Essay Questions
Essay Questions
Essay Questions
ESSAY QUESTIONS
Q1. The Tale of Melon city is full of irony. Give any two examples from
the poem?
Ans. ‘The Tale of Melon City’ by Vikram Seth is full of ironical instances. The poem
begins with a ‘just and placid’ king ordering the construction of an arch. After the
construction, the king went there and his crown struck the arch. He felt disgraced
and ordered death sentence for the person responsible for it. The circumstances took
such a turn that he himself got hanged. The second instance is that a chance was
given to any person who passed that gate to decide the ruler of the state. The first
person who passed that gate was a foolish man and he decided that a melon should
be the ruler of the state. Without giving any second thought, a melon was placed on
the throne.
Q2. How does the so called ‘just and placid’ King of Melon City land
himself into a difficult situation?
Ans. The King of Melon City proclaimed to construct an arch, spanning the main
thoroughfare. Soon, the arch was constructed. One day the King was riding down the
thoroughfare. His, Crown struck against the arch and fell off. The King felt
dishonoured and decided to hang the chief of builders. The chief of builders put the
blame on the labourers. The King decided to hang all the labourers. The labourers
found fault with the size of the bricks. The King summoned the masons but they lay
the blame on the architect. The King ordered to hang the architect. The architect
reminded the King that he had made certain amendments to the plans when they
were shown to him. The King found himself in a difficult situation as the architect
held him responsible for the mishap. He was utterly confused. Being a just and placid
King, he could not deny the charge.
Q3. How did the King try to get out of the difficult situation? Did he
succeed?
Ans. The King found himself in a difficult situation after hearing the architect’s
arguments. He said that it was an intricate matter and he needed someone’s advice.
He ordered to bring him the wisest man in the country. The wisest man was found
and brought to the Royal Court. He said that the arch was the real culprit. It
impudently hit the crown which fell off. So, the arch must be hanged. Suddenly, a
councillor said that it would be a very shameful act to hang the arch that touched His
Majesty’s head. It seemed true to the King. He was at a loss what to do. Meanwhile,
he saw the crowd was getting restless and they wanted a hanging. So, he declared
that someone must be hanged. The noose was set up. It was somewhat high. Each
man was measured turn by turn. But there was only one man who was tall enough to
fit in the noose and it was the King. His Majesty was, therefore, hanged by Royal
Decree.
Q. 4. What do think makes ‘The Tale of Melon City’ interesting and
edifying?
Ans. According to the title, 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 trials 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 the King is tall enough to fit
the noose.