Updated on 14/06/2026
*Poem-9. The Tale of Custard the Dragon (Ogden Nash)*
*1. Who is the poet of the humorous narrative poem ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’?*
Ans. Ogden Nash
*2. Where did Belinda live with her pets?*
Ans. In a little white house
*3. What was the color of Belinda's little kitten?
Ans. Black (named Ink).
*4. Who was Blink?*
Ans. Belinda’s little grey mouse
*5. Who was Mustard?*
Ans. A yellow dog
*6. What name was given to the dragon?*
Ans. Custard
*7. What was the colour of their wagon?*
Ans. Red
*8. How brave is Belinda according to the poem?*
Ans. As brave as a barrel full of bears.
*9. Who attacked Belinda’s house through the window?*
Ans. A dangerous pirate
*10. Who used to boast about chasing lions down the stairs?
Ans. Ink and blink
*11. Who actually faced and destroyed the pirate when everyone else ran away?*
Ans. Custard the dragon.
*12. What did Custard constantly cry and long for?
Ans. For a nice safe cage
13. What weapons was the pirate holding in his hands?
Ans. Two cutlasses (pistols) and a bright cutlass blade in his teeth.
Textual Questions
*1. Who were Ink, Blink, Mustard and Custard?* Describe them briefly.
Ans. They were Belinda’s four distinct pet animals. Ink was a clever little black kitten, Blink was a little grey mouse, Mustard was a sharp yellow dog and Custard was a large pet dragon who was mockingly treated as a coward by the others.
*2. Where did Belinda live and which animals lived with her?*
Ans. Belinda lived in a little white house with her four pets. They were Ink-a little black kitten, Blink-a little grey mouse, Mustard-a yellow dog and Custard-a large pet dragon. She made fun of Custard the dragon for his timid nature with her other pets.
*3. Who was Custard and how did he look?*
Ans. Custard is Belinda's pet Dragon. He has spikes on his back. He has sharp teeth and a dangerous mouth. When he blows fire it looks like a hot fireplace and his nose looks like a smoking chimney, and his toes resembled sharp daggers.
*4. How was the pirate killed by Custard?*
Ans. When the pirate broke in, the boasting pets Ink, Blink and Mustard fled away cowardly to hide themselves. However, leaped up snorting like a steam engine and clashed his tail like iron bars in a dungeon. He charged at the pirate like a robin at a worm, attacking him and gobbling him down to the last piece. In this way, the Custard killed the pirate.
*5. How is ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ a ballad?*
Ans. The ballad is a poem that is typically arranged in quatrains with the rhyme scheme ABAB. Ballads are usually narrative, which means it tells a story. Structurally, it is written in four-line stanzas.
*6. Why did Custard cry for a nice safe cage? Why is he called a coward?*
Ans. The custard cried for a nice safe cage because it was a coward. It is called “cowardly dragon” because everyone else in the house is very brave while the dragon is the only one, who fears a lot and looks for a nice safe cage for himself.