Class 11 NCERT English Book Lesson The Tale of Melon City Questions and Answers
Question And Answer:
1. Narrate “The Tale of Melon City’ in your own words.
2. What impression would you form of a state where the King was ‘just and placid”?
3. How , according to you cam peace which highlight humour and irony.
4. ‘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.
Answer the following question.
1. Narrate “The Tale of Melon City” in your own words.
“The Tale of Melon City” is a humorous and satirical story about a kingdom ruled by a “just and placid” King. The King orders the construction of an arch to commemorate his reign. However, when he passes under the arch, it knocks off his crown. Furious, the King demands that the chief of builders be hanged. The builder blames the workmen, who in turn blame the masons, and the masons blame the architect. The architect points out that the King himself had made changes to the design. Seeking advice, the King consults the wisest man in the kingdom, who declares that the arch should be punished as it caused the incident. Eventually, the King is forced to find someone to hang, and after several failed attempts, it turns out that the King himself is the only one who fits the noose. He is hanged, and the people choose a new ruler by customary practice, which results in a melon being crowned King. The people are content as long as they have peace and liberty.
2. What impression would you form of a state where the King was ‘just and placid’?
In a state where the King is “just and placid,” the impression one forms is that of a ruler who may be indecisive and overly concerned with maintaining a facade of justice. His desire to be seen as fair leads to absurd decisions, like hanging the wrong people or consulting a blind, old wise man for advice. The King appears more interested in following procedures than in making rational decisions. The state seems to value tradition over common sense, and the people are content as long as they have peace, even if their ruler is an inanimate object like a melon.
3. How, according to you, can peace highlight humor and irony?
Peace in “The Tale of Melon City” highlights humor and irony because the people are more concerned with maintaining peace than with who their ruler actually is. The absurdity of a melon being crowned as King shows the irony of the situation. The people’s contentment with a non-living ruler suggests that they are indifferent to who governs them as long as their daily lives remain unaffected. This highlights the irony that peace can be maintained even under the most ridiculous circumstances, and the humor comes from the people’s willingness to accept such a bizarre outcome.
4. ‘The Tale of Melon City’ has been narrated in a verse form. This is a unique style that lends extra charm to an ancient tale. Find similar examples in your language. Share them in the class.
In Hindi literature, the poem “Akbar-Birbal ki Kahaniyan” often uses verse form to narrate humorous and satirical tales about the famous Mughal Emperor Akbar and his witty advisor Birbal. These tales highlight the use of cleverness and humor to resolve conflicts, often through humorous misunderstandings and wise solutions. Like “The Tale of Melon City,” these stories often showcase irony and the unexpected outcomes of seemingly serious decisions, making them timeless in their appeal.