Important Questions for CBSE Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 8 – The Tale of Melon City

The Tale of Melon City Important Questions Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 8

English is a major subject that students study in school. Snapshots is an important English textbook provided by NCERT for CBSE Class 11 students. It contains famous writings by Indian and international authors.

The last chapter of Snapshots is a poem by renowned poet Vikram Seth named ‘The Tale of the Melon City’. The poem humorously criticises the government systems. The poem describes how the city got its name, Melon City, after having a melon as the King. The writer has used sarcasm and irony to express a serious theme, and students must practise questions to write complete answers in the exam.

Extramarks is a leading educational company that helps lakhs of students all over India. Our experts understand the need for continuous practice. For this purpose, they have made the Important Questions Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 8. They have collected the questions from several sources like the NCERT textbook, CBSE past years’ question papers, CBSE sample papers, and important reference books. They have also written the answers following the CBSE guidelines.

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The Tale of Melon City Class 11 Important Questions with Solutions

The experts of Extramarks believe in continuous practise to score better in exams. They have collected the vital questions for this chapter from various sources like the textbook exercise, CBSE past years’ question papers and important reference books. They have also written suitable answers. Thus, students can find the possible questions and answers in the Important Questions Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 8 article.

Below are a few questions and their answers from our question bank of Important Questions Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 8.

Question 1. How was the King in the poem?

Answer 1: The King in the poem was just and peaceful.

Question 2. What did the King want to build?

Answer 2: The King wanted to build an arch that would stand triumphantly on the main thoroughfare.

Question 3. What do you mean by ‘thoroughfare’?

Answer 3: The thoroughfare is the main path of communication in a town or city.

Question 4. What did the wise man suggest?

Answer 4: The wise man suggested hanging the arch that had been constructed.

Question 5. Whom did the King first order to hang?

Answer 5: Once a fair and kind king used to rule over a state. One day as the king rode down the thoroughfare, his crown fell from his head as he got struck by the arch. The arch of the thoroughfare was built too low so it hit the king’s crown. The king saw this as a big disgrace to him as his crown fell down. So he was furious and he ordered that the chief of builders should be hanged.

Question 6. What is laissez faire?

Answer 6: Laissez faire is a French word which means ‘allow to do’. It also indicates a government system that allows minimal governmental control over the economic and social lives of the common people.

Question 7. Why did the king want to hang the chief of builders?

Answer 7: The king wanted to construct an arch on the thoroughfare to inform the spectators about their cultural heritage. But the arch was so low that it touched the king’s head, and his crown fell on the ground. That made the king angry, and he wanted to hang the chief of builders who made the arch low.

Question 8. How did the chief of builders and the workmen escape the king punishment?

Answer 8: The chief of builders stated that it was the workers’ fault. So, the real culprits were the workmen, not him. Then, the king ordered the workmen to be hanged. The workmen begged for their lives, saying the arch became low because the bricks were made of the wrong size. Hence, the king forgave them and ordered to hang the masons.

Question 9. What happened after summoning the architect?

Answer 9: The masons stated that it was the architect’s fault. So, the king released them and summoned the architect. The architect reminded the King that he had made some changes to the plan of the arch. Thus, it was the king’s fault for building the low arch. Then, if anyone had to be punished, it had to be the king. Thus, the architect turned the tables, and the king became culpable.

Question 10. What happened after the architect blamed the King?

Answer 10: The architect’s statement made it clear that the king was responsible for the lower height of the arch. According to his last proclamation, he almost lost his head because he would be hanged. So, he asked for some counsel. He ordered them to bring the wisest man in his state. The wisest man was brought to him. He stated that the arch should be hanged because it was the main culprit.

Question 11. How, according to you, can peace and liberty be maintained in a state?

Answer 11: An effective government system can maintain peace and liberty in a state. The common and powerful people should not be given too much importance in maintaining a balanced system. People should have the right to vote, so their voices are heard. At the same time, the ministers must take decisions after properly analysing the situation.

Question 12. Why was the king hanged?

Answer 12: Being afraid of the rage of the general population, the king ordered that any person who would be tall enough for the noose would be hanged. All the men were measured. None of them, except the King himself, was fitted for the rope. So, it was decided to hang the king.

Question 13. Describe how the melon became the future King.

Answer 13: The ministers decided that the person who would pass the arch the next day would be the future king. The next day, it was an idiot who passed the arch, and when asked who should be the next king, he replied, “a melon. According to the decision, a melon was carried by the ministers and set on the throne. Thus, the melon became the next king.

Question 14. What is the role of the ministers in the poem?

Answer 14: The ministers follow the king’s orders. At the same time, they are responsible for running the administration. They also fear people’s power and act according to their will. Though the king is the head of the city, ministers carry on the administrative work in reality. Hence, the melon can be chosen as the king, and the ministers carry on their work under it.Question 15. Narrate ‘The Tale of Melon City’ in your own words.

Question 15. How did the city got its name ‘Melon City’?

Answer 15:  “The Tale of Melon City” is a poem by Vikram Seth that sarcastically criticises the government system. The poem describes Melon City, which had a just and calm king. He ordered the building of an arch on the city’s main road. After the construction of the arch, he visited it. But the arch was so low that it touched the king’s head, and his crown fell on the ground. He took it disrespectfully and ordered the hanging of the chief of builders. The chief of builders stated that it was the workmen’s fault, and the workmen blamed the masons. The masons, in turn, accused the architect, and the architect revealed that the King himself had made changes to the plan. Thus, the king becomes guilty. To save himself, he called the wisest man. The wisest man suggested that the arch had to be hanged, but the people demanded to hang a person. So, the king proclaimed that anyone who would be tall enough to reach the noose would be hanged. Ironically, none other than the King himself was perfectly positioned for the rope. Hence, he was hanged after a royal decree. The ministers declared that anyone who would pass through the arch the next day would select the future king. The next day, it was an idiot, and he said the melon should be the next king. So, a melon was carried and sat on the throne as the King. Thus, the city got its name, “melon city.”

Question 16. Describe how the poet has expressed the irony of the justice system in the poem.

Answer 16: “The Tale of Melon City’ may seem like a light-hearted poem, but it bears some significant thoughts. The poem sarcastically criticises the judicial system. The city’s king is just and fair and represents the justice system’s head. His orders are the last words. He, himself, is even bound to follow those words. At first, he ignores investigating the whole matter and orders arbitrarily to hang the builders’ chief. But in a series of incidents, it is revealed that the king is guilty. He falls into the trap of his own words because, according to his order, he has to be hanged. So, he again tries to hang an innocent person. He orders them to set up the noose, and anyone tall enough for the noose will be hanged. But ironically, no one other than the king becomes the perfect fit. So, after a royal decree, the King is hanged. Thus, the king gives his life in the name of justice. The poem describes the justice system as an erratic system that fails to punish the actual culprit and sometimes fails to give proper judgement.

Question 17. What impression would you form of a state where the King was ‘just and placid’?

Answer 17: In the ‘Tale of the Melon City’, we learn about a city where the king is just and placid. It suggests that the common people live there peacefully because no wrong deed goes unpunished in the city. At the same time, they enjoy liberty and have immense power in their hands. Though they are bound to follow the king’s orders, if they get angry, they can make the king afraid too. For instance, when the wisest man said to hang the arch, they protested and asked to hang a person. So, the king had to choose a person who was tall enough for the noose, and it was none other than the king himself. Thus, the king had to die to establish justice in the city and among the people. At the same time, a melon was chosen by an idiot as the next king, and people had no problem with it. It clearly shows how the people enjoy the real power in their hands and can take any decision about the king.

Question 18. What role do the common people play in the poem?

Answer 18: The common people play a significant role in the poem. When the king is on his throne, they don’t have any right to say anything. They have to obey his orders blindly. At the same time, they have immense power in their hands. For example, when the king ordered to hang the chief of builders, or later the workmen and other professions, the common people didn’t protest at all. But, as time passed and no one got hanged, they became enraged and demanded to hang a person. They even made the king afraid. At the last moment, the king was hanged for keeping the royal proclamation. At the same time, the general people selected the king. The ministers stated that anyone who would pass through the arch the next day would select the next king. The next day, an idiot passed the gate and selected a melon as the next king. The people didn’t protest it and made the melon their next king. Thus, it reflects that the presence of a king is not compulsory. The will and liberty of the general people play the most important role here.

Question 19. Suggest a few instances in the poem which highlight humour and irony.

Answer 19: The writer has used humour and irony throughout the poem to describe his thoughts and ideas. The King’s order to hang the chief of the builder because the arch is low makes the readers smile. When the King becomes guilty of making changes in the plan shows irony. At the same time, when the wisest man says to hang the arch, it is funny. The King asks to hang the person who will fit the noose, and ironically the King himself becomes the only person who is tall enough for the rope. It shows a huge irony of fate that the King has to die to fulfil his orders. Later in the story, we see how melon is selected as the future King. The selection process is indeed funny, and at the same time, it criticises the government system ironically. It describes how the King is a powerless entity only entitled to provide justice and liberty to the common people. Thus, the poem uses humour and irony effectively to express the theme successfully.

Benefits of Solving Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 8 The Tale of Melon City Extra Questions

Students must practise as many questions as possible to improve their preparation. The textbook exercise is not enough for this purpose. The experts have made this question series so students can follow the answers and write better answers for the exams. Thus, it will improve their preparation and increase their confidence and interest in the subject. There are many other benefits of studying the Important Questions Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 8. These are-

• The textbook exercise has very limited questions. These questions are not enough for the practise of the students. Hence, they must take help from other references. This can be a tiring job for studentThey have to collect questions from different reference books and question series. Even they can come across the same questions over and over.The experts from Extramarks have made the task easy for the students. They have accumulated all the vital questions from the textbook, CBSE sample papers, CBSE past years’ question papers, and important reference books into this single article. Thus, students may find all the possible questions from this chapter in Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 8 Important Questions.

• Students must write answers to the questions. In the answer writing process, they need guidance to generate better answers. The experts have also kept this fact in mind. They have written the answers to the collected questions, following CBSE guidelines. Experienced professionals have further checked the answers to ensure the best quality answers for the students. Thus, English Snapshots Class 11 Chapter 8 Important Questions will also help the students write standard exam answers.

• The subject matter experts tried to cover the whole chapter while collecting answers. They have included several conceptual questions in this article besides descriptive questions. Thus, Chapter 8 Class 11 English Snapshots Important Questions presents a compact question-answers series to the students. It will increase their confidence, enrich their vocabulary, reduce grammatical errors and, most importantly, save time for gathering questions. Thus, the question series will take their preparation to the next level.

Extramarks is a well-known educational company that helps lakhs of students and teachers by providing study materials. One can download numerous study materials after registering on the official website of Extramarks. You can download the CBSE syllabus, NCERT books, CBSE past years’ question papers, CBSE sample papers, CBSE revision notes, NCERT solutions, CBSE extra questions and many more. Like the Important Questions from Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 8, you can also download important questions for other chapters. Click the following links below to download the study materials.

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