5. The Tale of Melon City - Class 11 - Snapshots

BhashaLab
Jul 8
5 min read

Author: Vikram Seth

Textbook: Snapshots

Genre: Poem / Narrative Verse / Satire

Summary

“The Tale of Melon City” is a humorous and satirical poem that critiques blind justice and symbolic monarchy. The poem tells the story of a city ruled by a “just and placid” king. One day, the king orders the construction of an arch as a symbol of triumph. However, when he passes under the arch and loses his crown, he becomes angry and demands justice. One by one, blame is passed from the chief builder to the workers, to the masons, and finally to the architect, who cleverly points out that the king himself had modified the design. Ironically, after much deliberation and a wise man’s foolish suggestion, the king is declared guilty and hanged. To maintain order, the ministers ask the next passer-by to choose the next king. That person, an idiot who always replies “a melon” to everything, names a melon as king. The ministers follow the tradition, crown a melon, and the city is henceforth ruled by a melon. The citizens are content as the “melon king” allows them peace and liberty. The poem mocks empty rituals, bureaucratic absurdity, and the public's indifference to political leadership.

Character Sketch

The King:

The king is described as “just and placid,” but his actions are ironically foolish. He blindly follows legal procedures without applying wisdom or logic. His obsession with justice leads him to hang himself under royal decree. He represents leaders who uphold form over substance.

The Ministers:

They are pragmatic and care only about public order. They do not object when the king is executed or when a melon is crowned. They follow rituals blindly and reflect administrative absurdity.

The People:

The citizens of Melon City are indifferent to who rules as long as they are left in peace. Their acceptance of a melon as king shows their disinterest in politics and preference for freedom over active governance.

The Idiot:

He randomly says “melon” when asked to name the next king. His absurd response leads to a bizarre but accepted result. He symbolizes chance and the randomness of decisions made without reason.

Themes

Theme	Description
Satire on Monarchy and Justice	The poem ridicules blind legalism and outdated systems of governance.
Absurdity and Irony	The story develops through ironic twists and irrational decisions.
Public Apathy	Citizens do not care about leadership as long as they have peace and liberty.
Ritual and Tradition vs. Logic	People follow customs even when they no longer make sense.
Leadership and Symbolism	The poem explores how rulers can become mere figureheads.

✨ Poetic Devices

Device	Example	Effect
Irony	“The King was therefore hanged by Royal Decree.”	Adds humour and criticises blind justice.
Satire	Entire poem mocks political and legal institutions.	Highlights absurdity in governance.
Personification	The arch is blamed and ordered to be hanged.	Highlights irrationality.
Rhyme Scheme	Rhymed couplets (AA, BB...)	Maintains rhythm and adds a humorous tone.
Colloquial Language	Simple and direct narration style	Makes the poem accessible and engaging.

Title Justification

The title “The Tale of Melon City” is both literal and symbolic. It directly refers to a city that ends up being ruled by a melon, reflecting the absurd conclusion of a bureaucratic sequence of events. The word "Tale" suggests a moral fable or allegory, and the phrase "Melon City" adds a humorous twist. The title prepares the reader for an unusual and ironic story that mocks governance, justice, and societal attitudes. It is perfectly suited to the satirical content of the poem.

One-Mark Questions

Why did the king order the chief of builders to be hanged?The king lost his crown under the arch and saw it as a disgrace. He blamed the chief of builders for constructing the arch too low.
What did the architect reveal during the trial?
He reminded the king that the modifications to the plan were made by the king himself. This shifted the blame back to the king.
Why was the king ultimately hanged?
The king was declared guilty based on his own logic and the opinion of the crowd. As he was the only one tall enough for the noose, he was executed.
How was the new king chosen?
The ministers followed custom and asked the next passerby at the city gate to name the next king. An idiot passed by and said “a melon,” which was accepted.
How do the people of Melon City react to their unusual ruler?
They are indifferent and accept the melon as king. They value peace and liberty more than who sits on the throne.

Three-Mark Questions

How does the poem reflect satire and irony in governance?The poem is a sharp satire on the concept of justice and leadership. A king obsessed with fairness ends up punishing himself. Leaders blindly follow rituals, even when they are absurd. The ministers, to avoid public unrest, crown a melon as king. The poem ironically shows how meaningless power can be.
What does the poem suggest about the role of citizens in a state?The people of Melon City do not care who rules as long as they have peace and freedom. They are passive and do not question the absurd decisions of their rulers. Their acceptance of a melon as king shows a lack of political awareness. The poem critiques this public apathy.
Explain how the poem uses humour to critique serious themes.Vikram Seth uses rhyming couplets, simple language, and ridiculous events to create humour. The idea of blaming an arch, hanging the king, and crowning a melon are all funny but thought-provoking. This humour highlights how systems can become hollow and absurd. The poem entertains while encouraging readers to think critically about justice and leadership.

Value-Based Question

What lesson does the poem teach about justice and decision-making?

The poem teaches that justice should be rooted in logic, compassion, and common sense. Blindly following rules and traditions can lead to irrational outcomes. It warns against excessive formalism and emphasizes the need for thoughtful governance. Leadership is not just about following customs but about serving people wisely. The story reminds us that empty rituals and public apathy can turn governance into a joke.

End

About BhashaLab:

BhashaLab is a dynamic platform dedicated to the exploration and mastery of languages - operating both online and offline. Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Credit Framework (NCrF), we offer language education that emphasizes measurable learning outcomes and recognized, transferable credits.

We offer:

NEP alligned offline language courses for degree colleges - English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi
NEP alligned offline language courses for schools - English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi
Std VIII, IX and X - English and Sanskrit Curriculum Tuitions - All boards
International English Olympiad Tuitions - All classes
Basic and Advanced English Grammar - Offline and Online - Class 3 and above
English Communication Skills for working professionals, adults and students - Offline and Online