Page 3 - LN4- MODULE

Fire place: An outdoor structure of brick, stone or metal for an open fire
Dagger: A sharp knife

The poet describes the dragon that it had big sharp teeth and spikes on top. This means that
its skin was pointed on the top. On the lower part it had scales which were bony plates to
protect the skin. His mouth has been compared to a fireplace because it is assumed that
dragons can release fire from the mouth. Even his nose is compared to a chimney which is
used to pass out smoke. His feet are like a sharp knife i.e. a dagger.

Literary Devices
 Rhyme scheme: aabb (teeth-underneath, nose-toes)
 Simile: Dragon’s mouth is compared with fireplace (mouth like a
fireplace)
 Refrain: Repetition of a sentence again and again (And a realio, trulio,)
 Metaphor: “chimney for a nose”. The nose is like a chimney.

Stanza 4
Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears,
And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs,
Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage,
But Custard cried for a nice safe cage.

Barrel: drum
Chased: hunt, follow
Rage: anger

So, now the poet explains the inner strength or the bravery of various characters of the
poem. He says that Belinda was as brave as a group of bears and ink and blink were so brave
that they could hunt lions. So here he has shown the bravery of the kitten and the little
mouse that could hunt even a lion. The dog was very brave just like an angry tiger. But to
contrast of all of them was Custard. Custard, the dragon was not brave he was so afraid of
everything that he always demanded a safe cage.

Literary Devices:
 Rhyme scheme: aabb (bears-stairs, rage-cage)
 Alliteration: Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears “b” sound is repeated
 Simile: Belinda’s bravery is compared to that of a barrel full of bears (as a barrel
full of bears), Mustard’s bravery is compared to that of an angry tiger (Mustard
was as brave as a tiger in a rage)
 Assonance: use of vowel sound ‘a’ (Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears)
Stanza 5
Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful,
Ink, Blink and Mustard, they rudely called him Percival,
They all sat laughing in the little red wagon
At the realio, trulio, cowardly dragon.