Figure of Speech in The Tale of Custard the Dragon Class 10 First Flight In-Depth Analysis

Here is The Tale of Custard the Dragon, a detailed exploration and explanation of the figure of speech and its many facets. In this post, we have explained various examples of figurative speech, providing a comprehensive understanding of The Tale of Custard the Dragon in terms of all Poetic Device. We have also told the reason why a particular figure of speech occurs in a particular line. This is going to help the children of various classes Class X. Dive in for figure of speech examples-

Figure of Speech in The Tale of Custard the Dragon Stanza 1

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

1- Figure of Speech: Repetition
Exact Line: “a little white house, With a little black kitten and a little grey mouse, And a little yellow dog and a little red wagon,”
Reason: The word “little” is repeated to emphasize the quaint and diminutive nature of each item, creating a rhythm and emphasizing the cozy setting.

2- Figure of Speech: Oxymoron
Exact Line: “little pet dragon”
Reason: The term “pet dragon” juxtaposes the familiar and tame (“pet”) with the mythical and formidable (“dragon”), creating an oxymoron that underlines the uniqueness of Belinda’s world.

3- Figure of Speech: Poetic License
Exact Line: “realio, trulio”
Reason: Nash uses “realio, trulio” as a playful variation of “really and truly,” demonstrating poetic license. This creative alteration adds whimsy and charm to the poem.

4- Figure of Speech: Imagery
Exact Line: The entire stanza
Reason: The stanza uses descriptive language to create a clear and colorful picture of Belinda’s home and her pets, engaging the reader’s senses.

5- Figure of Speech: Alliteration
Exact Line: “little black kitten and a little grey mouse”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘l’ and ‘b’ sounds creates a musical effect, making the verse more engaging and pleasant to hear.

Also Read:

The Tale of Custard the Dragon Poetic Device Stanza- 2

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

1- Figure of Speech: Simile
Exact Line: “And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard.”
Reason: This line uses a simile to compare the dog’s sharpness to Mustard, illustrating the dog’s characteristics in a vivid and relatable way.

2- Figure of Speech: Alliteration
Exact Line: “coward, and she called him Custard.”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘c’ sound in “coward” and “called him Custard” creates alliteration, adding a musical element to the stanza.

3- Figure of Speech: Anaphora
Exact Line: “And the little grey mouse, she called him Blink, And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard”
Reason: The use of “And the little” at the beginning of these lines is an example of anaphora, creating a rhythm and reinforcing the poem’s playful tone.

4- Figure of Speech:Repetition
Exact Line: “the little black kitten was Ink, And the little grey mouse, she called him Blink, And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard,”
Reason: The word “little” is repeatedly used, emphasizing the diminutive and endearing nature of Belinda’s pets and contributing to the stanza’s rhythm.

5- Figure of Speech: Anthropomorphism
Exact Line: Entire stanza
Reason: The stanza ascribes human-like qualities to the animals, such as naming (Ink, Blink, Mustard, Custard) and attributing human traits, which is a form of anthropomorphism

6- Figure of Speech: Irony
Exact Line: “the dragon was a coward”
Reason: The description of the dragon as a coward is ironic, as dragons are typically portrayed as fierce creatures. This contrast adds humor and depth to the poem.

7- Figure of Speech: Characterization
Exact Line: Entire stanza
Reason: The stanza characterizes each animal with distinct names and traits, contributing to their individual identities within the narrative.

Also Read:

Figures of Speech Poem – The Tale of Custard the Dragon Stanza- 3

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

1- Figure of Speech: Simile
Exact Line: “Mouth like a fireplace,”
Reason: The dragon’s mouth is compared to a fireplace using “like,” creating a vivid image that enhances the reader’s visualization of the dragon’s features.

2- Figure of Speech: Refrain
Exact Line: “And realio, trulio”
Reason: The repetition of “And realio, trulio” throughout the poem serves as a refrain, adding a consistent, rhythmic element that enhances the musicality of the piece.

3- Figure of Speech: Metaphor
Exact Line: “chimney for a nose,”
Reason: This line metaphorically compares the dragon’s nose to a chimney, creating a striking and imaginative visual without using “like” or “as.”

4- Figure of Speech: Alliteration
Exact Line: “spikes on top of him and scales underneath,”
Reason: The ‘s’ sound in “spikes” and “scales” provides alliteration, adding to the musical quality of the verse and enhancing its rhythm.

5- Figure of Speech:Hyperbole
Exact Line: “big sharp teeth,” “daggers on his toes”
Reason: These exaggerated descriptions of the dragon’s physical features are hyperboles, emphasizing his fearsome and fantastical nature in a humorous and playful way.

6- Figure of Speech: Simile
Exact Line: “Mouth like a fireplace,”
Reason: This is an example of a simile because it uses the word “like” to directly compare the dragon’s mouth to a fireplace. This comparison suggests that the dragon’s mouth emits heat or fire, similar to a fireplace, creating a vivid and evocative image. The use of “like” is essential in establishing this as a simile, as it explicitly indicates a comparison between two different entities.

7- Figure of Speech: Metaphor
Exact Line: “chimney for a nose,”
Reason: This part of the line is a metaphor. Unlike a simile, a metaphor makes a direct comparison without using “like” or “as.” Here, the dragon’s nose is described as being a chimney. This metaphor suggests that the nose functions like a chimney, perhaps emitting smoke or steam. By saying the nose is a chimney, it provides a powerful and imaginative way to convey the characteristics of the dragon’s nose, enhancing the descriptive quality of the language.

The Tale of Custard the Dragon Poetic Device Stanza- 4

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

1- Figure of Speech: Alliteration
Exact Line: “Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears,”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘b’ sound in “Belinda,” “brave,” “barrel,” and “bears” is an example of alliteration, adding a rhythmic and musical element to the line.

2- Figure of Speech: Simile
Exact Lines: “Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears,” “Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage,”
Reason: These lines use similes to compare Belinda’s and Mustard’s bravery to a barrel full of bears and a tiger in a rage, respectively, vividly illustrating their courage.

3- Figure of Speech: Assonance
Exact Line: “Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears.”
Reason: The prominent ‘a’ sound in this line creates assonance, contributing to the internal rhyme and enhancing the poem’s musical quality.

4- Figure of Speech: Hyperbole
Exact Line: “And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs,”
Reason: This line uses hyperbole to humorously exaggerate the bravery of Ink and Blink, portraying them as capable of chasing lions.

5- Figure of Speech: Contrast
Exact Line: “But Custard cried for a nice safe cage.”
Reason: This line contrasts the bravery of the other characters with Custard’s timid nature, emphasizing his unique and ironic position as a fearful dragon.

6- Figure of Speech: Irony
Exact Line: “And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs,”
Reason: The irony in this description lies in the unlikely scenario of a kitten and a mouse chasing lions, adding humor and whimsy to the poem.

Figures of Speech Poem – The Tale of Custard the Dragon Stanza- 5

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

1- Figure of Speech: Refrain
Exact Line: “At the realio, trulio, cowardly dragon.”
Reason: The phrase “realio, trulio” is repeated, serving as a refrain. This adds a consistent, rhythmic element to the poem, enhancing its musicality.

2- Figure of Speech: Repetition
Exact Line: “Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful,”
Reason: The repetition of “tickled him” emphasizes the playful yet intense action of Belinda, adding emphasis and rhythm to the stanza.

3- Figure of Speech: Allusion
Exact Line: “they rudely called him Percival,”
Reason: The use of “Percival” is an allusion, possibly referencing Sir Percival from Arthurian legend. This contrasts with Custard’s cowardly nature, adding depth to the poem.

4- Figure of Speech: Allusion
Exact Line: “they rudely called him Percival,”
Reason: The use of “Percival” is an allusion, possibly referencing Sir Percival from Arthurian legend. This contrasts with Custard’s cowardly nature, adding depth to the poem.

5- Figure of Speech: Personification
Exact Line: “They rudely called him Percival.”
Reason: Ink, Blink, and Mustard are personified, given the human-like ability to speak and mock, adding character and humor to the stanza.

6- Figure of Speech: Irony
Exact Line: “At the realio, trulio, cowardly dragon.”
Reason: The irony in describing the dragon as cowardly, contrary to typical dragon portrayals, adds a humorous twist to the narrative.

7- Figure of Speech: Neologism
Exact Line: “At the realio, trulio, cowardly dragon.”
Reason: “Realio, trulio” is a creative neologism, adding to the whimsical and imaginative language of the poem.

8- Figure of Speech: Rhyme
Exact Line: “In the little red wagon At the realio, trulio, cowardly dragon.”
Reason: The end rhyme of “wagon” and “dragon” contributes to the poem’s rhythmic structure.

The Tale of Custard the Dragon Poetic Device Stanza- 6

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

1- Figure of Speech: Onomatopoeia
Exact Lines: “Belinda giggled,” “And Blink said Weeck!”
Reason: The use of “giggled” and “Weeck!” as sound-associated words creates onomatopoeia, adding an auditory dimension that enhances the poem’s vividness and playfulness.

2- Figure of Speech: Refrain
Exact Line: “When Custard cried for a nice safe cage.”
Reason: The repetition of “Custard cried for a nice safe cage” in this and other stanzas serves as a refrain, emphasizing Custard’s consistent desire for safety and adding to the poem’s rhythm.

3- Figure of Speech: Hyperbol
Exact Line: “Belinda giggled till she shook the house,”
Reason: This line uses hyperbole to humorously exaggerate the power of Belinda’s giggling, suggesting it was strong enough to shake the house.

4- Figure of Speech: Personification
Exact Line: “And Blink said Weeck! which is giggling for a mouse,”
Reason: Blink, the mouse, is personified with the ability to giggle and speak, adding a humorous and whimsical element to the poem.

5- Figure of Speech: Irony
Exact Line: “When Custard cried for a nice safe cage.”
Reason: It’s ironic that Custard, a dragon, longs for the security of a cage, a reversal of the traditional portrayal of dragons as fearless creatures.

Figures of Speech Poem – The Tale of Custard the Dragon Stanza- 7

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

1- Figure of Speech: Consonance
Exact Line: “Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound.”
Reason: The prominent ‘s’ sound in this line is an example of consonance, where similar consonant sounds are repeated, creating a sense of rhythm and emphasis on the suddenness of the event.

2- Figure of Speech: Onomatopoeia
Exact Lines: “Mustard growled,” “Meowch! cried Ink”
Reason: The words “growled” and “Meowch!” represent onomatopoeia, as they mimic the actual sounds made by the characters, adding an auditory element to the stanza.

3- Figure of Speech: Poetic License
Exact Line: “For there was a pirate, climbing in the winda.”
Reason: The alteration of “window” to “winda” exemplifies poetic license, changing the spelling to create a rhyme with “Belinda,” enhancing the poem’s musicality.

4- Figure of Speech: Repetition
Exact Line: “Suddenly, suddenly”
Reason: The repetition of “suddenly” emphasizes the abruptness and surprise of the moment, increasing the dramatic impact.

5- Figure of Speech: Alliteration
Exact Line: “Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound.”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘s’ sound in “Suddenly, suddenly” is an example of alliteration, adding to the rhythm and contributing to the emphasis on the suddenness of the action. There is also a prominent sound of A.

6- Figure of Speech: Rhyme
Exact Line: “sound,” “around,” “Belinda,” “winda”
Reason: The end rhyme scheme of these lines contributes to the stanza’s rhythmic and musical quality.

7- Figure of Speech: Visual Imagery
Exact Line: “For there was a pirate, climbing in the winda.”
Reason: This line vividly describes the unexpected appearance of a pirate, enhancing the visual impact and suspense of the scene.

The Tale of Custard the Dragon Poetic Device Stanza- 8

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

1- Figure of Speech: Imagery
Exact Lines: Entire stanza
Reason: The stanza uses vivid imagery to describe the pirate, from the pistols in his hands to the cutlass in his teeth, and his physical appearance with a black beard and a wooden leg. This detailed imagery helps the reader visualize the pirate clearly.

2- Figure of Speech: Alliteration
Exact Line: “pistol in his left hand, pistol in his right,”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘p’ sound in “pistol” at the beginning of consecutive phrases is an example of alliteration, adding a rhythmic quality to the verse.

3- Figure of Speech: Visual Imagery
Exact Line: “And he held in his teeth a cutlass bright,”
Reason: The line creates a vivid visual picture of the pirate with a shining cutlass in his teeth, adding to the dramatic portrayal.

4- Figure of Speech: Contrast
Exact Line: “His beard was black, one leg was wood;”
Reason: The contrast between the pirate’s black beard and his wooden leg serves to highlight his rugged and possibly fearsome appearance.

5- Figure of Speech: Connotation
Exact Line: “It was clear that the pirate meant no good.”
Reason: The phrase “meant no good” carries connotations of danger and malice, effectively conveying the pirate’s threatening nature.

6- Figure of Speech: Repetition
Exact Line: “Pistol in his left hand, pistol in his right,”
Reason: The repetition of the word “pistol” emphasizes the pirate’s armed and dangerous nature.

7- Figure of Speech: Alliteration
Exact Lines: “beard was black,” “he held his”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘b’ sound in “beard was black” and the ‘h’ sound in “he held his” are examples of alliteration, adding a rhythmic and musical quality to the description.

Figures of Speech Poem – The Tale of Custard the Dragon Stanza- 9

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

1- Figure of Speech: Transferred Epithet
Exact Line: “with a terrified yelp,”
Reason: The adjective “terrified” is used for Mustard, not for the yelp itself. This transferred epithet effectively conveys Mustard’s fear through the description of his action.

2- Figure of Speech: Repetition
Exact Line: “Help! Help!”
Reason: The repetition of “Help!” emphasizes Belinda’s urgent call for assistance and heightens the sense of alarm.

3- Figure of Speech: Poetic License
Exact Line: “strategically mouseholed.”
Reason: The creation of the word “mouseholed” to rhyme with “household” is an example of poetic license, showing the poet’s creativity in word usage for rhyme and effect.

4- Figure of Speech: Assonance
Exact Lines: “Belinda paled, and she cried Help! Help!” and “down to the bottom of the household.”
Reason: The prominent ‘e’ sound in the first line and the ‘o’ sound in the second line are examples of assonance, adding a musical quality to the stanza.

5- Figure of Speech: Alliteration
Exact Line: “Belinda paled, and she cried Help! Help!”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘h’ sound in “Help! Help!” is an example of alliteration, adding emphasis to Belinda’s reaction.

6- Figure of Speech: Onomatopoeia
Exact Line: “with a terrified yelp,”
Reason: “Yelp” is onomatopoeic, mimicking the sound of Mustard’s vocalization and adding auditory imagery to the scene.

7- Figure of Speech: Metaphor
Exact Line: “Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,”
Reason: “Trickled down” is a metaphor comparing Ink’s movement to the flow of liquid, emphasizing his cautious approach.

8- Figure of Speech: Personification
Exact Lines: “little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed.”
Reason: The phrase “strategically mouseholed” personifies Blink, attributing strategic thinking to him. Actually strategies are made by humans.

9- Figure of Speech: Visual Imagery
Exact Lines: Entire stanza
Reason: The stanza provides vivid visual descriptions of each character’s reaction, creating a clear picture of the scene.

10- Figure of Speech: Rhyme
Exact Lines: “Help! Help!” “yelp,” “household,” “mouseholed”
Reason: The rhyming scheme contributes to the stanza’s rhythm and musicality.

The Tale of Custard the Dragon Poetic Device Stanza- 10

But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,
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.

1- Name Figure of Speech: Simile
Exact Line: “snorting like an engine”
Reason: This line compares the sound of Custard’s snorting to the sound of an engine, using “like” to emphasize the intensity and power of the sound.

Another Simile in the same stanza
Exact Line: “Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon”
Reason: The sound of Custard’s tail is compared to the sound of clashing irons in a dungeon, using “like”, to evoke a sense of heavy, metallic noise.

Another Simile in the same stanza
Name Figure of Speech: Simile
Exact Line: “He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm”
Reason: This simile compares Custard’s attack on the pirate to a robin pouncing on a worm, suggesting a sudden, swift, and natural action.

2- Name Figure of Speech: Onomatopoeia
Exact Line: “With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm”
Reason: The use of words “clatter,” “clank,” and “jangling” mimics the actual sounds associated with the movements, creating an auditory effect that enhances the vividness of the scene.

3- Name Figure of Speech: Imagery
Exact Line: Entire Stanza
Reason: The stanza uses descriptive language to create a vivid mental picture of Custard’s actions and the surrounding environment, engaging the reader’s senses.

4- Name Figure of Speech: Assonance
Exact Line: “With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm”
Reason: The repetition of the vowel sound ‘a’ in this line creates a rhythm and internal rhyme, adding to the musical quality of the verse. We find that a vowel sound is very prominent in this stanza.

5- Name Figure of Speech: Consonance
Exact Line: “With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm”
Reason: The repetition of the consonant sound ‘l’ in this line adds to the overall rhythm and texture of the stanza, enhancing its auditory appeal.

Figures of Speech Poem – The Tale of Custard the Dragon Stanza- 11

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

1- Name Figure of Speech: Alliteration
Exact Line: “gulped some grog”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘g’ sound in “gulped some grog” is an example of alliteration, which adds a rhythmic quality to the line and draws attention to the action.

2- Name Figure of Speech: Imagery
Exact Line: Entire Stanza
Reason: The stanza uses descriptive language to paint a vivid picture of the scene, from the pirate’s actions to Custard’s response, engaging the reader’s visual imagination.

3. Name Figure of Speech: Onomatopoeia
Exact Line: “gulped some grog”
Reason: The word “gulped” is an example of onomatopoeia. It mimics the sound associated with the action of gulping, thereby enhancing the auditory imagery of the scene and making the action more vivid and relatable to the reader.

4. Name Figure of Speech: Hyperbole
Exact Line: “And Custard gobbled him, every bit.”
Reason: This line is an example of hyperbole, which is an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally. The phrase “gobbled him, every bit” exaggerates Custard’s action to emphasize the completeness and the absurdity of the situation, adding a dramatic and possibly humorous effect to the scene.

5. Figure of Speech: Personification
Exact Line: “The pirate gaped at Belinda’s dragon,”
Reason: The dragon is given a human-like ability to evoke a reaction, in this case, causing the pirate to gape. This personification of the dragon adds depth to its character, making it more than just a creature in the narrative, but an entity capable of influencing human emotions and actions.

The Tale of Custard the Dragon Poetic Device Stanza- 12

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

1- Name Figure of Speech: Alliteration
Exact Line: “glee did gyrate”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘g’ sound in “glee did gyrate” exemplifies alliteration, adding a lyrical and rhythmic quality to the line.

2- Name Figure of Speech: Assonance
Exact Line: “no one mourned for”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘o’ vowel sound in this phrase creates a melodic flow and emphasizes the mood of the line.

Another example of Assonance from the same stanza
Exact Line: “ink and blink in glee did”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘i’ vowel sound here adds to the internal rhythm of the line, enhancing its musicality.

Another example of Assonance from the same stanza
Exact Line: “that ate the pirate””
Reason: The ‘a’ vowel sound repeated in this line contributes to the stanza’s overall rhyme and rhythm.

3. Name Figure of Speech: Irony
Exact Line: “No one mourned for his pirate victim.”
Reason: This line contains irony, specifically situational irony. It’s unexpected that a pirate, typically portrayed as a fearsome figure, receives no mourning after being eaten. This contrast between what is expected (mourning for the dead) and what actually happens (no one mourns) adds a layer of irony to the stanza.

4. Name Figure of Speech: Imagery
Exact Line: “Belinda embraced him, Mustard licked him,”
Reason: This line creates vivid imagery. The physical actions of embracing and licking paint a clear and sensory-rich picture in the reader’s mind, effectively visualizing the scene of affection and relief following the dramatic event.

Figures of Speech Poem – The Tale of Custard the Dragon Stanza- 13

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

1- Name Figure of Speech: Repetition
Exact Line: “up spoke”
Reason: The phrase “up spoke” is repeated, emphasizing the turn-taking nature of the characters’ statements.

2- Name Figure of Speech: Consonance
Exact Line: “But presently up spoke little dog Mustard”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘t’ sound in this line adds a rhythmic quality and ties the words together phonetically.

3- Name Figure of Speech: Assonance
Exact Line: “have been twice as brave if I hadn’t been flustered”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘e’ sound in this phrase creates a melodic rhythm and emphasizes the sentiment expressed.

Another example of Assonance in the same stanza-
Name Figure of Speech: Assonance
Exact Line: “We’d have been three times as brave, we think”
Reason: Here, the ‘e’ sound is again repeated, contributing to the line’s musicality and flow.

4- Name Figure of Speech: Hyperbole
Exact Line: “twice as brave,” “three times as brave”
Reason: These phrases exaggerate the level of bravery, adding a humorous and dramatic effect.

5- Name Figure of Speech: Irony
Exact Line: Entire stanza
Reason: The irony lies in the characters’ proclamations of bravery, which contrast with their previous actions in the poem.

6- Name Figure of Speech: Personification
Exact Line: Entire stanza
Reason: The animals and the dragon speaking and expressing feelings are examples of personification, giving them human traits.

The Tale of Custard the Dragon Poetic Device Stanza- 14

Belinda still lives in her little white house,
With her little black kitten and her little grey mouse,
And her little yellow dog and her little red wagon,
And her realio, trulio little pet dragon.

1- Name Figure of Speech: Repetition
The word “little” is repeated throughout the stanza, emphasizing the smallness and endearment of each element in Belinda’s life.

2- Name Figure of Speech: Rhyme
The stanza follows a rhyming scheme (house, mouse, wagon, dragon), which adds to the musical quality of the poem.

Figures of Speech Poem – The Tale of Custard the Dragon Stanza- 15

Belinda is as brave as a barrel full of bears,
And Ink and Blink chase lions down the stairs,
Mustard is as brave as a tiger in a rage,
But Custard keeps crying for a nice safe cage.

1. Name Figure of Speech: Simile
Exact Lines: “Belinda is as brave as a barrel full of bears,” and “Mustard is as brave as a tiger in a rage”
Reason: These lines use similes to compare Belinda’s and Mustard’s bravery to the ferocity of bears and a raging tiger, respectively. A simile is a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid.

2. Name Figure of Speech: Hyperbole
Exact Line: “Ink and Blink chase lions down the stairs”
Reason: This line is an example of hyperbole, which is an exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally. It exaggerates the bravery and daring of Ink and Blink for dramatic and humorous effect.

3. Name Figure of Speech: Irony
Exact Line: “But Custard keeps crying for a nice safe cage.”
Reason: The irony in this line lies in the contrast between Custard’s dragon nature and his desire for a “nice safe cage.” It’s ironic because dragons are typically portrayed as brave and fierce, yet Custard longs for security and protection.

4. Name Figure of Speech: Rhyme
Exact Lines: The stanza follows a rhyming scheme (bears, stairs, rage, cage)
Reason: The rhyme scheme adds a musical and rhythmic quality to the poem, making it more engaging and memorable. Rhymes help to link ideas and create a flow in the poem.

5. Name Figure of Speech: Alliteration
Exact Line: “Belinda is as brave as a barrel full of bears,”
Reason: This line demonstrates alliteration with the repetition of the ‘b’ sound in “Belinda,” “brave,” “barrel,” and “bears.” Alliteration is the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. It adds a lyrical quality to the line and emphasizes the bravery being described.

Figure of Speech in The Tale of Custard the Dragon Class 10 First Flight In-Depth Analysis | Figures of Language

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