Analysis of Nguyễn Du's poem 'Độc Tiểu Thanh Kí'

Essay on the analysis of Nguyễn Du's poem 'Độc Tiểu Thanh Kí' for 10th-grade students

I. Outline for Analyzing the Poem 'Độc Tiểu Thanh Kí'

1. Introduction

- Providing a general overview of the author Nguyễn Du and the poem
+ Nguyễn Du stands out as a prominent figure in the medieval literature of Vietnam

2. Body of the Essay

a) Introduce the circumstances of the poem's creation
b) Provide a general overview of the life of Tiểu Thanh
c) Analyze the poem's content following the structure of a Đường Luật poem in Han-Nom form.
* Thesis (First 2 verses)
- Depict the scene in the Tây Hồ flower garden to convey the poet's contrasting emotions: past and present.
+ Past: Tây Hồ is a beautiful flower garden, where Tiểu Thanh once lived
+ Present: Just a desolate wasteland, with remnants of decay
- Nguyễn Du's attitude: Sorrowful, lamenting, only able to visit Tiểu Thanh through the books read by the window.
* Reality (Verse 3 + 4)
- Two highly symbolic images:
+ Rouge and powder: Symbolizing the beauty of the young girl
+ Literature: Representing the talent of Tiểu Thanh
à Tiểu Thanh, despite her talent and beauty, lives and dies in loneliness. Through lifeless objects, Nguyễn Du expresses the tragedy of Tiểu Thanh's life.
* Discussion (Verse 5 + 6)
- Two verses with high abstraction:
+ It seems that talented individuals always face misfortune in life
+ From the life of Tiểu Thanh, readers relate to the life of Kiều

3. Conclusion

- Express your thoughts on the value of the content and artistry of the work.
 

II. Sample Essay Analyzing 'Độc Tiểu Thanh Ký'

1. Essay Analyzing the Poem 'Độc Tiểu Thanh Kí', Sample 1:

The topic of women, rarely addressed by medieval poets, becomes a subject of profound reverence and affection in the hands of the literary giant Nguyễn Du. Alongside his masterpiece in Nôm poetry, 'Truyện Kiều,' which explores the life of women in feudal society, the poem 'Độc Tiểu Thanh Kí' stands as an excellent creation in Han-Nom script tackling this theme.

Nguyễn Du composed this poem during a diplomatic mission to China for the Nguyễn dynasty. The Han-Nom titled poem, 'Độc Tiểu Thanh Kí,' has sparked various interpretations. Some believe Nguyễn Du read stories about the life of Tiểu Thanh, empathizing with the tragic fate of this talented yet unfortunate woman. Others suggest Nguyễn Du encountered the poems left by Tiểu Thanh, admiring and sympathizing with her life. Regardless of the interpretation, the poet's work reflects a deeply compassionate understanding of life and humanity.

Tiểu Thanh, an intelligent and beautiful girl with poetic talent, lived in the early Ming period in China, approximately 300 years before Nguyễn Du. Forced into marriage with a noble family due to jealousy and rivalry, she was exiled to live alone near Tây Hồ flower garden. She spent her days immersed in poetry, fell ill, and tragically died at the age of 18 in solitude. Most of her literary works were destroyed by the jealous wife, leaving only a few poems later collected and known as the 'remaining fragments.'

The enduring inspiration behind the poem is Nguyễn Du's profound empathy for the fate of Tiểu Thanh. From this deep empathy, he recognizes life's injustices, compassion for others, and even more compassion for oneself. As we delve into the poem, we are first guided to a space filled with impressions, where Tiểu Thanh once lived:

'Tây Hồ's flowers, once lush and charming,
A lonely memorial now, by the river's edge'
(Tây Hồ's beauty turned into desolation
Aching alongside scraps of discarded paper)

A single word, 'lush,' carries a haunting and evocative power for readers. The translated verse hasn't fully captured the essence of the word 'lush.' Its meaning goes beyond transformation into desolation. It implies destruction and ruin, highlighting the stark contrast between the past and the present. The past Tây Hồ was a picturesque, friendly land, now reduced to a desolate wasteland. The verse evokes a deep sense of sorrow. Imagining the past beauty of Tây Hồ when Tiểu Thanh was alive, the poet stands by the window with her books, overwhelmed with grief. 'Lonely memorial' signifies the poet's solitude, transcending time and space to revisit the past and lament for Tiểu Thanh. All things change with time, and amidst life's vast ocean, the name of a talented yet unfortunate girl from the Ming era may slowly fade away. The verse is like a sigh of poignant regret from Nguyễn Du before the destiny of a woman with both talent and misfortune.

The next two verses vividly depict symbolic images:

'Makeup, divine aid, veils posthumous sorrow
Literature, fateless, lingers in remnants'
(Cosmetics with divine essence, burying lingering resentment
Literature, without destiny, burning remnants still echo)

When we mention 'cosmetics' and 'literature,' thoughts immediately turn to the beauty and talent of Tiểu Thanh. Beauty, innocent yet subject to jealousy, and talent, faultless yet ruthlessly suppressed. These verses emanate the poet's compassion for the talent and beauty of Tiểu Thanh. She had to die too young, and her creations were nearly destroyed by the jealous wife, leaving only the 'remaining fragments.' Though 300 years apart, Nguyễn Du, with a heart full of sympathy, can comprehend the injustices she endured. The verses also reflect Nguyễn Du's belief in 'talent and fate interlinked.' In his creations, we often encounter women with both talent and beauty facing adversity, akin to Đạm Tiên and Kiều. Hence, Nguyễn Du encapsulates these thoughts in abstract verses:

'The agony of a woman's fate
They say fate is a shared lament'
(Truyện Kiều - Nguyễn Du)

Or:

'A woman's fate, a painful lament
Why is life born into such circumstances?'
(Strategies of the Soul - Nguyễn Du)

Essay on Analyzing 'Độc Tiểu Thanh Kí', detailed and engaging

The freshness in the poem 'Đọc Tiểu Thanh Kí' lies in the poet's unique humanistic voice, notably articulated in verses 5 and 6:

'An ancient grudge needles the celestial realm
Fate's injustice, one must endure personally'
(The ancient grudge of the cosmic needle questions
Awarding fate's injustice, the wanderer bears alone)

Nguyễn Du sees himself sailing the same boat with those talented yet unfortunate, expressing profound bitterness. The question arises: Why do talented individuals often face obstacles and misfortune without apparent answers? Could it be that these gifted individuals carry the 'sentence' of fate within themselves? In the masterpiece 'Truyện Kiều,' the poet once uttered, 'Why does talent incur envy from heaven and earth?' If they lived in a different society, perhaps the impeccably talented, like Tiểu Thanh, wouldn't have endured such injustice and suppression. The verse reflects Nguyễn Du's yearning for the appreciation of those with both talent and compassion.

Closing the poem is Nguyễn Du's poignant and bitter sentiment:

'Three hundred years from now, who will know
Who in this world will weep for Tố Như?'

Tiểu Thanh departed from life 300 years ago, yet there are still those who understand and empathize with her. The poet questions his own heart, wondering if anyone will understand him after another 300 years. A haunting question swirls in the reader's mind, contemplating the fate of the gifted after an extended period. Concluding the poem is the yearning for enduring friendship in this life by the literary master. In reality, even after three centuries, we still remember Nguyễn Du's name and his masterpieces. This stands as evidence that the talent and value of gifted individuals are perpetually cherished and admired. This, in essence, establishes the profound humanitarian value of the poem.

Nguyen Du, known by the name Chu To Nhu, with the alias Thanh Hien and the poetic name Hong Son Lap Ho (Mountain Shooting House), was born in 1765 during the Le dynasty in Tien Dien village, Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province.

Born to the illustrious Hoang Giap Xuan Quan Cong Nguyen Nghiem, a prime minister during the Le dynasty. Nguyen Du's family was a learned Confucian family, and all members held high positions under the Le dynasty. It was a time when a folk poem praised them:

When a thousand Hong trees are gone,
Rum River runs dry, their officials are none.

The Nguyen Du family was also a renowned literary family. Nguyen Nghiem expressed his thoughts in the poem 'Confucius Dreams of Chu Gong.' At that time, our country had 5 famous scholars (An Nam falls asleep in excellence), and the Nguyen family had 2 individuals mentioned (Nguyen Du and Nguyen Dam).

Nguyen Du was born to Tran Thi Tan, from Dong Ngan district, Bac Ninh province. Among her 4 children, Nguyen Du was the third. In 18, Nguyen Du passed the Tam truong (Talent Contest) exam, marking the beginning of his life entwined with the fate of the nation.

In 1802, King Gia Long ascended the throne, calling on talents from the Le family to serve. Nguyen Du was among those summoned. Unable to refuse, he was appointed as the Chief of Phu Duc district, Thai Binh province, later promoted to Chief Judge of Thuong Tin district in the same province. After serving for a few years, he resigned due to illness.
In 1806, he was again summoned to the capital and appointed as a scholar in Dong Bac (the East),
In 1809, he was assigned as the Provincial Security Officer of Quang Binh province (equivalent to Minister of Public Works).
In 1813, he was promoted to the rank of Main Palace Scholar and appointed as the Chief Envoy to pay tribute to the Chinese Emperor on behalf of the King of Annam. During this period, Nguyen Du wrote Bac Hanh Tap Luc. Upon his return, he was further promoted to the position of Le Ministry Director of Ceremonies.
In 1820, while preparing for his second mission to China, he fell ill and passed away on the 10th day of the 8th month of the Canh Thin year (Minh Mang reign).

The poem 'Lonely Small Blue' is a famous Han script poem included in the Thanh Hien poetry collection, expressing the poet's compassion for the beautiful and unfortunate Little Blue.

Nguyen Du and Little Blue were two strangers. So, who was Little Blue?

Little Blue was a woman of talent and beauty but lived under the Ming dynasty in China.

Legend has it that Little Blue was a Chinese girl with both talent and beauty, living in the early Ming period. Gifted and intelligent from a young age, she excelled in various arts such as poetry and music. At the age of 16, she became the legal wife of a nobleman. However, due to the jealousy of the senior wife, she was forced to live alone on Cô Son, near West Lake. The resentment and suffering she experienced were expressed in poetry, some of which survived as the senior wife burned others. These surviving poems were engraved and titled 'Remnants.' Living in such circumstances, Little Blue fell ill and bid farewell to life at the age of 18. Nguyen Du sympathized with the fate of this talented and unfortunate girl, inspiring him to compose this poem. The Han-script poem, translated into prose, conveys:

The flower garden near West Lake has turned into a desolate wilderness. Only memories of her through a pre-read book remain. The cosmetic items must surely lament for the events that unfolded after death. Literature, devoid of destiny, was also left unfinished. The grudge is like an ancient needle, hard to question the heavens. Living carefree and leisurely also carries the verdict within. We feel like companions with those bearing the strange injustice due to refined manners. Who knows, over two hundred years later, who in the world weeps for Chu To Nhu?

Due to the excellence of the poem, many translators have rendered it into Vietnamese. Gian Chi, Nguyen Quang Tuan, Quach Tuan, and Vu Tam Tap translated it in the original poetic form, while Vu Hoang Chuong presented it in Luc Bat verse. Regardless of the form, the translators did not deviate from the content of the poem. Here, let's explore and appreciate the poem through the translation by Vu Tam Tap.

The poem begins with two lines:

West Lake's beauty turns into a desolate mound,
Heartfelt by the riverside, a piece of paper remains.

These two lines depict the scenery and evoke emotions, although the poem wasn't composed on-site at West Lake. It reflects the poet's imagination. Indeed, the private residence of a noble is surely beautiful, and West Lake's renowned scenery is undeniably picturesque. However, in the poet's mind, that beauty has 'turned into a desolate mound.' What's beautiful about a small hill? Yet, beneath it lies an ownerless grave, and as visitors (as in 'The Tale of Kieu') come, the person lying beneath that 'desolate mound' becomes colder and lonelier. For the one lying under that 'desolate mound,' Little Blue's unfortunate fate only remains in the earthly realm as a 'piece of paper remains,' the remnants of Little Blue's Diary. These two details, 'desolate mound' and 'piece of paper remains,' are the reasons why the poet is 'heartfelt by the riverside.' The poet's emotions about Little Blue are expressed more explicitly in the following lines:

Cosmetics with divine essence buried, resentment lingers
Literature without destiny burned, still echoes.

Metaphorically, 'cosmetics with divine essence' refers to Little Blue. Although Little Blue has passed away (buried), her soul must be deeply saddened and resentful towards the person who burned her poems. 'Resentment' stems from two reasons: blind jealousy led to her death, and burning the poems, which had no fate (destiny), yet they didn't completely burn, lingering as a regretful desire to preserve the remaining part for future generations.

Above are verses expressing scenes of life and sympathy for a talented yet unfortunate person. From there, the poet expands on two reflective lines:

The grudge, a needle in the sky, never asks
The verdict of a carefree guest

It seems the poet wants to console Little Blue, reassuring himself that throughout history, many talented individuals have faced unfortunate fates. Only heaven truly understands. Yet, even if heaven understands, it cannot intervene in the envy of the senior wife, of society, regarding the carefree and leisurely lifestyle of the talented. At the beginning of 'The Tale of Kieu,' Nguyen Du wrote:

In the realm of humanity for a century,
Skills and fate cleverly despise each other.

Initially, ancient writers borrowed the theory of talent and fate relatively to depict the lives of women with beauty and virtue but had to endure many injustices. Nguyen Du, with the story of the Southern Fragrance girl, Nguyen Gia Thieu wrote about palace maids in the Palace Lament poem, Dang Tran Con with the military wife in Chinh Phu Ngam... Those are separate life fragments.

 Nguyen Du, the poet, was particularly interested in the lives of women who possess both beauty and talent, as stated in “beauty and talent blend... affectionate and pitiful, at the fifth level of music...” (Kieu), quite similar to the fate of disgraced Confucian scholars in a chaotic and decadent society. It is Dương Quý Phi, Tiểu Thanh, the girl playing the zither in Thang Long in Han script poetry; it is Dam Tien, Thuy Kieu in The Tale of Kieu. They are the ones with “abundant talent, making heaven and earth jealous,” whom the poet empathizes with while also implying a connection with his own fate.

Who knows, in another three hundred years,
Will people weep for To Nhu or not?

That is the poet's premonition about his own fate. With Little Thanh, the unfamiliar woman with a somewhat unfortunate life makes the poet shed tears like that, even though she lived centuries before the poet. Who knows if anyone will sympathize and weep for the poet after another three hundred years?

Knowing the fate of Little Thanh, Nguyen Du associates it with his own destiny. Indeed, as mentioned above, the poet thinks about the fate of Confucian scholars, those with talent, including himself. It is a sympathetic connection of 'love meeting love,' like Thuy Kieu before Dam Tien's grave, 'seeing the person lying there, who knows what happens next?' It is the association, the natural concern of those with a spiritual life inclined towards emotions.

Before Dam Tien's grave.

Kieu said: “Those of talent and beauty,
The waterfall is the body, and the foam is the essence.”

The public, throughout history, has been very discerning in seeking the essence of the 'talented and beautiful.' We see this in proverbs, folk songs, and literary works that have been passed down from ancient times to the present day. Even The Tale of Kieu or Nguyen Du's Biography of Little Thanh, after two hundred years, continues to be handed down and will endure for a long time.

Nguyen Du, the great national poet, is considered a giant tree in Vietnamese literature. He is a poet who focuses on the life and fate of 'talented and fateful' individuals, especially women such as Thuy Kieu in The Tale of Kieu, Ca Nhi in The Melody of the Dragon Citadel, Little Thanh in the Biography of Little Thanh, etc. His poetic works are likened to a great pyramid standing proudly in a vast, arid desert. The mysteries and wonders of this great work have yet to be fully explored. The poem 'Biography of Little Thanh' is a famous Han-script poem, printed in the Thanh Hien collection, expressing the poet's compassion for the talented and beautiful Little Thanh, whose fate was tragic despite her beauty and talent.
                         
Little Thanh - a perfectly talented and beautiful girl, but at the age of 16, she had to endure the storms and misfortunes of life. In the end, she was buried in the cold grave while still in the bloom of youth. The essence she left for the world was scattered just because of the jealous and selfish heart of the first wife. The painful transformation of her life is vividly portrayed in the scenery:

West Lake, with its graceful flowers, becomes melancholic,
A lone pipe before the temple, the first and only official letter.

                       
The flower garden beside West Lake, once a famous place for beauty in China. 'graceful flowers' and 'decay' are two contrasting concepts, along with the word 'melancholic' as if referring to the lost beauty of West Lake, now turned into desolate hills. Co Son Mountain beside West Lake – where Little Thanh was once imprisoned, beautiful then, now becomes quiet and cold. Only the tomb of the ill-fated girl Little Thanh remains, and a torn piece of 'the only letter' - the only surviving book of Little Thanh - Little Thanh's Diary. The verse is the author's sigh before the inevitability of life's changes and the remorse of a compassionate heart: everything must change with time, and so does Little Thanh, gradually buried by the flow of time into oblivion. 'lone pipe' - only loneliness, solitude when Nguyen Du alone transcends space, time to weep for the fate of Little Thanh through the 'only letter.'

Chi powder adorns the divine, linking life to the end,
Literature, fateless, bears the residual burden.

                        
'Cosmetic powder,' 'literature' are symbolic images of the beauty and talent of Little Thanh. Nguyen Du borrowed the images of these two items to express the envy and jealousy of the first wife and society. Recalling the tragic fate of her life – a solitary, lonely life. The poet breathed life into the cosmetic powder to make them speak with compassion, lamenting the unfortunate fate. 'divine' cosmetic powder must surely feel sorrow for what happens after death. Like flowers that have withered but their fragrance lingers, somewhere in space, people will forever pity the fates of these 'beautiful and fateful' women. As for 'literature' - it is an inanimate object, without destiny, but is also burned prematurely due to its fragility, its 'residual burden,' as if it has a soul, trying to resist the crushing fate. Despite being burned, what remains has made people feel profound regret. He spoke out in compassion for the fate of women with both talent and beauty who were not respected in ancient society, and at the same time, he expressed their eternal grievances.

 Ancient grudges pierce through celestial difficulties,
Fate's wind blows injustice, and self-settlement prevails.

Analysis of the poem 'Biography of Little Thanh' for 10th-grade students.

                         
'Ancient grudges' are the hidden grievances that talented individuals have endured throughout history, and they bear this bitterness and sorrow. They are left wondering, crying out to the heavens, not knowing what to do now. 'This grudge has a cry that doesn't fade away.' - The Tale of Kieu. There are always questions asked, but no one has answers, especially the injustice suffered by complete individuals like Little Thanh. Questions to the heavens and the earth, seeking understanding. The verse is like a lament resonating through the land and sky. Nguyen Du considers himself a companion of Little Thanh - talented and fateful individuals who have encountered the strange fate of 'fate's wind.' Little Thanh's life illuminated Nguyen Du's soul; he deeply felt the pain of a versatile and ill-fated literary guest. 'self-settlement' – Nguyen Du, with the pain of knowing he cannot escape the strange fate of those who share the same boat in the tumultuous sea of life. In profound agony, he cannot help but cry out the lament of a heart full of worldly sorrows.

Without regret for three hundred extra years,
Under heaven, who mourns for To Nhu?

                  
Nguyen Du, a literary talent in his time, and Little Thanh, a charming guest. Despite being separated by 300 years, he still feels a resemblance between himself and that girl. 'Talents face hardship, beautiful ones face fate.' Little Thanh departed, leaving behind a 'single letter,' a piece of paper that after 300 years, Nguyen Du still pities her fate. The questioning verses imply Nguyen Du wonders whether, 300 years later, anyone will remember him as he remembers Little Thanh. He is anxious, hoping future generations will also empathize and pity him. These two verses express his lonely feelings in a 'foreign land' during his diplomatic mission, where he feels more and more abandoned, lacking a confidant, holding the hatred of a talented and ill-fated person: 'Will people weep for To Nhu or not?'
                         
On November 1, 1965, on the occasion of the anniversary of Nguyen Du's birth, poet To Huu passed through his hometown and wrote these lines of poetry: