Class 11 English - HARYANA
Supplementary: The Tale of Melon City
The Tale of Melon City by Vikram Seth is a delightful, satirical poem prescribed for Class 11 English in the Haryana (BSEH) curriculum. It presents a humorous critique of governance, absolute justice, and bureaucracy through the absurd story of a peaceful king who orders an arch to be built, only to be hanged by his own foolish laws. Eventually, the citizens crown a melon as their king. For board exams, this chapter is crucial as it tests students' understanding of poetic irony, satire, and narrative comprehension through short answer and long answer questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Satire and Irony
The poem uses sharp humor to mock foolish rulers, blind adherence to rules, and the absurdity of governmental systems.
The Peaceful and Just King
The king is initially described as calm and fair, but his absolute obsession with public order leads to his own tragicomic downfall.
The Absurd Chain of Events
A loose arch hits the king's crown, setting off a ridiculous blame game involving the chief builder, architects, masons, and workmen.
The Custom of the Melon
According to local tradition, the next person to pass the city gate chooses the new ruler; an idiot passes by and chooses a melon, making it the king.
Laissez-faire Philosophy
The poem concludes that as long as the melon king leaves the citizens in peace, freedom, and security, they are content.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Haryana (BSEH) Class 11 English board exams, this chapter typically carries about 3 to 5 marks. Questions mostly appear as short-answer type questions testing the summary, character of the king, or the significance of the melon becoming the ruler, along with occasional extract-based MCQs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the arch blamed for the king's accident?
The king wanted someone to blame for his crown falling off, and since the arch hit him first, it was put on trial before shifting blame to the builder, workmen, and others.
What does the crowning of the melon signify?
It symbolizes a foolish and meaningless system of governance where citizens care very little about who rules them as long as they live in peace and freedom.
Who wrote 'The Tale of Melon City'?
The poem was written by the renowned contemporary Indian poet and novelist Vikram Seth.
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