet of “The Tale of Custard the Dragon”? Answer: The poem is written by Ogden Nash, a celebrated 20th-century American poet famous for his light verse, comic ballads, and inventive rhyming schemes.
Question 2: What is the genre of “The Tale of Custard the Dragon”? Answer: It is a mock-heroic comic ballad—a parody of traditional heroic ballads that tells a funny story in rhythmic, rhyming stanzas.
Question 3: Where did Belinda live and with whom? Answer: Belinda lived in a little white house with her four pets: Ink (kitten), Blink (mouse), Mustard (dog), and Custard (dragon).
Question 4: Why was the dragon named Custard? Answer: He was named Custard because he was perceived as soft, sweet, and timid, crying constantly for a safe cage rather than acting ferocious.
Question 5: How did the poet describe the pirate’s appearance? Answer: The pirate carried pistols in both hands, held a bright cutlass blade between his teeth, had a thick black beard, and walked with a wooden leg.
Question 6: How did Belinda and her brave pets react when the pirate entered? Answer: Belinda turned pale and cried for help, Mustard fled with a terrified yelp, Ink hid at the bottom of the house, and Blink scurried into his mousehole.
Question 7: How did Custard save everyone from the pirate? Answer: Custard charged fearlessly at the pirate, snorted like an engine, struck him with his metallic tail, and swallowed him whole like a robin catching a worm.
Question 8: What did the pirate do before Custard attacked him? Answer: The pirate gaped in shock at Custard, drank some grog from his pocket flask, and fired two bullets that missed the dragon completely.
Question 9: How did Belinda and the pets celebrate after the pirate was killed? Answer: Belinda embraced Custard, Mustard licked him, and Ink and Blink danced around him in circles of joy.
Question 10: What excuses did Mustard, Ink, and Blink make after the danger passed? Answer: Mustard claimed he would have been twice as brave if he hadn’t been flustered, while Ink and Blink claimed they would have been three times as brave.
Question 11: What was Custard’s humble response to their excuses? Answer: Custard humbly agreed with them, saying, “I quite agree that everybody is braver than me.”
Question 12: What is the central moral lesson of the poem? Answer: True bravery is demonstrated through courageous actions during a crisis, not through empty words and loud boasting during times of peace.
Question 13: What does the phrase “a barrel of bears” mean? Answer: It is an idiomatic exaggeration meaning extremely bold, fearless, and full of raw strength.
Question 14: What is onomatopoeia, and how is it used in the poem? Answer: Onomatopoeia is the use of words that imitate natural sounds. In this poem, words like meowch, weeck, clatter, clank, and snorting create lively sound effects.
Question 15: Why is Custard considered the real hero of the story? Answer: Custard is the real hero because he remained modest, did not brag, and risked his life to save his companions while the boastful pets ran away.
Mastering the NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Poem 9, “The Tale of Custard the Dragon”, equips students with the poetic devices, character contrasts, and stanza-by-stanza evidence required for board exam success. Review the similes, the parody ballad form, and the 15 board-level FAQs above to secure full marks in your CBSE literature assessments.