THE TALE OF CUSTARD THE DRAGON: OGDEN NASH \ POEM \ FIRST FLIGHT \ C B S E 10

Belinda lived in a little white house, (a)
With a little black kitten and a little gray mouse, (a)
And a little yellow dog and a little red wagon, (b)
And a realio, trulio, little pet dragon. (b)

Now the name of the little black kitten was Ink, (a)
And the little gray mouse, she called her Blink, (a)
And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard, (b)
But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard. (b) 

Custard the dragon had big sharp teeth, (a)
And spikes on top of him and scales underneath, (a)
Mouth like a fireplace, chimney for a nose, (b)
And realio, trulio, daggers on his toes. (b)

Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears, (a)
And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs, (a) 
Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage, (b)
But Custard cried for a nice safe cage. (b)

Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful, (a) 
Ink, Blink and Mustard, they rudely called him Percival, (a)
They all sat laughing in the little red wagon  (b)
At the realio, trulio, cowardly dragon. (b)

Belinda giggled till she shook the house, (a)
And Blink said Week! , which is giggling for a mouse, (a)
Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age, (b)
When Custard cried for a nice safe cage. (b)

Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound, (a)
And Mustard growled, and they all looked around. (a) 
Meowch! cried Ink, and Ooh! cried Belinda, (b)
For there was a pirate, climbing in the winda. (b)

Pistol in his left hand, pistol in his right, (a)
And he held in his teeth a cutlass bright, (a)
His beard was black, one leg was wood; (b)
It was clear that the pirate meant no good. (b)

Belinda paled, and she cried, Help! Help! (a)
But Mustard fled with a terrified yelp, (a)
Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household, (b)
And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed. (b)

But up jumped Custard, Belinda paled, and she cried, Help! Help! 
Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon, 
With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm 
He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm. 

The pirate gaped at Belinda's dragon, (a)
And gulped some grog from his pocket flagon, (a)
He fired two bullets but they didn't hit, (b)
And Custard gobbled him, every bit. (b)

Belinda embraced him, Mustard licked him, (a)
No one mourned for his pirate victim (a)
Ink and Blink in glee did gyrate (b)
Around the dragon that ate the pyrate. (b)

But presently up spoke little dog Mustard, (a)
I'd been twice as brave if I hadn't been flustered. (a)
And up spoke Ink and up spoke Blink, (b)
We'd have been three times as brave, we think,(b)
And Custard said, I quite agree (c)
That everybody is braver than me. (c)

POET:

Frederic Ogden Nash (August 19, 1902 – May 19, 1971):He  was an American poet and well known for his light verse, of which he wrote over 500 pieces. The best of his work was published in 14 volumes between 1931 and 1972.With his unconventional rhyming schemes, he was declared the country's best-known producer of humorous poetry. Nash was best known for surprising, pun-like rhymes, sometimes with words deliberately misspelled for comic effect, wrote in an exaggerated verse form with pairs of lines that rhyme, but are of dissimilar length and irregular meter.

SUBSTANCE:

CENTRAL IDEA:

Nash in this funny and humorous poem beautifully expressed an unusual story. There are six characters in the poem. . In the poem we see Belinda, a little girl lives with her pets a mouse, a dog, a kitten, and a dragon Custard. Interestingly, all the three pets of Belinda are drawn courageous and brave except Custard. Custard is meek and coward. Custard is taunted and ridiculed throughout the poem as it always wants a safe repose in cage. The Dragon however ironically proves every comment wrong, when a pirate attacks Belinda’s house. Custard saves Belinda with all the pets swallowing the pirate but all the other so called brave pets quit the place in fear and panic.

Through Custard Nash craft fully declares that outer appearance does not always say everything. Actually, inner strength and confidence make us strong and brave. Appearance is often deceptive and the proverb- All that glitters are not gold again comes true.

TITLE:

The title tells of a tale of a dragon named Custard. There are six characters in the poem. They are a mouse, a dog, a kitten, a dragon, pirate and the little girl Belinda. In the poem we see Belinda, a little girl lives with her pets a mouse, a dog, a kitten, and a dragon Custard. Interestingly, all the three pets of Belinda are drawn courageous and brave except Custard. Custard is meek and coward. Custard is taunted and ridiculed throughout the poem as it always wants a safe repose in cage. The Dragon however ironically proves every comment wrong, when a pirate attacks Belinda’s house. Custard saves Belinda with all the pets swallowing the pirate.

Now, we find the whole story narrated in the poem pivoting round the dragon Custard. The poem would have not been written without the character Custard, the dragon and Custard teaches us , All that glitters are not gold. So the title is just and appropriate and also justified the theme.

MESSAGE:

Nash in this funny and humorous poem beautifully expressed an unusual fantasy. There are six characters in the poem. . In the poem we see Belinda, a little girl lives with her pets a mouse, a dog, a kitten, and a dragon Custard. Interestingly, all the three pets of Belinda are drawn courageous and brave except Custard. Custard is meek and coward. Custard is taunted and ridiculed throughout the poem as it always wants a safe repose in cage. The Dragon however ironically proves every comment wrong, when a pirate attacks Belinda’s house. Custard saves Belinda with all the pets swallowing the pirate.

Through Custard Nash craft fully declares that outer appearance does not always say everything. Actually, inner strength and confidence make us strong and brave. Appearance is often deceptive and the proverb- All that glitters are not gold again comes true.

BALLAD:

The word ballad is of French provenance. It is a type of poetry or verse which was basically used in dance songs in ancient France. Later on, during the late 16th and 17th centuries, it spread over the majority of European nations. Owing to its popularity and emotional appeal, it remained a powerful tool for poets and lyricists to prepare music in the form of lyrical ballads, and earn a handsome income from it. The art of lyrical ballad, as well as ballad poetry, lost popularity during the latter half of the 19th century. However, it is still read and listened to with interest in most European countries, including the British Isles.

It is a poem or song narrating a story in short stanzas. Traditional ballads are typically of unknown authorship, having been passed on orally from one generation to the next.

 

LITERARY DEVICES:

SIMILE :

Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears,       Mouth like a fireplace,

REPETITION:

Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound,   Belinda paled, and she cried, Help! Help! 

ALLITERATION:

But Custard cried for a nice safe cage.          Belinda paled, and she cried, Help! Help! 

 

NCERT TEXT BOOK QUESTIONS:

 

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1.    Belinda has many pets .Name them. What does their name reflect?

2.    Narrate the bravery of Belinda and her pets. What do they prove?

3.    How is the appearance of Custard? But Custard cried for a nice safe cage- Why?

4.    Belinda tickle Custard mercilessly. Why?

5.    Why was Custard teased as ‘Percival’?

6.    How did they react when they hear the nasty sound?

7.    Describe how dreadful appearance the pirate has?

8.    Belinda and her pets were terrified seeing the pirate.Why?

9.    How differently Custard face the pirate?

10. How did they all pass time?

11. How did Belinda and her pets behave after the pirate was killed?

12. Did all really appreciate Custard? Give reason.

 

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:

1.    How would you tell that THE TALE OF CUSTARD THE DRAGON is a ballad?

2.    Narrate briefly how was the dragon Custard. Was he really weak and coward? Why was he taunted by all other pets?