In-depth Question and Answer Session for The Tale of Melon City

Sample Questions and Answers:

1. What is the central theme of “The Tale of Melon City”? The central theme of “The Tale of Melon City” is justice, governance, and the absurdity of authority. The poem explores how the king’s decision leads to an unexpected and humorous conclusion.

2. Who is the ruler in “The Tale of Melon City”? The ruler is the King of the city, who seeks to ensure that a perfect arch is built in the city, but his decisions result in an unusual sequence of events.

3. Why is the king unhappy with the arch? The king is unhappy because the arch built in the city is not the correct height. He orders the architect to be hanged as a result.

4. How does the king’s decision impact the people? The king’s decision sets off a chain reaction where several individuals are blamed and punished for the failure of the arch, even though they had no control over the situation.

5. What does the tale symbolize about leadership? The tale symbolizes the arbitrary nature of leadership and how decisions made without careful thought can lead to chaos.

6. What role does the “melon” play in the poem’s conclusion? The melon becomes a symbol of an absurd yet final decision when the king appoints the melon as the ruler of the city after all the human leaders are found to be guilty.

7. How does the poem use humor to convey its message? The poem uses irony and absurdity to highlight the failure of the justice system and the comical aspects of how the blame shifts from one individual to another.

8. What lesson does “The Tale of Melon City” offer about justice? The poem teaches that justice, when blindly enforced, can lead to ridiculous outcomes, and that true justice is based on understanding, not on arbitrary decisions.

9. Who are the main characters in “The Tale of Melon City”? The main characters are the King, the architect, the workmen, the builder, and the townspeople, who all play a part in the unfolding drama of the arch’s construction.

10. What is the significance of the king’s decree that a melon be made king? The king’s decree that a melon be made king represents the absurdity of authority when justice is disconnected from reason.

Books on “The Tale of Melon City”

1. The Complete Works of Rabindranath Tagore by Rabindranath Tagore – Macmillan India

This book includes “The Tale of Melon City” and focuses on the various themes Tagore explores in his works. The questions in this book usually explore deep moral lessons, society, and governance.

2. The Oxford India Tagore: Selected Writings by Rabindranath Tagore – Oxford University Press

A compilation of Tagore’s stories and poems, it highlights his commentary on leadership and society. Questions mainly revolve around understanding social norms and justice.

3. Tagore’s Poetry: A Critical Exploration by Sukanta Chaudhuri – Orient Longman

This book breaks down the nuances in Tagore’s poetry and explores the themes of fate, justice, and the absurdities of life, relevant to understanding “The Tale of Melon City.”

4. Tagore and His Poetic Vision by S. C. Sarkar – Macmillan India

Provides a critical look at Tagore’s poetic works, exploring justice, governance, and leadership, with a focus on how the themes in “The Tale of Melon City” apply to broader societal structures.

5. Rabindranath Tagore: A Critical Introduction by Amiya P. Sen – Penguin Books India

This book provides insight into the poetic works of Tagore. It has sections on questions related to social justice, leadership, and authority in “The Tale of Melon City.”

6. Rabindranath Tagore’s Short Stories: A Critical Analysis by Shashi Tharoor – HarperCollins India

A detailed analysis of Tagore’s short stories, touching on his handling of leadership and governance, offering questions that delve into the satire in “The Tale of Melon City.”

7. The Essentials of Tagore’s Literature by R. K. Bhattacharya – Rupa Publications

This book explores Tagore’s works in a simplified way, focusing on his stories like “The Tale of Melon City” to explore key themes like justice and absurdity.

8. Rabindranath Tagore: The Poet of India by K. S. Choudhury – Sterling Publishers

Focused on Tagore’s deep insights into society and politics, this book contains questions that examine his critique of authority and leadership as seen in “The Tale of Melon City.”

9. Tagore: A Life by Krishna Dutta & Andrew Robinson – St. Martin’s Press

A biography with an exploration of Tagore’s view of justice, governance, and leadership in his works. It features detailed questions on how these themes are explored in “The Tale of Melon City.”

10. Rabindranath Tagore: The Poet as Philosopher by M. L. Ahuja – Prentice Hall

This book connects philosophy with Tagore’s literary works. It has questions about Tagore’s thoughts on justice and leadership, especially through “The Tale of Melon City.”

FAQ for The Tale of Melon City Question Answer

1. What is the central idea of “The Tale of Melon City”?
The central idea of the poem is the absurdity of the king’s decisions and how justice, when disconnected from reason, can lead to unexpected consequences.

2. Why did the king decide to blame the architect?
The king blamed the architect for the poor construction of the arch, which was later discovered to be a misunderstanding due to the measurement process, highlighting the rashness of his decision-making.

3. What does the melon symbolize in the poem?
The melon symbolizes an arbitrary decision made by the king to resolve the issue, underscoring the theme of how blind authority can create ridiculous outcomes.

4. How does the poem reflect on the theme of justice?
The poem reflects on how justice can be distorted by authority when the decision-makers act without understanding the true cause of issues. It also emphasizes the absurdity of holding people accountable for something they have no control over.

5. What does the king’s decision to make a melon the ruler tell us about leadership?
The king’s decision to make a melon the ruler satirizes the idea of leadership, showing how decisions made without understanding can lead to absurd, yet final, conclusions. It suggests the importance of thoughtful leadership.

6. How does “The Tale of Melon City” critique the concept of justice?
Through the absurd progression of events, the poem critiques the arbitrary and often unreasonable application of justice, pointing out the flaws in systems that lack logic and fairness.

7. What is the significance of the king’s final choice in the poem?
The king’s final choice highlights the ridiculous nature of the blame game and the failure of justice systems that don’t consider all perspectives. The melon becomes a symbol of the absurdity of assigning blame.

8. Why is humor used in “The Tale of Melon City”?
Humor is used to make a serious point about the failure of leadership and justice. The exaggerated events and the role of the melon create a humorous tone that amplifies the absurdity of the situation.