MEG-18

MASTER’S DEGREE IN ENGLISH

(MEG)

ASSIGNMENT
(July 2024 & January 2025)
MEG-18: American Poetry

School of Humanities
Indira Gandhi National Open University
Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068
MASTERS DEGREE IN ENGLISH-18 (MEG-18)
AMERICAN POETRY

Programme: MEG
Course Code: MEG-18
Dear Student,

You will have to attempt a single assignment for the Master’s Degree in English (MEG-18). The
assignment is a Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) and carries 100 marks. It will be based on
blocks 1 to 7. The number of choices has been restricted in order to ensure that you read the
study materials thoroughly and attempt some independent critical thinking.

Aims: The TMA is concerned mainly with assessing your application and understanding of the
course material. You are not required to reproduce chunks of information from the course
material but to use the skills of critical appreciation that you may have acquired during the
course of study. The assignment aims to teach as well as to assess your performance. Please
ensure that you read the three novels, one play as well as the short stories and poems that have
been prescribed for this course.

Instructions: Before attempting the questions please read the following instructions carefully.

1. Read the detailed instructions about the assignment given in the Programme Guide for
Elective Courses.

2. Write your Enrolment Number, Name, Full Address and Date on the top right corner of
the first page of your response sheet(s).

3. Write the Course Title, Assignment Number and the Name of the Study Centre you are
attached to in the centre of the first page of your response sheet(s).

The top of the first page of your response sheet should look like this:

______________________________________________________________________________

ENROLMENT NO:
………………………
NAME:
……………………………………….
ADDRESS:
………………………………….
…………………………………………
………
COURSE TITLE: …………………………..
ASSIGNMENT NO: ……………………..
STUDY CENTRE: …………………………
DATE:……………………………………
…..
_____________________________________________________________________________________

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4. Use only foolscap size paper for your response and tag all the pages carefully.

5. Write the relevant question number with each answer.

6. You should write in your own handwriting.

7. Submission: The completed assignment should be sent to the Coordinator of the Study
Centre allotted to you by 30th September (For January Session) and 31st March (For
July Session), or as per the dates given in the University website.

Please read the instructions given in your Programme Guide.

Now read the following guidelines carefully before answering the questions.

GUIDELINES FOR TMA

You will find it useful to keep the following points in mind:

1. Planning: Read the assignment carefully. Make some points regarding each question and
then rearrange these in a logical order. And please write the answers in your own words.
Do not reproduce passages from the units.

2. Organisation: Be a little more selective and analytic before drawing up a rough outline
of your answer. In an essay-type question, give adequate attention to your introduction
and conclusion. The introduction must offer your brief interpretation of the question and
how you propose to develop it. The conclusion must summarise your response to the
question. In the course of your answer, you may like to make references to other texts or
critics as this will add some depth to your analysis.

Make sure that your answer:

a. is logical and coherent;

b. has clear connections between sentences and paragraphs;
c. is written correctly giving adequate consideration to your expression, style and
presentation;
d. does not exceed the number of words indicated in your question.
3. Presentation: Once you are satisfied with your answers, you can write down the final
version for submission, writing each answer neatly and underlining the points you wish to
emphasise.

Note: You may be aware that you need to submit your assignment before you can
appear for the Term End Exams. Please remember to keep a copy of your completed
assignment, just in case the one you submitted is lost in transit.

Good luck with your work!

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MASTER’S DEGREE IN ENGLISH (MEG-18)
AMERICAN POETRY
ASSIGNMENT

Course Code: MEG-18

Assignment Code: MEG-18/TMA/2024-25
Max. Marks: 100

Attempt any five questions. All questions carry equal marks. (20 x 5=100)

1. Trace the history of colonialism in America and its impact on American poetry.

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2. Write short notes on: (10 x 2 = 20)

a) American Spirot and Puritan Spirit

b) American poetry today

3. Walt Whitman’s poem, “Song of Myself” is a social document engaging American national

landscape – discuss. 20

4. How does the choice of words in the poem “I Taste a Liquor Never Brewed” help to illustrate the

idea of ‘self’ of the poet? 20

5. Critically appreciate the poems, “ Home Burial” and “After apple Picking”. 20

6. Discuss Joy Harjo and Leslie Marmon Silko as important Native American poets.

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