Class 10 English — First Flight (Poetry): Poem 10 — The Tale of Custard the Dragon
by Ogden Nash
NCERT Questions & Answers + Important Extra Questions
NCERT Textbook Questions
Who are the__( characters in the poem? List them with their__( nicknames.
Answer
The characters and their descriptions are: (i) Belinda — a little girl who lives in a little white house with her pets. (ii) Ink — a little black kitten. (iii) Blink — a little grey mouse. (iv) Mustard — a little yellow dog. (v) Custard — a little dragon (the central character). All the pets except Custard boast about how brave they are: Ink and Blink could chase lions, Mustard was as brave as a tiger — but Custard, the dragon, always cried for a "nice safe cage." Despite his fearsome appearance (big sharp teeth, spikes, daggers on toes, fireproof scales), Custard was considered a coward by the others.
Why did Custard cry for a nice safe cage?
Answer
Custard cried for a nice safe cage because he was timid and fearful by nature — unlike what one would expect from a dragon. While Belinda, Ink, Blink, and Mustard all boasted about being brave, Custard openly admitted he was scared and wanted the safety of a cage. This was ironical because: (i) He was the biggest and most fearsome-looking of all the pets — with teeth, spikes, scales, and fire-breathing ability. (ii) He was actually the only one who proved truly brave when danger came. His desire for a safe cage can also be seen as humility and honesty — he didn't pretend to be brave like the others, who turned out to be cowards when a real pirate appeared.
"Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful." Why?
Answer
Belinda tickled Custard mercilessly because everyone in the house laughed at Custard for being a coward. They all considered themselves brave and looked down on Custard for always wanting a safe cage: (i) Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears. (ii) Ink and Blink could chase lions down the stairs. (iii) Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage. All of them mocked Custard's cowardice. Belinda tickling him "unmerciful" shows the cruelty of the supposedly brave ones towards the one who was honest about his fear. Later, when a real pirate came, all these "brave" characters ran and hid while Custard fought and ate the pirate.
How did Custard face the pirate?
Answer
When a nasty pirate climbed in through the window (armed with pistols and a cutlass), all the "brave" characters panicked: (i) Belinda cried for help. (ii) Mustard fled with a terrified yelp. (iii) Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household. (iv) Blink hid in his mouse-hole. But Custard, the so-called coward: (i) Jumped up, snapping and clashing his tail like irons in a dungeon. (ii) Clashed his teeth with a clatter and clash. (iii) Gobbled the pirate up (ate him). The pirate fired two bullets at Custard but missed, and Custard swallowed him whole. This proved that Custard was the only truly brave one — his earlier timidity was honest humility, not real cowardice.
What happened after Custard defeated the pirate?
Answer
After Custard bravely defeated the pirate, the others immediately downplayed his heroism and resumed mocking him: (i) Belinda embraced Custard but also claimed she would have been twice as brave. (ii) Mustard said he would have been three times as brave. (iii) Ink and Blink said they would have been four times and five times as brave. And Custard? He went right back to crying for a nice safe cage again. This ending is deeply ironic and satirical — the ones who ran away now claim they would have been braver, while the actual hero remains humble. Nash is commenting on how the world treats genuinely brave but modest people.
Important Extra Questions
What is the__( moral / message of the poem?
Answer
The poem teaches several lessons: (i) Don't judge by appearances: Custard looked fierce but seemed timid; the others seemed brave but were cowards. True character is revealed in crisis. (ii) Boasting is meaningless: Those who boast the most about bravery are often the first to run. Real courage doesn't need to announce itself. (iii) Humility is a sign of strength: Custard never boasted; he honestly admitted his fear — yet he was the only one who fought when it mattered. (iv) Society is ungrateful: After saving everyone, Custard got no lasting credit — the others resumed mocking him. This reflects how modest, brave people are often overlooked in favour of the loud and boastful.
What poetic devices are used?
Answer
(i) Irony: The "coward" (Custard) is the only brave one; the "brave" ones are the real cowards. (ii) Humour: The entire poem is playfully humorous — the names (Ink, Blink, Mustard, Custard), exaggerated descriptions, and the absurdity of a dragon wanting a cage. (iii) Rhyming couplets: The poem follows a regular rhyme scheme (AABB), giving it a nursery-rhyme quality. (iv) Simile: "Brave as a barrel full of bears," "brave as a tiger in a rage." (v) Onomatopoeia: "Clatter and clank," "snorting like an engine." (vi) Repetition: "Custard cried for a nice safe cage" is repeated — emphasising his consistent humility. (vii) Ballad form: The poem tells a story in verse, with narrative progression — making it a narrative poem/ballad.
How is the poem a satire on human nature?
Answer
The poem satirises several aspects of human behaviour: (i) Empty boasting: Belinda, Ink, Blink, and Mustard boast endlessly about their bravery — representing people who talk big but can't back it up. (ii) Bullying the modest: They all mock Custard for being honest about his fear — just as society mocks people who don't boast. (iii) Taking credit after the fact: After Custard defeats the pirate, the others claim they would have been braver — representing how people take credit for things they didn't do, or downplay others' achievements. (iv) Forgetting gratitude: Custard saved everyone's lives, yet they go right back to mocking him — representing how quickly society forgets its heroes. Through humour and exaggeration, Nash exposes the hypocrisy, ingratitude, and false bravery common in human society.