IGNOU BEGC-133 Solved Question Paper PDF Download

IGNOU BEGC-133 Previous Year Solved Question Paper in Hindi

IGNOU BEGC-133 Previous Year Solved Question Paper in English

Q1. I. Explain with reference to the context any four of the following in around 50 words each : 4×8=32 l. “Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand ? Come, Let me clutch thee : I have thee not, and yet I see thee still Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible to feeling as to sight ?

Ans. These lines are from William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth (Act II, Scene 1). Just before he murders King Duncan, Macbeth delivers this famous soliloquy. He hallucinates a bloody dagger in the air, pointing him towards the king’s chamber. This “fatal vision” is a manifestation of his troubled mind , symbolizing his internal conflict, his guilt, and the overwhelming ambition that is pushing him towards the dreadful act of regicide.

Q2. I. Explain with reference to the context any four of the following in around 50 words each : 4×8=32 2. “Out, out, brief candle ! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more : it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

Ans. These lines are from Macbeth (Act V, Scene 5), spoken by Macbeth after he hears the news of his wife, Lady Macbeth’s, death. The speech expresses his profound nihilism and despair . He compares life to a ‘brief candle’, a ‘walking shadow’, and a poor actor who performs for a short while on stage and is then forgotten. For him, life has now become a meaningless, pointless tale .

Q3. I. Explain with reference to the context any four of the following in around 50 words each : 4×8=32 3. “He did it like an operatic tenor—a regular handsome fellow, with flashing eyes and lovely moustache, shouting a war-cry and charging like Don Quixote at the windmills. We nearly burst with laughter at him.”

Ans. This quotation is from George Bernard Shaw’s play Arms and the Man (Act I). The words are spoken by the pragmatic soldier, Captain Bluntschli , after Raina describes her fiancé Sergius’s ‘heroic’ cavalry charge. Bluntschli mocks such romantic notions of war, comparing Sergius to an ‘operatic tenor’ and ‘Don Quixote’, thereby exposing his act as a foolish and impractical performance rather than a genuine act of bravery.

Q4. I. Explain with reference to the context any four of the following in around 50 words each : 4×8=32 4. “Thou hast betray’d thy nature and thy name, Not rendering true answer, as beseen’— Thy fealty, nor like a noble knight : For surer sign had follow’d, either hand Or voice, or else a motion of the mere.”

Ans. These lines are from Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem “Morte d’Arthur” . The dying King Arthur is rebuking his loyal knight, Sir Bedivere. Bedivere was ordered to throw Arthur’s magical sword, Excalibur, into the lake but failed twice, tempted by its beauty and value. Arthur accuses him of betraying his knightly duty and ‘fealty’ (loyalty) by not obeying his king’s final command.

Q5. I. Explain with reference to the context any four of the following in around 50 words each : 4×8=32 5. “The old order changeth, Yielding place to new, And God fulfils himself in many ways, Lest one good custom should Corrupt the world. Comfort thyself : What comfort is in me ?”

Ans. This quotation is from the end of Tennyson’s “Morte d’Arthur” . The dying King Arthur speaks these words to comfort a grieving Sir Bedivere. They encapsulate the poem’s central theme: the inevitability of change . Arthur explains that the ‘old order’ (his reign and the Round Table) must pass away to make way for the ‘new’, as it is part of God’s plan. A single ‘good custom’, if it persists forever, can corrupt the world.

Q6. II. Write short notes on any four of the following in around 100 words each : 4×6=24 l. The Banquet Scene in Macbeth.

Ans. The Banquet Scene in Macbeth (Act III, Scene 4) is a crucial turning point and the climax of the play. At a feast intended to celebrate his coronation, Macbeth is tormented by a hallucination of the ghost of Banquo , whom he has just had murdered. The ghost is visible only to Macbeth, and his terrified reaction puzzles and alarms his guests. Lady Macbeth desperately tries to control the situation and make excuses for her husband’s bizarre behaviour, but the damage is done. Macbeth’s public display of guilt and paranoia arouses suspicion among the Scottish lords and marks the beginning of his public downfall. The scene masterfully dramatises Macbeth’s psychological disintegration and the beginning of the open opposition to his tyrannical rule.

Q7. II. Write short notes on any four of the following in around 100 words each : 4×6=24 2. The character of Bathsheba Everdene in Far from the Madding Crowd.

Ans. Bathsheba Everdene is the complex and independent protagonist of Thomas Hardy’s novel Far from the Madding Crowd . She is a beautiful, intelligent, and capable woman who inherits a farm from her uncle and decides to manage it herself, a rare undertaking for a woman in Victorian society. However, her character is flawed by pride, vanity, and impulsiveness . She attracts three very different suitors: the loyal Gabriel Oak, the obsessive Farmer Boldwood, and the dashing but irresponsible Sergeant Troy. Her impulsive choices in love, driven by vanity rather than good judgment, lead to great suffering for herself and those around her. Her character arc is a journey of self-discovery and maturation as she learns humility and the value of true, steady love.

Q8. II. Write short notes on any four of the following in around 100 words each : 4×6=24 3. The themes of the novel Far from the Madding Crowd.

Ans. Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd explores several interconnected themes set against the rural backdrop of Wessex.

• The Power of Nature: Nature is not merely a setting but a powerful force that shapes the characters’ lives and destinies, seen in the destructive storm, the fire, and the rhythms of the agricultural year.
• Love and Marriage: The novel contrasts different types of love—the patient and enduring love of Gabriel Oak , the obsessive and destructive infatuation of Boldwood , and the passionate but shallow allure of Troy .
• Chance vs. Fate: Hardy examines the interplay between fate, coincidence, and human choice. Accidental events, like a misdirected valentine card, have profound consequences on the characters’ lives.
• Independence and Social Class: A major theme is Bathsheba’s struggle to maintain her independence as a female farmer in a patriarchal world, challenging the social conventions of her time.

Q9. II. Write short notes on any four of the following in around 100 words each : 4×6=24 4. The theme of war in the play Arms and the Man.

Ans. The theme of war in George Bernard Shaw’s Arms and the Man is central, but Shaw presents it from a highly anti-romantic and satirical perspective. The play attacks the conventional notions of heroism, glory, and patriotism associated with war. Shaw presents two conflicting views:

1. The Romantic View: Embodied by Raina and Sergius, who see war as a field for heroic deeds and noble ideals.
2. The Realistic View: Embodied by the professional soldier, Captain Bluntschli, who sees war as a dangerous, tiring, and often foolish business. He carries chocolates in his cartridge-box instead of bullets, a symbol of his practical approach to survival.

Shaw argues that war is less about glory and more about

survival, logistics, and human folly

. He deconstructs the “bravura of the battlefield” to show it as a hollow and often ridiculous facade.

Q10. II. Write short notes on any four of the following in around 100 words each : 4×6=24 5. Characteristics of Victorian poetry.

Ans. Victorian poetry (1837-1901) reflects the concerns and values of its era. Its main characteristics include:

• Conflict Between Science and Religion: Scientific advancements, particularly Darwin’s theory of evolution, challenged traditional religious beliefs, creating a tension between faith and doubt that is prevalent in many poems.
• Moral and Didactic Tone: Victorian poets often believed that art should have a moral purpose. Their poetry frequently explores themes of duty, social reform, and ethical conduct.
• Melancholy and Doubt: Alongside a belief in progress, there was often a deep-seated melancholy and uncertainty about the future, brought on by industrialisation and rapid social change.
• The Dramatic Monologue: Poets like Robert Browning and Alfred, Lord Tennyson perfected this form, where a single character speaks in a specific situation, revealing their psychological complexity.
• Sensuous Detail: The poetry was often rich with detailed, pictorial, and sensuous imagery, drawing inspiration from medieval and classical themes.

Q11. III. Write short essays on any two of the following in around 200 words each : 2×12=24 1. Explain how Bernard Shaw’s plays discuss some of the important social issues of Britain in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Ans. George Bernard Shaw used his plays as a platform to attack the hypocritical and unjust social structures of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century British society. His plays were not mere entertainments but “problem plays” or “plays of ideas,” designed to force the audience to confront the pressing issues of the day. In Arms and the Man , Shaw satirises the romanticisation of war and the emptiness of class snobbery. He portrays the aristocratic ‘heroes’ like Sergius as foolish and impractical, while the pragmatic, middle-class Bluntschli is presented as the true, effective man. This social criticism is evident in his other works as well. In Mrs. Warren’s Profession , he addressed the economic causes of prostitution, arguing it was a result of the limited opportunities available to women, thus exposing society’s moral hypocrisy. In Pygmalion , he explored how language and accent dictate the rigid boundaries of social class, and questioned whether education and opportunity could break these barriers. Shaw believed that drama should be a force for social reform, and he used his work to critique the inequities of capitalism, gender inequality, and the class system, making him one of the most important social commentators of his time.

Q12. III. Write short essays on any two of the following in around 200 words each : 2×12=24 2. Explain the significance of Wessex in the novels of Thomas Hardy.

Ans. In the novels of Thomas Hardy, Wessex is not just a geographical backdrop; it is a powerful, living presence, almost a character in its own right. This semi-fictional region, based on the rural counties of southwest England, is central to Hardy’s worldview. The significance of Wessex is multifaceted. Firstly, Wessex represents an older, agrarian way of life that was fast disappearing due to the Industrial Revolution. Hardy portrays this world with great sympathy, with its traditions, superstitions, and intimate connection to nature. The lives of the characters are deeply intertwined with the cycles of the seasons, the crops, and the land. Secondly, the landscape of Wessex often mirrors the inner emotional states of the characters. The brooding Egdon Heath in The Return of the Native or the serene pastures provide a symbolic resonance for the characters’ struggles and aspirations. Finally, and most importantly, Wessex functions as a powerful force of fate and destiny . Nature is often depicted as indifferent, or even hostile, to human desires. The characters seem small and insignificant against this vast, timeless landscape, which heightens the tragedy of their struggle against larger forces. Wessex is thus an essential vehicle for conveying Hardy’s often pessimistic vision of human existence.

Q13. III. Write short essays on any two of the following in around 200 words each : 2×12=24 3. Discuss the allegorical significance of the poem of “Morte d’Arthur” by Tennyson.

Ans. Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “Morte d’Arthur” retells the story of King Arthur’s death, but beneath its surface lies a deep allegorical significance that reflects the anxieties of the Victorian era. The poem can be read as an allegory for the end of an era and a crisis of faith. King Arthur represents the spirit of idealism, faith, and a great, ordered society (Camelot). His passing and the dissolution of the Round Table symbolize the loss of spiritual certainty and idealism that Tennyson felt was occurring in his own time, shaken by the rising tide of science and materialism. Sir Bedivere symbolizes struggling humanity. His two-time failure to throw Excalibur represents the conflict between the temptation of material possessions (the beauty and value of the sword) and spiritual duty. His eventual obedience suggests the ultimate triumph of faith, even if it is a sorrowful one. Arthur’s final words, “The old order changeth, yielding place to new,” encapsulate the central allegorical message. It is Tennyson’s message to his age: change is inevitable and part of a divine plan. Even as old certainties and ‘good customs’ fade, one must maintain faith in the future and in God’s larger purpose. The poem is thus both a lament for loss and a call to accept change.

Q14. IV. Answer any one of the following questions in around 300 words each : 20 l. Discuss the dramatic significance of the soliloquy in Macbeth. Critically analyse any one soliloquy in the play.

Ans. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth , the soliloquy is a crucial dramatic device that functions as more than just a revelation of a character’s thoughts. It is the blueprint of Macbeth’s psychological downfall, granting the audience direct access to witness his transformation from a noble warrior to a paranoid tyrant and, finally, a broken man. On stage, Macbeth often wears a mask of composure, but in his soliloquies, he exposes his true ambition, guilt, fear, and despair. These speeches are essential for character development, driving the plot forward, and developing the play’s central themes of ambition, guilt, and appearance versus reality. They pull the audience into an uncomfortable intimacy with Macbeth, making us participants in his horrifying journey. Critical Analysis: “Is this a dagger which I see before me…” (Act II, Scene 1) This soliloquy is one of the most pivotal in the play, occurring just before the murder of Duncan. Its dramatic significance is manifold:

1. Externalisation of Internal Conflict: The dagger, a “fatal vision,” is a powerful visual symbol of Macbeth’s internal struggle. It is a product of his “heat-oppressed brain,” torn between his ambition (which urges him to grasp the dagger) and his conscience (which recoils from such a bloody thought).
2. Foreshadowing and Symbolism: The dagger points the way to Duncan’s chamber, literally guiding Macbeth towards his horrific act. Later, it appears to be covered in blood, prefiguring the gory nature of the murder and the guilt that will follow. It blurs the line between illusion and reality, a recurring theme in the play.
3. Character Resolution: At the start of the soliloquy, Macbeth is uncertain and fearful. By its end, however, he overcomes his hesitation. He accepts that the dagger is merely a projection of his intentions and steels his resolve. He decides to become a man of action rather than words, marking a definitive turn in his moral decline.

In essence, this soliloquy dramatizes Macbeth’s moment of decision, showcasing his psychological instability and laying the foundation for the tragedy to come.

Q15. IV. Answer any one of the following questions in around 300 words each : 20 Or 2. Justify the title of the play Arms and the Man by Bernard Shaw.

Ans. The title of George Bernard Shaw’s play, Arms and the Man , is deeply fitting and ironic, perfectly encapsulating the play’s central satirical purpose. The title is a direct quotation from the first line of Virgil’s famous Latin epic poem, the Aeneid : “Arma virumque cano,” which translates to, “Of arms and the man, I sing.” In Virgil’s epic, this line celebrates the glory of war and the heroism of its hero, Aeneas. Shaw masterfully borrows this iconic phrase but uses it to subvert and mock its traditional meaning. “Arms”: Shaw does not sing of the glory of arms (war); he de-romanticizes it. War in the play is shown to be not heroic or noble, but chaotic, foolish, and exhausting. This is best exemplified by Sergius’s ridiculous cavalry charge against the Serbians, which succeeds only because the Serbians had the wrong ammunition. In stark contrast, the veteran soldier, Bluntschli, carries chocolate creams in his cartridge box instead of bullets, arguing that in war, food is more useful for survival than ammunition. This highlights the brutal reality of war, which is less about glory and more about logistics and survival. “The Man”: Similarly, Shaw challenges the notion of the traditional ‘man’ or hero. The play’s conventional hero, Sergius , is exposed as a posturing hypocrite and a fool, whose bravery is merely a performance. The ‘man’ worshipped by Raina is an illusion. The true ‘man’, or protagonist, is Bluntschli , the pragmatic, efficient, and honest professional. He is not a coward, as Raina initially thinks, but a realist who prefers to stay alive rather than die for glory. He is free from romantic delusions about war and values practicality and efficiency. Ultimately, Shaw’s play argues that the modern world needs not Virgil’s “arms and the man,” but a new kind of hero—one free from romantic illusions, who sees the world as it is. The title thus functions as a perfect satirical device, inviting the audience to expect an epic celebration and then cleverly demolishing those expectations, thereby exposing society’s cherished but hollow notions of warfare and heroism.