I. Outline of Analyzing the poem 'Heaven's Echo':
1. Introduction:
- Introduction to the author Tran Nhan Tong:
+ He was the third king of the Tran dynasty.
+ He was an enlightened emperor, who led our people to victory in two invasions by the Yuan army and restored the economy and culture of Dai Viet.
+ He was the founder of the famous Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect.
- Introduction to the poem: Portrays a delicate perspective, cherishing the beauty of nature and the daily life scenes of the people during times of peace in the country.
2. Body of the poem:
a) Introduction to the poem:
- Poetic form: Seven-word quatrain.
- Title:
+ Thiên Trường: a palace in Nam Dinh, where the Tran kings often retreated to rest.
+ Vãn vọng: contemplating distant objects.
=> “Thiên Trường vãn vọng”: Looking out from the Thiên Trường palace.
- Context of creation: Emerged after the victory over the Mongol - Yuan army, restoring peaceful life for the people.
- Sentimental subject: Nature, scenery.
- Emotional flow: The poem depicts village scenes, rural life through the emotionally charged perspective of the author.
b) Content of the poem:
* Natural landscape:
- Time: “twilight”: dusk.
- Space: “Front village, back village”: both front and back villages -> all space enveloped in haze.
- Landscape: “Half-real, half-illusory”: half existent, half not -> Indistinct landscape, half real, half imaginary.
=> The village scene in the twilight is beautiful, dreamy, and serene.
* Portrait of life:
- Space: “Fields”: fields -> Spacious, vast.
- Sound: The sound of children herding buffalo flute echoes in the ears.
- Image: Children in the field, pairs of white egrets fly down to the field to search for food.
=> The picture includes both sound and color, evoking a peaceful countryside scene, full of vitality.
=> Peaceful life, people and nature harmonize with each other.
* Emotions and portrait of the author:
- The author immerses in the landscape, in the mountains and rivers of the country.
- The author expands the heart to embrace the simple, peaceful beauty of life.
=> The king loves the country, cares for the people, appreciates the beauty of peaceful times -> A benevolent king.
c) Artistry of the poem:
- Seven-word quatrain poetic form is concise and profound.
- Smooth and harmonious poetic rhythm.
- Clever use of juxtaposition combined with interesting moral.
- The descriptive language exudes a vivid painting-like quality.
3. Conclusion:
- Summarizes the outstanding features of the poem.
II. Analysis of the poem 'Heaven's Echo' in 8th grade Connect Knowledge:
Tran Nhan Tong was a wise king, who led our people to victory in two invasions by the Yuan army and restored the economy and culture of Dai Viet. After the wars, he had the opportunity to visit the Thiên Trường palace and admire the scenery there. Hence, 'Heaven's Echo' was born. The poem portrays a delicate perspective, cherishing the beauty of nature and the daily life scenes of the people during times of peace.
“Back village, front village, tranquil and serene,
Half-real, half-illusory, dusk settles in between.”
From the king's palace, he saw the entire village submerged in a vague mist, drifting, making the scenery unclear, half existing, half not. Perhaps the smoke the author saw could be the mist due to the weather, or it could be the smoke rising from the evening kitchen fires. This verse seems to want to describe peaceful life, under the quiet roofs is delicious meals, gathering together without suffering anymore. The 'dusk' light shining into that place makes everything seem more unreal, as if lost in a fairyland. This beautiful, peaceful, and simple scene is described through the use of symmetric structures, juxtaposition combined with the words 'back village - front village', 'half-real - half-illusory'. This creates balance, harmony, and fluidity for the verse.
“Buffaloes graze freely in the boundless field,
Parallel to the white path, beneath the blue sky.”
The final two lines vividly depict the scene with the presence of sounds and the activities of objects. The sound of flute calling the buffaloes home echoes along with the white wings of herons, the green of the fields, and the gray of the evening smoke, making the viewer feel serene and gentle. The author shifts the perspective from the village to the vast, open field, where children play in the fields and flocks of herons descend to start their foraging. Nature and humans become intimate, harmonious to an unusual degree. The image of 'pairs of white herons descending to the fields' opens up the space, making it expansive, lofty, pure, and peaceful. The image of the water buffalo plodding along, leisurely, on the ridge is like a celebration of joy for a peaceful country after months and days of foreign invasion. This painting not only highlights the tranquility of the countryside but also depicts the vitality and growth. The gentle, warm life of families in the small, genuine countryside is the sustainable development of a nation, a people, as the family is the cell of society.
The scene of the evening at the Thiên Trường palace is a serene rural landscape without fuss. Here, human life still shines amidst harmony with the natural scenery in a poetic manner, demonstrating that the author, despite his lofty position, remains connected to his rustic homeland. The author's feelings for the homeland are subtly revealed: the king is very close to the people, deeply loves the people, and cherishes peace.
The poem is crafted in the concise yet refined style of quatrain poetry, imbued with a vividly pictorial language. Each word seems to be a brushstroke, painting the picture of the countryside in the twilight. Moreover, the slow, steady rhythm evokes a sense of tranquility and serenity in that setting. The poem features many poetic images that are both realistic and profound, rich in symbolic meanings. The use of juxtaposition combined with intriguing and unique aphorisms enhances the artistic nature of the work.
'Thiên Trường Echoes' is a simple poem, depicting the scenes of the village and countryside of Thiên Trường through the perspective and emotions of Trần Nhân Tông. However, hidden within it is a deep love for the homeland, for the peaceful and serene beauty, along with many profound Buddhist teachings. Through the poem, future generations of readers can perceive the portrait of the author: a compassionate monarch.
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It can be said that 'Thiên Trường Echoes' is a short, simple poem, yet it conveys many thoughts and emotions of Trần Nhân Tông towards the country. In addition to this analysis, you can also refer to other related articles available on Mytour: Analyzing Thiên Trường Echoes, Literature Grade 8 KNTT; Analysis of Autumn Tribute; ...