Tale of Custard the Dragon

The Tale of Custard the Dragon

                                          By Ogden Nash

Analysis :

·         ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ is a humorous ballad composed by Ogden Nash, an American poet who is known for his light verse.

·        The poem is humorous in tone and being a ballad, it is lyrical in nature.

·        A Ballad is a story in form of poem or song. It is meant to be narrated, sung as well as performed on stage.

·        The poem is composed in stanzas of four lines each rhyming aabb. Lot of poetic repetition and beautiful use of poetic devices make it a musical, rhythmic and lyrical in nature.

·         It being a tale is a didactic poem. It conveys in a very light hearted manner that ‘barking dogs seldom bite’ or ‘thundering clouds seldom bring rain’.

·        The message of the poem is that humble and modest people don’t brag, but act on time.

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Summary :

The poem is a story of a little girl, Belinda who lived in her little white house with her four pets. She had a kitten, a mouse, a dog and a dragon. She also had little red wagon which is her car.  The name of the kitten was Ink, mouse was called Blink. The dog’s name was Mustard because it was as sharp as mustard and yellow like mustard flowers. The dragon was coward, lazy, comfort loving and, a shy creature. Belinda called it Custard due its soft, sweet and nice nature as it loved peace, rest and comfort, and didn't talk of bravery, violence and fight. Custard had sharp teeth, spikes on its upper body and scales underneath the body and sharp toes like daggers. The mouth of dragon was like a fireplace and its nose was like a chimney spewing smoke.

Belinda and her pets bragged highly about their bravery, power and ferocious nature. But, Custard didn’t consider himself brave and  never boasted about his power and bravery. It loved peace, comfort and rest. He always wanted a nice safe and cozy place for himself. Belinda and her pets made fun of dragon’s cowardly nature and teased him. They sarcastically called him ‘Percival’ who was a brave knight in King Arthur's army. The car would shake and the house would echo with their laughter.

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One day they all heard an unpleasant sound. They all cried helplessly as they saw a pirate entering through a window. The pirate had pistols in both his hands and a bright knife held in his teeth. His beard was black and one of his legs was wooden. It was clear he didn’t mean any good. He had come to rob them.

Seeing the pirate, Belinda was fearful and cried for help. Ink, Blink and Mustard ran away to hide themselves.  However, Custard came forward and made fearful sounds, twisted his body, hit his tail on the ground and surrounding things and attacked the pirate. The pirate was surprised and terrified, so he took his energy drink (drink mixed with rum) out of his pocket and drank it in gulps. Then, he fired two bullets but they did not hit Custard. Finally, Custard tore him into pieces and ate him.

Belinda and the pets being happy hugged Custard and danced around him joyfully. Not one of them was sad for the pirate.  However, things didn’t change much even after the incident. They continued speaking of their bravery and Custard remained as humble and meek as ever. Belinda still lives in her white house with her pets.

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Stanza wise Explanation :

Stanza 1

The poem ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ is a ballad. It is a story of a little girl named Belinda who lived in her little white house with her four pets. She had a little black kitten, a little grey mouse, a little yellow dog and a dragon. She also had little red wagon which is her car. They lived together like a happy family.

Stanza 2

The name of black kitten was Ink and grey mouse was named as Blink. The dog’s name was Mustard because it was as sharp as mustard. The dragon was really and truly very coward, meek, modest and shy. Belinda called it ‘Custard’ due to its sweet and soft nature.

Stanza 3

Describing the appearance of the dragon the poet tells that Custard had big and sharp teeth. It had spikes on its upper body and had scales underneath its body. The mouth of dragon was like a fireplace as it was very hot. Its nose was like a chimney oozing out fiery smoke. Its toes were like knives as it had sharp nails on its toes.

Stanza 4

Belinda and her pets always bragged highly about their bravery. Belinda considers herself brave equal to many bears. Ink and Blink thought that they were so strong and brave that they could chase the lions and force them to run away. Mustard finds himself brave enough to defeat an angry tiger. But Custard never considered himself brave and never boasted about his power. On the contrary, he behaved as a coward. He always kept crying and seeking a nice, safe and quiet place for himself.

Stanza 5

That’s why, Belinda used to tease and irritate the dragon rudely. Her pets also made fun of dragon and sarcastically called him ‘Percival’ who was a brave knight in the army of King Arthur. Belinda and her pets used to laugh at the dragon who was really and truly a coward. They used to make fun of him mercilessly and loudly while sitting in the red wagon which used to shake due to their laughter.  

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Stanza 6

Belinda laughed so loudly that she would shake the house and the whole house would echo with the laughter of the pets. Ink and Mustard would ask the dragon about his age in order to make fun of him calling him a baby who is scared of fight and violence and the dragon would seek a nice safe and cozy place to hide himself.

Stanza 7

Suddenly, they all heard an unpleasant sound. Mustard growled out of fear. They all looked around. Ink and Belinda uttered a loud cry because they saw a pirate who entered the house through a window.

Stanza 8

In this stanza the poet described the pirate making a beautiful use of imagery. The pirate had pistols in both his hands. He was holding a shining knife in his teeth. His beard was black and one of his legs was made up of wood. It means leg was artificial. His appearance made it clear that he didn’t mean any good. It was evident that he came to rob them.

Stanza 9

Seeing the pirate, Belinda lost the colour of her face due to fear. She started crying for help. Mustard, being too much terrified, ran away from the place. The kitten ran to the innermost part of the house and mouse ran to the deepest hole to hide themselves. This stanza is ironical as all the animals and Belinda who had boasted a lot of their of their bravery, ran away from the place and his themselves when it was right time to do an act of bravery.

Stanza 10

When all of them ran away to save themselves, Custard came forward showing lot of courage and made fearful sound like that of an engine. It clashed its tail and made a loud sound as if he was hitting the iron bars in a dungeon, an underground prison. The dragon made sounds, twisted its body in a circular motion and attacked the pirate in the manner a crow jumps on the worm to eat it.

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Stanza 11

The pirate was little surprised and terrified, a bit. He drank some drink, a drink mixed with rum from his pocket container to make himself energised. Then, he fired two bullets but, they did not hit Custard. Finally, Custard tore him into pieces and ate him.

Stanza 12

Belinda was so happy and excited that she hugged Custard. Mustard, being very pleased started licking him. Ink and Blink danced around the dragon joyfully. Not one of them was sad for the pirate. 

Stanza 13

However, things didn’t change much even after the incident. They started giving excuses for running away from the spot. Mustard said that he would have also shown his bravery, if he hadn’t been confused and dizzy. Similarly, Ink and Blink also gave excuses and spoke about their bravery. They all continued speaking of bravery and Custard remained as humble, meek and gentle as ever.

Stanza 14 & 15

The last two stanzas are repeated to emphasise and highlight that Belinda still lives in her white house with her pets joyfully and noisily. All of them continued speaking high of their bravery and Custard retained his meek and gentle nature. It conveys the moral that 'barking dogs seldom bite'.

Difficult words and terms

Wagon – car, vehicle

Realio trulio – really truly

Spikes – sharp pointed nails

Barrel – long, big container

Rage – anger

Tickled – teased, poked to make fun

Percival – a knight in King Arthur’s army

Giggled – laughed heartily

Weeck – laugh of kitten

Nasty – unpleasant

Growled – angry sound of dog

Meowch – sound of cat

Winda – window

Cutlass – small sword, knife

Yelp – cry of dog

Strategically – creatively, in a planned way

Clashed – hit

Dungeon – underground prison

Squirm – moving in circular motion

Robin – crow

Gaped – looked in surprise

Gulped – drank in large draughts

Grog – beverage (rum), energy drink mixed with rum, water, lime, etc.

Flagon – container

Gobbled – ate, swallowed

Gyrate – dance, moving round in dance moves

Glee – joy

Flustered – confused, dizzy

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Poetic Devices

Note : Being a lyrical ballad it is full of poetic repetition and poetic devices based on sound such as alliteration, assonance and consonance can be found in almost all lines.

With a little black kitten and a little grey mouse – poetic repetition, assonance

And a little yellow dog and a little red wagon – polysyndeton, poetic repetition, anaphora

And a realio, trulio, little pet dragon – assonance, refrain, anaphora

And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard – simile, anaphora

But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard – alliteration, consonance

And spikes on top of him and scales underneath – alliteration, ploysyndeton, imagery

Mouth like a fireplace, chimney for a nose – simile, metaphor, imagery

Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears – alliteration, simile, hyperbole

And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs – repetition, assonance, hyperbole

Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage – simile, hyperbole, repetition

Ink, Blink and Mustard, they rudely called him Percival – allusion, sarcasm

Belinda giggled till she shook the house – hyperbole, alliteration, assonance

And Blink said Week! which is giggling for a mouse – onomatopoeia, assonance

When Custard cried for a nice safe cage – alliteration, refrain, assonance

And Mustard growled, and they all looked around – onomatopoeia, consonance

Meowch! cried Ink, and Ooh! cried Belinda – onomatopoeia, repetition

Pistol in his left hand, pistol in his right – poetic repetition, imagery

And he held in his teeth a cutlass bright – alliteration, imagery

His beard was black, one leg was wood – imagery

Belinda paled, and she cried, Help! Help – irony, repetition

But Mustard fled with a terrified yelp – irony, consonance, onomatopoeia

Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household – irony, assonance

And little mouse Blink was strategically mouseholed – irony

But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine – simile, onomatopoeia, consonance

Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon – simile, hyperbole, imagery

With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm – onomatopoeia, assonance, poetic repetition

He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm – simile, imagery

And gulped some grog from his pocket flagon – alliteration, imagery

Ink and Blink in glee did gyrate – alliteration, assonance, imagery

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Important Question Answers

Q1. What is a ballad? Describe how the poem ‘A Tale of Custard the Dragon’ is a ballad.

Ans. Ballad is a narrative of a tale, episode, incident or history in form of poem which is meant to be narrated, sung and performed. ‘A Tale of Custard the Dragon’ has all the elements of a perfect story such as interest, twist, humour, suspense, drama, interesting characters and a moral. The poem is humorous and light hearted through and through. It is purely musical with full of sound words and being a lyrical ballad it is full of poetic repetition and poetic devices based on sound such as alliteration, assonance, consonance and refrain can be found in abundance. The description of characters with their attitude and manners brings out dramatic irony, conflicts, climax and anti climax of a thrilling story. Episode of the pirate is narrated in a light hearted tone. The exaggerated boasting by the pets, unchanged attitude of pets and Belinda even at the end is quite humorous and ironical. Finally it teaches a moral that we shouldn't boast or show off but act at the right time.

Q2. Explain how the musical quality of a ballad is perfectly employed and maintained in ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’.

Ans. The Tale of Custard the Dragon' composed by Ogden Nash is a musical ballad that tells the story of a cowardly Dragon and other pets of Belinda in a musical and humorous fashion. The poem is full of pectic devices in order to make it rhythmic, sonorous and interesting even the names of the pets - Ink, Blink, Mustard and Custard are perfectly musical. The poet has used the poetic devices such as alliteration, assonance and consonance profusely in the lines where the pets boast of their bravery such as 'Belinda is as brave as a barrel full of bears',  'And Ink and Blink chased lions down' and 'Custard cried for a nice safe cage'. Use of Refrain here and there adds rhythmic flavour to the poem. Lot of sound words such as growled, giggled, weeck, meowch, ooh, yelp are the most effective examples of Onomatopoeia which adds to poem's musical quality. 

The poet has made a clever use of poetic license through the words like winda, and especially the use of 'realio, trulio' makes it highly musical and compels the readers to sing it. The rhyming scheme has been maintained throughout the poom that is AABB. Hence, the poem perfectly employs and maintains the musical quality of a ballad.

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RTC

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.

A)  How did Belinda brag about her bravery?

B)   Which animal did Ink, Blink and Mustard compare themselves with, to express their boldness?

C)   Why did Custard cry for a nice safe cage?

D)  Which figure of speech has been used in the first and the third line of the passage.

E)   Find a word that is similar in meaning to ‘anger’ from the above line.

F)    Which figure of speech is predominantly used in these lines?

Answers:

A)  Belinda compared her energy to lots of bears while boasting about her bravery.

B)  Ink and Blink compared themselves to lions and Mustard described itself as ferocious as an angry tiger.

C)  Custard cried for a nice safe cage because he was a gentle, harmless and peace loving animal that wanted to lie safely and peacefully in a safe corner.

D)  Figure of speech used in the first and third line is Simile.

E)   The word similar in meaning to anger is ‘rage’.

F)   Hyperbole is predominantly used in all these lines as Belinda and all the animals are boasting about their bravery.

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Making of a scientist

Making of a Scientist

                                           By Robert W. Peterson

Analysis

·       The chapter ‘The Making of a Scientist’ written by Robert W. Peterson is a detailed account of Richard H. Ebright’s life, contributions and achievements that made him a great scientist.

·       Richard Ebright received the Searle Scholar Award and the Schering Plough Award for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

·       The chapter describes how Richard H. Ebright’s researches, experiments, projects, habits, interests and determined work to prove his ideas led him to his theory about cell life.

·       It also mentions the important ingredients of a great scientist that were possessed by Ebright.

·       Ebright’s mother played important role in his development as a scientist as she possibly could see the signs of a great scientist in him.

·       Ebright’s character is a great lesson to the inquisitive young minds because he wanted to win not for the sake of winning but he possessed a will to win for the right reasons.

Summary /  Synopsis :

§  At the age of twenty-two Richard H. Ebright who had been ‘scout of the year’ published, along with his roommate, a new theory on how cells work and explained the theory in an article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. It all started with butterflies. Ebright, an only child grew up in north of Reading, Pennsylvania. In kindergarten, Ebright collected butterflies. He also collected rocks, fossils, and used to stargaze all night.

§  His mother encouraged his interest in learning and took him on trips, bought him telescopes, microscopes, cameras, mounting materials. She would bring home friends for him. His father died when Richard was in third grade. If he didn’t have things to do, his mother found work for him. He earned top grades in school.

§  In the second grade, Ebright had collected all twenty five species of butterflies found around his hometown. Then his mother got him a book, The Travels of Monarch X, which opened the world of science to the young scientist. At the end of the book, readers were asked to tag butterflies for research by Dr Frederick A. Urquhart of the University of Toronto, Canada. Ebright attached light adhesive tags to the wings of monarchs. Anyone who found a tagged butterfly was asked to send the tag to Dr Urquhart.

§  Ebright started raising butterflies in his basement. He caught a female monarch, took her eggs, and raised them in his basement through their life cycle, from egg to caterpillar to pupa to adult butterfly. Then he would tag the butterflies’ wings and let them go.

§  In the seventh grade he entered a county science fair but lost. He showed slides of frog tissues under a microscope. He realised the winners had tried to do real experiments. The competitive spirit was driving Richard Ebright and he appeared for prize projects in county and international science fairs.

§  For his eighth grade project, Ebright tried to find the cause of a viral disease that kills nearly all monarch caterpillars every few years and he won. For next year's science fair project he tested the theory that viceroy butterflies copy monarchs. He proved that viceroys look like monarchs because monarchs don’t taste good to birds. Viceroys, on the other hand, do taste good to birds. So the more they look like monarchs, the less likely they are to become a bird’s food. This project was placed first in the zoology division and third overall in the county science fair.

§  In high school, Richard Ebright’s research led to his new theory on the life of cells. He tried to find the purpose of the twelve tiny gold spots on a monarch pupa. He built a device that showed that the spots were producing a hormone necessary for the butterfly’s full development.

§  In his senior year he grew cells from a monarch’s wing in a culture and showed that the cells would divide and develop into normal butterfly wing scales only if they were fed the hormone from the gold spots. It won him first place at the International Fair. At Harvard University, Ebright was able to identify the hormone’s chemical structure.

§  During his junior year, Ebright discovered how the cell can ‘read’ the blueprint of its DNA. DNA is the substance in the nucleus of a cell that controls heredity. It determines the form and function of the cell. Thus, DNA is the blueprint for life.

§  Richard Ebright graduated from Harvard University with highest honours, second in his class of 1,510. His high school research on the gold spots of a monarch pupa eventually led him to his theory about cell life.

§  Ebright was also a champion debater, public speaker, a good canoeist and an expert photographer, he was an all rounder. Richard A. Weiherer, his social studies teacher said that Richard was competitive, but not in a bad sense. Richard wasn’t interested in winning for winning’s sake. For the right reasons, he wants to be the best. He possessed all the ingredients of a great scientist - first-rate mind, scientific curiosity, and will to win for the right reasons.

 

Flow Chart of key happennings

1.    It all started in kindergarten with Ebright collecting butterflies, rocks, fossils, etc.

2.    His mother encouraged his interest in learning and bought him telescopes, microscopes, cameras, mounting materials and got him the book ‘The Travels of Monarch X’.

3.    Ebright started raising butterflies in his basement.

4.    He tried to find the cause of a viral disease that kills monarch caterpillars

5.    He tested the theory that viceroy butterflies copy monarchs.

6.    He tried to find the purpose of the gold spots on a monarch pupa and showed that the spots produce a hormone necessary for the butterfly’s full development.

7.    He grew cells from a monarch’s wing and showed that the cells would divide and develop into normal butterfly wing scales if they were fed with the hormone from the gold spots.

8.    He discovered how the cell can read the blueprint of its DNA which determines form and function of cell.

9.    Richard Ebright graduated from Harvard University with highest honours, second in his class of 1,510.

  10.    At the age of twenty two, Ebright published, along with his roommate, a new theory on life and function of cell.

Important Question answers

Q1. What ingredients did Richard possess that are essential to become a great scientist? What qualities are essential to become successful in any sphere or career?

Ans. Richard Ebright possessed all the possible ingredients of a great scientist. He possessed first-rate mind, scientific curiosity, never dying spirit and a strong will. He was competitive, but not in a bad sense. He possessed a will to win for right reasons, not to win or defeat others but to do everything in the best possible way. All these qualities helped him become a great scientist, also these qualities can help anyone achieve success in his field or sphere.  

Q2. What qualities make Richard Ebright an all rounder?

Ans. Richard Ebright was an all rounder.  He was a champion debater, public speaker, good canoeist and an expert photographer. He was competitive and never left any stone unturned to win a competition. He put in his hundred percent efforts in all the tasks he did. He had great interest in science, still he researched laboriously for his debate. His S. St. teacher saw his potential in his early stage. He possessed a will to win for right reasons. All these qualities helped him become a great scientist as well as an all rounder.  

Q3. "Mothher is the child's first school." What role had Richard Ebright’s mother played in his development and growth as a great scientist?

Ans. A mother is the first school for a child. Similarly, Richard Ebright’s mother played the role of an important teacher in his life and helped him emerge as a great scientist. His mother encouraged his interest in learning and took him on trips. She also bought him telescopes, microscopes, cameras, rocks and all the materials required for his experiments and research. She would bring home friends for him. If he didn’t have things to do, his mother found work for him. They both used to discuss important topics on the dining table. Most importantly she brought him the book ‘The Travels of Monarch X’ which gave the right direction to his scientific curiosity and inquisitive temper. This way mother played a pivotal role in the Ebright’s development as a scientist.

Glimpses of India

Glimpses of India

 

Analysis:

·       The chapter ‘Glimpses of India’ is written in three parts by three different writers from different parts of India, and that’s why they have successfully brought out true pictures of their regions reflecting essential feature of India.

·       This chapter presents a true glimpse of India which is varied in its heritage, rich in flora and fauna, land of cultural variety and a heaven for tourists.

·       The bread making tradition of Goa tells that people of India accept their rulers also and welcome all their good things making them a part of their culture for ever.

·       The chapter about Coorg demonstrates India’s richness in tourist destinations, cultural heritage, wildlife, flora and fauna and the chapter on Assam proves its geographical variety, agricultural richness and economical strength.

 

Synopsis / Summary 

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Part I – A Baker from Goa by Lucio Rodrigues

The chapter dates back to pre independence era when the Portuguese ruled over Goa and influenced the local people with their culture and life style. The elders in Goa often fondly recall the time when bread making used to be an important profession. The importance of bakers is maintained even after the Portuguese have left. The bakers in Goa are known as ‘Paders’. The mixers, moulders and their time-tested furnaces even now, continue to be used in Goa as the profession is still being accepted by the bakers’ sons and families. The jingling sound and thud of bakers’ bamboo stick is still heard in the streets of Goan villages that would wake up the narrator and his friends in their childhood who used to run to him to take bread bangles. 

Bakery products mark great significance in the culture and tradition of Goa. Bol or sweet bread is an integral part of marriage gifts. Cakes and Bolinhas or cookies are exchanged at Christmas and other festivals. The lady of the house prepares sandwiches for her daughter’s engagement.

In the time of Portuguese rulers bakers wear a peculiar dress known as ‘kabai’ which was a frock of knee length but during the narrator’s childhood, they wore a shirt and trousers of length slightly shorter than the normal pants. Bakers used to keep the record of sale on the wall with pencil. Baking has always been and will always remain a profitable profession, and it would keep their families joyous and prosperous. It is believed that a baker’s family can’t die of starvation.

Part II – Coorg by Lokesh Abrol

The writer has depicted the beauty of Coorg, now called Kodagu which is the smallest district of Karnataka. It falls between Mysore and Mangalore. It attracts many visitors with its evergreen rainforests, spices and coffee plantations. It is more fascinating and favourable to visit between September and March It is not advisable to visit Coorg in rainy season.

This Coorgi people are a mixture of Greek and Arab cultures and there are stories behind the fact. Coorgi people are known for hospitality as well as their valour and boasts of the most decorated army regiment. General Kariappa who was a Coorgi, was the first field marshal of Indian army. It is believed that a part of Alexander’s army settled there. Their long black coat with embroidered belt reflect their connection with Arab culture.

Coorg is blessed with varied wildlife, birds, bees and butterflies such as langurs, squirrels, elephants, kingfishers, macaques, loris, etc. It is favourite destination of trekkers and adventure lovers who would enjoy rafting, canoeing, rock climbing, mountain biking, trekking, etc.

It abounds in flora and fauna and the Brahmagiri hills present a panoramic view to the visitors. The largest settlement of Buddhidst monks of a monastery at Bylakuppe near the island of Nisargandhama is a gift to the peace lovers. The fascinating geographical beauty, peaceful panorama of cultural heritage, variety of wildlife, flora and fauna of Coorg reflects India’s very heart and soul.

Part III – Tea from Assam by Arup Kumar Datta

Rajvir, a friend of Pranjol is going to Assam to acquire knowledge about tea gardens of Assam in his summer vacations as Pranjol is inhabitant of Assam and his father manages Dekhiawari Tea Estate. Assam is known to be the largest concentration of plantations in the world.

Rajvir is very excited about his trip and has done a good homework about tea and its cultivation. He wants to share his knowledge with Pranjol and tells that about 80 crores cups of tea are drunk every day around the world. He also tells him Indian and Chinese legends related to the discovery of tea. Rajvir tells a very interesting story of a Chinese emperor who discovered tea by chance when his water was boiling, tea leaves fell into water accidently and changed the colour and taste of water which the emperor liked. He also tells another story about the growing up of tea leaves out of the eyelids of an Indian monk and these leaves could remove sleepiness.

This way they both reached Mariani junction and after this, visited Dekhiawari Tea garden managed by Pranjol’s father. In the tea garden they saw groups of tea pluckers with bamboo baskets on their backs and a tractor carrying the load of tea leaves.

Rajvir shared another piece of information that second sprouting season of tea lasts from May to July, and it produces the best tea. This shows how much excited Rajvir was to enhance his knowledge about tea and its cultivation.

Difficult Terms

Bol                       sweet bread used as marriage gift

Bolinhas              coconut cookies exchanged during festivals

Pader                    a term used for baker in Portuguese language

Bread bangles     sweet bread in the shape of a bangle

Kabai                   a peculiar frock like dress worn by bakers      

 

Important Question - Answers

Q1. ‘India is a perfect picture of unity in diversity’. How does the chapter ‘Glimpses of India’ reflect the perfect picture of India which loves to assimilate foreign cultures and welcome other countries’ traditions?

Ans. India is diverse because it loves to welcome foreign cultures and traditions, followed and accepted the culture of bread baking from Portuguese, tea in Assam and coffee in Coorg from foreigners and all of them have become an integral part of our life, soldiers from alexander’s army settled here and we welcomed them and followed their martial culture.

Q2. Is bread making an important part of Goan life and culture? How do you know this?

Ans. Bread baking holds a great significance in the culture and traditions of Goa and breads are an integral part of people’s life there. Bol or sweet bread is an integral part of marriage gifts there. Cakes and Bolinhas used at Christmas and other festivals. The lady of the house prepares sandwiches on the occasion of her daughter’s engagement. Bread making is still a profitable occupation and it keeps a baker’s family joyous and prosperous.

Q3. The chapter ends with the phrase ‘visitors searching for the heart and soul of India, right here in Coorg’ Explain the phrase.

Ans. The author, Lokesh Abrol beautifully describes Coorg as a heaven for the visitors. Hospitable people of Coorg keep the very soul of Indian culture ‘Atithi devo bhava’ alive. Its hills, coffee plantations and evergreen forests truly present India as a land of geographical variety and agricultural richness. The Koorgi people are live example of India’s cultural variety and their mixed culture speaks profoundly about its unity in diversity. The Buddhist monastery at the island of Nisargandhama attracts peace lovers and help them find real peace and find the answers to the most puzzling questions of life.