The Tale of Custard the Dragon

Ans. Custard, the dragon had a formidable appearance, with sharp teeth, toes like daggers, spikes on back and scales on the belly. Its mouth was a fireplace and the nose was always fuming like a chimney. However, in sharp contrast to the appearance, his temperament was extremely timid.

Ans. ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ is a humorous, light hearted poem as the characters display behavioural attributes, contrary to their appearance as well as nature. It is extremely funny to imagine a fierce looking dragon crying for a safe cage or mouse raging like a lion.

Ans. The interpretation of the message in the poem may vary for different readers. The situation narrated underscores a basic truth that the real test of courage is during a crisis. The dragon though never put his strength on display but exhibited it in action when it was required to do so.

Ans. The dragon, Custard, initially commanded no amount of respect from Belinda and the other pets, on account of his cowardice; but when the house was attacked by an armed pirate and all others panicked and ran for shelter, the dragon savagely attacked the pirate and ate him up. Thus, the other animals realised his worth and came to respect him genuinely.

Ans. Custard was truly brave and did not boast like Belinda and her other pets. Custard had the courage to face real danger, whereas other ones only boasted of their bravery. Custard faced the pirate and killed him, and he proved it by not running away. Bravery and courage are qualities which are exhibited when someone actually faces a dangerous situation. Thus these qualities are spontaneous, taking the example of Custard. The incident mentioned in the poem reveals a basic truth that the real test of courage is during a crisis. The dragon though never put his strength on display but exhibits it in action when it was required to do so. A person exhibits many qualities in his genes. The attribute of a dragon is always dangerous and fierce. How could he look for safe cage all the time? He had a hidden bravery inside him, of which he was unaware, and has been mocked as a coward. In real sense, Custard was not at all a coward, he was brave by birth, but he had no chance to prove it before. Bravery reacted spontaneously, when he killed the pirate and saved all.

Ans. In this poem “The Tale of Custard the Dragon: everyone except Custard boasted of their bravery. Belinda said that she is as brave as a barrel full of bears, Ink and Blink chased lions and Mustard was as brave as tiger in rage. But when a dangerous situation came everyone was frightened and ran away from the Pirate. But Custard who was always considered as coward didn’t run away, faced the pirate and killed him. Custard’s humbleness won every reader’s heart as he showed true bravery and did not boast like Belinda and her other pets.

Everyone boasted of their bravery but when they faced real danger, it was only Custard, who had the courage to face it. Qualities like bravery and courage can only be tested when someone is actually put in a dangerous situation. Therefore, these qualities are situational as becomes clear from Custard’s examples. Custard looked for comfort all the time but this did not mean that he was a coward.

Ans. It is said that ‘Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear’. Courage does not means showing power but the ability to overcome fear. If a person is not involved in boasting about his bravery and showing aggression doesn’t mean that he is a coward. In the poem “the Tale of Custard the Dragon” everyone boasted about their bravery but when situation came they ran away. But Custard who was considered as coward was the one who fought with the pirate and saved everyone’s life.

When an opportunity came to show bravery and courage only Custard came forward and killed the pirate, and everyone else who considered themselves as brave ran away from the situation. Thus, Custard who was always teased by calling him Coward was the real hero in the situation.

Ans. In this poem “The Tale of Custard the Dragon” Belinda and her pets are projected as very courageous and brave. Belinda is as brave as barrel full of bears. Ink and Blink could chase lions down the stairs. Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage. Only Custard, the dragon was considered to be timid and cowardly. But when an opportunity came in front of them to showcase their courage, all proved to be cowards except Custard who fought against and swallowed the pirate. So, in reality only Custard was brave not Belinda and her other pets.

Ans. Custard, the dragon was a picture of power and strength. His teeth were big and sharp. There were spikes on top of him. His mouth spat fire. He had a big nose that resembled a chimney. There were daggers on his toes. However, Custard never considered himself as powerful as his appearance. He never realised his strength. So, he always begged for a nice safe cage for his protection.

Ans. Custard the dragon was considered a coward as he always cried for a safe cage. Later, when the pirate entered the house with pistols in his left and right hand, everyone was scared and ran away and disappeared, except Custard who faced him courageously and attacked him, hit him hard with his forceful tail and gobbled every bit of him. While everyone else was trembling with fear and ran away to protect themselves from the pirate, it was Custard the dragon who saved life of every housemate.

Ans. The dragon had big sharp teeth, and spikes on top of him scales underneath but everyone laughed at him as he always cried for a safe cage whereas everyone boasted about their bravery. But when the pirate entered, all were scared and ran away and disappeared except Custard. He jumped onto the pirate and made such a strong sound with his nose as if the engine was producing a sound. Not only this, he hit his tail on the ground with great force that it produced a heavy sound of metal being rubbed against each other in the underground prisons.

He attacked the pirate just like robin bird that attacks the worms. Pirate got shocked by the reaction of dragon and to gather some strength, he drank some alcohol from a container in his pocket. After gathering some courage, he fired two bullets on the dragon but missed it. Custard the dragon ate every bit of this fierce looking pirate. Thus, saved life of everyone.

Ans. Ballads are stories told in verse. Generally, ballads are tales of adventures and heroism. In the poem, the poet does present the encounter of Custard and the pirate in the typical spirit of a ballad. The four-line stanzas have the rhyme scheme: aabb throughout the poem which gives it a musical rhythm which is again a characteristic of a ballad. Ogden Nash gives a subtle message to the readers through the tale of Custard, the dragon. In this world of deceit, self-confidence, self-dependence and self-respect are essentials to earn your rightful place. The mere presence of physical strength is not enough.

The more important point is that you must be conscious of your strength. You must be fully aware of the fact that many others who are far inferior in strength and power should have no right to taunt and ridicule you.

Ans. a true friend is the one who always sticks around irrespective of how good or bad the situation is. Those who survive the test of friendship i.e., those who stand by in the most trying times are the real friends. In this poem “The Tale of Custard the Dragon” Belinda with other pets always made fun of Custard. They teased him and called him a coward. One day when a pirate entered their house everyone ran away and left Belinda alone in the tough situation but Custard who was always made fun of stayed there and fought for Belinda with the pirate.

He saved life of Belinda. Custard stood by Belinda in her tough situation and this shows that a friend in need is a friend indeed. And Custard was a real friend.