The Tale of Custard the Dragon — Practice

Question 1

Name Belinda's four pets.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

What did Custard the dragon keep crying for?

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: a nice safe cage.

Question 3

Who actually defeated the pirate?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 6

Why is the ending of the poem ironic?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 7

Contrast the character of Custard with the others.

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Practice — The Tale of Custard the Dragon

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