9

Thinking about the Poem

Question 1:

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

Answer 1:

The characters in this poem are Belinda, a little black kitten, a little grey mouse, a little yellow dog, a little pet dragon and a pirate.

Character Pet name

Kitten      Ink

Mouse     Blink

Dog         Mustard

Dragon    Custard

Question 2:

Why did Custard cry for a nice safe cage? Why is the dragon called "cowardly dragon"?

Answer 2:

Custard cried for a nice, safe cage because it was a coward. It is called a 'cowardly dragon' because everyone else in the house was brave. Belinda was as brave as a drum of bears. Ink and Blink are described as so brave that they could chase lions down the stairs and Mustard was as brave as a tiger in anger. Compared to them, Custard cried asking for a nice and safe cage, which is why it is called a coward.

Question 3:

"Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful..." Why?

Answer 3:

Belinda tickled the dragon unmercifully because it was very frightened and cried for a safe cage. They all laughed at it as it was a coward.

Question 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?

Answer 4:

In the entire poem, the poet has made wide use of similes. Apart from simile, another poetic device that has been used is repetition. For example, the repetitive use of the word 'little' in the first stanza to highlight how everything from the house to Belinda to her pets were all small. Also, in the seventh stanza, the poet has made use of incorrect spelling as a poetic device to preserve the rhyme scheme of the poem. He has chosen to write 'winda' instead of 'window' as 'winda' rhymes with 'Belinda', whereas 'window' does not. He has also used alliteration in the poem. For example, in the tenth stanza, 'Custard' has 'clashed' his tail with a 'clatter' an d a 'clank'. Similarly, in stanza eleven, the pirate 'gaped' at the dragon and 'gulped' some 'grog'.

Question 5:

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

Answer 5:

The poet describes that the dragon has big sharp teeth. There are spikes on its top. Below its body one can see scales. He has compared its mouth with a fireplace and nose with a chimney. There are daggers on his toes. They can harm anyone. But it is very coward and always longs for safe cage.

Question 6:

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

Answer 6:

The rhyme scheme of each stanza of this poem is 'aa bb'.

Question 7:

Writers use words to give us a picture or image without actually saying what they m ean. Can you trace some images used in the poem?

Answer 7:

Some such images used in the poem are 'mouth like a fireplace', 'chimney for a nose', 'brave as a barrel full of bears', 'brave as a tiger in a rage', 'went at the pirate like a robin at a worm', etc.

Question 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.

Answer 8:

The Tale of Custard the Dragon is a light-hearted poem. It is almost a parody. The names of the pets of Belin da are all rhyming and humorous. Belinda has been compared to a drum full of bears. The kitten and mouse, both small, could trail lions down the stairs. The little yellow dog was as brave as a tiger, while the dragon was a coward and they all made fun of him. However, when the pirate came to their small house, all of them were engulfed in fear and had hid themselves.

Ironically, the 'cowardly' dragon came to their release and jumped snorting like an engine. It clashed its tail and charged at the pirate like a Robin at a worm and ate him up. Everybody was glad to see the bravery of the dragon, they again came back to adore themselves that they could have been braver than the dragon. But at the end of the poem, the situation again was the same where the other pets were brave and the dragon was the coward.

Question 9:

This poem, in ballad  form, tells a story. Have you come across any such modern song or lyric that tells a story? I f you know one, tell it to the class. Collect such songs as a project.

Answer 9:

Do yourself according to your choice of song.