Chapter 8 – The Tale of Melon City Questions and Answers: NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English (Snapshots)

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

Answer:
Once, an impartial and mild-mannered King commissioned an arch to be built. After it was built, the king rode through the street and as he was crossing below the arch, his crown fell off as the arch was built too low.He felt that this was a dishonour and sentenced the chief of builders to be hung to death but the builder pleaded that it was not his fault but of the workers. The workers blamed the masons and the masons blamed the architect. The architect said that it was the king who had made certain changes in his plans. Hearing which, the king was infuriated.
He called for the wisest man in the country. The wisest man said it was the arch that had thrown the crown off, and it must be hanged but a councillor said that it would be a disgrace to hang something that touched the honourable head. By then, the crowd became restless and stated grumbling. The king noticed their mood and announced that the country wanted to see an execution and ordered for someone to be hanged immediately.
The loop in the rope was made ready and the people were measured, one by one, to see who would reach the noose. Finally, the man who reached the noose was the king himself and was hanged. After his execution, they spread the word that the next person to cross the city gate would decide the ruler of the kingdom. But the next man who crossed the city gate was a fool.

The guards asked him to decide who ought to be the king. The fool replied it ought to be “a melon”. The ministers crowned a melon and accepted it as their king. Now when the people are asked about their king being a melon, they say that the decision was because of “customary choice”.

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

Answer:
The “just and placid” king was ruinous for the good of the state, and for himself. He was so mild-mannered that the people of the land influenced his decisions. The structural defect of an arch cost the king his life, and the people, the loss of a ruler. In his effort to be fair, he let go all the people who pleaded innocence and, being placid, he let himself be hung for no fault of his.

The people of the land, as foolish as their king, let a fool decide that a melon was to be crowned as the king and the people crowned it as their ruler. A state, if governed by factors other than reason, is likely to be doomed.

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

Answer:
Hints
judicious decisions (not being swayed by crowds)
respect for authority
democracy, not stupidity
respect for hierarchy
respect for reason

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

Answer:
The poem is a light-hearted satire on the “just and placid” king. In his effort to be fair and mild-mannered, he invites his own doom. An arch was built and the king rides down the street “to edify spectators there”. When his crown was knocked off, a “frown appeared on his placid face”.
The king was easily placated by the offenders and the blame travelled from one person to the next, until it reached the king. The architect blamed the “placid” king, he “saw red” and “nearly, lost his head”. Living up to his reputation for being just, the king called for the wisest man.

The wise man was “carried to the Royal Court” as he could neither walk nor see. This served as the yardstick for wisdom. He ‘wisely’judged that the arch be hanged. The councillor disagreed as it would be disrespectful to hang something that had touched the royal head. The mild king called for an execution, guilty or not, to appease the crowd. This led to his execution. The “practical-minded” ministers found someone, if only the king, to be hanged to avoid the citizens turning “against the Crown”. They saved the crown by sacrificing the king.
They made another foolish proclamation that the next person that passed through the city gate would decide the next king. The idiot who crossed the gate chose a melon as the king and the ministers crowned it. The people of the land, proud of their “customary choice”, glorified their ‘melon king’ as he let them live in “peace and liberty”. The practice of letting the people do as they pleased suited them.

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

Answer:
Some examples of ancient and other tales that have been narrated in verse form in other languages include:
The Illiad- This is a long Greek Epic poem written in verse form by the famous Greek poet Homer, which describes the war that took place between the Greek and Trojan empires for the kingdom of Troy. Considered one of the most popular events in Greek mythology, this epic portrays the siege of Troy which lasted for over 10 years and ended with the Greeks emerging victorious.
Paradise Lost – This is a famous long Epic poem in blank verse written by the 17th century English poet John Milton. This narrates the first story from the book of Genesis in the Bible. The epic depicts the relationship between God and man in the Garden of Eden, followed by the temptation of Adam and Eve by Satan to eat the forbidden fruit, which led to the fall of man.
Night of the Scorpion – This poem written by Indian Jewish poet Nissim Ezekiel narrates a more recent story about a family in an Indian village. A child observers how their mother is stung by a scorpion and people try everything they can to help her fight the pain and fight death. Despite all attempts of medicine and prayer, she continues to struggle. However, in the morning she miraculously recovers, and is praised for her maternal courage of protecting her children from suffering a similar fate.

MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED

Question 1:
What sort of king ruled over the state? What did he proclaim?

Answer:
The king was fair and gentle. He seemed to be interested in the welfare of the masses. So he proclaimed that an arch should be constructed which should extend across the major thoroughfare. He hoped that it would improve people’s mind on looking at it.

Question 2:
Why did the king ride down the thoroughfare and what was the result?

Answer:
The king rode down the thoroughfare to edify spectators there. Since the arch was built too low, he lost his crown under it. A frown appeared on his mild face and he called it a disgrace.

Question 3:
Who was held responsible for the disgrace? How did he /they react to it? What do you learn about the king?

Answer:
The chief of builders was field responsible for the disgrace and ordered to be hanged. The chief called it the workmen’s fault. The king ordered to have all the workmen hanged. The workmen looked surprised but they blamed the wrong size of bricks for it. This shows the king’s fickle mindedness.

Question 4:
What argument did the architect advance in self-defence? How did the king take it?

Answer:
The architect reminded the king that he had made certain amendments to the original
plans of the architect He suggested that it was the fault of the king himself. On hearing it, the king became so angry that he nearly lost his ability to act sensibly or calmly.

Question 5:
Why did the king need some counsel and from whom? Do you think the man was really the wisest one? Give a reason for your answer.

Answer:
The king got confused by the architect’s clever self-defense. So, he needed the advice of the wisest man in the country. The man selected was so old that he could neither walk nor see. He was not really the wisest one as wisdom does not necessarily come with age. His advice proves his worthlessness.

Question 6:
Comment upon the criteria of selection of the wisest man and the quality of counsel he offered.

Answer:
The criteria was that wisdom comes with grey hair. The old man they selected could not walk or see. He spoke in a trembling voice. The advice he offered was absurd. A lifeless object cannot be deprived of life by hanging it.

Question 7:
What does the comment of the councillor about the arch reveal about himself and the king?

Answer:
It shows the councillor’s sycophancy and the King’s capriciousness. The councillor, an expert in the art of flattery, checked the king from an absurd action, through an argument that appeared logical. The thoughtless king mused over it.

Question 8:
Why did the king succumb to public demand?

Answer:
The king noticed that the crowd of spectators had become restless and people were muttering aloud. He judged their mood. He trembled to think of the consequences if they were deprived of the fun of watching someone being hanged. So, in order to save his skin, he ordered that someone be hanged immediately.

Question 9:
What was the result of the King’s thoughtless order?

Answer:
The king ordered that someone be hanged immediately. So the noose was set up somewhat high. Each man was measured one by one. Only one man was found tall enough to fit the noose. He was the king. He was hanged by the royal order. Thus the king paid with his life for his thoughtless order.

Question 10:
Why did the Ministers feel relieved? Do you think their elation was justified?

Answer:
The Ministers felt relieved that the public’s eagerness to watch a hanging had been
satisfied. They expressed their pleasure by saying that they found someone for hanging. They believed that if they had failed to do so, the unruly town might have turned against the king. Their elation is misplaced. The king had to lose his life to keep the public in good humour.

Question 11:
What opinion do you form of the King’s Ministers on the basis of their actions after the King’s death?

Answer:
The Ministers believed in tradition and ceremonies. They shouted in one breath, ‘Long live the king! The king is dead’. They were practical-minded men. They knew that the throne could not be left unoccupied. The crown being a symbol of power, someone must be crowned as king.

Question 12:
What ‘custom’ of the citizens is referred to in the tale? How did the Ministers decide to observe it?

Answer:
It is their custom to choose the new ruler of their state. Whoever passed the City Gate first of all the next day, would choose the ruler of the state. This method of random choice excluded dynastic rule as well as conspiracies. The Ministers decided to observe it with proper formality.

Question 13:
How was the new ruler of the state selected?

Answer:
The Ministers sent out messengers to declare that the next man to pass the City Gate would choose the ruler of their state. An idiot happened to pass the gate. When asked to decide who was to be the king, he replied, “A melon.” This was his standard answer to all questions. The Ministers declared that a melon would be their new ruler.

Question 14:
What does the selection process of the new ruler of the state reveal about the ministers and the people?
OR
How did the people and ministers react to the selection of ‘a melon’ as the new ruler?

Answer:
The selection process seems quite ridiculous. It also shows how ignorant masses stick to traditions and clever ministers go on be fooling them. They are more worried about their own peace, freedom and business affairs than the ruler. This shows how selfish, self-centred and ego-centric they are.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
How did the accused try to shift the blame on others? How far did they succeed?

Answer:
The chief of builders was the first one to be held guilty. He shifted the blame on the workmen. The workmen were surprised but did not lose their reasoning power. They told the king he had forgotten the fact that the bricks were made of the wrong size. Swayed by their rational argument, the masons were summoned. They trembled with fear, but shifted the blame on the architect who was responsible for planning and erecting the arch. The king ordered the architect to be hanged. The clever architect reminded the king that he had forgotten one small thing. He had made certain amendments to plans when the former had shown them to the latter. This clearly meant that he held the king responsible for the mishap. The king became very angry and lost” his capacity of clear judgement. He called it a tricky thing and sought the advice of the wisest man in the country. Thus each accused succeeded in shifting the blame on others.

Question 2:
What impression do you gather about the king from ‘The Tale of Melon City’?

Answer:
The just and placid king appears quite ruthless as he becomes ‘placider’ and decides to have all the workmen hanged instead of the chief of builders. His wobbling mind and capricious nature is indicated by the frequent changes in his decision. He is easily swayed by arguments and seems fickle-minded. He seems to be eager about public welfare and gets an arch constructed across the thoroughfare to edify them. The whimsical king is easily outwitted by the clever architect. The king loses his head in a fit of anger. In order to save his skin, he seeks the advice of the wisest man in the country. The king wants to keep the public in good humour. He is quite observant and judges the mood of the masses correctly. His lack of foresight proves to be his doom. The height of the noose fits only his neck. He foolishly becomes a victim of his own order. He wants to prevent a public revolt but pays for the public amusement with his blood. Thus he is a short-sighted crank with muddled reasoning power.

Question 3:
What do you think makes ‘The Tale of Melon City’ interesting and edifying?

Answer:
As the title indicates the poem tells a story about Melon City—a city named after its ruler. It is quite interesting and edifying to learn how the country got a melon as its ruler. In short, it was on account of customary choice. The people relate the story of a just and placid king who was hanged by his own Royal Decree.
What the king did for the people and how he held the trails of the accused both are quite amusing. The clever arguments of the accused to save their lives are equally interesting. The king feels the pulse of the people who want to see a hanging. He knows how mischievous an angry mob can be and hence orders that someone must be hanged immediately. The irony of the situation is that only the king is tall enough to fit the noose.
The practical-minded ministers resort to the age-old custom to choose the next ruler. The idiot’s choice is approved of in the name of custom. The people are indifferent to the fact that their ruler is a melon not a man. The behaviour of pragmatic ministers and equally selfish, foolish and mean people seems quite funny and interesting. It is instructive too. A wise man should avoid the company of fools.

Question 4:
“The poem mocks the process of fair trial and proper judgement.” How far do you agree with the statement?

Answer:
The poem is a severe indictment of the age-old custom of delivering justice by word of mouth of the kings. There was a time when the King’s word was considered divine and whatever he uttered was law. A just and placid king was expected to protect the innocent and punish the quality. However, the process of trial and the ever-changing judgement’s make a fun of the whole process of fair trials and considered awards. This is evident from the statements of the accused who try to save their lives by holding others responsible for the guilt. The King’s capriciousness and inability to see through the thin veil of their arguments make him an object of ridicule rather than a dispenser of divine justice. Hence, we agree hilly with the above statement.

Question 5:
Comment on the ending of the poem ‘The Tale of Melon City’. What bearing does the ending have on the title of the poem?
OR
Comment on the title of the poem ‘The Tale of Melon City’.

Answer:
The ending of ‘The Tale of Melon City’ is quite significant. It has a direct bearing on the title. The ending of the poem reveals that the incidents took place long ago. It throws fight on the old custom of the state to choose their new ruler. Confronted with the dilemma, the ministers took the easy way out. The person who passed the City Gate next was to name the king. It happened to be an idiot who gave the standard answer “a melon” to every question. So the melon was crowned the king,
carried to the throne and respectfully set down there. The people are not at all ashamed to have a melon as their king. They say that if the king rejoices in being a melon, that’s all right with them. They find no fault with him as long as he leaves them to enjoy their peace, freedom and free trade. The capital city is called Melon City after the king. Thus the ending throws light on the selfish nature of the people and their belief in old customs. It also explains the title.