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Word Meaning, Summary, Important Questions Of Chapter 10 The Tale of Custard the Dragon | Class 10

Hindi Meaning Of Difficult Words | Chapter 10 The Tale of Custard the Dragon

1	Spikes	thin pointed surface	कील	wedge, tack, cleat,
2	Scales	Thin bony plates protecting the skin of fish and reptiles.	तराजू	scute, plate, scute
3	Underneath	situated directly below	नीचे	down, below, under
4	Fire place	An outdoor structure of brick, stone or metal for an open fire	अग्नि का स्थान	camp fire, bonfire, balefire
5	Dagger	A sharp knife	छुरा	creese, snickersnee, stiletto
6	Barrel	drum	पीपा	keg, cask, butt
7	Chased	hunt, follow	का पीछा किया	pursue, run after, track
8	Rage	anger	क्रोध	fury, indignation, ire
9	Unmerciful	cruel	बेरहम	remorseless, Draconian, heartless
10	Percival	A knight in King Arthur’s court	राजा आर्थर के दरबार में एक शूरवीर	,,,,,,,
11	Giggled	to laugh	हंसना	titter, snicker, chortle
12	Weeck	Here it is the sound made by the mouse	यहाँ यह माउस द्वारा बनाई गई ध्वनि है	,,,,,,
13	Nasty	bad or unpleasant	बुरा	negative, ugly, ungodly
14	Growled	bark	भुनभुनाकर	roar, roll, thunder
15	Pirate	A person who robs ship in the sea	जहाज़ी डाकू	sea cock, filibuster, sea reaver
16	Winda	it is used for window	खिड़की	,,,,,,
17	Paled	turn yellow due to fear	पीला हो जाना	grow pale, pale
18	Yelp	a short sharp cry	भौंकना	squawk, screech, whoop
19	Trickled	here, run	छल किया हुआ	dribble, drizzle, flow
20	Strategically	planned	रणनीतिक	cardinal, decisive, imperative
21	Mouseholed	here it is the hole where the mouse lives	यहाँ वह छेद है जहाँ माउस रहता है	buzzard, mousetrap, rat-hole
22	Snorting	make a sudden explosive sound through one’s nose	सूंघने	sniffing, snoring, snuffing
23	Clashed	fought	संघर्ष करना	conflict, clash, jar
24	Dungeon	underground prison	कालकोठरी	solitary cell, prison, jail
25	Clatter Clank	sound of hard object falling on each other	ऐसी चोट लगाना जिससे खनखनाहट पैदा होना	smash, noise, thunder
26	Robin	A bird	एक प्रकार का पक्षी जिसकी छाती लाल होती है	budgerigar, bantam, bluejay
27	Gaped	stared with mouth wide open	मुंह खोलना	open up, yawn, part
28	Gulped	swallow	गटकना	gulp, eat, swallow
29	Grog	a drink	जलमिश्रित सुरा	alcohol, booze, aqua vitae
30	Flagon	a container made of silver in which drink is stored	तरल पदार्थ रखने का मूठदार झंझर	carafe, decanter, flask
31	Embraced	to hug	गले लगा लिया	cuddle, grab, hug
32	Mourned	feel sorrow for the death of someone	शोक व्यक्त किया	lament for, plain for, weep for
33	Victim	sufferer	विपत्ति-ग्रस्त	casualty, fatality, wounded person
34	Glee	delight	आनंद	enjoyment, joy, happiness
35	Gyrate	danced	चक्कर खाते हुए घूमना	go round in circles, whirl, rotate
36	Flustered	upset or confused	घबराया हुआ	upset, disturb, worry
37	Kitten	the young one of a cat	बिल्ली का बच्चा	pussy, pussycat, kitty
38	Grey	of grey colour	धूसर	silvery, gunmetal, sooty
39	Mouse	rat	चूहा	field mouse, murine, vermin
40	Wagon	cart	गाड़ी	carriage, roadster,dray
41	Realio	really	असली	in (actual) fact, in reality, genuinely
42	Sharp	very active of sharp mind	तेज़	nimble, precipitant, darting
43	Dragon	a large aggressive animal with wings and a long tail, that can breath out fire	अजगर	python, rabbitfish, dragon
44	Coward	a person who lacks courage	कायर	capon, recreant, faintheart
45	Rudely	in a rude manner	बेरूखी	unimproved, Incondite, Indelicate
46	Meowch	cried like a cat	बिल्ली की तरह रोया	shout, wail, groan
47	Cutlass	a dagger	मुडी हुई छोटी तलवार	blade, sword, lance
48	Meant no good	his intention was not good	मतलब अच्छा नहीं	inutile, valueless, drossy
49	Fled	ran away	भाग गए	go off, scram, skedaddle
50	Terrified	in terror	भयाकुल	scared, horrified, fear-stricken
51	Squirm	wriggle	कुलबुलाना	squirm, fidget, pleach
52	Worm	insect	कीड़ा	moth, dross, dor
53	Fired	fired bullets	गोली	eject, hurl, shoot
54	Every bit	completely	पूरा	every bit, Exquisite, Entire,
55	Lick	licked with tongue	जीभ से चाटना	taste, lap, tongue
56	Presently	now	अब	nowadays, these days, shortly
57	Spoke	2nd form of speak said	बोला	voice, talk, declare

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About The Poet | Chapter 10 The Tale of Custard the Dragon

INTRODUCTION

Ogden Nash was an American poet well known for his light verse. “The Tale of Custard the Dragon” is a ballad about a girl named Belinda and her pets- a black kitten, a grey mouse, a yellow dog and a dragon named Ink, Blink, dragon Mustard and Custard respectively. All her pets praised their bravery except Custard the Dragon who always cried for safe cage. Custard, the cowardly dragon saves the day when a pirate threatens Belinda and her pet animals. He lives with his owner Belinda and a group of other animals who make fun of him for being cowardly. He gains courage enough to eat a pirate and save the day, although he still returns to being cowardly in the end. It is a good lesson to us all to prove that we don’t have to be brave all of the time, except for only when it matters.

Short Summary Of Chapter 10 The Tale of Custard the Dragon

SUMMARY

In this humorous poem, Custard is a pet dragon belonging to Belinda, a little girl who lives in a little white house with a mouse, a kitten, and a puppy. The dragon is called Custard because the other pets think him a coward. In the poem, “The Tale of Custard the Dragon,” Custard simply longs for the safety of a “nice cage,” while Ink the cat and Blink the mouse chase lions down the stairs and Mustard the dog brags of his own bravery. Yet, when a pirate with a pistol in one hand and a cutlass in his teeth-comes through the window, Belinda and her pets cry for help. Custard, bravely defends his friends, quickly devouring the pirate. A celebration ensues, and although Custard is praised as a hero, the cat, dog, and mouse still insist on their own personal bravery. Custard agrees that they are truly braver than he and longs once again for a safe, comfortable place like a cage.

TITLE JUSTIFICATION

TITLE JUSTIFICATION

The title of the poem, “The Tale of Custard the Dragon” is quite literal and justifies the content of the poem which is a story about a pet dragon belonging to a little girl Belinda. It narrates the story of her pets- a black kitten, a grey mouse, a yellow dog and a dragon named Ink, Blink, Mustard and Custard. The poem revolves around the dragon named Custard who always cried for a safe cage. Custard, the cowardly dragon saves the day when a pirate threatens Belinda and her pet animals. He lives with his owner Belinda and a group of other animals who make fun of him for being cowardly. He gains courage enough to eat a pirate and save the day, although he still returns to being cowardly in the end. Thus the title points to the main character Custard and his exploits in the story.

THEME

THEME

The poet explores the question of when does one need to be brave? He seems to suggest that one need not be brave all the time but only when it matters. This is conveyed through the character of Custard, the dragon. Custard, lives with his owner Belinda and a group of other animals who make fun of him for being cowardly all the time. Custard, the cowardly dragon who always desires a safe cage, saves the day when a pirate threatens Belinda and her pet animals. He gains courage enough to eat a pirate and save the day, although i still returns to being cowardly in the end. The poet suggests that one who appears to be cowardly may prove to be most brave and reliable in difficult situations. Thus the truth may be vastly different to what is commonly perceived.

MESSAGE

MESSAGE

The poet gives the message that one need not be brave all the time but it is worthwhile to be brave when it really matters. This is conveyed through the character of Custard, the dragon. Custard, lives with his owner Belinda and a group of other animals who make fun of him for being cowardly all the time. Custard, the cowardly dragon who always desires a safe cage, saves the day when a pirate threatens Belinda and her pet animals. He gains courage enough to eat a pirate and save the day, although he still returns to being cowardly in the end. The poet suggests that one who appears to be cowardly may prove to be most brave and reliable in difficult situations.

RHYME SCHEME OF THE POEM

RHYME SCHEME OF THE POEM

The rhyme scheme employed consistently in the poem is AABB. It does not vary in the poem.

POETIC DEVICES

Repetition

Repetition is seen in the repetition of the word ‘little’ stanza 1 and 2. In the first line of stanza 7, the poet has used repetition in ‘Suddenly, suddenly’.

Simile is employed in stanza 4, Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears”

Refrain-realio, trulio has been used in stanza 1. 3. 5 and 14, clatter, clank and jangling are examples of onomatopoeia in stanza 10.

Syntax and structure

The poem has 15 stanzas of four lines each. It is written in the style of a ballad. It is quite descriptive suiting the ballad style of poetry. There is no use of enjambment each line is an entire sentence and the sentence does not run into the next line.

GLOSSARY

Nasty-malicious:

Cutlass-short naval sword:

Strategically- tactfully;

Squirm- wriggle;

Gobble-eat up greedily:

Gyrate-spin:

Flustered-anxious.

TYPE I: REFERENCE TO CONTEXT (VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS)

TYPE I: REFERENCE TO CONTEXT (VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS)

Read the extracts and answer the following question

The fog comes

on little cat feet.

Questions

(i) What does the poet mean by little cat feet”?

(ii) Who is the poet?

(iii) Where does the fog come?

(iv) What is the fog compared to?

Answers

(i) ‘Little cat feet here represents the silent s careful steps of a cat. The way fog comes silently resembles the steps of a cat.

(ii) The poet is Carl Sandburg.

(iii) The fog comes over the city.

(iv) The fog is compared to a cat.

It sits looking

Over harbor and city

Questions

(i) What is referred to as ‘it’?

(ii) What is ‘it’ doing?

(iii) What is the poetic device used in the above line?

(iv) What quality is assigned to the fog?

Answers

(i) ‘It’ refers to the fog.

(ii) It is observing the harbor and the city.

(iii) The fog has been personified in the above It is seen as sitting.

(iv) The fog keeps watch on the city.

On silent haunches

and then moves on.

Questions

(i) What is referred to here?

(ii) What is the significance of silent haunches?

(iii) What is the fog doing?

(iv) What traits does it have?

Answers

(i) Fog is referred to here.

(ii) Silent haunches give room to the fog to take rest.

(iii) The fog looks over the harbor and the city.

(iv) It is silent and moves on quietly.

looking

over harbor and city

on silent haunches

and then moves on.

Questions

(i) Who is looking?

(ii) Mention the figure of speech used here?

(iii) What is the figure of speech used in silent haunches.

(iv) Why does the fog move on?

Answers

(i) The fog is looking’.

(ii) The figure of speech used is personification.

(iii) The figure of speech used in silent haunches’ is transferred epithet.

(iv) The fog moves on to cover the rest of the city.

The fog comes

on little cat feet.

It sits looking

over harbor and city

Questions

(i) Name the poet.

(ii) What is he describing?

(iii) How does the fog move?

(iv) What is the poetic device used in the second line

Answers

(i) The poet is Carl Sandburg.

(ii) He is describing the fog.

(iii) The fog moves like a cat.

(iv) The poetic device used in the second line is metaphor little cat feet.

TYPE II: SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (30-40 WORDS EACH)

Answer the following questions:

What does Sandburg think the fog is like?

Ans. The poet thinks that the fog is like a cat. The silent steps of a cat and the way it sits on its haunches is very similar to the way fog comes and surrounds the city and looks over it. The quiet nature of the cat and fog are quite alike.

How does the fog come?

Ans. The narrator is comparing the movement of the fog to the silent, spry footsteps of a cat, an animal who is able to creep toward its destination without warning. Fog often arrives quickly, yet completely, as it covers a city or a harbor. Like a cat who does as it pleases, fog obeys no rules, often shrouding the surroundings like a blanket that does not allow any light.

Does the poet actually say that the fog is like a cat?

Ans. Find three things that tell us that the fog is like a cat. (Literature Reader, Q No. 1(iv), Page 115) Ans. The poet does not actually say that the fog is like a cat. The fog is metaphorically compared to a cat. The lines which make it clear are, ‘on little cat feet, silent haunches and then moves on

Does this poem have a rhyme scheme?

Ans. No the poem does not have a rhyme scheme like a traditional poem. “Fog” is a short poem, six lines long, split into two stanzas. It is a free verse poem, having no regular rhyme or set meter.

How does the poet compare fog to a living being?

Ans. The poet compares the fog to a cat. The silent steps of a cat and the way it sits on its haunches is very similar to the way fog comes and surrounds the city and looks over it.

What image does the poet give to the fog? What are the similarities between that image and fog? Ans. The poet looks at the fog as a living creature and compares it to a cat. The fog moves like a cat on little cat feet and sits on bunches like a cat. It is quiet, mysterious and sinister like the cat.

What is the figure of speech used in the phrase “silent haunches

Ans. The figure of speech used here is transferred epithet. Haunches cannot be silent or loud. The characteristic of silence belongs to the cat. But the poet instead of employing the expression ‘silent cat’ transfers the epithet -silence, before the word, “haunches’. This device helps to create the image of a cat sitting silently on its haunches very vividly

What picture of the fog does the poet paint?

Ans. The poet says that the fog comes ‘on little cat feet. He also says that the fog ‘sits looking over harbor and city and then moves on. To show resemblance between the fog and a cat, the poet uses such metaphorical language that the fog is described as if it were a cat

Why are harbor and city mentioned in the poem?

Ans. The two words are mentioned here as the poet is describing how the fog keeps watch over the harbor and the city and then moves on from there to envelope the rest of the areas.

TYPE III: LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS (100-120 WORDS EACH)

Answer the following questions:

Carl Sandburg was a keen observer of nature. Discuss with reference to the poem ‘Fog’.

Ans. The poet has taken utmost pleasure in nature and natural phenomenon like fog. Fog is so special to the poet that he cared enough not only to write about it, but also thinks of its resemblance with other things in the world. In his close attention to fog, he found fog resembles a cat, in the way it moves and sits on its haunches. The fact that such a resemblance was found by the poet shows how connected he is to various things in nature. This poem serves as an inspiration for people, to observe keenly and appreciate the many wonders of nature.

The poem, Fog is a nature poem. Comment

Ans. ‘Fog’ is indeed a nature poem. Fog is so special to the poet that he cared enough not only to write about it, but also thinks of its resemblance with other things in the world. The poet has taken utmost pleasure in nature and natural phenomenon like fog. In his close attention to fog which he found fog resembles a cat, in the way it moves and sits on its haunches. The fact that such a resemblance was found by the poet shows how connected he is to various things in nature. This poem does not have a message as such but undoubtedly it serves as an inspiration for people, to observe keenly and appreciate the many wonders of nature.

Though a short poem, ‘Fog’ conveys the poet’s sensibility effectively.

Ans. The poem, ‘Fog’ has just six lines. The lines are short. By keeping the lines short, the poet is controlling the pace, keeping it slow. As one reads, one has to slow down to focus because one is not too certain about the next word or line. This reflects the slow fog rolling in. The poet effectively conveys in these six lines his sensibility metaphorically. The poet has taken utmost pleasure in nature and natural phenomenon like fog. In his close attention to fog which he found fog resembles a cat, in the way it moves and sits on its haunches. The brevity and yet the effect of the poem is amazing. Soon the fog and cat become one in the readers’ minds. Well chosen words and metaphors create a vivid image of the fog behaving like the cat.

Sandburg’s use of the extended metaphor in the poem fog’ is quite apt. Discuss.

Ans. The poem is an extended metaphor as the poet sees the fog as a cat that comes on tiny, silent feet, as cats do. The metaphor is quite apt for many reason, only a cat can move in such a way, almost imperceptibly, and in complete silence. A cat is an independent animal, it doesn’t follow rules, it slips and slides in and out of our lives as it pleases, just like fog. which knows no boundaries. Cats are stealthy. moving in slow motion at times. They appear to be moving in a most mysterious fashion. The reader’s mind becomes filled with this dual imagery of fog and cat, fog turning into a cat, cat morphing back into the fog. By doing this, the poet is introducing the idea that the fog is alive and is an entity. Cats are inscrutable and also have the habit of finding a place which gives them an overview of a landscape or territory. Due to these reasons the metaphor of the cat is quite suitable.

What is the poet’s attitude to the fog?

Ans. “Fog”, written by Carl Sandburg, was first published in Chicago Poems’. It is a poem that reflects Sandburg’s interest in the natural world and beautifully captures a moment or two when the fog came moving in over the harbor waters, a powerful ima given life through a metaphorical cat. The simple metaphors and imagery the poet uses captivate our imaginations and emotions and ideas of surprise, awe, and fear, to name a few. He observes the fog and its traits keenly and dwell on it enough to see the fog as resembling a cat. He employs well chosen words and poetic devices to convey his thoughts about the fog most effectively. Thus his attitude towards the fog is that of admiration and observation.

QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE

Why do you think Sandburg chose to begin his poem with a metaphor?
What is the effect of short lines?
How does fog move in a catlike way? Why is the imagery of a cat’s movements so important to the poem?
Where does the fog move onto?
What is the theme of the poem. ‘Fog’?