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व्याकरण का व्यावहारिक प्रयोग सिखाना

‘द्वितीयः’ किस प्रकार की संख्या है?

क्रमवाचक (दूसरा)

Who are the characters in “The Tale of Custard the Dragon”?

Belinda and her pets — Ink the kitten, Blink the mouse, Mustard the dog, and Custard the dragon.

How is Custard the dragon described at first?

He is mocked as a coward who always cries for a nice safe cage, unlike the others who boast of their bravery.

What happened when the pirate broke into the house?

The boastful Belinda and the brave-talking pets panicked and hid, while the “cowardly” Custard charged at the pirate.

How did Custard prove his bravery?

He attacked the pirate fearlessly and gobbled him up, saving Belinda and all the pets.

How did the others behave after Custard’s brave act?

They again began boasting and pretended they had been braver than Custard.

What does the poet satirise through this tale?

False bravado — the empty boasting of those who claim to be brave but flee in real danger.

What is the central message of the poem?

That those who boast loudest are often not the bravest, and true courage may be found in the most unexpected person.

Why is the poem called a ballad?

Because it is a narrative poem that tells a story in simple, rhythmic and rhyming verse.

How does the poem create humour?

Through the comic contrast between the boastful cowards and the truly brave “coward”, and its light, playful rhyme.

What lesson can be drawn about appearances?

That appearances can be deceptive — the one labelled a coward turns out to be the real hero.

CBSE Class 10 Board Examination

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The Tale of Custard the Dragon — Class 10 English

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English · 28 chapters

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Chapter 9: The Tale of Custard the Dragon

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Summary

Ogden Nash’s “The Tale of Custard the Dragon” is a humorous ballad about a little girl named Belinda who lives in a small house with her pets — a kitten called Ink, a mouse called Blink, a little yellow dog called Mustard, and a dragon named Custard. While the others all boast of how brave they are, Custard the dragon is mocked for being a coward and always cries for a nice safe cage. One day, however, a fearsome pirate breaks into the house. The boastful Belinda and the brave-talking pets all panic and hide, but it is the so-called cowardly Custard who charges at the pirate and gobbles him up, saving everyone. Afterwards the others again pretend they were braver than Custard. Through this comic tale, Nash satirises false bravado and shows that those who boast loudest are often not the bravest, while true courage may lie in the most unexpected person. Appearances can be deceptive.

True courage versus false bravadoThe cowardly heroSatire and humourAppearances are deceptiveThe ballad form

Key terms

Custard the dragon

The supposedly cowardly dragon who proves truly brave.

Belinda

The little girl who owns the pets and boasts of bravery.

Ink, Blink and Mustard

The kitten, mouse and dog who all boast but then hide.

The pirate

The intruder whom Custard bravely defeats.

False bravado

The empty boasting of the others, satirised by the poet.

Ogden Nash

The poet who wrote this humorous ballad.

Important questions

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TermCustard the dragon

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Practice quiz

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Class 10 English — The Tale of Custard the Dragon (Practice Quiz)

10 Qs · ~10 min