MEG-01 British Poetry: guess paper and solved papers
MEG-01 is the first poetry course of IGNOU's MA English. The paper rewards students who can explain a passage in context and then write a clear critical answer on a poet. This page shows how to divide your time.
Need the MEG-01 guess paper or solved papers?
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Quick facts
| Course code | MEG-01 |
|---|---|
| Course | British Poetry |
| Programme | MA English (MEG) |
| Exam | Term End Examination, held in June and December |
| Assignments | Must be submitted to your Learner Support Centre before you take the exam |
What this course covers
The course follows British poetry from the medieval period to the twentieth century. Your blocks cover poets such as the ones below; check your own block list because the selection of poems can differ by edition.
| Unit / area | What you study and what the exam looks for |
|---|---|
| Chaucer and the medieval period | The General Prologue's portrait gallery, Chaucer's irony and his realism about medieval society. |
| Elizabethan poetry: Spenser and Shakespeare's sonnets | The sonnet form and its English adaptations; Spenser's allegory and Shakespeare's themes of time, love and beauty. |
| Metaphysical poetry: Donne | Wit, argument, conceit and the dramatic opening; how Donne mixes the sacred and the sensual. |
| Milton | Epic style and Satan's characterisation in Paradise Lost; Milton's grand style and Latinate syntax. |
| Neoclassical poetry: Pope | Heroic couplet, satire and the mock-epic; eighteenth century decorum and its targets. |
| Romantic poets: Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Keats | Imagination, nature, the self and the sublime; Wordsworth's theory of poetry and Keats's odes. |
| Victorian poets: Tennyson, Browning, Hopkins | Doubt and faith, the dramatic monologue, Hopkins's sprung rhythm and inscape. |
| Modern poetry: Yeats and Eliot | Symbolism, myth, fragmentation and the modern city. |
How the exam paper is usually set
The paper usually opens with a compulsory question asking you to explain short passages with reference to context, followed by essay type questions on poets and movements from which you choose. Read the instructions on your paper, because the number of choices can change.
| Question type | Suggested length in the exam | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Long answer (about 20 marks) | 3 to 4 pages | 35 to 40 minutes |
| Medium answer (about 10 to 12 marks) | 2 pages | 18 to 20 minutes |
| Short note (about 5 to 6 marks) | Half to one page | 8 to 10 minutes |
Marks per question vary by paper; read the marks printed against each question and divide your 3 hours in that ratio.
Where to spend your preparation time
| Area | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Reference to context passages | It is usually compulsory, so you cannot skip it. Practise identifying poem, poet and theme from 4 to 6 lines. |
| Romantic poets | A large share of the course and a frequent source of essay questions. |
| Metaphysical poetry and Donne | Wit, conceit and argument in Donne are easy to write well on if you know two poems closely. |
| Modern poetry: Eliot and Yeats | Themes like fragmentation and myth are common essay areas. |
Practice questions in exam style
Write answers to these without looking at notes, then compare with your study material. These are our own practice questions in the IGNOU style, not copied from any paper.
- Discuss Donne's use of the metaphysical conceit with reference to any two poems you have read.
- Comment on the treatment of nature in Wordsworth's poetry.
- Examine Pope's use of the mock-heroic in The Rape of the Lock.
- How does Eliot present the modern city in his poetry?
- Write a critical note on the dramatic monologue in Browning.
- Comment on Chaucer's use of irony in the General Prologue.
- Discuss the theme of time in Shakespeare's sonnets.
- Consider Satan as the hero of Paradise Lost, Book I.
- Write a note on Hopkins's use of sprung rhythm.
- Discuss the use of symbols in the poetry of Yeats.
How to write a high scoring answer: worked outline
Question: Discuss Donne's use of the metaphysical conceit with reference to two poems.
Introduction (4 to 5 lines): Define the conceit: an extended, surprising comparison between very unlike things, used to argue a point rather than decorate it.
Main body (one short heading per point):
- Name the two poems (for example A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning and The Flea) and state the central comparison in each.
- Explain how the compass image works line by line: fixed foot, moving foot, the circle that ends where it began.
- Show the argumentative purpose: the conceit persuades the lover, it is not ornament.
- Contrast with the Elizabethan love sonnet to show what is new in Donne.
- Mention Dr Johnson's criticism ('heterogeneous ideas yoked by violence together') and Eliot's defence (unified sensibility).
Conclusion (3 to 4 lines): Conclude that the conceit is the engine of Donne's wit: it joins thought and feeling, which is why later critics valued him.
Use this shape for any long answer in this course: define, develop four or five points with examples, conclude.
A 4 week study plan
| Week | What to do for MEG-01 |
|---|---|
| 1 | Read the blocks for: Chaucer and the medieval period, Elizabethan poetry: Spenser and Shakespeare's sonnets, Metaphysical poetry: Donne, Milton. Make one page notes per unit. |
| 2 | Read the rest: Neoclassical poetry: Pope, Romantic poets: Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Keats, Victorian poets: Tennyson, Browning, Hopkins, Modern poetry: Yeats and Eliot. Add notes. |
| 3 | Solve two previous year papers under time. Compare with solved answers and note gaps. |
| 4 | Revise notes and the guess paper. Write two full answers by hand. Rest the night before. |
Mistakes that cost marks in MEG-01
- Writing the story of the poem instead of discussing its technique.
- Skipping the reference to context question or giving only the poet's name without context.
- No quotation at all; even a half line shows you have read the poem.
- Spending 40 minutes on one essay and rushing the last answer.
Our tip for MEG-01
Make one page per poet with three quotable lines and two themes. In the exam, a short quotation plus a clear theme scores better than a long summary of the poem.
What you get in the guess paper and solved papers
The Gullybaba guess paper for MEG-01 groups likely questions by unit, with answers written to the length the exam needs. The solved paper set has complete answers for recent June and December papers.
A guess paper is a revision tool. Nobody can promise which questions will come, so read the whole syllabus and use the guess paper to revise faster.
Official IGNOU resources
- Current assignments: IGNOU assignments portal
- Previous question papers from December 2024: IGNOU question papers page
- Older papers: IGNOU's previous question paper archive (linked from the Downloads page of ignou.ac.in)
- Official study material: eGyanKosh, IGNOU's digital repository
Frequently asked questions
Is reference to context compulsory in MEG-01?
In most papers the first question is a compulsory reference to context question. Check the instructions on your own question paper.
Is the MEG-01 guess paper available in Hindi?
MEG is an English literature course and is usually written in English. Message us if you need help in Hindi for understanding.
Can I pass MEG-01 only with a guess paper?
No. Use the guess paper to revise, but read your IGNOU blocks for every poet in the syllabus.
Which poets are most important in MEG-01?
All prescribed poets can be asked, but Donne, Milton, the Romantics and Eliot carry the most weight in most students' preparation because they support several kinds of questions.
How long should a MEG-01 essay answer be?
For a 20 mark answer, aim for about 700 to 900 words in the exam: an introduction, four or five developed points with quotations, and a conclusion.
Need the MEG-01 guess paper or solved papers?
Send your course code and medium (English or Hindi). We reply with price and a sample page.