The Tale of Custard the Dragon

1.0About the Poet

Frederic Ogden Nash (1902-1971) was an American poet well known for his light verse, of which he wrote over 500 pieces. With his unconventional rhyming schemes, he was declared the country's bestknown producer of humorous poetry.

Central Idea

'The Tale of Custard the Dragon' is a humorous poem about a cowardly dragon named, Custard. Custard is one of the pets of Belinda, a little girl who lives in a white house. Among other pets of Belinda is a black kitten named Ink, a grey mouse named Blink, and a yellow dog - Mustard. Ink, Blink and Mustard are described as brave in the poem and they are compared with animals like tiger or lion, but the dragon is very timid. He always demands a safe place for himself.

2.0Bravery vs Timidity

Belinda lived in a little white house with her pet animals which included a little black cat, a little grey mouse, a little yellow dog, and a little pet dragon. This animal family had also a little red wagon. While the cat, the mouse, and the dog were amusing animals, the dragon was extremely weakling and coward. The dragon would always sob for a pleasant safe enclosure. Custard, as Belinda would call his dragon seemed to be, notwithstanding, a savage-looking creature. He had huge sharp teeth, spikes on its back, scales underneath. His mouth resembled a fireplace, his nose like that of a chimney, and his toes like daggers.

The animals would always boast their bravery. Belinda was as valiant as a barrel loaded with bears. The little cat and the mouse would chase the lions down the stairs. Mustard, the dog was as brave as the tiger in wrath. Belinda tickled the dragon savagely saying that it was a Percival. At this, every other animal laughed to their souls' fill.

3.0Barking Dogs Seldom Bite

All of sudden an awful sound was heard, and a pirate was seen holding two guns in two hands and a knife in his mouth. It was the certain test to the strength of the so-called valiant creatures. The dog yelped and fled away. The cat meowed and ran to security. The mouse ran deliberately to its opening. The poor dragon was left alone to confront the anger of the pirate. The dragon gathered the courage, roared like an engine, clashed his tale and clattered.

The pirate felt horrified, took an alcohol drink and fired the dragon twice. The dragon was outraged and he gobbled the pirate every bit. The other animals watched the scene from a distance. They now came running and embraced the dragon. They did not give up for their bravery and provided many pretences of their running from the spot. The dragon was now expected to give importance to himself. But to the surprise of all, he again cried for the nice fine cage. The animals kept living together ever since this episode.

4.0Poetic Devices used in the Poem

• Repetition - Repetition is a literary device that involves intentionally using a word or phrase for effect, two or more times in a speech or written work. Examples : 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.
• Oxymoron - Oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. Example : There is use of two words with opposite meanings together - pet dragon.
• Simile - A simile is a figure of speech in which two dissimilar objects are compared and the comparison is made clear by the use of terms like 'like', 'such as' and so on. Example : And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard.
• Anaphora - Anaphora is the repetition of words or phrases in a group of sentences, clauses, or poetic lines. Examples : And the little grey mouse, she called him Blink, And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard
• Refrain - Refrain is repetition of usually a line, a phrase, two or three lines, or even words in a poem. Examples : There is repetition of the sentences And a realio, trulio. Custard cried for a nice safe cage.
• Metaphor - A metaphor is that figure of speech where comparison of two different things are implied but not clearly stated. The poet has compared the dragon's nose with a chimney - chimney for a nose.
  
• Assonance - This figure of speech is used when the same vowel sound repeats within a group of words. Example : Prominent sound of the vowel 'a' - 'Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears'.
• Onomatopoeia - Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech in which words evoke the actual sound of the thing they refer to or describe. Examples : giggled and weeck. Mustard growled, Meowch, cried ink. clatter, clank, jangling.
• Imagery - The poet has given the visual description of the pirate.
  

5.0Let's Recall

• Belinda lived in a little white house with a little black Kitten a little grey mouse, a little yellow dog and a little red wagon and above all a cowardly dragon.
• The name of the little black kitten was Ink, and the name of the little grey mouse was Blink. The little yellow dog was called Mustard and the dragon was called Custard.
• Custard the dragon had enormous sharp teeth, spikes over him and scales underneath. His mouth was like a fireplace, his nose was like a chimney and he had daggers on his toes.
• Belinda was as valiant as a barrel full of bears. Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs. Mustard was as brave as a tiger in anger. However, Custard sobbed for a nice safe cage.
• Belinda tickled him unmercifully. Ink, Blink and Mustard impolitely called him Percival.
• Belinda laughed till she shook the house. Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age.
• All of a sudden, they heard a frightful sound. A pirate was climbing in their house.
• The pirate had a gun in his left hand and also one in his right hand. Moreover, he held in his teeth a cutlass bright.
• Belinda cried for help, Mustard fled with a scared cry, Ink streamed down to the bottom of the household, and little mouse Blink deliberately mouse holed.
• However, Custard, the dragon gathered his courage and bounced up roaring like an engine.
• The pirate frightened. He gaped at Belinda's dragon and then swallowed some grog from his pocket flask.
• Custard ate every bit of the pirate.
• Belinda embraced him, Mustard licked him. Ink and Blink gyrate in happiness around the dragon.