Who gobbles up the pirate in Ogden Nash's poem 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon' ?

Question

Accepted Answer

In Ogden Nash's poem "The Tale of Custard the Dragon," the character who gobbles up the pirate is Custard, the cowardly dragon. This is explicitly stated in the poem, where Custard, despite being labeled as cowardly by the other characters, demonstrates his bravery and strength when the situation demands it. When a pirate breaks into the house, it is Custard who steps up to protect his friends and ultimately devours the pirate, showcasing his true courage and capability.

Now, let's examine why the other options are incorrect:

1. **A barrel full of bears**: This option is incorrect because there is no mention of a barrel full of bears in the poem. The narrative focuses on the characters Belinda, Ink, Blink, Mustard, and Custard, and there is no reference to bears playing any role in dealing with the pirate.

2. **Ink, the little black kitten**: Ink is one of Belinda's pets, described as a little black kitten. While Ink is part of the household, the poem does not attribute any heroic actions to Ink in the encounter with the pirate. Ink, along with the other pets, is portrayed as being less brave than Custard when the pirate appears.

3. **Mustard, the little yellow dog**: Mustard is another of Belinda's pets, described as a little yellow dog. Similar to Ink, Mustard does not take any action against the pirate. The poem emphasizes that it is Custard who confronts and defeats the pirate, not Mustard.

In conclusion, Option 4 is the correct answer because Custard, the cowardly dragon, is the character who ultimately gobbles up the pirate, proving his bravery and protecting his friends. The other options do not align with the events described in the poem.