NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 8 – The Tale of Melon City — Vikram Seth
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Reading with Insight:
Q. Narrate ‘The Tale of Melon City’ in your own words.
Ans. The just and placid king once had a desire of building an arch across the thoroughfare to edify the spectators. Workmen with great agility constructed the arch. With heart full of pride, he tried to pass through the arch. But his crown struck the arch and was knocked down. Furious at the disgrace, he ordered the chief of the builders to be hanged. But the chief of the builders blamed the workmen for this. The workmen proclaimed the mason to be guilty for the wrong brick size. Further the mason put the blame on the architect. The architect put the king in dilemma as the last correction was of the king’s. The king called for the wisest man to decide the guilty. The old man ridiculously blamed the arch. But the arch could not be punished as the arch touched the king’s head so it was scared. But the king could feel the nerve of the public. As the public wanted a hanging, the king ordered for it without any thought and the decision boomeranged on him. He was eventually hanged. His head ministers decided to choose the next king in an extremely comical way i.e., whoever would first cross the gate, would choose the king. It so happened that an idiotic person entered and he chose a melon as the king. From then, a melon ruled and the common people enjoyed complete freedom as their king, melon endowed them “Laissez Faire”.
Q. What impression would you form of a state where the king was ‘just and placid’?
Ans. In a state governed by a ‘just and placid’ King, the principles of equality and fairness are upheld, ensuring a secure environment for the people. The King’s actions inspire complete confidence among the citizens, with the assurance that wrongdoing will be appropriately addressed. Such a societyfosters equality, eliminating any feelings of inferiority. The well-being of the populace is prioritized, ensuring that no one suffers from hunger or deprivation. Consequently, a ‘just and placid’ King guarantees a high quality of life for all.
How ever, in this idyllic state where the King embodies justice and tranquility, the citizens enjoy various freedoms. They actively participate in the governance of the country, with their voices and decisions holding significant weight. In the poem ‘The Tale of a Melon City,’ a situation arises where the citizens demand the punishment of someone, and regrettably, the King is unable to defend himself. Despite the wisest man’s verdict, which identifies the arch as the true culprit, the citizens insist on someone being hanged. Ultimately, the King meets this unfortunate fate. This poignant tale reveals that in a society where the King is just and placid, the destiny of the ruler can be influenced by the will of the citizens.
Q. How according to you, can peace and liberty be maintained in a state?
Ans. Peace and liberty are the outcome of a few key factors in running a state. A transparent and responsible administration free from partiality and corruption will perpetuate peace. A well proven administrative system is where there are no unlawful activities and where service to people is of utmost priority and delivered with ease; where grievance will be at lower stake and people will maintain trust on the state and will work collaboratively. First priority must be to educate every child so that the future rulers are wise, strong, and capable to heighten the civilised sensibility. A state must be free from all negative dogmas. Superstitions, blind religious hatred, favouring particular creed and caste must be the matters of the trash bin. A state must be run by democratic process where there is no scope for tyranny and autocracy.
Q. Suggest a few instances in the poem which highlight humour and irony.
Ans. ‘The Tale of Melon City’ is best understood for its satire, irony, and humour. There was a ‘just and a placid’ king who in the end becomes the victim of his own sense of justice. The king, who is the ruler is ruled by others like the, chief of builders, ministers the wise man, the architect and so on. After the death of the king, the state is ruled by a melon! The poem is full of humour and irony from the beginning to the end. There is a king who has a triumphal arch built on the major road of his city. But the same triumphal arch knocks his crown off. The king wants to punish the guilty. But in the end gets himself hanged. When the king is hanged, the ministers make proclamations in the name of the king. All these are examples of irony and ridiculous decisions. There is humour in the description of each character. The king, the ministers, the wisest man of the city, the council or the idiot who decided the melon to be the king are all fools. In fact, it is a kingdom of fools. Nothing could be more humorous than a melon being crowned and carried to the throne reverently.But there underlies a message that when people are disillusioned and are without any direction it hardly matters to them who the king is-a human being or a melon.
