what is the irony in the poem the tale of custard the dragon
Answers
The generally meek and cowardly dragon named Custard is the one who saves the day. Even though his longing for a safe cage has been mocked all through the poem, the moment that Custard sees the pirate, he sheds all his cowardice and gobbles the pirate up at one go.
The Tale of Custard the Dragon is a humorous poem written by Ogden Nash. It is written in ballad form. It narrates a story about Custard the Dragon. The Dragon is teased for being a coward but later he proves brave as he saves the lives of those who used to look down upon him. The poem gives us an impression that the ones who talk much about their bravery may turn out to be cowards. On the other hand, the ones who are teased for their cowardice might actually turn out to be the bravest among all. Despite displaying their timidity, the pets continue to brag about their so-called bravery. Custard, being humble and kind-hearted, abstains from teasing them and humours them in a good spirit. Thus, the poem makes the point that what our eyes see may be deceptive that the reality may be something else.