Snapshots- Chapter 8: The Tale of Melon City

English
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Chapter 8: The Tale of Melon City

Class: XI
(Snapshots)

Exercise number – 1

Question 1

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

Answer 1

Vikram Seth’s poem, ‘The Tale of Melon City’ is a very old fable. It runs like a folk tale. It is known as ‘Melon City’ owing to the fact that a Melon is its ruler. There is a peculiar tale about it. The state was once ruled by a fair and easy going king. The king got an arch built across the thoroughfare. As he passed under the low arch, it slightly struck his head and his crown fell down. The king took it as a disgrace and ordered that the chief of builders should be hanged. The chief laid the blame on the workmen to which the workmen were surprised. The workmen said that the bricks were made of wrong size. Now the masons were thought to be guilty. The masons shifted the blame further towards the architect. The architect blamed the kings door as he amended the king’s authentic plan. The king sought a wise man’s counsel who held the arch guilty and ordered it to be hanged. A councilor objected to it. As the arch had touched the king’s head the people became ruthless, wanted to see someone being hanged. The noose was set up, but somewhat high. Only the king was found tall enough to fit in. Also only the king’s head could fit the noose. So he was hanged. It was then announced that the next man who passed through the city gate would choose the king. An idiot happened to pass the city gate who suggested that ‘A Melon’ should be made the next king. Nobody protested because the people wanted to live in peace. The ministers crowned a melon and placed their melon king reverently at the throne.

Question 2

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

Answer 2

A state where the king was just and placid enjoyed liberty, peace and justice. The king was nominal and symbolic. The citizens enjoyed all kinds of freedom. The actual governance of the country was held in the hands of the country’s citizens. In the poem ‘The Tale of a Melon City’ the king had to be hanged because the citizens eventually wanted to see someone being hung. The king couldn’t defend himself. Even though the wisest man gave the verdict that the arch was the actual wrongdoer but the citizens wanted someone to be hanged. In the end, the king was hanged. This shows that in such a state, where the king was just and placid, the citizens influenced the fate of the king.

Question 3

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

Answer 3

Liberty & peace can be maintained in a state if Laissez faire exists. In simple words it means that the king doesn’t interfere in the various activities of the citizens. Although, the king or the government must maintain law and order as in its absence anarchy may control the state. There should exist a balance between state interference and the citizen’s rights. Only then one can expect liberty & peace to be maintained in a state.

Question 4

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

Answer 4

 ‘The Tale of Melon City’ is full of humorous & ironical instances. On one hand, the king was just and peace loving. On the other he was the most foolish, unjust and fussy or short-tempered. How ironical! The king wished to hang the person who built a defective victory gate. In the end he himself was hanged for approving the plan. The king even agreed to hang the arch itself, a lifeless structure of mortar and brick. The king was hanged by the royal decree amidst the slogan: ‘Long Live the King! The King is dead’. The citizens even accepted a melon as their new king because it let them live in peace. The poem makes a light reading just for amusement.