The Tale of Melon City Class 11 important questions with answers PDF download
Chapter 5 of CBSE Class 11 English Snapshots, The Tale of Melon City by Vikram Seth, is a funny and light-hearted poem about a king who faces an unusual fate because of his own rules. The poem uses humor to talk about justice, public opinion, and the quirky side of human behavior.
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In this article, we have provided a Free PDF to download Class 11 English Snapshots Important Questions with solutions, which is prepared by English experts from the CBSE Class 11 English Syllabus.
FAQs on CBSE Important Questions for Class 11 English Snapshots The Tale of Melon City - 2025-26
1. What important event in “The Tale of Melon City” led the 'just and placid' king to lose his composure, and what was his immediate decree?
The important event that disturbed the king was when his crown was knocked off his head by a low-built arch as he rode down the main thoroughfare. Although usually calm, the king became furious, calling the incident a 'disgrace'. His immediate decree was to find the person responsible for building the arch too low and have them hanged, setting in motion the poem's central conflict.
2. How does the poem trace the shifting of blame for the faulty arch, and what does this sequence reveal about the administration?
The blame for the faulty arch is shifted in a comical sequence, which is an important aspect for exam questions. The sequence is as follows:
- The king blames the chief of builders.
- The chief of builders blames the workmen.
- The workmen blame the size and shape of the bricks.
- The masons are blamed, who in turn blame the architect.
- Finally, the architect cleverly shifts the blame back to the king himself for approving modifications to the plans.
This reveals an administration where no one takes responsibility, and everyone is skilled at evading accountability, a key satirical point of the poem.
3. What was the absurd criterion for selecting the 'wisest man,' and how did his counsel ironically seal the king's fate?
The criterion for selecting the wisest man was purely based on age; it was believed that the oldest man in the city would naturally be the wisest. The man chosen was so old he could neither see nor walk. His counsel was that the arch itself was the true culprit and should be hanged. Since the arch could not be hanged, this advice created a deadlock that led the public to grow restless, ultimately forcing the king to declare that anyone who fit the noose would be executed, which ironically led to his own death.
4. Explain the circumstances under which the king was finally hanged. Why is this event the climax of the poem’s satire on justice?
The king was hanged due to his own foolish decree. To pacify the restless crowd demanding a hanging, the king ordered that the gallows' noose be set up and that whoever's head fit it perfectly would be executed. After measuring every person, the only one who fit the noose was the king himself. Bound by his own words, he was hanged. This is the satirical climax because it shows the system of 'justice' he created was so arbitrary and mindless that it ended up consuming its own creator.
5. For a long-answer question, how does “The Tale of Melon City” serve as a satire on governance and the public?
“The Tale of Melon City” is a powerful satire that criticises both leadership and the populace. It satirises:
- Governance: The poem mocks a king who is easily swayed, a court that values procedure over sense, and a system of justice based on whim rather than reason.
- The Public: The townspeople are depicted as fickle and passive. Their demand for a hanging is driven by a desire for spectacle, not justice. They are ultimately content with a melon as a ruler because their primary concern is to be left alone in 'peace and liberty'.
6. What is the significance of crowning a melon as the new king? What does this imply about the city's values?
Crowning a melon as the new king is highly significant as it symbolises the complete absurdity of the state. It represents a figurehead monarch with no real authority or intelligence. This implies that the city's people and ministers value non-interference and tradition above all else. They are happy with a ruler who does not govern, reflecting their deep-seated belief in the principle of 'laissez-faire'—letting things be, without intervention.
7. From an examination perspective, what are the key character traits of the king that are important to highlight?
For a character analysis question, the king's key traits are:
- Placid but Fickle: He is described as 'just and placid' but quickly becomes enraged over a trivial incident.
- Foolish and Arbitrary: His decisions, from ordering a hanging to choosing the 'wisest man,' are not based on logic or reason.
- Obsessed with Procedure: He follows processes to the letter, even when they lead to a nonsensical outcome like his own execution.
8. Why did the ministers feel relieved after an 'idiot' chose a melon to be the new ruler?
The ministers felt relieved because a melon king would be a completely passive and non-interfering ruler. This would allow them to run the state's affairs as they pleased, without any oversight or accountability. Their relief highlights their own desire to maintain power and the status quo rather than ensuring competent leadership for the city.
9. How does the poem use humour and irony to deliver its central message effectively?
The poem uses humour and irony as its main tools. The humour arises from the absurd situations, such as blaming an arch for a crime or an idiot choosing a melon as king. The irony is evident when the king, who initiates the entire process of justice, becomes its only victim. This combination of humour and irony makes the criticism of mindless governance more memorable and impactful than a direct, serious critique would be.
