NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem – The Tale of Custard the Dragon

Thinking About the Poem

Question 1. Who are the characters in this poem? List them with their pet names.

Ans: In this poem, the characters are Belinda, a young girl, and her pets: a small black kitten, a little grey mouse, a small yellow dog, a tiny pet dragon, and a pirate.

Characters	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 a “cowardly dragon”?

Ans: Custard requested a secure cage because it was easily terrified. It was dubbed a “cowardly dragon” since everyone else in the home was courageous. Belinda was as fearless as a barrel full of bears, Ink and Blink could pursue lions, and Mustard was as brave as an enraged tiger.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem – The Tale of Custard the Dragon

Question 3. “Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful…” Why?

Ans: Tickling always has a greater impact on the more sensitive individuals. Belinda poked the dragon continuously since it had a significant impact on him. Even though he was a dragon, being tickled could make him nervous, demonstrating how easily afraid he was, and everyone laughed at it.

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?

Ans: In the poem “The Tale of Custard, the Dragon,” the poet uses a few special ways of writing:

Simile: The poet compares Custard’s mouth to a fireplace, describing its appearance or warmth.
Repetition: The word “little” is used many times in the first stanza, showing the small size or how cute the characters are.

Question 5. Read stanza three again to know how the poet describes the appearance of the dragon.

Ans: In stanza three, the poet describes Custard the dragon’s appearance vividly:

Custard has big, sharp teeth.

He has spikes on his back and scales underneath his body.

His mouth is compared to a fireplace, and he has a chimney-like nose.

There are real daggers on his toes, described as “realio, trulio.”

These descriptions paint a picture of Custard as a fearsome yet imaginative creature with specific physical features.

Question 6. Can you find out the rhyme scheme of two or three stanzas of the poem?

Ans: The poem follows a rhyme pattern where every two lines rhyme together, forming a pattern of ‘AABB’.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem – The Tale of Custard the Dragon

Question 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?

Ans: Writers frequently utilize phrases and words that imply their meaning rather than clearly describe it, allowing readers to infer their intended picture. Examples of similar imagery in the poem include’mouth like a fireplace’, ‘chimney for a nose’, ‘brave as a barrel full of bears’, ‘brave as a tiger in a frenzy’, and ‘went at the pirate like a robin at a worm’. These statements invite readers to imagine and interpret the details in their own manner, which adds depth and interest to the text.

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.

Ans: The poem “The Tale of Custard the Dragon” tells a delightful and humorous narrative that everybody may appreciate. It employs a continuous rhyme pattern, making it easy and enjoyable to read, and it occasionally uses words spelled in an unusual way to maintain the rhyme. The characters, particularly Belinda and her pets, enhance the poem’s comedy. Belinda is regarded as extremely courageous, like a barrel of bears. Her little creatures, such as the kitten and mouse, are portrayed to be brave enough to fear even a lion, while the dog is as brave as a ferocious tiger. Surprisingly, the dragon, the biggest figure, is shown as scared and takes refuge in a cage, which contributes to the poem’s comedy.

Question 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.

Ans: A ballad is a poetry or song that recounts a tale, typically about love, adventure, or historical events. A current song that conveys a tale is the theme song from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” It tells the story of a young guy whose life transforms as he moves from West Philadelphia to Bel Air. Eminem’s “Stan” is another example, which portrays the tragic narrative of an infatuated fan named Stan through letters he sends to the rapper. These songs use their words to convey a story, much like a ballad does in poetry.