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प्रश्न
Narrate 'The Tale of Melon City' in your own words.
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उत्तर
A model answer has been provided for students' reference.
It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.
The Tale of Melon city is a narrative poem by Vikram Seth written in the couplet form. The poem is an account of an incident involving the monarch and citizens that took place in a city long ago. The tale is humorous with a very sharp focus on the thematic aspect. Structurally, the story has three parts-the first part mentions about a king's wish to build an arch. The second part relates his complaints regarding the faulty construction of the arch and the last part narrates how his decree ultimately falls on him leading to his hanging. The poem in a high tone of humour narrates the transition of power from the king to a melon which became a symbolic head.
In the beginning the poet narrates that there was a king in a city long ago. One day the king expressed his desire to construct an arch spanning the main thoroughfare to improve the onlookers morally and mentally. The king was just and peace loving. The construction work was soon undertaken by employing large number of labourers.
After the completion of the arch, the king went to inspect the newly constructed arch. The arch was very low. His crown struck against the arch and fell off. Feeling dishonoured, the king decided to hang the chief of builders. All arrangements were made for the hanging. The Chief of builders defended himself by shifting the responsibility to the labourers. Convinced by the argument, the king then ordered to hang all the labourers. The labourers shifted the responsibility to the size of the bricks. The king accordingly ordered the hanging of the masons. The masons in turn defended themselves and put all blame on the architect. The king ordered to hang the architect. The architect reminded the king that he (King) had made some amendments to the plan when it was shown to him. The architect indirectly put the blame on the king. The king was confused to hear the architect's argument. The king solicited the advice of the wisest man in his kingdom. Accordingly, the wisest man was found and brought to the court. He was so old that he could neither walk nor see. He gave the verdict that the arch was the real culprit. It was the arch that hit the crown violently and it fell off. So, the arch must be hanged. Accordingly, the arch was led to the scaffold. In the meantime, a councillor pointed out that it would be very shameful act to hang the arch that touched the king's crown.
The crowd which gathered there to witness the hanging of the culprit was getting restless. Sensing their mood, the king said that someone must be hanged since the nation wanted a hanging. The noose was set up. It was somewhat high. Each man was measured turn by turn. But there was only one man who was tall enough to fit in the noose, and it was the King. Interestingly, the king was hanged.
The poet then narrates the third part of the poem. In the concluding part the ministers heaved a sigh of relief that they were able to find someone, otherwise, the unruly crowd might have risen in revolt. After the death of the King, it was required to choose another king. As per the convention, the ministers sent out the herald to proclaim that the next to pass the City Gate would choose a king. An idiot happened to pass the City Gate. The guards asked him who was to be the King. The idiot answered that a melon should be chosen to be the next king. Actually that was his pet answer to all questions as he liked melons. The ministers crowned a melon and placed their Melon King reverently at the throne.
The poet narrates that the citizens were least bothered about their symbolic head. They enjoyed the principles of Laissez faire. They were very respectful to their new monarch as the new monarch did not interfere in their lives.
APPEARS IN
संबंधित प्रश्न
B1. Select
Fill in the blanks choosing the correct alternatives from those given in the bracket:
(i) The author was inspired and motivated to read ............................................ by the time she was eleven.
[Shakespeare, Chaucer, G.B. Shaw]
(ii) Every lesson .......................... ......... took was spiced with half a dozen or more anecdotes.
[Mrs. Rowlands, Sister Monica, Mr. A.N. Patil]
(iii) The teachers helped the narrator to become ..................................... . .
[confident, happy, independent]
(iv) Mrs. Cynthia Nesamani and Sister Monica gave .......................................... to the narrator.
[freedom to do what he wanted, advice to do something, instructions to produce better results]
In a way, one of the greatest gifts any teacher can give a student, I think, is to inculcate a curiosity to learn.
I've been incredibly lucky to have at least one such teacher at every stage in my life. The first was Mrs. Rowlands who taught me in primary school. She taught me to read without ever pushing me. She made me want to read more by giving 'me some of the most interesting children's books available. And although I still love to go back to those books from time to time, it was only because of her that I was able to read Shakespeare by the time I was ten, and Chaucer a year later.
In later years, it was Mr. A.N. Patil, my Marathi and Hindi Teacher who made a huge impression on me. Every lesson he took, was spiced with half a dozen or more anecdotes from a wide variety of subjects: among them history, politics, religion and sociology. I was, and still am in awe of his knowledge, which despite rather desperate attempts, I doubt I'll ever be able to match.
There have also been other teachers who helped me to try to become independent: to think and act for myself using my own judgement, which to my mind has been just as, if not more important, than actually learning anything.
After all, it's much too easy to become a completely useless repository of facts and little else.
Two teachers whom I remember in particular are Mrs. Cynthia Nesamani and Sister Monica, both taught me in school. The former, by and large, gave me a free rein to do what I wanted to do. I, being one of those people who dislike instructions, she helped me to produce much better results than I'd have otherwise done.
B2.Complete
Read the extract and complete the following:
The teacher can
(i) .............
(ii) ..............
(iii )..............
(iv).................
B3. Similar word
Look at the following sentences arid pick the word having similar meaning to the given word and rewrite:
(i) Spiced His conversation is always with a lot of humour. (made interesting, garnished, flavoured)
(ii) Repository
The library should not merely be a ................ of books. (store-house, reservoir, tank)
(iii) Inculcate
It is the responsibility of the parents and teachers to .......values in the child's formative years. (imbibe, give, show)
(iv) Incredibly
I have been .. lucky to have at least one such teacher at every stage in my life. (importantly, unbelievably, beautifully)
B4. Language study
(i) There have also been other teachers. They have helped me to try to become
independent. (Combine using 'who')
(ii) It was only because of her that I was able-to read Shakespeare.
(Rewrite beginning with: If it was not for her, ).
B.5 Out motivators
Look at the following table and complete it by presenting your own views
| Personalities | Influence on your life |
| (i) Teachers | |
| (ii) Parents | |
| (iii) Relatives | |
| (iv) Friends |
How did Helen Keller enjoy her visit to the World fair? (120‒150 words)
Attempt the following in 150-200 words.
What was the incident of the Frost King? How did it affect Helen?
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Tick the item that is closest in meaning to the following phrase.
to give vent to
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Fill in the blank.
“Hybrids need more _____________”, said Devu Handa.
Think, choose and fill up the labels with what a ‘sunrise’ symbolizes.
(jewellery/art/hope/birth/anger/new opportunities/good manners/inspiration/new achievements/happiness/misery/bright moments/new aims/money/new surprises)
Rearrange the following events as they occur in the story. Put the correct number in the boxes.
| (a) | Mr Fitzwarren provided shelter to Dick. | |
| (b) | A carter gave Dick a lift to London. | |
| (c) | A cat sailed to the African coast. | |
| (d) | The captain sold the cat for a very high amount of money. | |
| (e) | Dick left his village on foot, to go to London. | |
| (f) | Dick became rich, and later, the Mayor of London. | |
| (g) | Dick was homeless, helpless, cold and hungry. | |
| (h) | Dick bought a cat to get rid of the mice. | |
| (i) | The rats and mice ate up all the dinner, laid for the king and queen. |
Read the poem below and fill in the gaps, choosing appropriate pairs of rhyming words, to make them meaningful.
|
Little things Little drops of water, Thus the little minutes, Little deeds of kindness, |
(love - above / sand - land / be - eternity)
Life is an amalgam of happy and sad moments. Think of such moments in your life, pair with your classmate, and share both the aspects of life.
| Happy Moments | Sad Moments |
| 1. Winning the first prize in a competition | Losing your mobile, bicycle, or wallet |
| 2. | |
| 3. |
Complete the following statements with the help of the text.
To learn about meditation, you have to see ____________________________________________________________ Watch your thinking. Do not ________________________ Do not ____________________________________ Begin to learn ______________________________ Just watch thought. Do not ____________________________________________________.
Comment on the given statement after reading the given dialogue -
But when I saw a man in trouble, I could never help trying to set him out of it.
Its human to help others. Here the statement tells us that ____________________________.
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Discuss and write 1-2 lines about the following.
Yonamine’s fight with Bushi (disguised as a bandit).
Add ten more words to the list on your own. Each of the component words must be meaningful.
Write a short note on the following:
Prince Siddharth’s protected life.
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wind in the autumn evening
Present these points in the form of a review, and give it a suitable title.
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Say whether you agree or disagree.
The prince had rare, uncommon likes and dislikes.
What do you notice about the following pairs of words?
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- sound of silence
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Badminton
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Find a word that has a similar meaning.
remove
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The rich man was from...
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What scared Usha during the dark rainy night?
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Write down the word that alliterate in the poetic line below
That spreads treasures on a tree.
Identify the character/speaker.
Oh no, I'll never get back to the right size.
Identify the character/speaker.
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Read the following lines and answer the questions.
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Born of despair with a sudden spring
- What does ‘it’ refer to?
- What does ‘born of despair mean’?
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They all stood around the little jewel of blue means______.
Were the girl and her brother friendly with each other?
How do we see the earthworm often?
Karmugilan went to __________ for higher studies.
Choose the odd one out.
Who sews the cloth?
Answer using Yes or No and pick sentence from the story to support your answer.
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How did they go to school?
Fill in the blank with rhyming word.
anthill- ______
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Read the passage carefully and answer the following question.
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Bertha was very good but very proud too.
