English Language & Literature — CBSE Class 10 board question

Both Amanda and Custard yearn for acceptance and freedom from constant criticism, though they express it differently.

Amanda is repeatedly scolded by her mother for minor things — slouching, eating toffee, not tidying her room. She escapes into daydreams: imagining herself as an orphan roaming free, a mermaid in the sea, or Rapunzel who would never let her hair down. These fantasies reveal her deep longing for a life without nagging and judgment. Ironically, her silence is then criticised as "sulking," showing she can never satisfy those around her.

Custard the dragon is mocked by all — Belinda, Ink, Blink, and Mustard — for being a coward, despite being the only one who bravely faces the pirate. His acceptance only comes briefly after his heroic act, but soon everyone resumes pretending to be braver than him. He yearns to be valued for who he is, not ridiculed for his timid nature.

Both characters highlight how constant criticism suppresses individuality and denies one the freedom to simply be oneself.

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• The examiner expects textual references from both poems — name specific images (Rapunzel, mermaid for Amanda; the pirate episode for Custard).
• Show contrast: Amanda escapes inward through fantasy; Custard proves himself through action — yet neither wins lasting acceptance.
• Use the word "irony" or show ironic awareness: Amanda's silence = called sulking; Custard's bravery = quickly forgotten.
• Keep comparison balanced — roughly equal coverage of both poems.
• Avoid retelling the plot; focus on the theme of criticism and longing for acceptance.