The Tale of Custard the Dragon — Ogden Nash
Original text • Section-wise explanation • Bilingual (English + हिन्दी) • Literary devices • NCERT questions (unedited) with answers
Writer: Ogden Nash — celebrated for comic/light verse, playful rhymes, and witty subversions of “serious” poetry.
Summary (EN): Belinda boasts that her pets—Ink (kitten), Blink (mouse), Mustard (dog)—are very brave, while her dragon Custard is a “coward” who wants a safe cage. When a pirate breaks in, the brave ones flee and Custard alone fights and eats the pirate. After the danger is over, the others return to boasting; Custard stays modest, still asking for a cage. The poem is a humorous ballad with irony: the “coward” proves truly brave.
सार (HI): बेलिंडा अपने पालतू—इंक (बिल्ली), ब्लिंक (चूहा), मस्टर्ड (कुत्ता)—को बहादुर बताती है और ड्रैगन कस्टर्ड को “कायर” कहती है क्योंकि वह सुरक्षित पिंजरा चाहता है। पर जब एक समुद्री डाकू घर में घुसता है, तो सब भाग जाते हैं और केवल कस्टर्ड उससे लड़कर उसे खा जाता है। खतरा टलते ही सब फिर डींगें हाँकते हैं, जबकि कस्टर्ड विनम्र बना रहता है। कविता व्यंग्यपूर्ण बैलेड है—कथित “कायर” ही सच्चा बहादुर निकलता है।
Stanzas 1–2: House & Pets; Custard labelled “coward”
Belinda’s cute home and pets are introduced (rhythmic children’s-song tone). Everyone is “brave” except Custard, who wants safety. Irony is set up: the one mocked as coward may later prove otherwise.
बेलिंडा का प्यारा घर और पालतू पात्र आते हैं। सब “बहादुर” कहलाते हैं, पर कस्टर्ड सुरक्षित पिंजरा चाहता है—यहीं से व्यंग्य की भूमिका बनती है।
Stanzas 3–4: Custard’s fierce looks vs. timid wish
Though Custard looks fearsome (teeth, spikes, “daggers”), he keeps asking for a cage. The others boast of bravery—hyperbolic similes create a comic effect.
कस्टर्ड का रूप डरावना है, फिर भी वह पिंजरा चाहता है। बाकी सब अपनी बहादुरी की डींगें हाँकते हैं—अतिशयोक्तिपूर्ण उपमाएँ हास्य रचती हैं।
Stanzas 5–6: Mockery of Custard
Belinda and pets tease Custard mercilessly (“Percival”). Repetition and playful sounds show group-think and bullying.
बेलिंडा व अन्य कस्टर्ड का मज़ाक उड़ाते हैं—समूह सोच और चिढ़ाना दिखता है (“पर्सिवल”).
Stanzas 7–8: Pirate’s entry (real danger)
A pirate climbs the window with pistols and cutlass. The “brave” pets panic and run; Belinda cries for help.
समुद्री डाकू खिड़की से घुसता है; “बहादुर” पालतू भाग जाते हैं, बेलिंडा मदद के लिए पुकारती है।
Stanzas 9–10: Custard fights and wins
Custard charges like an engine; despite gunshots he devours the pirate. The coward becomes the saviour—central irony.
कस्टर्ड इंजन-सी फुँफकार के साथ हमला करता है; गोली लगती नहीं और वह समुद्री डाकू को खा जाता है—“कायर” ही नायक बनता है।
Stanzas 11–13: Aftermath & irony
Everyone celebrates Custard, but soon Ink, Blink, Mustard boast they’d be braver “if not flustered”. Custard stays humble, still asking for a cage—humour + human nature satire.
सब कस्टर्ड की प्रशंसा करते हैं पर थोड़ी देर में फिर डींगें—“घबराहट न होती तो…”। कस्टर्ड विनम्र रहता है और पिंजरे की बात दोहराता है—हास्य के साथ मानवीय प्रवृत्ति पर कटाक्ष।
- Theme: True courage vs. boasting; modesty; comic reversal (mock-heroic).
- Tone: Light-hearted, humorous, satirical; nursery-rhyme rhythm.
- Rhyme Scheme (typical stanza): A A B B (e.g., house/mouse; wagon/dragon).
- Similes: “as brave as a barrel full of bears”; “as a tiger in a rage”.
- Alliteration: “little black kitten”, “realio, trulio”.
- Onomatopoeia: clatter, clank, jangling, yelp, Meowch, ooh.
- Repetition: “realio, trulio”; “suddenly, suddenly”.
- Hyperbole: chasing lions; barrel full of bears.
- Imagery & Personification: pirate details; Custard as engine; robin vs. worm (simile).
- Irony: “cowardly” Custard acts bravest; others rationalize after danger.
1. Who are the characters in this poem? List them with their pet names.
Answer: Belinda; her pets—Ink (little black kitten), Blink (little grey mouse), Mustard (little yellow dog), Custard (little pet dragon).
उत्तर: बेलिंडा; उसके पालतू—इंक (काली बिल्ली), ब्लिंक (स्लेटी चूहा), मस्टर्ड (पीला कुत्ता), कस्टर्ड (पालतू ड्रैगन)।
2. Why did Custard cry for a nice safe cage? Why is the dragon called “cowardly dragon”?
Answer: He preferred safety and often asked for a cage; so others mock him as “cowardly”. Ironically, he later proves brave in real danger.
उत्तर: वह सुरक्षा चाहता था इसलिए पिंजरे की माँग करता; इसी कारण उसे “कायर” कहा गया—पर असली संकट में वही बहादुर निकला।
3. “Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful…” Why?
Answer: To tease/make fun of Custard’s supposed cowardice; the group bullies him playfully.
उत्तर: कस्टर्ड को “कायर” मानकर उसका मज़ाक उड़ाने/चिढ़ाने के लिए।
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 (samples): Simile—“as brave as a barrel full of bears”, “as a tiger in a rage”; Onomatopoeia—clatter, clank, jangling, yelp; Alliteration—“little black kitten”, “realio, trulio”; Repetition—“suddenly, suddenly”; Hyperbole—“chased lions”.
उत्तर (उदाहरण): उपमा—“as brave as…”, “as a tiger…”; ध्वन्यात्मकता—clatter, clank; अनुप्रास—“little black kitten”; आवृत्ति—“suddenly, suddenly”; अतिशयोक्ति—“lions down the stairs”।
5. Read stanza three again to know how the poet describes the appearance of the dragon.
Answer: Big sharp teeth, spikes on top, scales below; mouth like a fireplace, chimney nose; “realio, trulio” daggers on toes—fearsome exterior.
उत्तर: बड़े नुकीले दाँत, ऊपर काँटे, नीचे शल्क; अंगीठी-सा मुँह, चिमनी-सी नाक; पंजों में “चाकू”—दहला देने वाला रूप।
6. Can you find out the rhyme scheme of two or three stanzas of the poem?
Answer: Predominantly A A B B (e.g., house/mouse; wagon/dragon; Ink/Blink; Mustard/Custard).
उत्तर: मुख्यतः A A B B तुकबंदी (जैसे house–mouse; wagon–dragon)।
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?
Answer: Pirate’s black beard, wooden leg, bright cutlass; Custard “snorting like an engine”; “robin at a worm”; dungeon irons (clash/clank); nursery-room chaos—vivid visual and sound images.
उत्तर: समुद्री डाकू की काली दाढ़ी/लकड़ी का पाँव/चमकती तलवार; “इंजन-सी फुँफकार”; “चिड़िया-कीड़ा”; कालकोठरी की ज़ंजीरें—जीवंत चित्रण।
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: Light-hearted comic ballad with satire—playful rhymes, funny sounds, exaggerations. Yet it carries a gentle message about true courage and humility.
उत्तर: हल्की-फुल्की हास्य-बैलेड—मजेदार तुक, ध्वनियाँ, अतिशयोक्ति; साथ में वास्तविक बहादुरी व विनम्रता का संकेत।
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.
Answer (guided): Students may cite narrative songs/folk ballads; discuss storyline, refrain, and rhythm (classroom activity).
उत्तर (सुझाव): छात्र किसी कथात्मक गीत/लोक-बैलेड का उदाहरण दें; कथा, धुन और दोहराव पर चर्चा (कक्षा गतिविधि)।
- Mock-heroic twist: Custard (mocked as coward) saves the day.
- Rhyme scheme: AABB; playful diction—“realio, trulio”.
- Key devices: simile, onomatopoeia, repetition, irony, hyperbole, alliteration.
- Theme: true courage ≠ loud boasting; humility endures.
- Simile (उपमा): direct comparison using “like/as”.
• “
snorting like an engine” • “as brave as a barrel full of bears” • “as brave as a tiger in a rage” • “He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm” - Onomatopoeia (ध्वन्यात्मकता): sound-imitating words creating audio imagery.
• “
clatter,clank,jangling,yelp,Meowch!,ooh!” - Alliteration (अनुप्रास): repetition of initial consonant sounds.
• “
little black kitten”, “little grey mouse”, “little yellow dog” • “Belinda lived in a little white house” - Repetition/Refrain (आवृत्ति): phrases repeated for rhythm & humour.
• “
realio, trulio” (playful refrain) • “Suddenly, suddenly” (emphasis on urgency) - Hyperbole (अतिशयोक्ति): deliberate exaggeration for comic effect.
• “
Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs” • “Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears” - Imagery (बिंब-निर्माण): vivid word-pictures (visual & aural).
• Pirate: “
Pistol in his left hand… cutlass bright… beard was black, one leg was wood” • Dungeon sounds: “Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon” - Irony (विडंबना): opposite of expected—comic reversal.
• The “
cowardly” dragon Custard alone defeats the pirate; the “brave” pets flee. - Allusion (संकेत): subtle reference enhancing tone.
• “
irons in a dungeon” evokes medieval prison imagery. - Rhyme & Rhythm (तुक–लय): nursery-rhyme cadence; typical scheme
A A B B. • house/mouse; wagon/dragon • Ink/Blink; Mustard/Custard
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