The Tale of Melon City MCQ Quiz : The Tale of Melon City by Vikram Seth is a light-hearted yet meaningful narrative poem that satirizes the nature of governance, blind justice, and public mentality. Written in simple rhyming couplets, it tells the story of a peaceful king who decides to build a grand archway to beautify the city. However, when the king rides under it, his crown gets knocked off because the arch is too low. Instead of calmly resolving the issue, the king orders the chief builder to be hanged.
A series of blame-shifting begins. The builders blame the workmen, the workmen accuse the masons, the masons point to the architect, and finally the architect reminds the king that he himself altered the design. Now the king is confused, and in search of wisdom, he consults the oldest man in the kingdom, who foolishly suggests hanging the arch itself. When the crowd grows impatient, they demand a culprit. Ironically, only the king fits the height of the gallows, so he is executed under his own law.
Read more : The Tale of Melon City : Summary and Analysis
After his death, the ministers select the next ruler by chance. A passer-by, considered foolish, chooses a melon as the new king. Surprisingly, people accept it happily as long as they are left free and undisturbed. Seth uses humour and absurdity to show how mindless authority and careless decision-making can lead to comic results. The poem highlights how citizens often remain indifferent to leadership as long as their lives continue peacefully.
The Tale of Melon City MCQ Quiz
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