The Tale of Custard the Dragon- Comprehension Passages

The Tale of Custard the Dragon

By– Ogden Nash

COMPREHENSION OF STANZAS

Read the following stanzas and answer the questions that follow :

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 real, truly, little pet dragon.

Questions :

(a) Where did Belinda live?

(b) What was the colour of the kitten?

(c) Apart from the kitten which other animals were living with her?

(d) Give a pair of rhyming words.

(e) What is the rhyme scheme of this stanza?

Answers :

(a) Belinda lived in a little white house.

(b) The kitten was of black in colour.

(d) The rhyming words are :

house-mouse

wagon-dragon

(e) The rhyme scheme of this stanza is ‘aabb‘.

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.

Questions :

(a) What was the name of the kitten?

(b) What name did she give to the mouse?

(c) Why was the dragon named as ‘Custard’?

(d) What was the name of the dog?

(e) Name the poem and the poet.

Answers :

(a) The name of the kitten was Ink.

(b) She gave the name Blink to the mouse.

(d) The name of the dog was Mustard.

(e) Poem: The Tale of Custard the Dragon,

Poet: Ogden Nash.

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 really, truly daggers on his toes.

Questions :

(a) What was on top of the dragon’s body?

(b) How does the poet describe the dragon’s mouth and nose?

(c) What did the dragon have on his toes?

(d) What sort of teeth did he have?

(e) Write a pair of rhyming words.

Answers :

(a) The dragon had spikes on top of his body.

(b) The poet describes his mouth like a fireplace and nose like a chimney.

(d) He had big sharp teeth.

(e) The rhyming words are teeth—underneath, nose—toes.

STANZA 4

Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears,

And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stain,

Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage,

But Custard cried for a nice safe cage.

Questions :

(a) How is Belinda described in the stanza?

(b) How did Ink and Blink show their strength?

(c) How did Mustard show his bravery?

(d) What did Custard cry for?

(e) Name the poem and the poet.

Answers :

(a) Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of hears.

(b) Ink and Blink showed their strength by chasing lions down the stain.

(d) Custard cried for a nice safe cage.

(e) Poem: ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’.

Poet: Ogden Nash.

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 radio, truly, cowardly dragon.

Questions :

(a) Whom did Belinda tickle?

(b) Who was called Percival by Ink, Blink and Mustard?

(c) How did the animals make fun of the dragon?

(d) What was the colour of the wagon?

(e) Who was cowardly?

Answers :

(a) Belinda tickled the dragon.

(b) The dragon was called Percival by Ink, Blink and Mustard.

(d) The wagon was of red in colour.

(e) The dragon was cowardly.

STANZA 6

Belinda giggled fill she shook the house,

And Blink said Week ! which is giggling for a mouse,

Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age,

When Custard cried for a nice safe cage.

Questions :

(a) How long did Belinda laugh?

(b) Which kind of giggling sound does a mouse produce?

(c) How did Ink and Mustard ask the mouse his age?

(d) What did custard cry for?

(e) Name the poem and the poet.

Answers :

(a) Belinda laughed till she shook the house.

(b) It is ‘Week’.

(d) Custard cried for a nice safe cage.

(e) Poem: ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’.

Poet: Ogden Nash.

STANZA 7

Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound,

And Mustard growled, and they all looked around.

Meowch! cried Ink, and oak! cried Belinda,

For there was a pirate, climbing in the window.

Questions :

(a) What did they suddenly hear?

(b) What did Mustard do?

(c) What did they see in the window?

(d) Whose nasty sound was it?

(e) What was the pirate doing?

Answers :

(a) They suddenly heard a nasty sound.

(b) Mustard growled.

(d) It was the pirate’s nasty sound.

(e) The pirate was climbing in the window.

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.

Questions :

(a) What did the pirate have in his hands?

(b) What was in his teeth?

(c) How does the poet describe his beard and leg?

(d) Did the pirate come for something good?

(e) Write a pair of rhyming words.

Answers :

(a) He had pistols in his hands.

(b) He had a sword in his teeth.

(d) No, he did not come for something good.

(e) The rhyming words are :

right — bright wood

— good.

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 mousehole.

Questions :

(a) Why did Belinda get pale?

(b) What did Belinda cry for?

(c) What did Mustard do?

(d) What did Blink do seeing the pirate?

(e) What did Ink do on seeing the pirate?

Answers :

(a) Belinda got paled to see the pirate.

(b) Belinda cried for help.

(d) Blink ran into his hole.

(e) Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household.

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.

Questions :

(a) Upon whom did Custard jump?

(b) How did he clash his tail?

(c) What did he look like when he clashed with the pirate?

(d) How did custard snort?

(e) Write a pair of rhyming words.

Answers :

(a) Custard jumped on the pirate.

(b) He clashed his tail with clattering, clanking and jangling sounds.

(d) He snorted like an engine.

(e) The rhyming words are engine-dungeon, squirm-worm.

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.

Questions : (a) What did the pirate gulp?

(b) How did the pirate attack Custard?

(c) What did the dragon do to the pirate?

(d) Whose dragon was it?

(e) Name the poem and the poet.

Answers :

(a) The pirate gulped grog from his flagon.

(b) He fired two bullets but they did not hit.

(d) It was Belinda’s dragon.

(e) Poem: ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’,

Poet: Ogden Nash.

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.

Questions :

(a) Whom did Belinda embrace?

(b) What did Mustard do?

(c) Who gyrated round Custard?

(d) What did no one mourn for?

(e) Who ate the pirate?

Answers :

(a) Belinda embraced Custard.

(b) Mustard licked Custard.

(d) No one mourned for the death of the pirate.

(e) The dragon ate the pirate.

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 everyone is braver than me.

Questions :

(a) What did Mustard say after the event?

(b) What did Ink and Blink speak about the situation?

(c) What was Custard’s reaction?

(d) Was Custard brave?

(e) What is the rhyme scheme of this stanza?

Answers :

(a) Mustard said that he would have been twice brave if he had not become nervous.

(b) They said that they had been three times as brave.

(d) No, Custard was not brave.

(e) The rhyme scheme of this stanza is ‘aabbcc’.

STANZA 14

Belinda still lives in her little white house,

With her little black kitten and her link grey mouse,

And her little yellow dog and her little red wagon,

And her real, truly little pet dragon.

Questions :

(a) Where does Belinda still live?

(b) What is the colour of the kitten ?

(c) Of what colour is the wagon?

(d) With what is Belinda living?

(e) What type of dragon is it?

Answers :

STANZA 15

Belinda is as brave as a barrel full of bears,

And Ink and Blink chase lions down the stain,

Mustard is as brave as a tiger in a rage,

But Custard keeps crying for a nice safe cage.

Questions :

(a) How brave is Belinda?

(b) Who chase the lions down the stain?

(c) What does Custard keep crying for?

(d) What is the quality of Mustard?

(e) Write a pair of rhyming words.

Answers :

(a) Belinda is as brave as a barrel full of bears.

(b) Ink and Blink chase the lions down the stairs.

(d) Mustard is as brave as a tiger in a rage.

(e) The rhyming words are :

bears — stairs

rage — cage.

Stanza-16: (Page 129)

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 real, trulio, little pet dragon.

Word-Meaning: Kitten— the young one of a cat, Grey— of grey colour, Mouse— rat, Wagon— (here) cart Realio— really, Trulio— truly,

Paraphrase

Belinda lived in a little white house. She lived there with her pets. Her pets included a little black kitten. There was a little grey mouse. She had a little yellow dog and a little red wagon too. And to speak the truth, she had a little pet dragon

Questions:

(a) Where did Belinda live?

(b) What was the total member of pets that she had?

(c) What kind of a wagon she had?

(d) Is it true that she also had a little pet dragon?

Answers:

(a) Belinda lived in a little white house.

(b) She had four pets in all.

(d) It is true that Belinda had also a little pet dragon.

Stanza-17: (Page 129)

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.

Word-Meaning: Sharp- very active, of sharp mind, Dragon— (here) a large aggressive animal with wings and a long tail, that can breathe out fire, Coward- a person who lacks courage

Paraphrase

The name of the little black kitten was Ink. The little grey mouse was called by the name Blink. And the little sharp dog was known as Mustard. But the dragon was coward. She called the dragon Custard.

Questions:

(a) What was the name of the little black kitten?

(b) What was the little grey mouse called?

(c) What kind of dog Mustard was?

(d) What did the other animals generally think about Custard, the dragon?

Answers:

(a) The name of the little black kitten was Ink.

(b) The little grey mouse was called Blink.

(d) The little pet dragon Custard was thought to be coward and lacked courage.

Stanza-18: (Page 129)

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 really, truly, daggers on his toes.

Word-Meaning: Spikes— sharp nails Scales— (here) layers, Underneath— below, Fireplace— hearth, Daggers— a sharp small sword,

Paraphrase

The dragon, Custard had big sharp teeth. On Custard, the top of him were sharp spikes. And there were scales underneath him. The dragon’s To mouth looked like a fireplace or hearth. His nose looked like a chimney. And really he had dagger-like sharp spikes on his toes.

Questions:

(a) What kind of teeth did the dragon have?

(b) How did the dragon look fearful?

(c) Why did his mouth look like a fireplace?

(d) What was on his toes?

Answers:

(a) The dragon, Custard had big sharp teeth.

(b) There were sharp nails on the top and scales underneath the body of the dragon.

(d) There was sharp dagger-like nails on his toes.

Stanza-19: (Page 129)

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.

Word-Meaning: Barrel – a big box, Stairs— a set of steps leading from one floor to another, Chase- to follow someone, Cage— a lace where bird and animals are kept in the zoo,

Paraphrase

Belinda was braver than many bears put together. Ink and Blink were so brave that they could chase even lions down the stairs. Mustard, the dog, was as brave as a tiger in anger and rage. But Custard always cried like a coward to be put up in a nice safe cage.

Questions:

(a) Was Belinda a brave girl?

(b) What could Ink and Blink do?

(c) What does the poet say about Mustard?

(d) Why did Custard cry for a nice safe cage?

Answers:

(a) Belinda was braver than many bears.

(b) Ink and Blink could chase even lions down the stairs.

(d) The custard was a coward and always cried to be put up in a nice safe cage.

Stanza-20: (Page 130)

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 radio, truly, cowardly dragon.

Word-Meaning: Tickled— moved fingers on the sensitive part to make laugh, Unmerciful— without kindness, Rudely— in a rude manner, Percival— a hero, Cowardly— one who is easily frightened

Paraphrase

Belinda tickled the dragon and she used to tickle him mercilessly. Ink, Blink and Mustard mocked him by calling Percival, the brave. All of them sat together in the little red wagon and laughed at Custard. They used to laugh at the coward dragon.

Questions:

(a) Who did Belinda tickle and why?

(b) What did Ink, Blink and Mustard do?

(c) What did they do sifting in the little red wagon?

(d) What did they generally think of Custard?

Answers:

(a) Belinda used to tickle the pet dragon mercilessly to ridicule him.

(b) The three of them mocked at the dragon calling him Percival, the brave.

(d) Generally, they thought that Custard was a coward.

Stanza-21: (Page 130)

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.

Word-Meaning: Giggled— laughed rudely Said weeck— (here) giggled like a mouse, Rudely— in an insulting manner,

Paraphrase

Belinda giggled loudly till the whole house shook to its foundation. Blink giggled too like a mouse. Ink and Mustard were very rude to the dragon, Custard. They insulted him by asking repeatedly about his age. Custard cried like a coward begging for a nice safe cage for him.

Questions:

(a) How did Belinda’s giggle affect the house?

(b) How did Blink giggle?

(c) How was Custard insulted?

(d) What did Custard say again and again?

Answers:

(a) Belinda’s loud giggle shook the very foundation of the house.

(b) Blink giggled like a mouse.

(d) Custard repeatedly begged for a nice safe cage for him.

Stanza-22: (Page 130)

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 window.

Word-Meaning: Nasty— bad, unpleasant, Growled— growled in anger Meowch— cried like a cat, Pirate— a sea-robber, Winda (Window)— the passage in the wall for fresh air and sunlight

Paraphrase

Then all of a sudden, they heard a very unpleasant sound. After hearing it, Mustard growled and all of them looked around. Ink cried “meowch!” and Belinda cried “oh!” They saw that there was a pirate who was climbing in through the window.

Questions:

(a) What kind of sound did they hear?

(b) What happened after they heard the sound?

(c) How did Ink and Belinda react?

(d) Who was ‘climbing in the wind’?

Answers:

(a) They heard a nasty sound suddenly.

(b) They were surprised and looked around.

(d) A pirate was climbing through the window.

Stanza-23: (Page 130)

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.

Word-Meaning: Cutlass- a dagger, Meant no good— his intention was not good.

Paraphrase

The pirate had a pistol in his left hand. He also held another pistol in his right hand. He was holding a shining dagger among his teeth. His beard was black. One of the legs was of wood. It was quite clear that the pirate meant no good to them.

Questions:

(a) What did he hold in both of his hands?

(b) What did he hold in his teeth?

(c) What was so special about his legs?

(d) What was the intention of the pirate?

Answers:

(a) The pirate held a pistol in each of his hands.

(b) He held a shining dagger in his teeth.

(d) The intention of the pirate didn’t seem to be good.

Stanza-24: (Page 130)

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 mousehole.

Word-Meaning: Paled— her complexion faded, Fled— (and form of fleeing) ran away, Terrified— in terror, Yelp— cry, Trickle— to reached, Strategically— (here) as the situation demanded, Mousehole— entered the hole,

Paraphrase

When Belinda saw the pirate, her face became pale with fear. She started crying for help. Mustard was terrified and fled crying. Ink hid at the bottom of the household. The little mouse Blink entered its hole and saved himself strategically in this way.

Questions:

(a) How did Belinda react to the pirate?

(b) What did Mustard do?

(c) Where did Ink hide?

(d) What strategy did Blink adopt?

Answers:

(a) Belinda became pale at the sight of the pirate.

(b) Mustard fled away terrified.

(d) The little mouse Blink entered its hole to save himself as it was the best strategy for him.

Stanza-25: (Page 130)

But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,

Clashed his tails 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.

Word-Meaning: Snorting— making the sound of an engine, Clashed— struck, Dungeon— prison, Clatter and clank— making a rattling sound, Jangle— making a harsh metallic sound, Squirm— wriggle, Robin— a sparrow, Worm— insect,

Paraphrase

The dragon Custard jumped up. He was snorting like an engine. His tail clashed with the pirate as the iron chains strike on the dungeon floor. With a clattering and clanking sound, he made his body hard and twisted. He pounced upon the pirate as a robin pounces upon at a worm.

Questions:

(a) How did Custard snort?

(b) How did Custard attack the pirate with his tail?

(c) How did he squirm?

(d) What is Custard’s fight with the pirate compared with?

Answers:

(a) Custard snorted like an engine.

(b) Custard, the dragon attacked the pirate with his tail as iron chains strike on the dungeon floor.

(d) Custard pounced upon the pirate as a robin pounces upon an insect.

Stanza-26: (Page 130)

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.

Word-Meaning: Gape— watched intently, Gulped— drank down, Grog— (here) wine, Flagon— a narrow container, Fired— fired bullets, Gobbled— swallowed, Every bit— completely,

Paraphrase

The pirate watched intently at Belinda’s dragon Custard. He took out a small container from his pocket and gulped down some wine. He fired two bullets at the dragon but missed the aim. The bullets didn’t hit Custard. The dragon swallowed every bit of the pirate immediately.

Questions:

(a) How did the pirate watch the dragon?

(b) What did he have in the flagon?

(c) Did the bullets hit the dragon?

(d) What fate did the pirate meet?

Answers:

(a) The pirate watched the dragon intently.

(b) He had wine in the flagon.

(d) The dragon swallowed every bit of the pirate immediately.

Stanza-27: (Page 131)

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.

Word-Meaning: Embraced— held tightly in arms, Lick— licked with tongue, Mourned— expressed grief, Victim— prey, Glee— happiness, Gyrate— danced around,

Paraphrase

Belinda embraced Custard. Mustard started licking him. No one mourned for their pirate victim who was dead. Ink and Blink danced around the dragon who had just swallowed the pirate.

Questions:

(a) How did Belinda treat Custard?

(b) What did Ink and Blink do?

(c) What did Mustard do to Custard?

(d) Did they mourn the death of the pirate?

Answers:

(a) Belinda embraced Custard as he had killed the pirate.

(b) Ink and Blink danced around Custard.

(d) No, none of them mourned the death of the pirate.

Stanza-28: (Page 131)

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.

Word-Meaning: Presently- now, spoke- 2^nd form of speak: said Flustered— became nervous Quite – completely,

paraphrase

Soon the little dog Mustard began to speak. He declared that if he had not been nervous, he would have been twice as brave as he was. Then ink and Blink replied that in their views, they would have been thrice as brave as they had been. Custard readily agreed that everybody there was braver than him.

Questions:

(a) What excuse did Mustard make?

(b) What did Ink and Blink claim?

(c) What did Custard say?

(d) What does it show about Custard’s character?

Answers:

(a) Mustard told that he would have been twice as brave had he not been nervous.

(b) Ink and Blink claimed that they would have been thrice braver.

(d) It shows that Custard was timid and lacked self-respect.

(Last two stanzas have been repeated)