IGNOU MEG 3 Solved Question Paper | December 2021
- Last Updated On August 12, 2025
Table of Contents
Welcome to our blog, In this post, we’re sharing the IGNOU MEG 3 Solved Question Paper of December 2021 examination, focusing on British Novel.
This guide is here to help you prepare for your exams with clear answers and explanations. Whether you’re just starting or revising for your exams, this resource will make studying easier and more effective.
In this post, we’ll discuss all the answers including the short and long answer questions.
You can also download all previous year question papers of MEG 3 from our website.
Prepare Faster
Prepare Better
Question 1
1. Elaborate upon the theme of marriage in Tom Jones.
Marriage is a central theme in Henry Fielding’s Tom Jones, functioning both as a social institution and as a personal quest for happiness. Throughout the novel, Fielding explores different types of marriages and relationships to critique the prevailing views of his time, particularly those shaped by class, gender, and economic considerations. Ultimately, he presents marriage not as a transaction or duty, but as a union based on mutual affection, virtue, and moral compatibility.
One of the key threads of the narrative is the romantic and moral development of Tom Jones himself, culminating in his union with Sophia Western. Their relationship reflects Fielding’s ideal of marriage: a bond of genuine affection and equality. While Tom initially appears impulsive and flawed in his romantic pursuits, his love for Sophia is sincere. Sophia, for her part, values virtue and integrity, and consistently refuses to be coerced into a marriage that does not respect her autonomy. Their eventual marriage symbolizes the triumph of love and personal merit over social expectation and manipulation.
Fielding contrasts this ideal with several failed or flawed marriages. For instance, the marriage between Mr. and Mrs. Western is portrayed as one rooted in mutual convenience rather than emotional connection, leading to constant arguments and misunderstandings. Similarly, the marriage between Mr. and Mrs. Blifil is marked by deceit and manipulation, highlighting the dangers of marrying for status or superficial reasons. These examples critique how the institution of marriage is often distorted by greed, control, or societal pressure.
Another important aspect of the theme is how Fielding presents marriage as a tool of social satire. The characters of Squire Western and Lady Bellaston embody the class-based prejudices and moral hypocrisies surrounding marriage. Squire Western views Sophia as a means to cement alliances and secure wealth, while Lady Bellaston attempts to use her influence and sexuality to trap Tom into an unequal, dishonourable union. These relationships expose the commodification of women and the use of marriage as a means to power rather than companionship.
Moreover, Fielding frequently uses marriage to resolve the plot. Nearly all conflicts are ultimately settled through rightful pairings, symbolizing moral and social harmony. This restoration of order through marriage aligns with the comic tradition and reinforces the novel’s optimistic vision.
In conclusion, Tom Jones uses the theme of marriage not only to explore personal relationships but also to reflect and critique 18th-century English society. Through contrasts between good and bad marriages, Fielding emphasizes that true union must be based on love, virtue, and mutual respect, rather than social ambition or financial gain.
Question 2
2. Discuss the title of the novel Pride and Prejudice with illustrations from the text to support your answer.
The title Pride and Prejudice aptly encapsulates the central themes of Jane Austen’s novel and reflects the moral and psychological journey of the characters, especially Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Both pride and prejudice serve as obstacles to personal happiness and understanding in the story, and their eventual overcoming signifies the characters’ growth and the novel’s resolution.
For Full Answer Click Here
Prepare Faster
Prepare Better
Question 3
3. Comment on Nellie as a narrator in Wuthering Heights.
In Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë employs a complex narrative structure that relies heavily on the voice of Ellen Dean, commonly referred to as Nelly, who serves as the primary narrator of the story. Her role as both a character within the plot and the storyteller makes her a fascinating and often controversial figure in the novel’s interpretation.
Nelly is a housekeeper who has served both the Earnshaw and Linton families for years. Her familiarity with the characters and their histories provides her with a unique insider perspective. However, her narration is mediated through another narrator, Mr. Lockwood, to whom she recounts the story. This layered narration results in a story that is filtered through two subjective viewpoints, raising questions about reliability and bias.
One of the most significant aspects of Nelly’s narration is her claim to objectivity. She frequently presents herself as a voice of reason amidst the chaos and passion that dominate the narrative. For instance, she criticizes Catherine Earnshaw’s wild behavior and disapproves of Heathcliff’s revenge, attempting to present herself as morally upright and pragmatic. However, her actions often contradict this self-image. At several key moments in the story, Nelly withholds information, manipulates situations, or fails to act in the best interest of others. For example, she delays delivering Edgar Linton’s letter to Catherine when she is on her deathbed and discourages young Cathy from writing to Linton, which prolongs Heathcliff’s cruel manipulations.
Moreover, Nelly’s social status influences her perspective. As a servant, she is both part of the household and yet marginal to the family’s power structures. This dual position allows her intimate access to events while also prompting her to judge characters based on Victorian moral values. Her commentary often reflects a class-conscious worldview—she is critical of behavior she sees as improper or unruly, especially from characters who defy traditional gender roles or class boundaries.
Despite her flaws, Nelly is a compelling narrator because she brings vitality, insight, and emotion to the tale. Her narration is rich in detail, psychological observation, and dramatic tension. She enables the reader to engage deeply with the characters, even as her biases and limitations subtly shape their portrayal.
In conclusion, Nelly Dean is a complex and unreliable yet indispensable narrator in Wuthering Heights. Her storytelling is crucial to the novel’s layered structure, and her moral judgments and selective memory force readers to read between the lines, questioning not just the characters’ actions but the storyteller herself.
Question 4
4. “Great Expectations is an example of the upwardly mobile aspirations of Victorian society.” Discuss.
Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations offers a powerful critique and reflection of the Victorian era’s obsession with class, social mobility, and personal advancement. Through the character of Pip and his journey from a humble blacksmith’s apprentice to a gentleman in London, Dickens captures the spirit of upward mobility that permeated Victorian society, while also questioning the moral and emotional costs associated with such aspirations.
For Full Answer Click Here
Question 5
5. What are the main themes in Middlemarch ?
George Eliot’s Middlemarch is a rich and expansive novel that explores a variety of themes, deeply rooted in social, moral, and personal contexts of 19th-century English provincial life. The novel’s multiple plotlines and characters allow Eliot to examine numerous complex themes, the most prominent of which include the limitations of idealism, the role of women, marriage and relationships, and the relationship between individuals and society.
For Full Answer Click Here
Question 6
6. Do you think that Africa is a place of negativity in Heart of Darkness ? Give reasons for your answer.
Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness presents a complex and layered portrayal of Africa, one that has sparked significant debate, particularly regarding its representation of the continent and its people. While the novella is often interpreted as a critique of European imperialism, it undeniably presents Africa as a dark, mysterious, and chaotic land—a portrayal that has led many critics, most notably Chinua Achebe, to accuse Conrad of reducing Africa to a place of negations.
For Full Answer Click Here