Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 8 The Tale of Melon City

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Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 8 The Tale of Melon City

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 The Tale of Melon City

SNAPSHOTS

Textual Questions And Answers

Reading With Insight

1. Narrate ‘The Tale of Melon City’ in your own words.

Ans: This is a story about a kingdom ruled by a melon. There was a very calm and righteous king who had ordered the construction of an arch over the main thoroughfare intending to uplift and inspire his people. But when he passed under it, his crown banged against it and toppled down. Greatly annoyed, he declared capital punishment for the chief builder. People gathered to witness the hanging. But the builder said that the fault lay with the workmen. They shifted the onus on the masons, which went to the architect and finally rested on the King. A wise old man suggested the arch should be hanged, but then it had touched the Majesty’s head, so couldn’t be hanged. The king realised the people were getting restless and a hanging had to take place. A noose was readied and whoever reached the height would be hanged. As fate would have it, only the king was as tall as the noose and he was hanged. Customarily, the first person who passed through the City Gate would decide the next king. A fool passed and he decided on a melon. Thus, a melon was crowned and enthroned. The people were happy as there was no more interference in their lives and they lived. in peace and liberty.

2. What impression would you form of a state where the king was ‘just and placid’?

Ans: A king is supposed to rule and he should have the capacity to make right decisions. Living up to the image of fairness, he danced to the tune of the people. He lacked judgement and determination. He could not even decide who was responsible for the defective construction of the arch and gave his own life just to satisfy the gathering and make their wait worthwhile. Always being ‘just and placid’ earned him no respect from the subjects, for whom even a melon could replace him. The king was foolish and so were all the people of his kingdom. A state where governance was not based on rationality and sound judgement was bound to be doomed.

3. How, according to you, can peace and liberty be maintained in a state?

Ans: Peace and liberty can be maintained in a state when there is a determined and reasonable man heading it. Peace can be maintained when decisions are just, not stupid. Needs and problems of the people have to be understood and addressed. People should be able to live and work without unnecessary interference of the government. They should be responsible and accountable. There should be a proper balance of justice, punishment, law and order, equality and fraternity. A judicious and powerful ruler can create an atmosphere of peace and liberty in a state.

4. Suggest a few instances in the poem which highlight humour and irony.

Ans: An apparent reading of the poem brings us a light – hearted humorous story of a foolish king. But an in-depth study reveals the irony that lies within. There is humour in the crown being toppled, in the entire blame game, and also in the arch being brought for hanging. It is very funny to note that how a melon came to occupy the throne. But the irony lies in the fact that the king’s faulty judgement cost him his own life in a most ridiculous manner, unmourned and unglorified. Wisdom had a funny yardstick. The ‘just’ king made the most ‘unjust ruling and his placidity gave way to violent anger and ‘nearly lost his head’. The biggest irony is, however, the crowning of a melon. The delusion of importance and popularity of the ‘just and placid’ king received a heavy blow through this extraordinary act.

5. ‘The Tale of The Melon City’ has been narrated in a verse form. This is a unique style which lends extra charm to the ancient tale. Find similar examples in your language. Share them in the class.

Ans: [Please note: This is a classroom activity]

Additional Questions And Answers

Long Answer Type

1. Give a character sketch of the King in ‘The Tale of Melon City’.

Ans: The King was foolish and the terms ‘just and placid’ describe him ironically. He becomes a puppet in the hands of the people he is supposed to rule, sacrificing his life just to give them the pleasure of watching ‘somebody being hanged. Devoid of any judgmental ability, he acquits every person who pleads innocence. He even agrees to the execution of an inanimate arch. The King’s hanging does not stir a soul, who partake in the fun and disperse. His subjects considered even a melon capable of replacing him.

2. Describe the events that culminated in the death of the King.

Ans: The King had ordered the construction of an arch to commemorate him and inspire his subjects. But the arch was built too low and banged his crown. Furious, he ordered the execution of the chief builder. The blame shifted from one to the other till, at the end, the King was held liable for the faulty design. The situation became complicated, but had to be resolved and the entertainment of the crowd was also at stake. So, he declared that a noose be made and whoever fitted the noose should be hanged. Fatefully, it happened to be the king’s head. He was hanged by Royal Decree.

3. Comment on the device adopted by Vikram Seth.

Ans: In ‘The Tale of Melon City, Vikram Seth has adopted the verse form in a simple narrative style. The technique proves very effective for the story that is being told. Rhyming in couplets, it tells a humorous story in a lucid manner. The theme and the antiquity of the tale complement the verse form. The fun element would be lost had it been made more descriptive in prose style. The rapid introduction of characters and the swift flow of the narrative have been possible because of the unique technique taken up by the poet.

S.L. No.	CONTENTS
	HORNBILL PROSE SECTION
Chapter 1	The Portrait Of A Lady
Chapter 2	“We’re Not Afraid To Die… If We Can All Be Together”
Chapter 3	Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues
Chapter 4	Landscape Of The Soul
Chapter 5	The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s Role
Chapter 6	The Browning Version
Chapter 7	The Adventure
Chapter 8	Silk Road
Chapter 9	My Impressions Of Assam
	HORNBILL POETRY SECTION
Chapter 1	A Photograph
Chapter 2	The Laburnum Top
Chapter 3	The Voice Of The Rain
Chapter 4	Childhood
Chapter 5	Father To Son
	SNAPSHOTS
Chapter 1	The Summer Of The Beautiful White Horse
Chapter 2	The Address
Chapter 3	Ranga’s Marriage
Chapter 4	Albert Einstein At School
Chapter 5	Mother’s Day
Chapter 6	The Ghat Of The Only World
Chapter 7	Birth
Chapter 8	The Tale Of Melon City

Short Type Answer 

1. ‘In the city of which I sing

There was a just and placid

king.’

Do you think the king was ‘just and placid’?

Ans: No, the king carried justice to a ridiculous level. Though he sacrificed his life, it went unappreciated. He even lost his temper and declared capital punishment for a trivial incident.

2. How did he want to ‘edify the spectators’?

Ans: The king commissioned the construction of an arch over the main thoroughfare as a symbol of his glorious reign. He wanted a majestic arch to inspire and uplift his subjects.

3. What was the mishap that occurred as he rode down the road?

Ans: In order to ‘edify’ the people, he triumphantly rode down the road under the arch. But the arch was built too low and his crown was banged off. The placid king became angry at the disgraceful incident.

4. What step was taken by the king to punish the guilty?

Ans: The king immediately announced that the falling of the crown was a disgrace and the chief of builders, the man responsible for the construction, must be hanged.

5. How was the king made liable for the disaster?

Ans: When the blame finally fell on the architect, he reminded the king about the alterations made by him when the design was brought for approval, which led to the mishap.

6. Why and how was the wise old man brought to court?

Ans: The old man was summoned for his wise advice when the blame fell on the king. The old man could neither walk nor see. So, he was carried to the royal court.

7. What did the wise old man advise? Was there wisdom in what he said?

Ans: The old man said the culprit must be punished and according to him the arch was the culprit. His advice lacked wisdom. An inanimate object could not be declared guilty or hanged.

8. Why was the crowd restless?

Ans: The crowd had gathered to watch the hanging, but the king was vacillating in deciding on the culprit because everyone pleaded innocence. The crowd wanted action and demanded a hanging immediately.

9. Did the crowd get their share of fun? How?

Ans: It was ultimately decided to hang whoever fitted the noose. Each man was measured one by one. The height of the noose saved their lives, but for the king’s. He fitted the noose perfectly and was hanged.

10. Do you think the fate of the King was justified?

Ans: The King stretched justice to ridiculous limits. His exaggerated notion of justice, which verged on foolishness, cost him his life. His stupidity justifies his fate.

11. How did the Ministers react to the King’s hanging?

Ans: The Ministers heaved a sigh of relief when finally the hanging took place. The crowd was getting restless and would have revolted against the king had there been no hanging.

12. ‘Long Live the King! The King is dead.’ Explain.

Ans: This reveals the duplicity of opportunistic people like the king’s ministers. They had no loyalty towards the king. The hypocrites hail the king’s long life, but heave a sigh of relief at his death.

13. How was a new king chosen?

Ans: Going by custom, it was announced a new king would be chosen by the first person who passed the City Gate. An idiot passed through the Gate, the guards stopped him to ask him to make a choice.

14. Why did they have a ‘melon king’?

Ans: The fool loved melons and therefore offered ‘melon’ as his choice of king. It was duly accepted and a melon was crowned by the ministers. They placed the melon respectfully on the throne.

15. How did the citizens react to a ‘melon king’?

Ans. The people saw an idiotic and whimsical king and now a melon substituted him. It did not make any difference so long as he did not interfere and they could enjoy peace and liberty.

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