Class 11.Eng.CBSE.Ch-8 Tale Of The Melon City, Questions and answers/Theme/Message Characters Fully solved

Ch-8 The Tale of The Melon City by Vikram Seth

Summary

The Tale of Melon City" is a humorous poem which shows how stupid the king, the ministers and the people of a certain kingdom were. It was, in fact, a kingdom of fools. Once, the king ordered for an arch to be constructed over the main street to impress the onlookers. The arch was made. When the king rode down the thoroughfare, his crown was knocked down. The king at once ordered that the chief of builders should be hanged. While being led to the gallows the victim shouted that the fault lay with the workmen. The king called the proceedings to a halt and ordered that the workmen should be hanged instead. The workmen blamed the masons who in turn blamed the architect. The architect pointed out that it was the king himself who had made certain amendments in the plans. This put the king in a tricky spot and he called for advice from the wisest man. The old man said the culprit was the arch as it had knocked off the king's crown, so it must be punished. The Councillor expressed his view that something which had touched the king's head could not be put to so much disgrace. So ultimately the king set aside consideration of guilt and looked for a man who would fit the high noose. The only one tall enough was the king who finally was hanged. It was just as well that this happened as the public might have rebelled against him. The ministers then announced that the person who passed the City Gate next would choose the ruler. An idiot was questioned and he replied that a melon should be the king. Thus the melon was crowned and carried to the throne. People did not bother much about who their king was. They only wanted that they should be left to do whatever they desired

Message

The poem gives the message that the government should not interfere in public's personal affairs. Undue interference leads to problems in every sphere of human activity. The people of the state in the poem were enjoying complete freedom just because there was no interference.

IRONY. -The king who desired for a hang to punish the guilty, gets hanged for the public wanted a hang. -The wise man was selected because he was old and he could not see anything and points the arch to be the guilty and should be hanged without any precision. -The ministers chose a king on basis of a fool's choice.

Question and answer

Q.1. What kind of king ruled over the state?

Ans. The king who ruled over the state was just and placid which means fair and mild. He seemed to be interested in the welfare of common people. He showed himself to be justice loving but his sense of justice was quite absurd and awkward. He often lost his temper but pretended to be calm and gentle.

Q.2. What proclamation was made by the king and why?

Ans. One day the king proclaimed that an arch should be built over the major thoroughfare. He hoped that it would boost people's spiritual abilities and those who saw it, would be elated. It seemed to be a good gesture on the part of the king.

Q.3. What mishap happened when the king rode through the arch and how did the king react?

Ans. When the king rode down the thoroughfare to edify the spectators, his crown banged against the arch and it fell down. The king took it as his disgrace and he was filled with anger. He immediately ordered that the chief of the builders should be hanged.

Q.4. What justification was given by the chief builders and the workmen?

Ans. The chief of builders expressed his innocenc and said that the workmen were guilty fo everything. The workmen were very shocked to know that the king had ordered to execute them They cleverly shifted the blame on to the masons saying that they had made the bricks of the wrong size.

Q.5. What argument did the architect advance in self-defence? How did the king take it?

Ans. The architect reminded the king how he himself had made the changes in the original plan and of the arch. He suggested that it was the fault of the king himself. On hearing this, the king was so angry that he lost the balance of his mind. He said he needed the advice of the wisest man in the city.

Q.6. What funny advice was given by the so-called 'wisest' man?

Ans. When the king's men went in search of the wisest man, they brought the oldest man in the state, considering him to be the wisest. He could not even walk or see. The man opined that the arch was to be blamed as it had banged the crown and it should be hanged.

Q. 7. What does the comment of the councillor about the arch reveal about him and the king?

Ans. It shows the councilor's sycophancy and the king's capriciousness. The councilor, an expert in the art of flattery, checked the king from an absurd action.

Q.8. What did the king perceive about the mood of the people?

Ans. The king perceived that the crowd was getting restless and they wanted the hanging. So, he said that the guilt factor should be kept aside and any man who fitted the noose should be hanged.

Q.9. How did the king lose his life?

Ans. As per the king's orders, anyone who fitted the noose should be hanged. All the people were

measured one after the other. Unfortunately no neck fitted in it as it was built very high. The only man who fitted it was the king himself because he was tall enough to reach it. So, he was hanged and thus lost his life.

Q10.What opinion do you form of the ministers on the basis of their actions after the king's death? How was the new king chosen?

Ans. The ministers believed in traditions and ceremonies. They had a certain custom to choose the king. One who passed the city gate the next morning would choose their new king. Next morning, an idiot happened to pass the city gate. When asked to decide who should be their next king; he replied, "A melon". This was his standard answer to all the questions. Thus, the ministers decided that a melon would be their new king.

Q.11. What opinion did the people have about the new king?

Ans. The people absolutely had no problem or objection. They said that they were very happy as long as the king allowed them to live in peace

and liberty.

Q.12. What opinion do you form of the ministers?

Ans. The ministers were not at all farsighted and were only concerned to have a new king after the previous king was hanged without any guilt. They only longed for the implementation of an old custom.

Q13. Why did king said to ignore the consideration of finer points like guilt?

Ans. The king had sensed people's restlessness.They wanted to see the hanging and did not bother who the real culprit So, to avoid the fury of his people, the king ordered someone to be hanged to pacify the public outrage.

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