‘रचना-प्रयोग’ का मुख्य उद्देश्य क्या है?

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.

ClassSubjectBookChapter

The Tale of Custard the Dragon

Class 10 English · First Flight – Poems · Chapter 9

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The story in short

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.

The story in 6 beats

1Belinda lives in a little white house with Ink, Blink, Mustard, and Custard, and each pet has a funny description.
2Everyone says they are very brave, but they call Custard a coward because he asks for a safe cage.
3Belinda and the pets keep laughing at Custard and make fun of his fear again and again.
4Suddenly a pirate enters the house with pistols, and Belinda, Ink, Blink, and Mustard all run away in fear.
5Custard bravely attacks the pirate, eats him up, and saves Belinda and all the pets.
6After the danger ends, the others boast again, but the poem shows that Custard is the truly brave one.