Summary of the tale of melon city by vikram seth?

The tale of Melon City is a cautionary tale written in rhyming couplets. The plot of the story is this:

• The plot

The story revolves around a king who ordered that the city have an arch built in the center of the city as a main focal point. Once the arch had been built the king went to inspect the work, however, as he walked through the arch his crown fell off so he ordered that whoever built the arch be hanged.  Each time the name of the builder was changed and in the end the name of the builder changed to the king's name, so it was he that was hanged. After the king was hung it was announced the next person to walk under the arch would be king.  The next person to walk there was an idiot and he declared that a melon would be king and thus a melon became king of the city.

• The original book

The tale of Melon City written by Vikram Seth was originally found in a book full of other tales by the same author called "Mappings". This was the first book of poetry by Vikram Seth and was hand printed and bound and published in around 1981.  It has since been republished with a mainstream publisher.

There are many other poems contained within the book including the frog and the nightingale and the tales vary from light hearted and funny to serious and cautionary just like the tale of melon city.

The theme of melon city is tat ...don't tak unnecessary decisions and put your head into it.....and also for a country  wit capable citizens..doesnt need a head

Once there lived a just and placid king. Who once ordered to make a arch in the main point of the city.the arch was made and he went to see it , when he passed through the arch his crown fell down , and he became angry and asked that the person who made it to be hanged ,one by one the name  changed and there was no one at the end to be hanged at last the king was hanged and as per there custom the one who pass the city gate would be the king and an idiot passed and he said  the melon and the melon became the king.

Once upon a time there was a just and placid king who proclaimed that an arch should be constructed, the king rode down the thoroughfare where he lost his crown as the arch was built too low. The annoyed king wanted to hang the culprit.This poem tells us how the blame was passed on from the chief of culprits to the architect who blamed the king as he was the one who made changes to the plan. As the nation wanted a hanging and as the noose was too high, each man was measured to the noose, only the king fitted to the noose and so he was hanged.Following their custom,the first man to pass the gate was asked to choose the king,he replied"a melon"as that was his standard reply to all the answers,crowning the melon.they led the melon to the throne,thereby the melon ruling the city.

You can find a summary with full analysis of the poem here. You can also find an answer to this question from another Blurter here.

Some other Blurters have asked this question. There is quite a detailed summary written by another Blurter - you can find it here. It's always worth looking at what answers other people have given to your questions - you can often find a very good one.

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