The Tale of Melon City — Class 11 English Notes

Topics covered in The Tale of Melon City

1. 1.The Tale of Melon City

   Short Summary

   "The Tale of Melon City" is a humorous and satirical poem about a just and placid king who ends up being hanged by his own decree due to a series of absurd events and misplaced blame. Ultimately, the city ends up being ruled by a melon, chosen by an idiot, symbolizing the whimsical nature of justice and governance in the city.
   
   

   Long Summary

   The poem begins with the description of a just and placid king who orders the construction of a triumphal arch over the main thoroughfare of his city. When the arch is completed, the king rides under it and loses his crown because the arch is built too low. Enraged, he orders the chief of builders to be hanged. However, the builder blames the workmen, who in turn blame the masons. The masons then shift the blame to the architect, who cleverly reminds the king that he had approved the final plans.

   Seeking justice, the king calls for the wisest man in the country, who decrees that the arch itself is the culprit and should be hanged. This decision is quickly overturned when a councillor points out the absurdity of hanging an inanimate object that merely touched the king’s head. The crowd demands a hanging, so the king decrees that the tallest man should be hanged. Ironically, the king himself is the tallest man and is subsequently hanged by his own decree.

   The ministers then decide that the next person to pass through the city gate will choose the new ruler. An idiot passes through and, when asked to choose the king, answers "a melon" because that is his standard response to any question. Thus, a melon is crowned king. The people accept this new ruler as it leaves them in peace and liberty, highlighting their contentment with a laissez-faire approach to governance.

   
   Key Events

   1. The king orders the construction of a triumphal arch.
   2. The king loses his crown passing under the arch and orders the chief builder to be hanged.
   3. Blame shifts from the chief builder to the workmen, masons, and the architect.
   4. The wisest man in the country decrees that the arch should be hanged.
   5. A councillor and the crowd's demands lead to the king being hanged.
   6. An idiot chooses a melon as the new king, and the people accept it.

   
   Lessons to Learn

   1. Absurdity of Misplaced Blame: The poem highlights how blame is often shifted in a chain of command, leading to absurd outcomes.
      
      
   2. Irony in Justice: The king’s own decree leads to his downfall, showcasing the irony in seeking justice without wisdom.
      
      
   3. Contentment with Simple Governance: The people are content with a melon as their king, emphasizing that sometimes simple, non-intrusive governance is preferred.

   
   Practice Questions

   Unseen Passage 1

   Passage: In a city, there was a bridge that was constantly under repair. Despite numerous attempts to fix it, the bridge always seemed to have problems. The townspeople grew frustrated as each time they thought the bridge was finally fixed, a new issue would arise. One day, the mayor decided to hold a meeting with the engineers, workers, and local officials to find a lasting solution.

   
   Questions:

   1. What was the main problem in the city?
   2. How did the townspeople feel about the bridge?
   3. What was the mayor's solution to address the issue?
   4. Why do you think the bridge kept having problems?
   5. What can this passage teach us about problem-solving in a community?

   
   Answers:

   1. The main problem was that the bridge was constantly under repair.
   2. The townspeople were frustrated.
   3. The mayor decided to hold a meeting with all stakeholders to find a solution.
   4. The bridge might have had underlying structural issues not addressed in previous repairs.
   5. It teaches that involving all relevant parties in finding a solution can be more effective.

   
   Unseen Passage 2

   Passage: Once upon a time, a village faced severe water scarcity. The villagers decided to dig a new well. Despite their efforts, the well did not yield much water. They called upon an expert who advised them to plant trees around the well to increase groundwater levels. The villagers followed the advice, and over time, the well began to fill with water.

   
   Questions:

   1. What problem did the village face?
   2. What solution did the villagers initially try?
   3. Who did the villagers call for help?
   4. What advice did the expert give?
   5. What was the result of following the expert’s advice?

   
   Answers:

   1. The village faced severe water scarcity.
   2. They dug a new well.
   3. They called upon an expert.
   4. The expert advised planting trees around the well.
   5. The well began to fill with water over time.

   
   Additional Practice Questions

   1. Describe the sequence of events that led to the king being hanged in "The Tale of Melon City".
   2. What does the melon symbolize in the poem?
   3. How does the poem use irony to convey its message?
   4. What can we infer about the people’s attitude towards their king in "The Tale of Melon City"?
   5. Compare the justice system in "The Tale of Melon City" with modern judicial systems. What differences and similarities can you find?

   
   Additional Resources

   Vocabulary List

   • Placid: Calm and peaceful.
   • Edify: To instruct or improve morally or intellectually.
   • Decree: An official order issued by a legal authority.
   • Quivering: Trembling or shaking.

   
   Important Quotes

   • "The King perceived their mood and trembled."
   • "If His Majesty rejoice in being a melon, that’s OK with us."

   
   Sample Essay

   Topic: The Role of Irony in "The Tale of Melon City" In "The Tale of Melon City," Vikram Seth employs irony to highlight the absurdity of misplaced blame and the whimsical nature of justice. The poem opens with a seemingly just king who quickly becomes a victim of his own rigid pursuit of justice. Through a series of ironic twists, the king’s decree to hang the tallest man ironically leads to his own execution. This use of irony not only provides humor but also critiques the inefficacies of autocratic rule. The ultimate appointment of a melon as the king satirizes the arbitrary nature of power and the contentment of the populace with a laissez-faire ruler. Thus, irony serves as a powerful tool in Seth's narrative to underscore the folly of misplaced justice and the absurdity of governance.