Worksheet Solutions: The Tale of Melon City | English Class 11 PDF Download

Fill in the Blanks

Q1: The poem "The Tale Of Melon City" is a narrative poem about how a ________ was chosen to become the king of a state.
Ans: melon
This is a straightforward answer based on the information provided in the poem's summary.

Q2: The king planned to construct an arch to improve the onlookers morally and provide ________ joy to them.
Ans: aesthetic
The arch was meant to provide aesthetic joy, and this is explicitly mentioned in the summary.

Q3: The chief of builders shifted the responsibility to the ________.
Ans: labourers
The chief of builders blamed the laborers for the issues with the construction of the arch.

Q4: The architect indirectly put the blame on the ________.
Ans: king
The architect mentioned that he made certain amendments to the plans when they were shown for the king's approval, indirectly suggesting that the king was responsible.

Q5: The king decided to hang the architect, considering the matter to be ________.
Ans: intricate
The king found the matter complicated and decided to hang the architect, as mentioned in the summary.

Q6: The wisest man in the country suggested that the real culprit was the ________.
Ans: arch
The old man argued that the arch itself was to blame for the king's crown falling off.

Q7: The crowd became restless when the king commented that someone must be hanged due to ________.
Ans: public demand
The crowd grew restless when the king suggested someone should be hanged to satisfy the public's demand.

Q8: The king's men found a man tall enough to fit in the noose, and it was the ________.
Ans: King
The king ended up being the one who could fit in the noose, a surprising twist in the story.

Q9: An idiot happened to pass the City Gate and was asked who should be the king, and he uttered ________.
Ans: melon
The idiot's response was "Melon," which is mentioned in the summary.

Q10: The ministers coronated a ________ and placed it on the throne.
Ans: melon
The ministers decided to make a melon the king, following the idiot's suggestion.

Assertion and Reason Based

Q1: Assertion: The king decided to hang the chief of builders.
Reason: The chief of builders was directly responsible for the faulty size of the bricks.
(a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but the reason is true.
Ans: (b)
While it's true that the king decided to hang the chief of builders, the reason is not that the chief of builders was directly responsible for the faulty size of the bricks; it's because the king's crown fell off.

Q2: Assertion: The architect indirectly put the blame on the king.
Reason: The architect amended the plans without the king's approval.
(a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but the reason is true.
Ans: (a)
The assertion is true as the architect indirectly put the blame on the king, and the reason is correct because the architect amended the plans without the king's approval, which led to the confusion.

Q3: Assertion: The king's men found a man tall enough to fit in the noose.
Reason: The man was the architect.
(a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but the reason is true.
Ans: (c)
While it's true that the king's men found a man tall enough to fit in the noose, the reason that the man was the architect is false.

Q4: Assertion: The old man claimed that the arch was the real culprit.
Reason: The arch hit the king's crown violently.
(a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but the reason is true.
Ans: (a)
The assertion is true as the old man claimed that the arch was the real culprit, and the reason is correct because the arch hit the king's crown violently, causing it to fall off.

Q5: Assertion: The ministers coronated a melon as the king.
Reason: The people demanded that someone should be hanged.
(a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but the reason is true.
Ans: (a)
The assertion is true as the ministers coronated a melon as the king, and the reason is correct because the people demanded that someone should be hanged, leading to the melon's coronation.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: What was the purpose of constructing the arch in the poem?
Ans: The purpose of constructing the arch in the poem was to improve the onlookers morally and provide aesthetic joy to them.

Q2: Why did the king decide to hang the chief of builders?
Ans: The king decided to hang the chief of builders because the arch was constructed too low, causing the king's crown to fall off, and the king felt dishonored.

Q3: Who shifted the responsibility to the labourers, leading to their potential hanging?
Ans: The chief of builders shifted the responsibility to the labourers, leading to their potential hanging.

Q4: How did the masons respond to the accusation against them?
Ans: The masons put the blame on the architect when accused of causing the issue with the arch's construction.

Q5: What argument did the architect use to indirectly put the blame on the king?
Ans: The architect indirectly put the blame on the king by mentioning that he had made amendments to the plans without the king's approval.

Q6: Who suggested that the real culprit was the arch in the poem?
Ans: The old man suggested that the real culprit was the arch, which hit the king's crown violently.

Q7: Why did the crowd become restless when the king commented on hanging someone?
Ans: The crowd became restless when the king commented on hanging someone because it was the public's demand.

Q8: Who ended up being tall enough to fit in the noose?
Ans: The king ended up being tall enough to fit in the noose.

Q9: What was the idiot's response when asked who should be the king?
Ans: The idiot's response when asked who should be the king was "Melon."

Q10: What was the reason the ministers coronated a melon as the king?
Ans: The ministers coronated a melon as the king because the people demanded that someone should be hanged.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Explain the events that led to the king's decision to hang the chief of builders.
Ans: The king decided to hang the chief of builders because the arch was constructed too low, and the king's crown fell off, which he considered a dishonor.

Q2: How did the blame-shifting unfold among the different parties involved in the construction of the arch?
Ans: The blame-shifting unfolded as follows: the chief of builders blamed the laborers, the laborers blamed the size of the bricks, the masons blamed the architect, and the architect indirectly put the blame on the king.

Q3: Describe the argument the architect used to indirectly put the blame on the king.
Ans: The architect indirectly put the blame on the king by mentioning that he had made amendments to the plans without the king's approval, creating confusion and implying the king's involvement.

Q4: Why did the king seek the advice of a wise man in the poem?
Ans: The king sought the advice of a wise man because he was unable to determine who was truly responsible for the crown falling off, and the situation had become intricate.

Q5: What led to the unexpected outcome where the king ended up being hanged?
Ans: The unexpected outcome occurred when, during the process of finding someone tall enough to fit in the noose, it was discovered that the king was the only one tall enough, leading to his hanging.

Q6: Explain the significance of the old custom mentioned in the poem.
Ans: The old custom was invoked, where the next person to pass the City Gate would choose the king. This reflects a tradition of letting fate or chance determine leadership.

Q7: What is the final response of the people when questioned about their melon king, and what does it reveal about their attitude?
Ans: The people responded that if His majesty takes delight in being a melon, that is all right with them. They have no right to say what he should be as long as he leaves them in peace and liberty. This reveals the principles of non-interference in that state.

Q8: How does the poem "The Tale Of Melon City" reflect the principles of non-interference?
Ans: The poem "The Tale Of Melon City" reflects the principles of non-interference as it shows that the people are content with their unusual king as long as they are at peace and have their liberty.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1: Discuss the themes of arrogance and absurdity in "The Tale Of Melon City," using examples from the poem.
Ans: The poem "The Tale Of Melon City" satirically portrays themes of arrogance and absurdity. The king's overreaction to the falling crown and his decision to hang various individuals, including himself, illustrate his arrogance. The absurdity is evident in the blame-shifting among the officials and the final choice of a melon as the king, emphasizing the irrationality of the situation.

Q2: Explain the irony in the resolution of the poem, where the king is hanged, and a melon becomes the king.
Ans: The irony in the resolution of the poem lies in the unexpected outcome: the king ends up being hanged, and a melon becomes the king. This twist highlights the absurdity of the entire chain of events and satirizes the flawed decision-making process of the characters.

Q3: What message or moral lesson can readers take away from the poem, and how is it conveyed through the events and characters?
Ans: The moral lesson of the poem is that arrogance and ego can lead to absurd and unintended consequences. The poem conveys this message through the series of irrational decisions made by the characters, leading to the selection of a melon as the king. It emphasizes the importance of humility and rationality in leadership.

Q4: Analyze the satirical elements in the poem and their role in highlighting the flaws of the characters and society depicted.
Ans: "The Tale Of Melon City" uses satire to highlight the flaws of the characters and society. The absurdity of the situation, the blame-shifting, and the ultimate choice of a melon king satirize human behavior and the lack of rationality in decision-making. The poem criticizes the arrogance of those in power and the tendency to place blame without taking responsibility for one's actions. Satire is used to expose the irrationality and absurdity of the characters' actions.