Chapters
Madam Rides the Bus|The Tale of Custard the Dragon
1- Madam Rides the Bus
Summary
Valliammai, known as Valli, is an eight-year-old girl who finds joy in watching the happenings on her street from the doorway of her house. Without playmates her age, she finds fascination in observing the bus that passes by her street every hour, traveling between her village and the nearby town. Over time, Valli develops a strong desire to ride the bus herself.
Determined, Valli secretly saves up enough money for a round-trip fare and plans her first bus journey. One day, she successfully boards the bus alone, despite her young age, and experiences the excitement of the journey. Valli marvels at the sights outside, including a playful moment involving a cow on the road, and interacts with the friendly conductor.
However, her joy is dampened when, on the return trip, she sees the same cow lying dead by the roadside, a stark contrast to the lively creature it had been earlier. This sight saddens her, and she loses interest in the journey.
When Valli returns home, her mother and aunt are unaware of her adventure. They engage in a casual conversation, and Valli, feeling mature after her experience, subtly agrees with her mother's words, though they don't fully grasp her newfound understanding. Valli smiles to herself, knowing she has had an experience they wouldn't understand.
NCERT Class 10 English | Ch-7| Madam Rides the Bus|The Tale of Custard the Dragon
The Tale of Custard the Dragon -Summary
The poem "Custard the Dragon" by Ogden Nash is a playful and humorous ballad that tells the story of a girl named Belinda and her unusual pet, Custard the dragon. The poem is structured in a whimsical, rhyming pattern, and it combines humor with an underlying message about courage and appearances.
Explanation:
Characters and Setting:
Belinda lives in a little white house with her pets: a little black kitten named Ink, a little grey mouse named Blink, a little yellow dog named Mustard, and a dragon named Custard. They also have a little red wagon. Each pet has its own distinct personality.
Ink, Blink, and Mustard are all described as brave and fierce in their own way. Belinda herself is said to be as brave as a "barrel full of bears."
Custard the Dragon, despite having all the outward characteristics of a fearsome creature—sharp teeth, spikes, scales, and claws— is ironically a coward who always cries for a "nice safe cage."
Conflict:
The pets, especially Custard, are often teased for their personalities. The others laugh at Custard for his cowardice, despite his fierce appearance.
However, when a pirate suddenly invades their home, it's Custard who steps up. While all the other pets, including the brave Belinda, flee in terror, Custard confronts the pirate and defeats him by gobbling him up entirely.
Resolution:
After the threat is neutralized, Belinda and the pets shower Custard with praise. However, the other animals quickly downplay Custard's bravery by claiming they would have been even braver if they hadn’t been caught off guard. Custard, modest as ever, agrees that everyone is braver than he is, despite having just saved the day.
Themes:
Courage vs. Appearance: The poem plays on the idea that bravery isn't always visible on the surface. Custard, who appears frightening but is known to be timid, is the one who shows true bravery when it matters.
Humor and Irony: The poem is filled with humorous contrasts and ironic twists, especially in how the characters perceive bravery versus how they act when faced with danger.
Acceptance and Modesty: Despite being teased, Custard doesn’t seek to prove himself. Even after his heroic act, he remains humble, which adds to the poem's charm.
In summary, "Custard the Dragon" is a delightful and humorous poem that uses playful language to convey deeper messages about bravery, appearances, and humility. It's a light-hearted story that reminds us that true courage can come from the most unexpected places..
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