CBSE Class 10 English Custard the Dragon and For Anne Gregory (First Flight Poems) Important Questions Set 03

Answer: (a) He had big sharp teeth, spikes on his back, scales on his belly, a chimney-like nose and dagger-like toes.
(b) Because a dragon breathes out fire, like a fireplace.
(c) ‘Daggers’.
(d) Simile.

Teacher's Note:
1. The dragon is described in a funny and exaggerated way.
2. The word ‘like’ is the clue to spot a simile.

Answer: (a) Repetition.
(b) It was the sound of a pirate climbing in through the window.
(c) Mustard growled and Ink cried ‘Meowch!’
(d) It is spelt to rhyme with ‘Belinda’ and to give the poem a comic effect.

Teacher's Note:
1. Sound words such as ‘Meowch’ make the poem lively.
2. The poet bends spelling to keep the rhyme.

Answer: (a) She turned pale and cried for help.
(b) He ran away with a terrified yelp.
(c) Ink went to the bottom of the house and Blink hid in a mousehole.
(d) It is a humorous way of saying that Blink ran away to safety and called it a clever plan.

Teacher's Note:
1. The so-called brave pets run away at once.
2. Their reactions contrast with Custard’s courage.

Answer: (a) An old religious man.
(b) A text proving that only God can love Anne for herself.
(c) Only God.
(d) It stands for outward beauty and physical appearance.

Teacher's Note:
1. The old man’s claim carries the poem’s message.
2. Hair is a symbol of looks, not of the real person.

Answer: (a) Anne Gregory.
(b) Brown, black and carrot (and her natural yellow).
(c) She wants to be loved for herself and not for her hair.
(d) It shows that she values character over looks and wants real love.

Teacher's Note:
1. Anne’s wish to dye her hair is a test of whether she is loved for herself.
2. Her answer shows maturity beyond her years.

Answer: Custard jumped up snorting and clashed his tail. The pirate, amazed, took a drink of wine to steady his nerves and fired two shots that missed. Custard then swallowed the pirate whole, while the other pets had run away.

Teacher's Note:
1. Describe the action in order and mention that the pirate missed.
2. Keep to what the poem says.

Answer: Belinda embraced Custard in joy, Mustard licked him and Ink and Blink danced around him. Soon after, Mustard and the others began to boast that they would have been twice as brave, or even thrice, if they had not been confused.

Teacher's Note:
1. Describe both the praise and the later boasting.
2. The contrast is the humour of the poem.

Answer: Custard kept crying for a nice safe cage and liked comfort, so the others thought him timid. When the real danger came, only Custard stood and fought and saved all of them.

Teacher's Note:
1. Give the reason for the mockery and then the proof of courage.
2. Use the word ‘cage’.

Answer: A ballad is a poem that tells a story, often of adventure and bravery, and has a musical rhythm. This poem has a story, a hero and a fight with a pirate, and its rhymed couplets are musical. However, it is a humorous parody of a ballad, as the hero is a dragon who is afraid of cages.

Teacher's Note:
1. Define a ballad first and then apply it.
2. The term ‘parody’ is useful.

Answer: The old man said he had found a text proving that only God can love a person for herself alone and not for her yellow hair. I agree, because people are often attracted by looks, wealth or status, while real love accepts a person for her qualities.

Teacher's Note:
1. Give the old man’s statement and then your own opinion.
2. A short reason makes it complete.

Answer: The phrase describes Anne Gregory’s thick yellow hair falling over her ears like the walls of a fort. It shows that young men are charmed only by her hair.

Teacher's Note:
1. ‘Ramparts’ means defensive walls.
2. Explain the comparison, which is a metaphor.

Answer: It shows that they love her for her golden hair and not for herself. By saying she could dye it brown, black or carrot, she tests whether they would still love her.

Teacher's Note:
1. The comparison with other colours is a test of true love.
2. Mention the three colours.

Answer: Yes, courage shows itself when a real test comes. Belinda, Mustard, Ink and Blink were all full of bold words, but they ran away when the pirate came. Custard, who always cried for a safe cage, was the only one who faced the pirate and defeated him. Liking comfort did not make him a coward. We should not judge a person’s courage by words or habits, but by how they act when it matters.

Teacher's Note:
1. Contrast boasting with action.
2. Conclude that people should not be judged by their likes.

Answer: No, no one should be mocked for their likes. Custard wanted comfort and safety and cried for a nice safe cage, so Belinda and the pets teased him and called him a coward. Yet he saved them all. The poem shows that preferences have nothing to do with a person’s worth or courage. Making fun of others is unkind and often unfair, as they may have strengths that we do not see.

Teacher's Note:
1. Give a firm opinion and one reason from the poem.
2. A closing line on respect is enough.

Answer: Many people are drawn to outward appearance, such as beauty, wealth or status, but these things change with time. Anne wants to be loved for herself alone, not for her yellow hair, which she can dye to any colour. She tells the poet that no young man, charmed by the ramparts of hair at her ear, will love her for herself. Only God loves without conditions. The poem teaches us to look beyond looks and value character.

Teacher's Note:
1. Link the question to the poem’s words.
2. State the final message clearly.

Answer: Yeats says that real love looks beyond the surface. Anne is beautiful and admired, yet young men love only her hair, and she wishes to be valued for her inner self. The old religious man’s text says that only God can do this. The poet suggests that human love is often shallow and affected by appearances, and that we must learn to see and respect the person within instead of treating people as things to admire.

Teacher's Note:
1. Mention the old man and Anne’s wish.
2. End with the lesson about inner worth.