Prompt: Analysis of the Ingenious Engineer Character in the Short Story Silent Solitude of Sa Pa
I. Detailed Outline
II. Sample Essay
Analysis of the Ingenious Engineer Character in the Short Story Silent Solitude of Sa Pa
I. Outline for Analyzing the Ingenious Engineer Character in the Short Story Silent Solitude of Sa Pa (Standard)
1. Introduction
Introducing the author Nguyen Thanh Long, the work Silent Solitude of Sa Pa, leading to the character of the ingenious engineer.
2. Main Section
a. General Introduction:
- A fresh graduate, young engineer.
- Volunteered for duty in Lao Cai.
- Joined the journey up the mountains to take up a position at Ti Nong Nghiep Lai Chau.
- Embracing excitement, passion, readiness, and eagerness to take on employment anywhere.
b. Emotions, Thoughts of the Engineer upon Meeting the Young Man
The young woman was deeply moved and impressed by the sincere and straightforward young man.
She was astonished to discover new aspects of youth life, the world of people like him, and the path she had chosen.
c. The engineer's feelings upon parting ways with the young man:
She wanted to find something to gift as a memento to the young man, but sadly, her pockets were empty.
She cherished their meeting and felt regretful about parting ways with the young man, 'handing it out for you to hold, carefully, clearly.'
d. Evaluation:
- Regarding the character: The engineer represents the young generation always ready to venture to every corner of the homeland, dedicating themselves to labor. Through the engineer character, the work's ideological theme is expressed.
- About character construction: The story is narrated in the third person, with simple and natural language, making the characters appear vivid and familiar.
3. Conclusion
Reaffirming the character's beauty and the value of the work.
II. Model essay Analyzing the engineer character in the short story Silent in Sa Pa (Standard)
'Silent in Sa Pa' is the culmination of writer Nguyen Thanh Long's most valuable insights after his actual trip to the Northwestern region. In Nguyen Thanh Long's silent picture of Sa Pa, we not only perceive the beauty of the dreamy and tranquil Sa Pa nature but also are moved by the people who dedicate themselves entirely to labor for the common goal. Besides the diligent and dedicated laborers on Sa Pa, exemplified by the young man, the author also directs readers' attention to young individuals with great aspirations, such as the young agricultural engineer.
The agricultural engineer has just graduated from university, passed the engineering exam, and is on her way to take up a job at the Lai Chau Agricultural Station. She accepts leaving the city and her family to go to a completely unfamiliar land to work and dedicate herself. This journey of the agricultural engineer is like a new journey of life, she is anxious but also hopeful about the new life and job in that unfamiliar land. Throughout that journey, the agricultural engineer's eyes look out the window quietly and passionately. The agricultural engineer is a young person, full of youthfulness with discoveries and aspirations. She believes she can go anywhere, do anything, accept any direction, and welcome anyone. That trip to Sa Pa and the chance encounter with the young man working at the Yen Son mountain weather station made the young agricultural engineer realize many things, learn, and experience many valuable things.
The bus stops, the driver introduces the painter and the agricultural engineer meets the young man, initially, the young girl shows little impression until the young man invites her and everyone to his house. Stepping into the garden space of the young man's house, the agricultural engineer is somewhat surprised and amazed; while it is summer down below, up here one can see many species of flowers, herbs in all colors. The girl is also surprised and 'wow' when she sees the young man cutting flowers, with the sudden situation adding a bit of joy to her mood, the agricultural engineer forgets the shyness of a visiting girl and instead behaves like a familiar friend, she naturally takes the bouquet of flowers the young man cut and hands it to herself. Encountering such a straightforward, sincere, and outspoken young man, saying what people usually only think, the girl feels touched and drawn immediately. Throughout the conversation between the young man and the driver, the painter, it seems there are no dialogues from the agricultural engineer, but not that she is absent, but she is there 'reading a book with one eye, listening attentively, her feet gently swinging.' Listening to the young man talk about the situation, life, and work alone on the deserted high mountain, this young agricultural engineer realizes many new things that she has never seen before in her life. The stories she heard or the interesting things she read in the young man's book made her amazed. She understands more about the lonely, difficult life and the courage of silent workers like the young man, the backyard engineer, or the map researcher. In that moment, she realizes that her decision is completely right, leaving behind a bland romance, she is more determined about the path and direction she has chosen.
The feelings and thoughts of the agricultural engineer are an expression of the awakening of great and noble emotions when the young life encounters the beacon illuminating the beautiful light emanating from the soul, the life of the young man. Along with the shock, having listened and 'understood' somewhat the young man's character, the agricultural engineer also evokes an indescribable feeling of gratitude towards the young man. Not only stemming from the large bouquet of flowers he personally cut and gave to her but also from what he said, what he told, and because of 'something else that she hadn't had time to think about yet.' Before parting ways with the young man, the agricultural engineer tried to find something like a notebook or a decorative item to give back to the young man, hoping for something that could turn into a bit of tenderness in his life. However, she also regretted that there was nothing like that in her bag to give. There is a bit of regret and longing from the agricultural engineer for this place, when parting ways, she actively reaches out for the young man to hold, the grasp is careful, clear 'like giving something to each other rather than holding hands'. In her farewell gaze is a feeling of distance, separation that may never have the chance to meet again.