Suggest a few instances in the poem which highlight humour and irony?

"The Tale of Melon City" by Vikram Seth is a satirical poem that contains several instances of humor and irony. Here are a few examples:

1. The King's Misinterpretation: One humorous instance occurs when the king misinterprets the magician's instructions to divide the melon equally among the two claimants. Instead of cutting the melon in half, the king orders it to be cut into unequal portions, resulting in absurd and comical consequences.

2. The Absurd Legal Dispute: The entire premise of the poem, where a legal dispute arises over the ownership of a melon, is inherently humorous and ironic. The fact that such a trivial matter escalates into a formal court case reflects the absurdity of the situation and highlights the frivolity of human nature.

3. The Absurd Legal Judgment: The judgment delivered by the judge, where he orders the melon to be divided into unequal portions based on the claimants' social status, is both humorous and ironic. The judge's decision contradicts the principle of fairness and justice, revealing the absurdity of the legal system and the arbitrary nature of authority.

4. The Satirical Commentary: Throughout the poem, Seth employs satire to mock human folly, greed, and vanity. The exaggerated characters and absurd situations serve as a humorous commentary on human nature and societal values, highlighting the absurdity of power dynamics and social hierarchies.

Overall, "The Tale of Melon City" is filled with instances of humor and irony that entertain readers while also offering incisive social commentary.