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Thinking about the Poem

Q1. Who are the characters in this poem? List them with their pet names.
Answer: The characters in this poem are:
Belinda (the owner)
Ink (the little black kitten)
Blink (the little grey mouse)
Mustard (the little yellow dog)
Custard (the little pet dragon)

Q2. 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 a coward and was afraid of everything. He is called a “cowardly dragon” by all the other pets and Belinda because he is the only one who is scared, while the others boast about their bravery.

Q3. “Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful…” Why?
Answer: Belinda tickled him unmercifully because she, along with her other pets, thought that Custard was a coward. She did this to tease him and make fun of his cowardice.

Q4. 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: Here are some other poetic devices used in the poem:
● Simile:
○ “Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears.”
○ “Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage.”
○ “Mouth like a fireplace.”
○ “He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm.”
● Metaphor: “chimney for a nose”
● Alliteration:
○ “Belinda lived in a little white house”
○ “little yellow dog”
○ “realio, trulio”
● Personification:
○ “Mustard growled”
○ “Blink said Weeck!”
○ “Ink and Blink… rudely asked his age”
● Repetition: “Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful” and “realio, trulio.” The first and last stanzas are also repeated.
● Onomatopoeia: “Weeck!”, “Clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm”

Q5. Read stanza three again to know how the poet describes the appearance of the dragon.
Answer: The poet describes the dragon’s appearance by saying that Custard had “big sharp teeth,” “spikes on top of him and scales underneath,” a “Mouth like a fireplace,” a “chimney for a nose,” and “realio, trulio daggers on his toes.”

Q6. Can you find out the rhyme scheme of two or three stanzas of the poem?
Answer: The rhyme scheme of the poem is aabb.
● Stanza 1: house (a), mouse (a), wagon (b), dragon (b)
● Stanza 2: Ink (a), Blink (a), Mustard (b), Custard (b)
● Stanza 3: teeth (a), underneath (a), nose (b), toes (b)

Q7. 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: The poet uses several images to make the poem more vivid and humorous:
● “Mouth like a fireplace, chimney for a nose” – This gives the image of a dragon that breathes fire and smoke.
● “Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears” – This paints a picture of Belinda’s immense bravery, even though it’s an exaggeration.
● “Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage” – This creates a strong image of Mustard’s supposed bravery.
● “Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs” – This shows how bold the kitten and mouse were, even if it’s an absurd image.
● “He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm” – This gives a clear, simple, and funny picture of the dragon’s swift attack.

Q8. 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 poem. The poet uses absurd situations and funny imagery to make it humorous. The dragon, who is supposed to be brave, is actually a coward, while the small, supposedly harmless pets are portrayed as brave. The use of repetitive words like “realio, trulio” and the rhythmic, musical style of the ballad make it a fun and enjoyable read. The ending, where the coward turns out to be the real hero, is also amusing.

Q9. 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: This is a discussion-based question that requires a student to think of a modern song that tells a story. A good example could be “The Ballad of Mona Lisa” by Panic! at the Disco, or “Eleanor Rigby” by The Beatles. The answer would depend on the student’s personal music knowledge.