The Tale of Melon City NCERT Solutions Class 11 PDF Download 2026

Ans: The poem is a satire about a foolish king who ordered an arch to be built. While riding under it, his crown was knocked off because the arch was too low. Enraged, he ordered the chief of builders to be hanged. The chief blamed the workmen, who blamed the bricks. The masons were summoned, who blamed the architect. The architect cleverly pointed out that the king himself had altered the plans. Confused, the king called the wisest man, who suggested hanging the arch itself! However, the crowd grew restless for a hanging. Finally, a noose was set up, and since the king was the only one tall enough to fit it, he was hanged. To choose a new king, an idiot passing the city gates was consulted. He loved melons and answered "a melon." Thus, a melon was crowned king, and the people lived happily, enjoying their freedom without royal interference.

Ans: The poet uses the terms "just and placid" ironically. In reality, the state is run by a whimsical, weak-minded, and foolish king. A truly "just" king would investigate a matter reasonably, but this king orders a hanging for a trivial incident (his crown falling). He is easily manipulated by the builders, masons, and the architect. The entire justice system is a mockery, as the crowd demands a hanging just for entertainment, leading to the absurdity of the king hanging himself. The state is utterly chaotic, lacking logic, proper governance, and common sense.

Ans: The poem humorously suggests a principle of laissez-faire (non-interference). The citizens of the Melon City are perfectly happy with a melon as their king because a melon doesn't interfere in their lives, doesn't impose harsh taxes, and doesn't issue foolish orders.
However, in reality, true peace and liberty are maintained in a state when there is a logical, democratic, and accountable government. The rulers must possess wisdom, foresight, and a genuine concern for the welfare of the people. The laws must be just, and the justice system should be based on facts and fairness, unlike the whimsical "blame game" seen in the poem.

Ans: The king ordered the arch to be constructed to span the main thoroughfare (street) of the city. He believed that the arch would edify (morally instruct and uplift) the spectators and add to the grandeur of his kingdom.

Ans: When the king rode down the street to inspect the newly built arch, the arch was too low. As he passed under it, it struck his head, and his crown fell off. He considered this a great disgrace and ordered an immediate hanging.

Ans: When the chief of builders was brought to the gallows, he pleaded for mercy, stating that it was not his fault. He skillfully shifted the blame onto the workmen, claiming that they had made the arch too low.

Ans: When the architect was summoned for execution, he boldly reminded the king that the king himself had made some amendments to the original building plans. By pointing this out, the clever architect shifted the ultimate blame for the faulty arch directly onto the king.

Ans: The king demanded the wisest man in the country be brought to court. The ministers found an old man who was so old he could neither walk nor see. In his "wisdom," the old man declared that the real culprit was the arch itself because it banged the crown off, and therefore, the arch must be hanged.

Ans: When the arch was led to the scaffold, a councillor argued that they could not hang something that had touched the honorable head of the king. The king agreed that it would be disrespectful, and thus the arch was saved from execution.

Ans: The king's crown fell off because the arch was too low. Furious, he ordered the chief of builders to hang. The chief blamed the workmen. The workmen blamed the wrong size of the bricks. The masons blamed the architect. The clever architect reminded the king that he (the king) had altered the plans. Realizing the blame fell on him, the king consulted the "wisest man," who absurdly suggested hanging the arch. When that idea was dropped, the crowd grew restless, demanding a hanging. To appease the mob, the king ordered a high noose to be set up. Ironically, the king was the only person tall enough to fit the noose, so he was executed by his own royal decree.

Ans: The selection of the new king is the peak of absurdity in the poem. The state had a bizarre custom: the next person to pass the City Gate would choose the new ruler. As luck would have it, an idiot passed by. When the guards asked him who should be the king, he replied "A melon," simply because he loved eating melons and it was his standard answer to every question. The ministers, lacking any common sense, took his word as the ultimate law. They literally placed a melon on the throne and respectfully crowned it. The supreme irony is that a lifeless fruit proved to be a better ruler for the people than the foolish human king.

Ans: Vikram Seth uses sharp satire to mock administrative systems.
Justice: The king’s idea of justice is absurd. He orders capital punishment for a minor inconvenience (his crown falling). The trial is a joke where anyone can shift the blame to someone else. The ultimate mockery of justice is when the crowd demands a hanging purely for entertainment, and the king is hanged simply because he fits the rope.
Governance: The ministers and advisors are equally foolish, blindly following ridiculous customs, like asking an idiot to name the king. The satire culminates in the public's attitude: they don't care if a melon sits on the throne as long as the state doesn't interfere in their lives. It exposes the hollowness of political authority.

Ans: The poet's description of the king as "just and placid" is entirely sarcastic.
He is not placid (calm); he loses his temper instantly over a falling crown and orders a hanging.
He is not just; he does not investigate the fault reasonably but agrees with whoever speaks last in the blame game. He lacks conviction, intellect, and leadership. He is easily intimidated by his architect and terrified of the unruly mob. His ultimate foolishness is proven when he allows himself to be hanged just to satisfy the crowd's demand for a spectacle. He is a caricature of a weak and incompetent ruler.

Ans: This reveals a deep sense of political apathy and alienation among the citizens. They view the monarchy as an irrelevant institution that exists only in name. They have realized that human kings (like the previous one) bring chaotic laws and unnecessary interference. A melon, being inanimate, guarantees a policy of non-interference. It shows that the common people prioritize their personal peace, business, and liberty over the identity or capability of their head of state.

Ans: The ministers were relieved because the crowd had become extremely restless and rebellious. The mob desperately wanted to see a hanging, and if no one had been hanged, they might have revolted against the ministers themselves. The king's death ironically saved the administration from a public uprising.

Ans: The king did not actually lose his temper with the crowd; rather, he was intimidated by them. When the arch's hanging was canceled, the crowd muttered in disappointment. The king perceived their mood as rebellious and decided someone must hang immediately to appease them.

Ans: To satisfy the crowd, a noose was set up at a specific height. Every man in the city was measured against the noose. The bizarre basis of selection was purely physical height—whoever was tall enough to reach the noose would be hanged. Unfortunately for the king, he was the only one tall enough.

Ans: The ministers justified it by strictly adhering to their ancient, unquestionable custom. The custom dictated that the first person passing the city gate would choose the king. Since the passing idiot chose a melon, they crowned the melon without any logical argument, carrying it reverently to the throne.