“Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful...” Why?

>

>

Chapter 9 NCERT Class 10 English SOLUTIONS

3. “Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful...” Why?

Question:

“Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful...” Why?

Answer:

Belinda tickled him unmerciful because Custard, the dragon was a coward. He always demanded a safe cage. That is why all of them made fun of him.

More NCERT Questions

Download Free PDF

(All Q's of this Chapter solved)

question pointer

The aliens in the play speak English. Do you think this is their language? What could be the language of aliens?

question pointer

In what ways does Think-Tank misinterpret innocent nursery rhymes as threats to the Martians? Can you think of42-15 any incidents where you misinterpreted a word or an action? How did you resolve the misunderstanding?

question pointer

Why are books referred to as a man’s best companion? Which is your favorite book and why? Write a paragraph about that book.

question pointer

Do you think books are being replaced by the electronic media? Can we do away with books altogether?

question pointer

If you were in Noodle’s place, how would you handle Think-Tank’s mistakes?

question pointer

Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank but at the same time he corrects his mistakes. How does he manage to do that?

question pointer

What guesses are made by Think-Tank about the books found on earth ?

question pointer

Who tried to invade the earth in the twenty-first century?

question pointer

Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’ ?

question pointer

Do you find The Tale of Custard the Dragon to be a serious or a light-hearted poem? Give reasons to support your answer.

question pointer

Thinking About the Poem. Writers use words to give us a picture or image without actually saying what they mean. Can you trace some images used in the poem?

question pointer

Can you find out the rhyme scheme of two or three stanzas of the poem?

question pointer

Read stanza three again to know how the poet describes the appearance of the dragon?

question pointer

The poet has employed many poetic devices in the poem. For example: “Clashed his tail like iron in a dungeon” — the poetic device here is a simile. Can you, with your partner, list some more such poetic devices used in the poem?

question pointer

Why did Custard cry for a nice safe cage? Why is the dragon called “cowardly dragon”?

question pointer

Who are the characters in this poem? List them with their pet names.

question pointer

Thinking about Language. In the following sentences fill in the blanks to list the changes that have occurred in the above pairs of sentences. One has been done for you.

question pointer

Thinking about Language. Look up the following phrases in a dictionary to find out their meaning, and then use each in a sentence of your own : (i) You may take it that (ii) He seems to be coming round (iii)My foot’s gone to sleep

question pointer

Thinking about Language. This play has been translated into English from the Russian original. Are there any expressions or ways of speaking that strike you as more Russian than English? For example, would an adult man be addressed by an older man as my darling or my treasure in an English play? Read through the play carefully, and find expressions that you think are not used in contemporary English, and contrast these with idiomatic modern English expressions that also occur in the play.

question pointer

Thinking About the Play. (iii)Can you now imagine what these characters will quarrel about next?

question pointer

Thinking About the Play. (ii) Then think of five adjectives or adjectival expressions of your own to describe each character in the play.

question pointer

Thinking About the Play. (i) Find all the words and expressions in the play that the characters use to speak about each other, and the accusations and insults they hurl at each other. (For example, Lomov in the end calls Chubukov an intriguer; but earlier,Chubukov has himself called Lomov a “malicious, doublefaced intriguer.” Again, Lomov begins by describing Natalya as “an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated.”)

question pointer

Thinking About the Play. Chubukov says of Natalya: “……. as if she won’t consent! She’s in love; egad, she’s like a lovesick cat……” Would you agree? Find reasons for your answer.

question pointer

Thinking About the Play. What does Chubukov at first suspect that Lomov has come for? Is he sincere when he later says ‘And I’ve always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son”? Find reasons for your answer from the play.

© 2026, Agrawal Group of Publications All rights reserved.