The tale of melon city summary

The poem The Tale of Melon City is a narrative poem about how a melon, following a custom, was chosen to become the king of a state. It narrates in an amusing tone the events leading to such a situation when no other but a melon was coroneted as the king. The poem begins with the description of a just and peace loving king ruling an ancient state. Once the king planned to construct an arch, spanning the main thoroughfare. The purpose of the arch was to improve the onlookers morally and provide aesthetic joy to them. The plan of the king was executed immediately. One day the king was passing by the side of the thoroughfare. The arch was constructed very low so that the king’s crown struck against it and fell off. Immediately the king responded negatively. He felt dishonored. He decided to hang the chief of builders holding him responsible. Necessary arrangements were made for the hanging. The chief of builders in his defence shifted the responsibility to the laborers. On hearing so, the king adjourned the proceedings for a moment, and then decided to have all the laborers hanged. According to the laborers, it all happened due to faulty size of the bricks. So, the king summoned the masons. They, in their turn, put the blame on the architect. The king decreed to hang the architect. The architect reminded the king that he had made certain amendments to the plans when they were shown for his approval. In a way, the architect indirectly put the blame on the king. The argument of...

The Tale of Melon City By- Vikram Seth Introduction of the lesson- The Tale of Melon City Introduction The Tale of Melon City is a story in verse. The tale is humorous even though it is unrealistic and unbelievable. It ridicules the king, his ministers, the wise men and the common people. All of them behave foolishly. Not one of them applies his brain. The tone of the poem is satirical. The just and placid king behaved rashly like a fool. He got an arch gate constructed above the highway for the enlightenment of the onlookers. He hit his crown against the arch. He ordered hanging for the guilty. But he changed his orders quite soon until he ordered his own execution. The new ruler was chosen foolishly by an idiot. He was asked to name the new king. He loved melons. So he pronounced melon at once—and the melon was crowned king. The people had no interest in who ruled over them provided they were not harassed.

The tale of Melon City is a cautionary tale written in rhyming couplets. The plot of the story is this: • The plot The story revolves around a king who ordered that the city have an arch built in the center of the city as a main focal point. Once the arch had been built the king went to inspect the work, however, as he walked through the arch his crown fell off so he ordered that whoever built the arch be hanged. Each time the name of the builder was changed and in the end the name of the builder changed to the king's name, so it was he that was hanged. After the king was hung it was announced the next person to walk under the arch would be king. The next person to walk there was an idiot and he declared that a melon would be king and thus a melon became king of the city. • The original book The tale of Melon City written by Vikram Seth was originally found in a book full of other tales by the same author called "Mappings". This was the first book of poetry by Vikram Seth and was hand printed and bound and published in around 1981. It has since been republished with a mainstream publisher. There are many other poems contained within the book including the frog and the nightingale and the tales vary from light hearted and funny to serious and cautionary just like the tale of melon city. Once there lived a just and placid king. Who once ordered to make a arch in the main point of the city.the arch was made and he went to see it , when he passed through the arch his crown fel...

The King proclaimed an arch should be Constructed, that triumphally Would span the major thoroughfare To edify spectators there. The workmen went and built the thing. They did so since he was the King. The King rode down the thoroughfare To edify spectators there. Under the arch he lost his crown. The arch was built too low. A frown Appeared upon his placid face. The King said, ‘This is a disgrace. The chief of builders will be hanged.’ The rope and gallows were arranged. The chief of builders was led out. He passed the King. He gave a shout, ‘O King, it was the workmen’s fault’ ‘Oh!’ said the King, and called a halt To the proceedings. Being just (And placider now) he said, ‘I must Have all the workmen hanged instead.’ The workmen looked surprised, and said, ‘O King, you do not realise The bricks were made of the wrong size.’ ‘Summon the masons!’ said the King. The masons stood there quivering. ‘It was the architect…’, they said, The architect was summoned. ‘Well, architect,’ said His Majesty. ‘I do ordain that you shall be Hanged.’ Said the architect, ‘O King, You have forgotten one small thing. You made certain amendments to The plans when I showed them to you.’ The King heard this. The King saw red. In fact he nearly lost his head; But being a just and placid King He said, ‘This is a tricky thing. I need some counsel. Bring to me The wisest man in this country.’ The wisest man was found and brought, Nay, carried, to the Royal Court. He could not walk and could not see,...

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Summary of The Tale of Melon City The Tale of Melon City is a poem by Indian writer Vikram Seth. It is a satire on politics and governance in any nation. The poem talks about a king who is ‘just and placid’, but as the poem progresses, his character does not seem to comply with these qualities. His ineffective capabilities as a ruler are revealed when he is unable to decide whom to punish. Whoever was picked as the subject of punishment by the king kept blaming another to save his own neck until the penalty landed on the king himself. The situation is ironic and fails to justify the words used for the king’s description at the beginning of the poem. To criticise the political administration further, the poet talks about the council of ministers who decide to replace their ruler with a melon. The principles of laissez-faire are closely followed in the kingdom – evident through the public, which is least bothered about a melon being their king. Students can go through the summary of The Tale of Melon City given below to understand the poem in detail. They can also visit CBSE Class 11 English The Tale of Melon City Summary There was a king who was considered just and composed. He had announced the construction of an arch that would run above the main road in his city. It was meant to uplift the spirits of people. The king wanted to impress his people. So, the workmen started to build the arch without questions – since it was the king’s order. The city seemed to live by princi...

The Tale of Melon City Summary in English and Hindi Pdf. The Tale of Melon City is written by Vikram Seth. Learncram.com has provided The Tale of Melon City extra questions and answers pdf, theme, class 11 english The Tale of Melon City summary in hindi, analysis, line by line explanation, note making, ppt, lesson plan, class 11 ncert solutions. Students can also check the The Tale of Melon City Summary in English by Vikram Seth About the Poet Vikram Seth Poet Name Vikram Seth Born 20 June 1952 (age 67 years), Kolkata Education Corpus Christi College, St. Michael’s High School Nominations National Book Critics Circle Award for Autobiography Awards Padma Shri, Sahitya Akademi Award Vikram Seth The Tale of Melon City Theme ‘The Tale of Melon City’ by Vikram Seth is a satire about a king, his ministers and the kingdom. The king has been ironically called lawful. But in reality, he stretches justice too far. Due to this quality of his character, one day he himself is hanged. The ministers also are a group of fools who decide an odd way to choose the next king. An idiot announces that a melon should be the king and people inhesitatingly crown a melon as their king. People also do not bother who their king is as long as they enjoyed their freedom. The Tale of Melon City About the Characters The King: He has been mockingly portrayed as just and quiet. But in reality he was not an intelligent person, and did not have any decision taking ability. Because of his foolishness he had t...

The Tale of Melon City summary, a Vikram Seth poem, is a witty jab at powerful people. The poet has mocked the notion that it makes no difference to people who their ruler, king, or head of state is, as long as he allows them to live in peace, freedom, and, most importantly, in their minds. Summary of The Tale of Melon City The summary of Chapter 11 The Tale of Melon City tells the story of Melon City's generous but foolish king, who once ordered the public to build an arch in the city. The King's crown fell while passing through that arch, and he decided to hang the person responsible for the incorrect arch's design. Summary of The Tale of Melon City in English Long ago, the land was ruled by a righteous and gentle king. The king had publicly declared that an arch should be built to cross a public highway in a win-win situation for spiritual observers. The workers went there and built an arch, as per the king's orders. The king rode down the highway, lighting up the audience. Because the arch was so low, the king lost his crown beneath it. The gentle king's brows were intertwined. He referred to it as a disgrace and declared that the builder would be hanged. The master of the builders was thrown out and a rope was hung around his neck. "My lord, it was the workers' fault," he yelled as he passed the king. The king ordered that the proceedings be halted and that all workers be hanged instead. The workers were astounded, and the king claimed that he had not noticed that the...