INDIAN SCHOOL AL WADI AL KABIR
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
CLASS XI
QUESTION BANK - THE TALE OF MELON CITY
(2022-23)
INTRODUCTION
The poem “The Tale of a Melon City” narrates how the city found its new King, a melon. The story
unfolds as their King orders to have an arch built which turned out to be too low. It hit the King’s head
resulting in the falling off of his crown. The King considers it a disgrace and orders for the chief of
builders to be hanged. It is then followed by a series of events where they blame each other. Finally, a
noose is built to determine the guilty and the only one to fit the noose, is the just and placid King. The
new King is then elected by the first person to pass that arch.
SUMMARY
The poem begins with a description about the King who ordered an arch to be built. When he rode
down that arch, it hit his head and his crown fell down. It was because it was built too low. The King
thought it was dishonorable and thus commanded the chief of builders to be hanged. The chief of
builders put the blame on the workmen who in turn, blamed the bricks. The King orders for the
execution of the mason who put the blame on the architect. The architect is brought to the Royal Court
and indirectly blames the King for the wrongly constructed arch. The placid King now grows angry
and demands for the wisest man in the country to be brought to the Royal Court. They brought the
wisest man, who was so old that he could neither see nor walk. According to him, the arch must be
hanged. When the arch is supposed to be executed, one of the ministers argue that it would be a shame
to punish something that had touched their mighty King’s head. Everyone, along with the King,
agreed. The crowd grew restless and the King promised them a hanging. Therefore, a noose was set-up
and the one to fit it would be hanged. All were measured one by one but the only one to fit was the
King. The ministers heaved a sigh of relief upon finding someone to execute. Thus, as a result of the
customary choice, the next to pass the City gate would choose the new King and the next to pass it was
an idiot who wanted a melon to be their King. The melon was given the throne with due ceremony and
the town lived happily ever after without any interruption or interference.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Question 1. What do the words ‘just and placid’ imply?
Ans: The phrase implied that the king was fair and mild. The king, ‘a great believer injustice’ ensured
justice was meted out to his subjects. He was also mild mannered and rarely showed any displeasure
and even if he did frown, he quickly wiped the frown off his face.
Question 2. Where did the king want the arch constructed? Why?
Ans: The king wanted an arch to be erected which extended over the major main road. He felt, the road
would edify the spectators it would improve the morals and knowledge of the onlookers there.
ISWK/QUES BANK/ENG/CLASS XI
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
CLASS XI
QUESTION BANK - THE TALE OF MELON CITY
(2022-23)
INTRODUCTION
The poem “The Tale of a Melon City” narrates how the city found its new King, a melon. The story
unfolds as their King orders to have an arch built which turned out to be too low. It hit the King’s head
resulting in the falling off of his crown. The King considers it a disgrace and orders for the chief of
builders to be hanged. It is then followed by a series of events where they blame each other. Finally, a
noose is built to determine the guilty and the only one to fit the noose, is the just and placid King. The
new King is then elected by the first person to pass that arch.
SUMMARY
The poem begins with a description about the King who ordered an arch to be built. When he rode
down that arch, it hit his head and his crown fell down. It was because it was built too low. The King
thought it was dishonorable and thus commanded the chief of builders to be hanged. The chief of
builders put the blame on the workmen who in turn, blamed the bricks. The King orders for the
execution of the mason who put the blame on the architect. The architect is brought to the Royal Court
and indirectly blames the King for the wrongly constructed arch. The placid King now grows angry
and demands for the wisest man in the country to be brought to the Royal Court. They brought the
wisest man, who was so old that he could neither see nor walk. According to him, the arch must be
hanged. When the arch is supposed to be executed, one of the ministers argue that it would be a shame
to punish something that had touched their mighty King’s head. Everyone, along with the King,
agreed. The crowd grew restless and the King promised them a hanging. Therefore, a noose was set-up
and the one to fit it would be hanged. All were measured one by one but the only one to fit was the
King. The ministers heaved a sigh of relief upon finding someone to execute. Thus, as a result of the
customary choice, the next to pass the City gate would choose the new King and the next to pass it was
an idiot who wanted a melon to be their King. The melon was given the throne with due ceremony and
the town lived happily ever after without any interruption or interference.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Question 1. What do the words ‘just and placid’ imply?
Ans: The phrase implied that the king was fair and mild. The king, ‘a great believer injustice’ ensured
justice was meted out to his subjects. He was also mild mannered and rarely showed any displeasure
and even if he did frown, he quickly wiped the frown off his face.
Question 2. Where did the king want the arch constructed? Why?
Ans: The king wanted an arch to be erected which extended over the major main road. He felt, the road
would edify the spectators it would improve the morals and knowledge of the onlookers there.
ISWK/QUES BANK/ENG/CLASS XI
