प्रश्न बैंक - सह - उत्तर पुस्तक (Question Bank-Cum-Answer Book)
Class 11 English Core
Snapshots
Chapter - 6. THE TALE OF THE MELON CITY - Vikram Seth
MAIN POINTS
☞ It is a poem by Vikram Seth in which he
mocks a government system.
☞ There was a just and placid king".
☞ He ordered to build an Arch across the
main thoroughfare of the city as the symbol of his triumph at the entrance.
☞ The arch was too low and the king's crown
was banged against it and fell.
☞ The king became angry and ordered the
chief of the builder to be hanged for this disgrace.
☞ The chief pleaded that it was the
workmen's fault.
☞ The king ordered all the workmen to be
hanged.
☞ The workmen blamed the masons for the
bricks which were made of the wrong size.
☞ The masons blamed the architect for the
faulty arch.
☞ The architect pleaded innocence and said
that the King had recommended certain amendments in the building plan.
☞ Things appeared to be delicate and
confusing so the wisest man was found and brought to the royal court.
☞ The wisest man blamed the arch and the
arch was brought to the scaffold to be hanged.
☞ Another counsellor advised that the arch
which had touched the royal head cannot be hanged.
☞ The king judged the restless mood of the
people after this drama, he declared that someone should be hanged immediately.
☞ The noose was set up somewhat high and
each man was measured by and by.
☞ The king himself was hanged by a royal
decree.
☞ The ministers thanked God and shouted
"Long Live The King!" Had the king not offered himself to be hanged,
the people would have revolted against him.
☞ It was decided that any man passing the
city gate would choose the next king.
☞ An idiot passed the gate first, he chose a
melon as the next king of the state.
☞ People of this Kingdom placed a melon and
crowned it as the next king.
☞ It mattered less to them whether their
king was a man or a melon.
☞ They were happy with their melon king
because it would not interfere in their affairs and let them live peacefully
and freely.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. What did the King order to be constructed?
a. An arch
b.
A tomb
c.
Footsteps
d.
A building
2. How does the writer describe the King?
a.
Arrogant
b. Just and placid
c.
Egocentric
d.
Merciful
3. Who according to the counsel was the culprit that was brought
before the King?
a.
The King
b.
The crown
c. The arch
d.
The chief of the builders
4. Who did the chief of builders blame?
a.
The public
b.
The architect
c.
The masons
d. The workmen
5. Finally, who was tall enough to reach the noose?
a.
The chief of the builder
b.
The architect
c.
Someone from the crowd
d. The King
6. What order did the King give after the incident?
a.
He ordered workmen to be hanged
b. He ordered to hang the chief of builders
c.
He ordered to summon the architect
d.
He ordered to gather all people
7. What is the most important to the public of the state?
a. Their peace and liberty
b.
How the state is ruled
c.
Their wealth
d.
Their involvement in state decisions
8. Who was to choose the next King?
a. The next person to pass the City Gate
b.
The Ministers
c.
The public
d.
The heir of the deceased King
9. Why did the idiot reply the way he did?
a. Because he liked melons
b.
Because he rode horses
c.
Because he knew how to use sword
d.
Because he grew melons
10. "This is a disgrace." What was a disgrace?
a.
Poorly built arch
b.
Unenthusiastic crowd
c. Crown being struck
d.
None of the above
11. What sort of principles seem to thrive in the state?
a.
Democratic
b. Laissez faire
c.
Authoritative
d.
Communistic
12. What impression do you form of the crowd of the state?
a.
They were of no good
b.
They were supportive of their King
c.
They were indifferent who was throned
d. Both a and c
13. According to the architect, who made the amendments?
a. The king
b.
The chief of the builders
c.
He himself
d.
The masons
14. What happened when the King rode down the thoroughfare?
a.
The crowd cheered
b.
No one was impressed
c. The King's crown fell
d.
Not mentioned
15. What was the purpose of the construction ordered by the
King?
a.
To continue a legacy
b.
To solidify the King's rule
c. To improve viewers morally
d.
To carry out a ritual
16. Why did the King's crown fall?
a. Because the arch was built too low
b.
Because he lost his balance
c.
Because the crown was heavy
d.
Because he was attacked
17. Listening about his own hanging, who did the King call for?
a.
The oldest man in the country
b. The wisest man in the country
c.
The wisest minister in his administration
d.
All the people
18. Why was it shameful to hang the arch'?
a.
Because it was innocent
b.
Because it was non-living
c.
Because it was newly built
d. Because it had touched the King's head
19. How was the public demand fulfilled?
a.
By voting
b.
By the King's discretion
c. By measuring height one by one
d.
By the councillors' decision
20. Who was chosen as the new King?
a.
A minister
b.
A horse
c. A melon
d.
A sword
21. After all the considerations and discussions, the crowd was
getting ……….
a. restless
b.
amused
c.
horrified
d.
bored
22. The sense of justice of the king is totally ……….
a.
rational
b. irrational
c.
average
d.
logical
23. The king was very ………..
a. tall
b.
short
c.
thin
d.
fat
24. The oldest man was taken to be the ……..
a. wisest
b.
cruelest
c.
ugliest
d.
none of these
25. Who was finally hanged in the poem?
a. the king
b.
architect
c.
wise man
d.
the arch
26. The ………. blamed the king for making certain amendments in
the plan.
a. architect
b.
workmen
c.
queen
d.
ministers
27. The ministers led the melon to the ……….
a.
Garbage
b.
kitchen
c. throne
d.
none
VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. How was the King in the poem?
Ans.
The King in the poem was just and peaceful.
2. What did the King want to build?
Ans.
The King wanted to build an arch that would stand triumphantly on the main
thoroughfare.
3. Why did the king become angry?
Ans.
The arch built was too low, it banged against the crown and it fell from the
king's head.
4. Whom did the king order to hang first?
Ans.
The chief of the builders was ordered to be hanged first.
5. Who blamed the masons for the bricks of wrong size?
Ans.
The workmen blamed the Masons for the bricks of wrong size.
6. The king declared that someone must be hanged immediately.
Why did he do so?
Ans.
The people were getting restless and needed some solid and real action.
7. The was set up somewhat high "and each man was measured
by and by.
Ans.
Noose
8. Who was the only tall man to fit the nose?
Ans.
The King
9. Finally, who was hanged by the royal decree?
Ans.
The King
10. Who was crowned as the next king of the city?
Ans.
The melon was crowned as the next king of the city.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Why did the king proclaim an arch to be constructed?
Ans.
The king proclaimed an arch to be constructed at the entrance of the city. The
arch would be a symbol of his time like a victory monument. He wanted the arch
to be constructed across the major thoroughfare of the city.
2. The king, in this poem, was just and placid. Why did he
become angry?
Ans.
The king was described as Just and placid in the poem But He quickly lost his
temper when his crown tumbled down. As a just judge, he ordered that the guilty
person or thing be hanged. But he was a complete moron. He was whimsical and
easily influenced. He took his sense of justice too far. He had thus invited
his own execution.
3. How did the chief of builders, the workmen and the masons
save their lives?
Ans.
The chief of builders assigned the blame to the workers. To save their lives,
the workers blamed the brick makers and masons. The architect was blamed by the
masons for the low arch.
4. How did circumstances lead to the execution of the king
himself?
Ans.
On the advice of the wise man, the king had the arch executed. However, the
arch was defended by a counsellor. The people, on the other hand, were
agitated. They demanded action and the death penalty. So a noose was rigged to
hang someone. Only the king was tall enough to fit through the noose. As a
result, the king himself had to be hanged by royal decree.
5. What custom was enforced to get a new ruler?
Ans.
The state custom of selecting a new ruler was very amusing. The first person to
pass through the city gates would be choose the ruler of the state. The passing
idiot liked melons. Soon after his suggestion, a melon was installed on the
throne.
6. Read the lines and Answer the following:
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.
a. What was the problem with the bricks?
Ans.
They were made small
b. What does the word 'Quivering' mean?
Ans.
The act of shaking due to fear.
c. What does the word 'Summon' mean?
Ans.
Call someone officially
d. To whom did the masons pass the blame?
Ans.
To the Architect
7. Describe the humour and irony of the poem.
Ans.
The very title of the poem is humorous: a melon is crowned as a king, how
absurd and ridiculous. The king was just and the placid is quite ironic. Не got
angry on small things and his sense of justice could be seen when he was to
hang anyone whether it might be an arch.
8. Read the lines below and Answer the questions;
Well,
architect,' said His Majesty.
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
a. What happened when the king was going to edify the
spectators?
Ans.
His head collided with an arch and his crown fell down.
b. Whom did the king order to punish initially?
Ans.
Chief of the Builders.
c. What does the word 'Gallows' mean?
Ans.
Wooden frame used in the past for killing people by hanging.
9. What custom was enforced to get a new ruler?
Ans.
The state custom of selecting a new ruler was very amusing. The first person to
pass through the city gates would choose the next ruler of the state. The
passing idiot liked melons. Soon after his suggestion, a melon was crowned on
the throne.
10. Why was the crowd restless?
Ans.
The crowd had been watching the whole drama for long. They expected something
exciting to happen but nothing happened. The hanging was averted on one reason
for the other. The crowd felt restless and agitated. They wanted justice and
real action. The king then ordered, someone should be hanged immediately.
11. How did ministers justify the hanging of their king?
Ans.
The minister heaved a sigh of relief. At last someone was found to be hanged no
matter that the man was their king. Had the king not offered himself for
hanging immediately, the people would have revolted against him. So the king
saved himself from the disorder and disgrace. They shouted "Long Live The
King"!
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. How did the 'just and placid king' get executed?
Ans.
The arch, commissioned by the king, was built low that knocked off the king's
crown as he was crossing below the arch. He sentenced the chief of builders to
death for causing him dishonour, who passed on the blame to the workers. The
workmen blamed the masons and the masons, in turn, blamed the architect. The
architect reminded the king that he had made certain changes in the plans
himself when they were shown to him.
The
king was infuriated to hear that. Being righteous and tolerant, he called for
the wisest man in the country, for counsel, who advised the king to hang the
arch as it was the real offender who had thrown the crown off. A councillor
objected to this ruling and declared it a disgrace to hang something that
touched the honourable head of the king.
The
crowd, gathered for the hanging, became restless. The king apprehended their
mood and ruled for someone to be hanged immediately. The noose, hung high,
fitted the king alone and he was hung as per the royal decree.
2. Narrate 'The Tale of Melon City' in your own words.
Ans.
'The Tale of Melon City' is a humorous poem. The city is called Melon City
because its ruler is a melon. Once a fair and gentle king ruled over a state.
He proclaimed an arch built across the thoroughfare. As he passed under the low
arch it struck his head and his crown tumbled down. He thought it a disgrace
and ordered the chief of builders to be hanged. The chief lay the blame on the
workmen. The workmen were surprised. They said that the bricks were made of the
wrong size. So the masons were found guilty. The masons shifted the blame on
the architect. The architect put the blame finally on the king as he had made
amendments in the plan.
The
king summoned a wise man in the counsel. He held the arch guilty and ordered it
to be hanged. A councellor objected to it as it had touched the Royal head. The
people became restless. They wanted to see someone's hanging. Only the king's
head could fit the noose. So he was hanged. It was now announced that the first
man who passed the City Gate would choose the king. An idiot came. He suggested
'A melon'. So the melon was crowned the king. He was taken to the throne.
3. How did the city come to be named Melon City? Describe the
events that led to its naming.
Ans.
The king of a city ordered an arch to be made which was found to be too low.
When the king rode under this arch, he lost his crown due to its low height.
The
king ordered the chief builder to be hanged but the latter pointed out that it
was someone else's fault. This blame game went on till it was found that the
king himself had to be hanged by his own order. The city was without a king
after the
king's execution. The ministers decided that the next man to pass the city gate would choose their next king. As it happened the next man to pass was an idiot. He said that a melon should be king. He said so because he was very fond of melons. The ministers crowned a melon on the throne. Thereafter the city was known as Melon City.
JCERT/JAC प्रश्न बैंक - सह - उत्तर पुस्तक (Question Bank-Cum-Answer Book)
English Core (CONTENTS)
HORNBILL | |
CH. NO. | NAME OF CHAPTERS |
POETRY | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
PROSE | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
6. | |
SNAPSHOTS | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
6. | |
Writing Section | |
