Analyzing the Literary Masterpiece 'The Virtuous Scholar of Cần Giuộc'

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Ngày cập nhật gần nhất: 15/4/2026

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Exploring 'The Virtuous Scholar of Cần Giuộc': Concise Overview

Composing the Eulogy for the Nobleman of Cần Giuộc, Work Section, Brief 3

In our previous session, we delved into the first part of the work by Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, 'The Virtuous Scholar of Cần Giuộc.' Now, let's embark on a journey to explore one of Nguyễn Đình Chiểu's most renowned works. Through this, we'll unravel the portrayal of the virtuous scholar of Cần Giuộc and discern the author's sentiments towards these unsung heroes.

Table of Contents:
1. Composition 1
2. Composition 2
3. Composition 3

Exploring 'The Virtuous Scholar of Cần Giuộc': Concise Overview

I. The Work

Question 1:
* Literary Genre
a. Concept: A genre associated with funerals, expressing grief for the deceased.
b. Characteristics:
- Comprises 2 aspects:
+ Narrating the life, virtues, and morality of the deceased.
+ Expressing the continuing sorrow of the living.
- Tone: melancholic
- Style: solemn, mournful
- Written in various forms: prose, hexameter, poetry…
* Structure of the Work
- Section 1: From the beginning... 'resound like a gong': (realistic) summarizes the era and affirms the immortal death of peasant warriors.
- Section 2: Following... 'brass guns thunder': (realistic): depicts the image of peasant warriors in daily life and in the fight against invaders.
- Section 3: Next... 'everyone mourns': (universal): expresses the author's and people's grief and admiration for the deceased.
- Remaining Section (conclusion): praises the immortal soul of the martyrs.

Question 2:
a. Image of the Peasant Warrior
- They are impoverished, simple, and honest farmers who only know fields all year round.
- When the enemy comes, they realize their responsibility: voluntarily enlist to fight, determined to expel the enemy.
- Spirit of courageous struggle despite rudimentary weapons.
=> Sacrificial spirit of the common people carrying the burden and dignity of the era's heroes.
b. Artistic Value
- Art of building character images.
- From rustic, simple, imbued with Southern colors.
- Sharp, precise language. Comparisons, strong verbs used.

Question 3:
Section 3 ('universal') is the poignant cry of the author stemming from various emotions:
- It is pity for the working people.
- remote compassion for those in the rear, the front line
- hatred towards those who cause suffering and misery
b) The poetic section appears with a lamenting, mournful prose but not despairing. Because besides resentment, choking, regret, there is a hatred towards the enemy to the extreme. The cry is full of pride, admiration, praise, continuing the will, and unfinished cause of the martyr. They take death as the bright truth of the era.

Question 3 (page 65 of Literature 11 Volume 1 textbook):
Section 3 (the lament) portrays the author's poignant cry stemming from various emotions:
- Compassion towards the fallen martyrs sacrificing their unfinished careers, departing before their noble intentions were fulfilled.
- Distant sorrow of families losing loved ones, encompassing both elderly mothers and young wives.
- Resentment towards those who caused the tragic circumstances, blending with the mournful cries echoing in agony before the nation's suffering, the people's anguish.
=> A resounding cry, bearing historical significance.
The cry within the piece, though poignant, is not melancholic, not tinged with mourning, for it carries the resonance of pride, affirming the immortal significance of death for the nation, for the people, honored by generations to come.

Question 4 (page 65 of Literature 11 Volume 1 textbook):
The strong emotive appeal of the elegy primarily manifests through the genuine, profound, and intense emotions of the poet. Lines such as:
Painful indeed! An old mother sits weeping for her child, a dim lamp flickers in the tent; the night wind wails mournfully! A frail wife searches for her husband, a shadow lurks at the doorstep.
Evoke deep feelings within the reader.
Furthermore, the elegy also features diverse tones and notably impresses with its eloquent prose, vivid imagery (tattered fabric, swaying branches, a stooped straw mat, an old mother...).

II. Practice

Question 2 (page 65 of Literature 11 Volume 1 textbook):
To elucidate Professor Tran Van Giau's viewpoint: 'Our ancestors perceived life as inseparable from two concepts: shame and honor. Whether something is shameful or honorable is evaluated based on the political stance towards Western invasion: fighting against the West is honorable, adhering to the West is shameful', one can cite and analyze lines like:
- What's the point of living according to the deceitful doctrine, tossing and turning in bed, only to feel more sorrowful; what's the point of living among barbarian soldiers, sharing stale wine, biting into bread, hearing even more tales of horror.
- Better to be swept away in the enemy's embrace, returning with ancestors' dignity intact; it's far worse to endure the beginning of Western letters, residing in the land of suffering.

Composing the Eulogy for the Nobleman of Cần Giuộc, Work Section, Brief 3

Question 1:
An eulogy is a type of literature often associated with funeral customs to express the sorrow of those living in the moment of farewell.
- Structure: 4 parts
Commencement: general discourse on life and death
Reality: recounting the merits, virtues, and life of the deceased
Lament: lamentation and condolences for the departed
Conclusion: prayerful words from the officiant.

Question 2:

a. The portrayal of the peasant warrior is depicted in the eulogy:

- Background of the nobleman: (sentences 3 – 5)

Coming from humble peasant origins, entirely unfamiliar with the ways of the sword

Accustomed only to the toil of farming, such as the arduous work with the plow

They have never been trained to go into battle

- Transition when the enemy invades: (sentences 6 – 9)

- Firstly, emotionally, a deep-seated hatred towards the enemy emerged within them. Seeing the enemy running on the river, they felt a desire to attack, to strike.

- Secondly, in terms of perception: they understood the nation as precious territory, thus, they couldn't allow invaders to dominate. They volunteered in patriotic actions, willingly joining the army ranks.

- Depiction of the clothed army in the battle against the West: simple attire, familiar weapons such as 'swaying branches,' 'stooped straw mats,' 'planing knives,'...

⟹ Through this, the author has praised the noble essence hidden behind the rough clothing of the peasant soldiers, which is the love for the country and the determination to protect the homeland.

b. The depiction achieves the highest value in portraying the soldiers charging into battle. A sense of urgency, vitality, determination, and grandeur. Expressed through techniques:

Contrasts combined with strong verbs: stamp, glide, shove, charge, thrust, slash,...

Words rich in expressive nuances: thrusting across, slashing back

Swift poetic rhythm

Question 3:

a. The poignant cry of the author arises from various emotions such as:

- Compassionate sorrow for the soldiers sacrificing their careers, departing before their noble intentions were fulfilled.

- The grief of elderly mothers, young wives, innocent children when losing their loved ones, their fathers, husbands, good fathers.

- The resentment towards those who have caused the misfortunes and tragedies.

- The mournful, choked sobs before the painful scenes of the nation, of the people.

b. The sorrowful cries, yet without bitterness because:

Manifesting hatred towards the enemy and the fighting spirit of the nobleman

Carrying the resonance of pride, affirming the significance of death for the nation, for the people, honored by generations to come.

Question 4:

- The strong emotive appeal of the eulogy is primarily achieved by expressing the deep, intense, and sincere emotions of the poet.

In addition to the material already covered, students should prepare for the upcoming lesson on Analyzing the emotional state of Liên, the girl who stays up every night waiting to see the train pass through the district in the short story Two Children by Thạch Lam to grasp the key aspects of their 11th-grade Vietnamese literature.

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