Q.1 Narrate "The tale of Melon City" in your own words.
Or
How did the idiot choose the next king?
Ans: Introduction : The present question has been taken from the poem "The Tale of Melon City" written by Vikram Seth. It is a poem about a moody and crazy king.
About the poem : 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 dishonorable and thus he ordered the chief of builders to be langed. The chief of builders put the blame on the workman, who put the blame on the bricks. The king orders for the execution of the masons who put the blame on the architect. The architect is brought to the royal court and indirectly he blames the king for the wrongly constructed arch. The placid king now angree 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. According to him the arch must be hanged. 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.
As a result of the customary choice, the next to pass the city gate would choose the next king. The next to pass it was an idiot who wanted a melon to be their king. The melon was given the throne. The town lived happily ever after without any interference.
Q. 2 What impression would you form of a state where the king was "just and placid"?
Ans: Being just means to treat everyone equally and placid means a calm and composed behavior or not losing one's cool easily. A state of monarch ruled by jest and placid. King must offer a safe space to its people. The people would have complete confidence in their king. The people of the state would be happy and no one would go to bed empty stomach, therefore, a just and placid king would ensure quiality of living forall.