The tale of Melon City
Class 11 -> English -> Moments (Supplementary) -> The Tale of Melon City
Author: Vikram Seth
Poetic Devices
Couplet : Each stanza consists of two lines
Imagery
Irony
Satire
Onomatopoeia : quavering
Inversion: "As is our custom", "The Arch it was"
Alliteration
Repetition : "Long live…"
Refrain: “To edify spectators there”.
Theme
The tale of Melon City is a satirical poem with a serious underlying message. It deals with the idea that justice is an acknowledged virtue, but if the notion of justice is carried too far, it proves to be self-defeating. The king is portrayed as an indecisive ruler rather than a man of rational thought. Vikram Seth shows the importance of a balanced ruler who guides his people.
Points to note
The Arch symbolises tyranny and tries to invoke a false sense of awe, wonder and gratification.
It is better for a king to do nothing rather than doing something to satiate his pride. It will allow the people to live in peace and quiet.
No one should ever be too placid. There’s a season to hustle, a season to rest and a season to guard what we have left.
POPULARITY STUNT: Times will come and go.... and a time will come when we will have to choose between doing the right thing or the easy thing (which might be popular)
Laissez faire: Democracy is much better than one person. having control of it all. It might be slow and can't bring speedy reforms, but provides much more stability than alternatives.
JUSTICE: "Right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it"- WILLIAM PENN!
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