Class 11 English — Chapter 5: The Tale of Melon City
Free AI tutor + NCERT notes for Chapter 5: The Tale of Melon City. 8 topics covered. Ask any question by voice or text in Hindi or English.
What you'll learn
- ▸The 'Just and Placid' King's Absurd Justice
- ▸The Chain of Blame
- ▸Public Pressure and Absurd Counsel
- ▸The Ironic Execution of the King
- ▸The Arbitrary Selection of a New Ruler
- ▸Pragmatism of the Ministers
- ▸Satire, Humor, and Irony
- ▸The Principle of Laissez-Faire
Chapter Summary
--- PAGE 1 --- 11073CH08 5 The Tale of Melon City Vikram Seth The following poem is taken from Mappings which was published in 1981 and is included in the Collected Poems by Vikram Seth. The king, in this poem, is 'just and placid.' Does he carry his notion of justice a bit too far? (After Idries Shah) In the city of which I sing There was a just and placid King. The King proclaimed an arch should be Constructed, that triumphally Would span the major thoroughfare To edify spectators there. The workmen went and built the thing. They did so since he was the King. The King rode down the thoroughfare To edify spectators there. Reprint 2025-26 --- PAGE 2 --- 40 Snapshots 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 o…
Practice Questions from this Chapter
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- Explore different types of governments. Get Solution →
- Compare ancient and modern justice systems. Get Solution →
- Describe how a watermelon grows. Get Solution →
- What did the 'just and placid' King proclaim should be constructed over the major thoroughfare? Get Solution →
- What happened to the King's crown when he rode under the newly constructed arch? Get Solution →
- Who was the first person the King ordered to be hanged for the arch being too low? Get Solution →
- According to the workmen, what was wrong with the bricks used for the arch? Get Solution →
- Who did the architect ultimately blame for the flawed plans of the arch? Get Solution →
Did you know?
- 💡 Melons are botanically classified as both fruits and vegetables.
- 💡 The world's heaviest watermelon weighed over 350 pounds.
- 💡 Ancient Egyptian pharaohs were considered both gods and rulers.
- 💡 The oldest known written laws are over four thousand years old.
- 💡 Many nations today still have a king or queen as head of state.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many topics are covered in this chapter?
This chapter covers 8 key topics: The 'Just and Placid' King's Absurd Justice, The Chain of Blame, Public Pressure and Absurd Counsel, The Ironic Execution of the King, The Arbitrary Selection of a New Ruler, and more. The BrainWeave AI tutor explains each one with examples.
Is Chapter 5: The Tale of Melon City important for board exams?
Class 11 is a foundation year. Mastering this chapter now will help you build strong fundamentals for the higher classes.
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