Chapter 27 of 28

96%

Rajasthan (RBSE)Class 10 English★ 3–5 marks · RBSE Class 10 English board (First Flight — Poetry)

The Tale of Custard the Dragon

RBSE Class 10 English (First Flight — Poem) — Ogden Nash's comic ballad about Belinda and her pets, including a dragon named Custard who is mocked as a coward — until a pirate attacks and the 'cowardly' dragon proves the bravest of all. A funny poem about how appearances deceive. Summary, central idea, poetic devices and RBSE board-pattern questions with answers.

⏱ 14 min readEasy difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned

Worksheet

Podcast

Listen as a conversation

A teacher & a student talk through the chapter — in your language.

Mind Map

The chapter at a glance

Every concept and exam-favourite branch — revisable in 5 minutes.

…

Study Guide

Night-before notes

Key points, glossary and the questions most likely to show up.

…

VocabularyBuild your vocabularyLexiGenome mines the key words and schedules them with spaced repetition.Mine words →

By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Identify the characters and their boasted qualities
2Narrate the pirate attack and the twist
3Explain the ironic ending
4State the central idea (appearances/boasts deceive; real courage is in deeds)
5Identify the poetic devices used

💡

Why this chapter matters

A fun ballad the RBSE board uses for central-idea, character and extract questions on true courage vs boasting. Its clear story and irony make it a reliable scorer.

The Tale of Custard the Dragon — RBSE Class 10 English (First Flight · Poem)

Everyone in Belinda's house is brave — the little dog, the cat, even Belinda herself — everyone except Custard the dragon, who cries for a "nice safe cage" and is teased as a coward. Then a pirate climbs in the window, and the "brave" ones run and hide, while the cowardly dragon does the one thing no one expected. Ogden Nash's funny ballad proves that loud boasting is not the same as real courage.

1. The characters

Belinda lives in a little white house with four pets, each described by a boastful quality:

a little black kitten named Ink,
a little grey mouse named Blink,
a little yellow dog named Mustard — "as brave as a tiger," and
a little pet dragon named Custard.

Belinda herself was "as brave as a barrel full of bears," and Mustard the dog was fierce — but Custard the dragon, despite his fearsome looks (spikes on his back, scales, sharp teeth, a mouth like a fireplace), was a coward: he kept crying for a "nice safe cage." So everyone — Belinda, Ink, Blink and Mustard — laughed at him and called him a coward, a "coward, coward, Custard the dragon."

2. The pirate attack — and the twist

One day, a pirate climbed in through the window — with a pistol in each hand, a cutlass between his teeth, and black beard. Suddenly, all the "brave" ones showed their true colours:

Belinda cried for help and hid,
Ink and Blink ran away (down to the bottom of the household),
even brave Mustard fled with a terrified squeal.

But Custard the dragon — the "coward" — jumped up snorting like an engine, went straight at the pirate with great daring, and gobbled the pirate up (swallowed him whole), saving everyone. The dragon everyone mocked turned out to be the real hero.

3. The ironic ending

You might expect the others to be grateful and humbled. Instead, once the danger passed, Belinda and the pets went right back to boasting — Belinda claimed she was braver than the dragon, Mustard said he was twice as brave, and Ink and Blink also insisted they were braver. And Custard, modest as ever, agreed that he "kept on wishing for a nice safe cage." Everyone returned to teasing him — nothing had really changed. This ironic ending is the poem's final joke.

4. Themes and central idea

Appearances are deceptive: the fierce-looking are cowards; the "cowardly" dragon is the bravest.
True courage vs empty boasting: those who boast loudest are the first to run; real bravery shows in action, not words.
Humour and irony: the comic characters, the exaggeration, and the ending (everyone boasting again) make it a delightful comic ballad.

Central idea: do not judge by appearances or boasts — real courage is proved by deeds. The one dismissed as a coward is the true hero.

5. Poetic devices

Ballad: the poem tells a story in verse (a comic ballad).
Rhyme scheme: aabb (rhyming couplets) in each stanza, giving a bouncy rhythm.
Simile: "brave as a barrel full of bears," "brave as a tiger," "snorting like an engine."
Alliteration: e.g. "Custard cried," "brave as a barrel."
Imagery / humour: vivid, funny descriptions of the pets and the pirate.
Irony: the "coward" is the hero, and the "brave" ones flee.
Refrain / repetition: "coward, coward, Custard the dragon."

6. Closing thought

"The Tale of Custard the Dragon" is pure fun with a sly point. The whole household boasts of its bravery and mocks the timid dragon — until real danger arrives, and only the "coward" acts. Nash's comic ballad gently punctures empty boasting: the ones who talk loudest about their courage are the first to hide, while quiet Custard does the brave deed. And the ending — everyone bragging again — reminds us, with a wink, how quickly people forget and how appearances (and boasts) deceive.

For the RBSE board, remember the characters and their boasted qualities, the pirate attack and the twist (the "coward" Custard is the hero), the ironic ending (everyone boasts again), the central idea (appearances/boasts deceive; true courage is in deeds), and the devices (ballad, aabb rhyme, simile, humour, irony). Central-idea and character questions are common.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Poet

Ogden Nash (a comic ballad)

Tells a funny story in verse.

Characters

Belinda; kitten Ink; mouse Blink; dog Mustard; dragon Custard

All 'brave' except Custard.

The 'coward'

Custard the dragon keeps crying for a 'nice safe cage'

Mocked as a coward despite fierce looks.

The attack

A pirate climbs in; Belinda, Ink, Blink and Mustard flee/hide

The 'brave' ones run.

The twist

Custard fights and gobbles up the pirate — the real hero

Bravery in deeds.

Central idea

Appearances/boasts deceive; true courage is shown by action

Ironic ending: everyone boasts again.

⚠️

Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ Mixing up the pets' names

✓ Ink = black kitten; Blink = grey mouse; Mustard = yellow dog; Custard = the dragon. Keep them straight.

WATCH OUT

✗ Calling Custard a real coward

✓ Custard is called a coward, but he is actually the bravest — he alone faces and eats the pirate. The poem's irony is that the 'coward' is the hero.

WATCH OUT

✗ Missing the ironic ending

✓ After the danger, the others go back to boasting they are braver than Custard — nothing changes. This irony is the poem's final joke.

WATCH OUT

✗ Treating it as a serious poem

✓ It is a COMIC ballad — the humour, exaggeration and irony are central to its effect.

WATCH OUT

✗ Getting the rhyme scheme wrong

✓ The poem uses rhyming couplets (aabb) that give it a bouncy, song-like rhythm.

NCERT exercises (with solutions)

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

Thinking about the Poem

The characters; the twist; appearances vs reality

Questions

Poetic devices

Ballad, rhyme, simile, humour

Questions

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· Fact-recall

Name Belinda's four pets.

▶ Show solution

✦ Answer: Ink (kitten), Blink (mouse), Mustard (dog) and Custard (dragon).

Q2EASY· Fact-recall

What did Custard the dragon keep crying for?

▶ Show solution

✦ Answer: a nice safe cage.

Q3EASY· Twist

Who actually defeated the pirate?

▶ Show solution

✦ Answer: Custard the dragon — he gobbled the pirate up.

Q4MEDIUM· Twist

How did the 'brave' characters behave when the pirate attacked?

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — Belinda cried for help and hid, and the pets Ink and Blink ran away.

Step 2 — Even the 'brave' dog Mustard fled with a frightened squeal — so all the boasters showed themselves to be cowards.

✦ Answer: they all panicked, ran and hid — the loud boasters proved cowardly.

Q5MEDIUM· Central idea

What is the central idea of 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon'?

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — Those who boast loudest about their bravery flee in real danger, while the mocked 'coward' acts bravely.

Step 2 — So appearances and boasts are deceptive; true courage is shown by deeds, not words.

✦ Answer: appearances/boasts deceive — real courage is proved by action, as the 'coward' dragon shows.

Q6MEDIUM· Irony

Why is the ending of the poem ironic?

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — After Custard saves everyone, you would expect gratitude and humility.

Step 2 — Instead, Belinda and the pets go right back to boasting that they are braver than the dragon, and everyone teases Custard again — nothing has changed.

✦ Answer: the boasters resume claiming to be braver than the hero dragon — a comic, ironic return to their old ways.

Q7HARD· Character

Contrast the character of Custard with the others.

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — Belinda, Ink, Blink and Mustard constantly boast of their bravery but run and hide when real danger comes.

Step 2 — Custard, though fierce-looking, is modest and admits his fear (wanting a safe cage), yet he alone faces the pirate and destroys him.

Step 3 — So Custard has genuine, quiet courage, while the others have only loud, empty boasts.

✦ Answer: the boastful pets are really cowards; the humble 'coward' Custard has true courage.

Q8HARD· Extract

How does the poem use humour and irony to make its point?

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — The comic exaggeration (Belinda 'as brave as a barrel full of bears', the fierce dragon crying for a cage) makes the poem funny.

Step 2 — The central irony — the mocked coward is the true hero while the boasters flee — delivers the message with a laugh.

Step 3 — The final irony (everyone boasting again) shows people rarely learn, adding a last comic twist.

Step 4 — Thus humour and irony teach 'don't judge by boasts/appearances' without any preaching.

✦ Answer: comic exaggeration plus the irony of the 'coward' hero and the unrepentant boasters make the point entertainingly.

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•Poet: Ogden Nash; a comic ballad.
•Belinda's pets: Ink (kitten), Blink (mouse), Mustard (dog), Custard (dragon).
•All boast of bravery; Custard, though fierce-looking, cries for a 'nice safe cage' and is mocked as a coward.
•A pirate attacks; Belinda hides and cries, Ink and Blink run, even brave Mustard flees.
•Custard alone fights and gobbles up the pirate — the true hero.
•Ironic ending: the others go back to boasting they are braver; everyone teases Custard again.
•Central idea: appearances and boasts deceive; true courage is shown by deeds.
•Devices: ballad, aabb rhyme, simile, alliteration, humour, irony, refrain.

Rajasthan (RBSE) marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 3–5 marks

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
MCQ / extract-based	1	1–2	The pets' names, the safe cage, the hero
Short answer	2	1	The twist; central idea; the irony
Short/appreciation	3–4	0–1	Character contrast; humour and irony

Prep strategy

Memorise the characters and their boasted qualities
Fix the twist (coward Custard is the hero) and the ironic ending
State the central idea (appearances/boasts deceive)
Note the devices (ballad, aabb rhyme, simile, humour, irony)

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

True courage

It teaches that real bravery is shown in deeds, not boasts.

Not judging by appearances

A memorable lesson against judging people by looks or big talk.

Enjoying poetry

A fun ballad that shows poetry can be humorous and story-like.

Recitation

Its bouncy aabb rhythm makes it great for reading aloud.

Understanding irony

A clear, enjoyable example of irony in literature.

Character study

The contrast between boasters and the quiet hero aids character analysis.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

Keep the pets' names and boasted qualities accurate.
State the twist (Custard is the real hero) and the ironic ending.
For central idea, stress appearances/boasts vs true courage.
Name devices (ballad, aabb rhyme, simile, irony, humour).
For character questions, contrast Custard with the boasters.
Bring out the humour in extract answers.

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

The ballad form and its features.
Irony and satire in comic verse.
Ogden Nash's humorous style and wordplay.
Appearance vs reality as a literary theme.

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

RBSE Class 10 Board (BSER Ajmer)High — central-idea and character questions common

NTSE / state scholarshipLow — reading comprehension

CBSE/other board EnglishHigh — same prescribed poem

Olympiads (English/IEO)Low–Medium — poetry and irony

AI helpers for this chapter

Generate more practice on the fly, or have the chapter explained at a different level.

⚡

Generate 5 more questions

Fresh MCQs + short-answer items based on this chapter, plus answer keys.

🧠

Explain at a different level

Re-explain the chapter at the level you actually want.

📝 My notes

Saved on this device — sign in to sync · how this works

0/600

Questions students ask

The real ones — pulled from the Q&A community and tutor sessions.

Yes. RBSE prescribes the NCERT reader 'First Flight' for Class 10 English, and 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon' by Ogden Nash is one of its poems. RBSE (BSER Ajmer) sets the exam pattern and marking.

Because he looks fierce yet keeps crying for a 'nice safe cage', the others mock him as a coward. The poem's irony is that when real danger comes, this 'coward' is the only one brave enough to face and defeat the pirate — showing that boasts and appearances deceive.

All the loud boasters panicked. Belinda cried for help and hid, the kitten Ink and mouse Blink ran away, and even the 'brave' dog Mustard fled in terror — leaving only Custard to fight.

After Custard heroically saves everyone, the others feel no lasting gratitude or humility. They immediately go back to boasting that they are braver than the dragon, and the teasing resumes — a comic, ironic reminder that people rarely change.

That appearances and boasts are deceptive, and true courage is shown by actions, not words. The one dismissed as a coward proves the real hero, while those who bragged loudest run away.

Practice more, ask doubts, find a tutor

Rajasthan (RBSE) Class 10 mock tests

Rajasthan (RBSE) Class 10 PYQs

Ask in Q&A

English flashcards

Related chapters

Students who read The Tale of Custard the Dragon usually read these next.

A Letter to God

RBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 1 — G.L. Fuentes's story of Lencho, a poor farmer whose hailstorm-ruined crop drives him to write a letter to God for money. A study in unshakeable faith, irony and a surprising view of human nature, with summary, themes, character notes and RBSE board-pattern questions with model answers.

Nelson Mandela — Long Walk to Freedom

RBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 2 — an extract from Nelson Mandela's autobiography describing his 1994 inauguration as South Africa's first Black President, the end of apartheid, his tribute to the heroes of the freedom struggle, and his reflection that no one is born hating and that the oppressor too needs liberating — with summary, themes and RBSE board-pattern questions with answers.

Two Stories about Flying

RBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 3 — two short stories on the theme of flying. 'His First Flight' (Liam O'Flaherty), about a young seagull who overcomes fear to fly, and 'The Black Aeroplane' (Frederick Forsyth), a mysterious tale of a pilot guided through a storm. Summaries, themes, characters and RBSE board-pattern questions with answers.

From the Diary of Anne Frank

RBSE Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 4 — an extract from the world-famous diary of Anne Frank, a Jewish girl in hiding during WWII. She turns her diary into a friend named 'Kitty', reflects on why she writes, and recounts her witty classroom battle with her maths teacher Mr Keesing over her talkativeness. Summary, themes and RBSE board-pattern questions with answers.

🧑‍🏫