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English · 2026 · 6 marks
CBSE 2026 · Region 5 · Set 1 · Q10 (B)
Analyse how Amanda in the poem 'Amanda' and the dragon in the poem 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon' yearn for acceptance and a life free from…
Analyse how Amanda in the poem 'Amanda' and the dragon in the poem 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon' yearn for acceptance and a life free from criticism.
Official answer
Amanda:
Retreats into fantasies (mermaid, orphan, Rapunzel) to find the peace denied to her in
reality
Desires to run away from constant nagging
Views silence as "golden" and freedom as "sweet," preferring total isolation
Custard the Dragon:
Yearns for a "nice safe cage" to escape the burden of being a "brave" dragon
Seeks refuge from the verbal bullying and teasing of his household peers
Craves acceptance for his true, "cowardly" nature rather than being forced into a persona
of fierce glory
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CBSE Class 10 English past-paper question from the 2026 board exam, with the answer as CBSE’s own marking scheme gives it. Where our answers come from.