Class 10 English First Flight Poem 9 The Tale of Custard the Dragon NCERT Solutions

The Tale of Custard the Dragon Class 10 NCERT Solutions

The answers highlight important literary ideas, character traits, and poetic devices. Revising these questions and answers is useful for CBSE Class 10 exams, as many questions are asked directly or indirectly from this poem.

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

Answer:

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

The names of the pets are listed below:

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

Answer:

Custard cried for a nice, safe cage because he was timid and easily frightened. He is called a “cowardly dragon” since everyone else in the house is shown as brave—Belinda is compared to a barrel full of bears, Ink and Blink can chase lions, and Mustard is as fierce as a raging tiger. In contrast, Custard always wished for a safe cage, as he feared danger and wanted protection.

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

Answer:

Belinda tickled Custard, the dragon, mercilessly because he was always fearful and kept asking for a nice safe cage. She rubbed her fingers to create a tingling feeling that irritated the dragon, and everyone laughed at Custard’s so-called cowardice.

Question 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:

The poet makes wide use of similes in the poem, one example being “mouth like a fireplace.” The word “little” is repeated in the first stanza to stress that everything in Belinda’s house, including her pets, was small in size. In the seventh stanza, the poet deliberately uses an incorrect spelling like “winda” instead of “window” to make it rhyme with Belinda’s name. The poet also uses alliteration in lines such as “clashed his tail” and “with a clatter and a clank.” In the eleventh stanza, phrases like “the pirate gaped” and “gulped some grog” further highlight the use of poetic devices in the poem.

Question 5:

Read stanza three again to know how the poet describes the appearance of the dragon.

Answer:

The poet portrays Custard the dragon as having large, sharp teeth, spikes along his body, and scales beneath. His mouth is compared to a fireplace, with a nose like a chimney and toes that are sharp like daggers.

Question 6:

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

Answer:

The rhyme scheme of two or three stanzas of the poem is ‘aabb’.

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?

Answer:

Writers often use words and expressions that do not state meanings directly but suggest deeper ideas. Such phrases help stimulate our imagination and allow us to visualise scenes like a picture with an underlying message. In the poem, the poet uses vivid imagery through expressions such as “mouth like a fireplace,” “chimney for a nose,” “brave as a barrel full of bears,” “brave as a tiger in a rage,” and “went at the pirate like a robin at a worm,” making the descriptions lively and memorable.

Question 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.

Answer:

The Tale of Custard the Dragon is a light-hearted and humorous poem written to entertain readers of all ages. It follows a fixed rhyme scheme, which adds to its charm and makes it enjoyable to read. To preserve the rhyme, the poet even uses an incorrect spelling like “winda” instead of “window” to rhyme with “Belinda.” The poet comically presents Belinda and her pets—Belinda is described as being as brave as a barrel full of bears, Ink and Blink are so bold they could chase a lion down the stairs, and Mustard is fierce like a raging tiger. In contrast, Custard the dragon is shown as timid, always longing for a safe cage and often mocked for his fearfulness. However, when a pirate attacks the house and everyone else panics, it is the same “cowardly” Custard who shows true courage. He charges at the pirate, snorting like an engine, lashes his tail, and devours him like a robin attacking a worm. Though ridiculed earlier, Custard proves to be the bravest of all. This dramatic irony adds humour to the poem and highlights the poet’s playful and entertaining style.

Question 9:

This poem, in ballad form, tells a story. Have you come across any such modern song or lyric that tells a story? If you know one, tell it to the class. Collect such songs as a project.

Answer:

Activity to be done by yourself.

Writing (Page 132)

Question 1:

Have fun writing your ballad. Gather information (choose/decide an idea/theme), organise your materials under characters and story and then write. Revise and edit your ballad to make it entertaining. Use the following guidelines to write your ballad.

• Purpose of writing the ballad: to entertain and interest

• To whom I am writing: decide for whom you are writing

• How should I structure features? :

– Tell a simple narrative

– A few major characters

– A strong rhythm and rhyme

– May have a refrain (single or two line(s) repeated often)

– Divide into verses

Answer:

Activity to be done by yourself.

Class 10 English The Tale of Custard the Dragon Poetic Devices

Poetic devices are asked in the class 10 English board exam directly; these are literary tools used by poets to enhance meaning, emotion, and imagery in a poem:

• Simile: Custard as brave as a barrel full of bears, mouth like a fireplace, teeth like daggers, beard like a nest, nose like a chimney

• Repetition: Realio trulio repeated to create humour and rhythm

• Irony: Custard considered cowardly but proves to be the bravest, others called brave but hide during danger

• Imagery: Belinda’s little black kitten, little yellow dog, red wagon, pirate with pistols and sword, fire and smoke from Custard

• Alliteration: Belinda lived in a little white house, clashed his tail like iron in a dungeon