Question

Give the summary of the poem 'the tale of the melon city'

Answer 1

××$\huge{\mathcal{SUMMARY:-}}$××

The poem is about one hasty decision of king that costs him his life. He orders to build an arch from where he can instruct the spectators. Well, the construction of the arch goes awry, as when the king stands, the arch being built too low, it touches the crown and as a result it falls down. Falling of the crown is a matter of insult for the king, thus he orders to hang the chief of the builders. Noose and gallows are prepared. The crowd is ready to witness the convict go lifeless. But just in time the chief of builder blames the workmen for fault. Next the workmen are taken to the death penalty; they too cry aloud saying that this is the mistake of a mason. The mason is then put next for the death punishment; well he passes the blame on the architecture. Well, the architecture being a clever guy says that the amendments in the plan were made by the king itself. This incident puts the king in a dilemma – he says that the situation is tricky.

The king calls for the wisest man in the country for a decision. An overly old man is brought for the decision. The old man can neither walk nor see but he says that the culprit must be hanged. So according to his judgment, the arch is made to hang. But it had touched the crown of the king thus it too was spared from being hanged. On the other hand, the crowd is going berserk. They want to see someone being hanged.

The king then decides that whosoever fits the noose will be hanged. One by one all men are measured; the only tall man that fits the noose is king. Thus, the king is hanged. The king is dead because of his own foolishness.

What who is going to be the next king of the kingdom? As a custom, the first man passing the City Gate will decide who can be the next king. An idiot comes out as a passer-by. When asked he replies melon – melon is his standard reply to all questions. A melon is crowned and declared as the king of the kingdom. A melon will rule over men – what a funny proposition is this.

HOPE IT HELPS YOU ✌️✌️

Answer 2

This poem by Vikram Seth is a humorous satire on people in
power. The poet has humorously presented the idea that it does not matter to
people who their ruler, king, or head of state is as long as he allows them to
live in peace, liberty and the principles of laissez faire.
Once upon a time there was city named The Melon City. There
lived a placid and just king. He proclaimed an arch to be constructed across
the thoroughfare for the edification of people. The arch was built too low. The
king’s crown was knocked down when he passed from below it. The king became
angry and wanted to punish the chief builder by hanging them. The gallows were
set up.
As the builder was brought for hanging, he fell on his knees
pleading for mercy. He said it was the workmen’s fault that the arch had been
built low. The king pardoned the builder and ordered the workmen to be hanged. When
the workmen were to be hanged, they pleaded to the king it was not their fault.
They had been supplied the wrong size bricks. So, the masons were called who
passed the buck onto architect.
Thus everyone passed the blame to someone else. In this
manner, architect was called to be hanged. With folded hands he reminded the
king that the king himself had made amendments in the plan he had shown him.
Now the king became very confused. He said he needed some
counsel on this very tricky matter as to who must be hanged. So he ordered the
wisest man of his kingdom to be brought to him. In that kingdom wisest was he
who was the oldest in age. So a man who was on death bed was brought. He advised
the king that it was the arch that was the culprit and it must be hanged. So a
huge gallows were set up for the hanging of the arch. Now, a councilor said the
arch could not be hanged as it had become pure by touching the head of the
king.
By this time the crowd had become impatient and restless for
a hanging. Fearing their subversion the king ordered immediate hanging of
anyone to pacify the crowd. So all who were present, were tried to fit in the high
set noose. Only the king fitted perfectly. And according to his order he was
hanged.
Now this city had a bizarre custom of electing the new king.
Any one passing through the street the next day would elect the king. So when
the guards, next morning asked the passer-by who must the king be of the city,
he replied, “Melon”. This passer-by was an idiot whose staple answer to all the
questions put to him was “Melon”.
So a melon was crowned as the king. Thenceforth the city came to be known as ‘Melon City’. This is the story the city people tell to those who ask them the reason behind the name of their city.