NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English (First Flight) Poem 9: The Tale of Custard the Dragon

Complete solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem 9 – “The Tale of Custard the Dragon” by Ogden Nash: an original summary, theme and message, word meanings, and every “Thinking about the Poem” question answered in full. The textbook questions are reproduced exactly as in the NCERT book, with original, exam-ready answers, plus extra questions, MCQs and Assertion–Reason practice for your board exam (2026–27).

Class: 10 Subject: English Book: First Flight Type: Poem (Poem 9) Poet: Ogden Nash Session: 2026–27
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About the poet

Ogden Nash (1902–1971) was an American poet famous for his light, humorous verse. He wrote over four hundred pieces of comic poetry, the best of which appeared in fourteen volumes published between 1931 and 1972. Nash is celebrated for his playful rhymes, deliberately odd spellings (such as “realio, trulio” and “winda”), and unexpectedly long, conversational lines that still end neatly in rhyme. His verse mixes the informal and the formal in a way that critics found almost impossible to imitate. “The Tale of Custard the Dragon” is a fine example of his witty, child-friendly style.

Summary

The poem is a humorous ballad – a story-poem that gently parodies tales of courage. A little girl named Belinda lives in a small white house with four pets: a black kitten called Ink, a grey mouse called Blink, a yellow dog called Mustard, and a pet dragon called Custard. Although Custard the dragon looks fierce – with big sharp teeth, spikes, scales, and a mouth like a fireplace – he is timid and keeps crying for a “nice safe cage.”

Belinda and the other pets are described as wonderfully brave: Belinda is “as brave as a barrel full of bears,” Ink and Blink chase lions down the stairs, and Mustard is as brave as a tiger in a rage. They all tease Custard, mocking him as a coward and laughing at him for wanting safety.

Then comes the real test. A fearsome pirate, armed with two pistols and a cutlass, climbs in through the window. At once the “brave” ones turn out to be cowards: Belinda cries for help, Mustard flees with a terrified yelp, Ink hides at the bottom of the house, and Blink scurries into a mousehole. Only the supposedly cowardly Custard leaps up, attacks the pirate fearlessly, and gobbles him up completely. Everyone praises and embraces the dragon. Yet, comically, the others soon make excuses, claiming they would have been braver if they had not been “flustered,” while the modest Custard agrees that everybody is braver than he is. Life returns to normal, with Custard still crying for his safe cage – though we now know who the true hero is.

Theme & message

The poem light-heartedly questions the idea of appearances versus reality. Those who boast loudest about their bravery prove to be cowards in real danger, while the one mocked as a coward turns out to be genuinely courageous. The message is that true bravery is shown through action, not through loud claims, and that we should not judge others by appearance or boasting. With its gentle humour, the ballad also reminds us to be humble and not to mock those who seem weak.

Word meanings

Word / PhraseMeaning
realio, trulio(humorous coinage) really, truly
cowarda person who lacks courage
spikessharp pointed parts
scalessmall hard plates covering a dragon’s body
barrel full of bears(simile) very brave
in a rageextremely angry
unmercifulwithout mercy; mercilessly
Percivalname of a brave knight (used mockingly)
Weeck(coined) a mouse’s way of giggling
winda(humorous spelling) window
cutlassa short curved sword used by sailors/pirates
paledturned pale with fear
yelpa short sharp cry (of fear or pain)
trickledmoved slowly, like a thin stream
mouseholed(coined) hid in a mousehole
snortingmaking a loud noise through the nose
clashedstruck noisily
janglingmaking a harsh ringing/rattling sound
squirma wriggling, twisting movement
gapedstared with the mouth open in surprise
groga drink typically drunk by sailors
flagona large bottle/container for drink
gobbledate quickly and greedily
mournedfelt or showed sorrow for a death
gyrateto move around in circles
flusterednervous and confused

Thinking about the Poem

The following question headings are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT First Flight textbook; the answers are original.

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

ANSWERThe characters in the poem are a little girl and her four pets:1. Belinda – the little girl who owns the pets.2. Ink – the little black kitten.3. Blink – the little grey mouse.4. Mustard – the little yellow dog.5. Custard – the pet dragon (the “coward” who turns out to be the real hero).

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

ANSWERCustard cried for a nice safe cage because, despite his fierce appearance, he was timid and easily frightened. While all the other pets boasted of their bravery and behaved fearlessly, Custard always wished for safety and comfort.He is called the “cowardly dragon” because he was afraid even when there was no real danger and repeatedly asked for a safe cage to protect himself. The others teased him for this and mocked him as a coward – not knowing that he was actually the bravest of all, as he later proved by fighting the pirate.

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

ANSWERBelinda tickled Custard mercilessly to tease and make fun of him for being a coward. Since the dragon kept crying for a nice safe cage instead of acting brave, Belinda and the other pets did not take him seriously. They laughed at him, called him names such as “Percival”, and tickled him cruelly as a way of mocking his timid, fearful nature.

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?

ANSWERSimile (comparison using ‘as’ or ‘like’):• “Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears”• “Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage”• “the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard”• “up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine”• “He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm”Metaphor (implied comparison): “Mouth like a fireplace, chimney for a nose” (the ‘chimney for a nose’ part is a metaphor).Onomatopoeia (sound words): “Weeck”, “Meowch”, “clatter and a clank”, “jangling”.Alliteration (same starting sound): “clatter and a clank”, “black kitten”, “little” repeated, “gulped some grog”.Repetition: “little” in the opening stanza; “Suddenly, suddenly”.

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

ANSWERIn stanza three the poet describes Custard the dragon as ferocious in appearance. He had big sharp teeth, spikes on top of his body and scales underneath. His mouth was like a fireplace (suggesting he could breathe fire) and he had a chimney for a nose. He also had “realio, trulio” daggers on his toes (sharp claws). This frightening, war-like appearance makes the irony stronger, because such a fierce-looking dragon is actually shy and timid.

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

ANSWERThe poem follows a regular aabb rhyme scheme – the first two lines of each stanza rhyme with each other, and the last two lines rhyme with each other.Stanza 1: house / mouse (a–a), wagon / dragon (b–b).Stanza 2: Ink / Blink (a–a), Mustard / Custard (b–b).Stanza 3: teeth / underneath (a–a), nose / toes (b–b).So the rhyme scheme of the poem is aabb throughout.

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?

ANSWERSome vivid images in the poem are:• “Mouth like a fireplace, chimney for a nose” – a picture of a fire-breathing dragon.• “realio, trulio daggers on his toes” – the dragon’s sharp, dangerous claws.• “brave as a barrel full of bears” and “a tiger in a rage” – images of great courage.• “Pistol in his left hand, pistol in his right … a cutlass bright … beard was black, one leg was wood” – a striking image of the fearsome pirate.• “up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine” and “Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon” – images of the dragon’s sudden, noisy attack.

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.

ANSWERIt is a light-hearted (humorous) poem. The poet uses funny, made-up words such as “realio, trulio”, “winda”, “Weeck” and “mouseholed”, comic similes like “brave as a barrel full of bears”, and amusing sound words such as “Meowch”. The whole situation is comic – the loud, boastful pets run away in fear, while the “cowardly” dragon becomes the hero, and then they all make funny excuses for their cowardice. The cheerful rhythm and rhyme of the ballad also add to its playful, entertaining tone. So the poem is clearly meant to amuse, not to be taken seriously.

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.

ANSWERYes. Many modern songs are story-songs (narrative ballads) just like this poem. They have characters, a simple plot, a strong rhythm and rhyme, and often a repeated refrain. Some well-known examples are “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers, “A Boy Named Sue” by Johnny Cash, “Hotel California” by the Eagles, and traditional folk ballads found in many Indian languages. (Choose any song you like, narrate its short story to the class, and collect a few such songs for your project.)

Extra questions

Short answer (30–40 words)

1. Why is the poem called a “ballad”?

ANSWERA ballad is a song or poem that tells a story. The poem is called a ballad because it narrates a complete story – about Belinda, her pets and the pirate – in simple stanzas with a strong rhythm, regular rhyme and a repeated refrain.

2. How do the other pets behave when the pirate appears?

ANSWERThey all turn cowardly. Belinda cries for help, Mustard runs away with a terrified yelp, Ink trickles down to the bottom of the house, and Blink quickly hides in a mousehole – exposing their earlier boasts of bravery as empty.

3. How does Custard defeat the pirate?

ANSWERCustard jumps up snorting like an engine, clashes his tail, and rushes at the pirate like a robin at a worm. The pirate fires two bullets that miss, and Custard swallows him whole, “every bit.”

4. What excuses do the other pets make after the pirate is killed?

ANSWERMustard claims he would have been twice as brave if he had not been flustered; Ink and Blink say they would have been three times as brave. Each tries to save face after running away in real danger.

5. What is ironic about Custard’s behaviour at the end of the poem?

ANSWERIt is ironic that even after bravely killing the pirate, Custard still keeps crying for a nice safe cage, and the others still consider themselves braver. The true hero remains humble, while the boasters keep up their false pride.

Long answer (100–120 words)

6. The poem teaches us that “all that glitters is not gold” and that true courage is proved by action. Discuss with reference to the poem.

ANSWERThe poem strongly proves that appearances and boasts can be deceptive. Belinda, Ink, Blink and Mustard repeatedly brag about their courage – described as brave as bears and tigers, chasing lions down the stairs – yet when the armed pirate climbs in, they all flee or hide in terror. Custard, on the other hand, looks fierce but is mocked as a coward because he only wants a safe cage. When real danger comes, it is this “cowardly” dragon who fearlessly attacks and gobbles up the pirate. Thus the poet shows, with gentle humour, that loud claims of bravery mean nothing; true courage is shown through action, not words, and we should never judge anyone by appearance or boasting.

7. Describe how Ogden Nash creates humour in “The Tale of Custard the Dragon”.

ANSWEROgden Nash fills the poem with comedy. He invents funny words and spellings such as “realio, trulio”, “winda”, “Weeck” and “mouseholed”, which make the reader smile. His similes are exaggerated and amusing – “brave as a barrel full of bears” and “a tiger in a rage”. Comic sound words like “Meowch”, “clatter and a clank” add liveliness. The biggest humour lies in the irony: the loud, boastful pets become cowards, while the timid dragon becomes the hero, and then everyone invents silly excuses for their cowardice. The bouncy rhythm, neat aabb rhymes and the repeated refrain about a “nice safe cage” complete the light-hearted, entertaining effect of the ballad.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. Who is the poet of “The Tale of Custard the Dragon”?

(a) Robert Frost   (b) Ogden Nash   (c) Walt Whitman   (d) Carolyn Wells

2. What kind of pet was Ink?

(a) A grey mouse   (b) A yellow dog   (c) A black kitten   (d) A dragon

3. The little grey mouse was called:

(a) Ink   (b) Mustard   (c) Blink   (d) Percival

4. What did Custard the dragon keep crying for?

(a) Food   (b) A nice safe cage   (c) His mother   (d) A red wagon

5. “Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears” is an example of:

(a) Metaphor   (b) Simile   (c) Onomatopoeia   (d) Personification

6. How did the pirate enter the house?

(a) Through the door   (b) Through the chimney   (c) Climbing in the window   (d) Through the roof

7. What did Mustard do when the pirate appeared?

(a) Attacked him   (b) Fled with a terrified yelp   (c) Cried for help   (d) Hid in a mousehole

8. Who finally killed the pirate?

(a) Belinda   (b) Mustard   (c) Ink   (d) Custard

9. The rhyme scheme of the poem is:

(a) abab   (b) abba   (c) aabb   (d) abcb

10. The main message of the poem is that:

(a) dragons are dangerous   (b) pets are loyal   (c) true bravery is shown by action, not boasting   (d) pirates are evil

Answer key: 1-(b)   2-(c)   3-(c)   4-(b)   5-(b)   6-(c)   7-(b)   8-(d)   9-(c)   10-(c)

Assertion–Reason – choose: (a) A and R true, R explains A; (b) A and R true, R does not explain A; (c) A true, R false; (d) A false, R true.

1. Assertion (A): Custard is called a cowardly dragon by the other pets.

Reason (R): He kept crying for a nice safe cage instead of behaving bravely like the others.

2. Assertion (A): Belinda and the other pets were truly brave.

Reason (R): They ran away or hid in fear the moment the pirate appeared.

3. Assertion (A): The poem is a humorous ballad close to a parody.

Reason (R): It tells a story with a strong rhythm and rhyme while gently mocking tales of heroism.

4. Assertion (A): Custard proved to be the bravest character in the poem.

Reason (R): He alone faced the pirate and gobbled him up while the others fled.

5. Assertion (A): The other pets honestly admitted they were cowards in the end.

Reason (R): They claimed they would have been braver if they had not been flustered.

Answer key: 1-(a)   2-(d)   3-(a)   4-(a)   5-(d)

Exam tips

Score full marks in this poem

  • Remember the pets and their pet names exactly: Belinda (girl), Ink (kitten), Blink (mouse), Mustard (dog), Custard (dragon).
  • Always link the central idea to irony – the boasters are cowards, the “coward” is the hero. Examiners look for this contrast.
  • Learn at least three poetic devices with examples (simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia) – a very common 1–2 mark question.
  • State the rhyme scheme as aabb and be ready to mark rhyming words from a given stanza.
  • Quote only short lines (a few words) to support your answer; never copy long stretches of the poem.

FAQs

Who wrote “The Tale of Custard the Dragon”?

The poem was written by the American humorous poet Ogden Nash (1902–1971). It appears as Poem 9 in the Class 10 NCERT English textbook First Flight.

Why is Custard called a coward, and is he really one?

The pets call Custard a coward because he keeps crying for a nice safe cage. However, he is not really a coward – he is the only one who fights and kills the pirate, proving he is the bravest of all.

What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?

The poem follows a regular aabb rhyme scheme: the first two lines of every stanza rhyme together, and the last two lines rhyme together.

What is the central message of the poem?

True courage is proved by action, not by loud boasting. We should not judge people by their appearance or claims, because the one who seems weak may turn out to be the bravest.

Question headings are taken verbatim from the NCERT First Flight textbook; summaries and answers are written originally by ClearStudy.

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