What went wrong when the king rode under the arch?

It was too low and knocked off his crown

How does the chain of blame unfold in the poem?

Each accused person blames another, ending with the king's own changes

Who wrote "The Tale of Melon City" and what kind of poem is it?

Vikram Seth; it is a witty, ironic narrative poem (a fable in verse).

What did the "just and placid" king order to be built, and why?

A triumphal arch across the main road, so that spectators passing by would be edified.

What went wrong when the king rode under the arch?

The arch, built too low, knocked the crown off his head, angering him.

What did the wisest man in the country decide?

That the arch itself was guilty and must be hanged, since it had knocked off the crown.

Why was the arch not hanged after all?

A councillor objected that it was shameful to hang something that had touched the royal head.

Why was someone hanged in the end, and who?

Because the restless crowd demanded a hanging; only the king was tall enough to fit the high noose, so he was hanged by his own decree.

How was the next king chosen?

By the custom that the next person to pass the city gate should choose the ruler; an idiot passed and said "a melon."

Why did the people accept a melon as their king?

They were indifferent to who ruled, so long as he left them in peace and liberty (the principle of laissez faire).

What does the poem satirise?

Blind obedience, the misuse of "justice," absurd and weak governance, and the apathy of subjects toward who rules them.

The Tale of Melon City

Q: How does the chain of blame unfold?

The chief builder blames the workmen, who blame the bricks, who blame the masons, who blame the architect, who blames the king's own changes to the plans.

Class 11 English · Snapshots · Chapter 5

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The story in short

Vikram Seth's narrative poem is a witty, ironic fable about a kingdom whose ruler is "just and placid." The just king orders a triumphal arch built across the main road so spectators may be edified. When he rides under it, the arch — built too low — knocks off his crown. Annoyed, the king orders the chief builder hanged, but the builder blames the workmen, who blame the bricks, who blame the masons, who blame the architect, who reminds the king that he himself altered the plans. Wishing to be just, the king summons the wisest man, who declares that the arch itself must be hanged. A councillor objects that it is shameful to hang what touched the royal head. The restless crowd now demands a hanging, so the king decrees that someone must be hanged immediately. The noose is set high, and each man is measured; only the king himself is tall enough to fit it, so he is hanged "by Royal Decree." The relieved ministers proclaim the old custom that the next person to pass the city gate shall choose the new ruler. An idiot passes and, asked who should be king, replies "a melon," so a melon is crowned king. The people accept this so long as the melon leaves them in peace and liberty. The poem satirises blind obedience, the misuse of "justice," and weak, absurd governance.

The Tale of Melon City

Characters & key ideas

Just and placid Kingthe ruler whose rigid, literal "justice" leads to absurd outcomes.

Triumphal archthe too-low arch that knocks off the king's crown and starts the chain of blame.

Chain of blameeach accused person passes the blame to another, exposing the system's folly.

Ironythe king is hanged by his own decree, the height of the poem's satire.

Laissez fairethe people's indifferent acceptance of whoever rules, so long as they are left in peace.

Melon Kingthe absurd monarch crowned on an idiot's whim, satirising blind custom.

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Who wrote "The Tale of Melon City"?

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The Tale of Melon City

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