NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English (Snapshots) Chapter 6 The Tale of Melon City

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 11th

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Class : 11th
Subject : English-1
Chapter : 8
Chapter Name : The Tale of Melon City

Q1 Narrate The Tale of Melon City' in your own words.

Answer. 'The Tale of Melon City' runs like a folk tale. The city is called Melon City because its
ruler is a melon. There is a curious tale about Once a fair and easy going king ruled over a
state. He got an arch built across the thoroughfare. As he passed under the low arch it struck
his head and he lost his crown. He thought it a disgrace and ordered the chief of builders t) be
hanged. The chief lay the blame on the workmen. The workmen were surprised. They said that
the bricks were made of wrong size. So the masons were thought guilty. The masons shifted
the blame on the architect. The architect put the blame at the king's door as he amended his
original plan. The king sought a wise mads counsel. He held the arch guilty and ordered it t) be
hanged. A councillor objected to it as it had touched the kings head. The people became
restless. They wanted to see someone hanging. Only the kings head could t the noose. So he
was hanged. It was now announced that the next man who passed. The city gate would choose
the king. An idiot happened to pass the City Gate. He suggested 'A Melon'. The ministers
crowned a melon and placed their Melon King reverently at the throne.

Q2 What impression would you form of a state where the King was “just and placid” ?

Answer. A state where the king was Just and placid enjoyed peace, liberty and justice. The king
was titular and symbolic. The citizens enjoyed freedom of all kinds. The real governance of the
country was in the hands of the citizens. In the poem The Tale of a Melon City' the king had to
be hanged as the citizens ultimately wanted someone to be hung. The king could not defend
himself. Even though the wisest man gave the verdict that the arch was the real culprit but the
citiæns wanted someone to be hanged. ultimately, the king was hanged. This shows that in
such a state where the king was Just and placid the citizens in uenced the fate of a king.

Q3 How, acording to you, can peace and liberty be maintained in a state?

Answer. (Answers vary with person own opinion.) Peace and liberty can be maintained in a
state by gocc governance. Whatever is well administered is most fruitful for the citizens as well
as rulers. should be a happy balance between state interference and citizens rights. Narrow
consideration based on religion, region caste etc. should be discouraged because these are

potent threat to internal security. Only then one can expect peace and liberty to be
maintained in a state.

Q4 Suggest a few instances in the poem which highlight humour and irony.

Answer. The poem is full Of humour and irony, The decision Of the king to hang the chief Of
the builders for constructing a low arch when his crown struck against it laughter among the
readers. It is an example Of humour. The way the king got convinced that actually the
labourers Who constructed the arch were responsible is also humourous. The king wanted
hang the labourers but the labourers were able to defend themselves. This situation is
humorous as it evokes laughter the readers and ironic as the readers nd that the labourers
are able to shift the responsibility to the architect. Ironically, the architect is able shift the
responsibility to the king himself. The selection of the wisest man who would give the verdict
as to who was the real culprit evokes laughter and is, therefore, humorous. The old man
ultimately blamed the arch and declared that the arch must hanged. Ironically, one of the
ministers pointed out that the gathering wanted a man to be hanged. As the noose tted the
king's neck, so, he was hanged The choice of a successor is humorous as an idiot is consulted
in selecting the successor. The
idiot choose a melon who became the symbolic head of the state.