The Tale of Custard the Dragon
By Ogden Nash
NCERT Questions & Answers
Q1. Who are the characters in this poem? List them with their pet names.
Answer:
-
Belinda (the little girl)
-
Ink (the black kitten)
-
Blink (the grey mouse)
-
Mustard (the yellow dog)
-
Custard (the cowardly dragon)
Q2. Why did Custard cry for a nice safe cage? Why is the dragon called a ‘cowardly dragon’?
Answer:
Custard cried for a safe cage because he was timid and felt unsafe outside. Though dragons are usually fierce, Custard lacked courage and longed for safety, so he was ironically called “cowardly.”
Q3. “Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful…” Why?
Answer:
Belinda and her pets teased Custard mercilessly because he appeared cowardly and timid. They mocked his desire for a safe cage, unlike themselves who boasted of bravery.
Q4. Who was Belinda? What did she own?
Answer:
Belinda was a little girl who lived in a little white house. She owned pets — a black kitten (Ink), a grey mouse (Blink), a yellow dog (Mustard), and a dragon (Custard).
Q5. What did Belinda’s pets boast about? How did Custard react to their boasting?
Answer:
-
Ink and Blink claimed bravery as if they could chase lions.
-
Mustard boasted of his courage.
-
Belinda believed herself to be brave as well.
Custard, in contrast, admitted he was cowardly and asked for a safe cage.
Q6. What happened when the pirate entered Belinda’s house?
Answer:
When a pirate with pistols and a cutlass entered, all the so-called brave pets panicked and ran away. Only Custard faced the pirate.
Q7. How did Custard prove his bravery?
Answer:
Custard attacked the pirate, snorting like an engine, clashing his tail, and finally swallowing the pirate whole.
Q8. What is the irony in the poem?
Answer:
The irony is that those who claimed bravery (Ink, Blink, Mustard, and Belinda) hid in fear, while Custard, who was mocked as cowardly, displayed true courage when danger came.
Q9. How does the poet conclude the poem?
Answer:
After Custard killed the pirate, everyone praised him but soon went back to boasting about their own bravery, while Custard remained humble, still asking for a safe cage.
Extra Questions & Answers
Short Answer
-
Why did Belinda and her pets ridicule Custard?
Because he admitted his cowardice and asked for a cage, unlike them who falsely claimed bravery. -
What qualities of Custard make him different from the others?
His honesty, humility, and true courage in the face of real danger. -
What lesson does the poem convey?
It shows that real courage is proved through action, not boasting. Humility is greater than pride.
Long Answer
Q. Discuss the theme of irony in The Tale of Custard the Dragon.
The poem revolves around irony, where appearances and reality differ. Custard the dragon is mocked as a coward because he longs for a safe cage, while Belinda and her other pets boast about their bravery. However, when real danger arrives in the form of a pirate, all the “brave” ones run and hide, leaving only Custard to face the threat. Contrary to his reputation, Custard fights fiercely, defeats, and eats the pirate, saving everyone.
The irony lies in the reversal: the supposedly brave turn out cowardly, while the timid Custard becomes the true hero. Yet Custard remains humble even after his victory, continuing to ask for a safe cage. Ogden Nash uses humour and irony to deliver a powerful message: courage is not about words or appearances but about actions in times of crisis.
Summary of The Tale of Custard the Dragon
Ogden Nash’s humorous ballad The Tale of Custard the Dragon tells the story of a little girl, Belinda, and her unusual pets. She lives in a white house with her black kitten Ink, grey mouse Blink, yellow dog Mustard, and her dragon Custard.
All of Belinda’s pets, including Belinda herself, boast about their bravery. Mustard is described as fierce as a tiger, Ink and Blink claim to be brave enough to chase lions, and Belinda is praised as courageous. In contrast, Custard the dragon is ridiculed because he is timid, admits his cowardice, and asks for a safe cage. Everyone mocks him for being “cowardly Custard.”
The story takes a turn when a pirate enters Belinda’s house, armed with pistols and a cutlass. Suddenly, the so-called brave companions — Ink, Blink, Mustard, and even Belinda — panic and run to hide in fear. The irony unfolds as Custard, who was always called cowardly, now shows real bravery. He roars, clatters his tail, snorts like an engine, and fearlessly attacks the pirate. In the end, Custard swallows the pirate, saving everyone.
After the danger passes, Belinda and the pets praise Custard’s bravery. But soon, they return to their old ways, boasting about their supposed courage. Custard, however, remains humble, still desiring a safe cage instead of bragging.
The poem is humorous, ironic, and satirical. It mocks the human tendency to boast without substance while highlighting that true courage is tested only in times of crisis. Custard teaches that humility is nobler than pride, and actions speak louder than words.
✦ Biography of Ogden Nash
Ogden Nash (1902–1971) was an American poet celebrated for his light verse, playful rhymes, and witty humour. He was born on 19 August 1902 in Rye, New York. After attending Harvard briefly, he worked in various jobs, including as a schoolteacher, a bond salesman, and in publishing before finding success as a writer.
Nash’s first collection of humorous poems, Hard Lines (1931), made him instantly popular. His unique style used unconventional rhymes, wordplay, and a whimsical tone. Over his career, he wrote more than 500 pieces of comic verse, published in magazines like The New Yorker and collected in books such as I’m a Stranger Here Myself (1938) and Everyone But Thee and Me (1962).
His poetry often poked fun at human nature, society, and everyday life. Simple in language but rich in wit, Nash’s verses appealed to both children and adults. The Tale of Custard the Dragon, written for children, remains one of his most beloved poems, combining humour, rhythm, and moral insight.
Besides poetry, Nash also wrote screenplays, radio scripts, and lyrics for musicals. He collaborated with composers like Kurt Weill and worked on Broadway shows.
Nash married Frances Rider Leonard in 1931, and they had two daughters. He lived much of his later life in Baltimore, Maryland.
Ogden Nash passed away on 19 May 1971, leaving behind a legacy as America’s best-known writer of light verse. His poems continue to delight readers with their humour, irony, and timeless observations of life.