Question 5 - Chapter 5 - The Tale of Melon City - Snapshot - Chapters (Literature) - English Class 11

Read the extract and answer the following questions.

Extract:

Account of customary choice. 

If His Majesty rejoice

 In being a melon, that’s OK

 With us, for who are we to say

 What he should be as long as he

 Leaves us in Peace and Liberty?’ 

The principles of laissez faire

 Seem to be well-established there.

(The tale of the Melon city)

Question (i)

 What does the word "laissez faire" mean in this context?

1. Let it be
2. Let it go
3. Let it happen
4. Let it grow

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The correct answer is (a) Let it be.

 Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

• To answer this question, we need to understand what the word "laissez faire" means and how it is used in this context. Laissez faire is a French phrase that literally means "let (people) do (as they choose)". It is often used to describe a policy or an attitude of letting things take their own course, without interfering or controlling them.
•  In this context, the word "laissez faire" is used to describe the principles or the philosophy of the people in the kingdom, who do not care about who their king is or what he does, as long as he leaves them alone and does not disturb their peace and liberty. They are willing to let the king be whatever he wants to be, even if he is a melon, and they do not question or challenge his authority or legitimacy.
• Therefore, the word "laissez faire" in this context means "let it be", which is option A.

Question (ii)

Complete the sentence with an appropriate word or phrase.

The phrase "who are we to say" shows that the people are ___________.

Answer:

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Answer as written by the student:

The phrase "who are we to say" shows that the people are submissive.

Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

•  To answer this question, we need to understand what the phrase "who are we to say" means and how it shows the attitude of the people in the extract. The phrase "who are we to say" is a rhetorical question that implies that the speaker or the group does not have the right, the authority, or the power to express their opinion or to influence a situation. It shows a sense of humility, deference, or resignation.
• In this context, the phrase "who are we to say" shows that the people are submissive to their king, whoever he may be. They do not think that they have any say in who their ruler is or what he does. They accept their fate and their position without any resistance or protest. They do not challenge or question the king's identity or actions.
• Therefore, the phrase "who are we to say" shows that the people are submissive, which means ready to obey someone else's authority or will.

Question (iii)

Identify the line from the extract that shows that the people are happy with their new king.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The line from the extract that shows that the people are happy with their new king is "If His Majesty rejoice in being a melon, that's OK with us".

Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

• To answer this question, we need to identify the line from the extract that expresses the people's satisfaction or contentment with their new king, who is a melon. We need to look for clues such as words or phrases that indicate approval, agreement, acceptance, or happiness.
• The line from the extract that shows that the people are happy with their new king is "If His Majesty rejoice in being a melon, that's OK with us". This line shows that the people do not mind or care about their king's nature or appearance, as long as he is happy with himself.
• The word "rejoice" means to feel or show great joy or delight, and the phrase "that's OK with us" means that they have no problem or objection with it. This line shows that the people are happy with their new king because they do not have any expectations or demands from him.

Question (iv)

 What is the tone of the extract?

1. Critical
2. Respectful
3. Amused
4. Worried

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The correct answer is (c) Amused.

Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

• To answer this question, we need to understand what tone is and how it is conveyed in a text. Tone is the attitude or emotion that a writer expresses towards a subject, a situation, or an audience through their choice of words and style of writing. Tone can be identified by looking for clues such as word choice, punctuation, sentence structure, imagery, irony, humor, etc.
• In this context, the tone of the extract is amused because the writer uses words and phrases that create a humorous effect and show a playful attitude towards the absurdity of the situation.
• For example, the writer uses irony to contrast the seriousness of the king's death and the casualness of the people's reaction. The writer also uses brackets to mock the former king's name and status.
• The writer also uses imagery to compare the people to an army of melon seeds and the king to a melon. The writer also uses rhyme and rhythm to create a light-hearted and whimsical mood. These clues show that the writer is amused by the ridiculousness of the situation and wants to entertain the reader with a funny story.

Question (v)

 Explain any one possible inference that can be drawn from the line "If His Majesty rejoice in being a melon".

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

One possible inference that can be drawn from the line "If His Majesty rejoice in being a melon" is that the king is unaware or indifferent to his true nature or identity.

Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

• To answer this question, we need to understand what an inference is and how it is made from a text. An inference is a logical conclusion or assumption that is based on evidence or clues from the text, combined with one's own knowledge or experience. An inference is not directly stated in the text, but it can be supported by it.
• One possible inference that can be drawn from the line "If His Majesty rejoice in being a melon" is that the king is unaware or indifferent to his true nature or identity. This inference can be supported by the following evidence or clues from the text:
•   The word "if" implies a condition or a possibility, not a certainty or a fact. This suggests that the king may not know or care that he is a melon, and that his happiness depends on his own perception or imagination.
•    The word "rejoice" implies a high degree of happiness or satisfaction, not a normal or expected state of mind. This suggests that the king is either delusional or oblivious to his reality, and that he does not have any problems or challenges as a ruler or as a melon.
•   The phrase "in being a melon" implies that the king's identity or nature is defined by his appearance or shape, not by his personality or character. This suggests that the king does not have any qualities or attributes that make him a good or a bad king, and that he does not have any responsibilities or duties as a leader or as a human.
• Therefore, one possible inference that can be drawn from the line "If His Majesty rejoice in being a melon" is that the king is unaware or indifferent to his true nature or identity.

Question (vi)

Based on the context provided in the extract, select the most likely comment that the writer would have made, based on the use of capital letters for Peace and Liberty.

1. "The capital letters show that these are important values for the people."
2. "The capital letters add a mocking touch to the people's attitude."
3. "The capital letters indicate a mistake made by the printer."
4. "The capital letters emphasize the contrast between the king and the people."

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The correct answer is (b) "The capital letters add a mocking touch to the people's attitude."

Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

• To answer this question, we need to understand what capital letters are and how they are used in writing. Capital letters are uppercase letters that are used to start sentences, proper nouns, titles, acronyms, etc. Capital letters can also be used for emphasis, contrast, irony, sarcasm, etc.
• In this context, the capital letters for Peace and Liberty are used to add a mocking touch to the people's attitude towards their king and their situation. This can be supported by the following evidence or clues from the text:
•   The capital letters for Peace and Liberty are used in contrast with the lowercase letters for other words in the sentence, such as us, we, say, etc. This creates an effect of exaggeration or overstatement, which can imply irony or sarcasm.
•  The capital letters for Peace and Liberty are used to highlight the values or ideals that the people claim to cherish and respect, but do not actually practice or uphold. This creates an effect of hypocrisy or contradiction, which can imply criticism or mockery.
•  The capital letters for Peace and Liberty are used to show the indifference or complacency of the people towards their king and their situation, as they do not care about who their ruler is or what he does, as long as he does not interfere with their lives. This creates an effect of absurdity or irrationality, which can imply humor or ridicule.
• Therefore, the most likely comment that the writer would have made, based on the use of capital letters for Peace and Liberty, is B. "The capital letters add a mocking touch to the people's attitude."

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