Analyzing the segment where Kiều encounters Từ Hải

Sample Analysis #1

Written Work:

This excerpt lies near the end of the second part (Family Transformation and Wandering) of 'The Tale of Kiều'. After selling herself to Mã Giám Sinh, Kiều stepped onto the fateful carriage of life. In fifteen years of wandering, Kiều had to endure many painful experiences: from Vô Tích to Lâm Tri, places of deceit and compassion... Two attempts at suicide, twice in prison... It seemed she would be forever confined to the miserable life of a courtesan, but suddenly, Từ Hải appeared, changing her fate completely, bringing her a happy, glorious life of a noblewoman.

Poet Nguyễn Du depicted the skillful portrait and personality of Từ Hải - a heroic figure symbolizing the desire for freedom, the eternal dream of justice of oppressed individuals in society.

The context of the encounter between Thúy Kiều and Từ Hải is only briefly described by the author: 'A cool breeze blows, the moon is clear.' In that cool breeze and clear moonlight night, a visitor suddenly arrived. The visitor was from the border post, from some distant border region. The appearance of this visitor immediately made a strong impression on Kiều:

Beard like a lobster, jaw like a swallow, your brow,
Shoulder five spans broad, stature ten spans tall.

The poetic technique employed by the poet to describe Từ Hải, though its formulaic nature has been shattered, replaced instead by a great ability to evoke sensation and emotion. Only through this descriptive approach can the heroic demeanor of a renowned figure like Từ Hải truly shine.

Readers can vividly envision Nguyen Du's enthusiastic, excited imagination, as he gracefully wields his pen to create sparkling, resplendent words, weaving the most beautiful portrait among the characters of 'The Tale of Kiều':

Majestic and heroic in stature,
Martial arts prowess surpassing his strength, with comb in hand and skill in his grasp.
He walks the earth with the heavens on his shoulders,
The surname Từ, given name Hải, a true son of Vietnam's East.
Familiar with the ways of the world,
A sword at his side, navigating mountains and rivers with a single stroke.

In just a few verses, the author has provided a comprehensive introduction to this border guest. From appearance to talent, spirit, and career; everything is extraordinary, rare. Từ Hải embodies the indomitable will and the people's desire for freedom. He reveres righteousness and refuses to submit to any tyranny or violence. Therefore, he despises the empty, rotten court of his time. Từ Hải is superior, different in attitude: Who cares about what lies above one's head.

Từ Hải has long heard of Thúy Kiều and secretly admired her: Hearing Kiều's voice while visiting, His heart, once a young man's, now throbs like a hero's. Before, it was 'admiring from afar,' now it's 'seeing in person,' the rumors were indeed true. From the moment they first met, both sides exchanged glances, both hearts liked each other, and Từ Hải sensed that he had found his soulmate. Thus, he openly expressed his intention to form a lifelong bond of happiness with Kiều, not just a passing fancy like other playboys.

Từ Hải's straightforward and sincere words moved Thúy Kiều:

He said: 'Comparing treasures,
Tấn Dương once saw dragon clouds.
Feeling pity for grass in the courtyard, flowers are insignificant,
A bit of duckweed dared not to disturb the future.

Kiều's response was equally intelligent and gracious. She praised Từ Hải as a nobleman, a great gentleman, rich in compassion. She hoped for his glorious career but due to her own status, she didn't dare to burden him...

Hearing Kiều speak, Từ Hải admired her even more, considering Thúy Kiều as his soulmate:

Hearing words to his liking, he nodded
And said, 'Soulmates, how many in this world!
Praising her sharp eyesight,
A hero discerns amid ordinary folks!
With one word, I've come to know you,
Amid thousands, it's still us together.

Nguyễn Du emphasizes consistency in character description. Từ Hải's extraordinary appearance is matched by unusual language, showcasing his noble demeanor and decisive actions, befitting a hero's stature. Từ Hải heroically rescued Kiều from the dirty green chamber. Even more commendable, he organized a grand wedding: Setting up a bed of precious gems, surrounding it with celestial curtains to match Kiều's beauty, in harmony with the beautiful fate of the two.

The poet seems genuinely joyful at this union. How could he not be when Thúy Kiều has been rescued from the mire by Từ Hải? Perhaps, there is no better commentary than the imagery: The heroic lad, the charitable boat girl, like a phoenix among ashes, beautiful fate riding on a dragon. After this marriage, Kiều's life takes a major turn. Từ Hải will elevate her to the pinnacle of glory, Từ Hải will help her repay gratitude, settle grievances...

Unlike the passionate first love with Kim Trọng; the light-hearted yet sorrowful romance with Thúc Sinh; the love between Thúy Kiều and Từ Hải can be seen as the highlight throughout her decade-long wanderings. Từ Hải's appearance dissipates the dark clouds that have shrouded her life. Only the extraordinary strength of this hero can bring true light and joy to Thúy Kiều. That perfectly accomplished woman deserves happiness. It is the wish of Nguyễn Du and all of us.

Through this excerpt, readers once again enjoy the magnificent talent of the poet in portraying character portraits. Từ Hải symbolizes the people's aspirations for freedom and justice. The stature of the character Từ Hải is commensurate with that of 'The Tale of Kiều,' and this has contributed to making Nguyễn Du's name immortal.

Sample analysis 2

Assignment:

After descending into the green pavilion for the second time, Thúy Kiều unexpectedly encountered Từ Hải. Meeting Từ Hải marked a major turning point in her life. The passage recounts the encounter between Kiều and Từ Hải in the serene pavilion, leaving a profound impression on the reader.

The appearance of the character Từ Hải is truly miraculous. Thúy Kiều's life was at a standstill with no way out when suddenly Từ Hải appeared. His appearance was like a lightning bolt tearing through the dark clouds. The image of Từ Hải not only reflects a new perspective on human evaluation and romantic relationships but also reflects the desire for freedom. 'A freedom inclination not only challenging orthodox rituals, ethics but also offending feudal politics. The portrayal of Từ Hải - a figure who rectifies injustice, defends the oppressed with righteousness and personal talent - enriches the profound content of 'The Tale of Kiều' in terms of freedom and righteous justice, rich in democratic humanitarian values, reflecting the epic nature of Vietnamese society at that time' (Đặng Thanh Lê). The portrait of this hero is described by Nguyễn Du as solemn and majestic. Amidst the peaceful tranquility, 'cool breeze, clear moon,' Từ Hải suddenly appears, appearing with a noble posture, extraordinary stature, and appearance. In an instant, the image of Từ Hải overwhelms the cramped green pavilion.

Although the language imagery still retains a formulaic quality, this is a heroic figure, from external appearance to talent, courage,... suddenly captivating everyone around.

Firstly, there's the individual with extraordinary appearance:

With whiskers like a lobster's, eyebrows like swifts',
Broad shoulders, a stature ten feet high.

This individual undoubtedly possesses a high fortitude:

Majestic in stature, a true hero,
More skilled than the sword, possessing prowess in abundance.

The phrase 'majestic' holds countless meanings, conveying reverence and admiration. Moreover, Nguyễn Du employs honorific terms such as 'hero' throughout this verse and others like 'god of a hundred battles,' 'heroic figure,' 'great lord,' 'Từ Công'... to clearly depict Từ Hải as an extraordinary, transcendent individual.

After introducing the exceptional beauty and talent, the author delves into providing more details about lineage and name:

The Từ family, with the name Hải, originally from the East of Vietnam.

This individual - as aforementioned - possesses heroic charisma and great prowess: 'Treading the heavens and traversing the earth in life,' living with dignity, not succumbing to the constraints of personal desires: 'Familiar with the ways of the world, wielding a sword with ease, navigating through life's ups and downs'... yet also possessing humility and nobility. Appearing in the chambers of the pink pavilion, Từ Hải stands tall and upright, always affirming his character:

Từ spoke: 'Heart's fate entwined,
Must one sway like the moon's tide?'

This individual, exuding charisma and integrity, is profoundly self-aware. His language and gestures reflect authenticity and modesty, not the brashness of a rogue:

Listening in agreement, nodding,
He laughs, true kinship, rare to find.

Từ Hải held a keen insight into Kiều, moved not only by her national beauty but also recognizing her as a true confidant. Hence, with innate confidence and honesty, Từ Hải dispenses with formalities, speaking candidly and earning unwavering trust from his listeners!

A word known to me,
Shared sentiments make us complete.

Clearly different from Sở Khanh's empty promises: 'If you know of me - Fathomless abyss fills, with just a glimpse.'

Hence, Kiều immediately sensed empathy. With her 'perceptive eyes,' despite enduring countless hardships, she recognized Từ Hải's extraordinary charisma, exceptional talent, and heroic compassion. Thus, 'Both sides glance, both hearts favor,' resulting in: 'Unified minds, despite differing backgrounds - When souls align, the bodies matter less.' This echoes the initial spark of affection, akin to the literary scholar Kim Trọng.

At the meeting's end, Từ Hải 'Speaks to a fellow traveler - Entire wealth remains intact,' showcasing noble generosity, unlike Mã Giám Sinh's stinginess: 'A penny less, one more'. Từ Hải extends a hand to rescue, to 'liberate' a soul, guiding a cherished one out of the mire of disgrace, into a life of virtue and honor.

In depicting Từ Hải, the hero, Nguyễn Du poured forth special affection, both trusting and reverent, through imagery, honorific language, and the rhythmic flow of verse, balanced, robust, evocative, and emotive, to delineate extraordinary, noble traits, exceptional talents, and genuine compassion.

Also a first encounter, yet unlike meeting Kim Trọng, a literary luminary, full of grace and elegance; the encounter with Từ Hải was a meeting with a worldly hero. The encounter between Kiều and Kim Trọng was a meeting of 'national beauty, talented beings' in the 'green spring nearing adolescence' full of romantic innocence and many shy hesitations. That meeting carries many lofty romantic qualities. The encounter between Kiều and Từ Hải is a meeting of 'heroic man, boatwoman poet' when Kiều has experienced many ups and downs, hardships in life, easily finding mutual understanding, easily finding each other's soulmates, and also easily 'comparing to a phoenix, beautiful like a dragon'. It carries Kiều's aspirations for liberation.

Kiều emerges in this painting as 'clever and charming' to the extent that even the hero Từ Hải must 'praise her perceptive eyes'.

Nguyễn Du's pen is truly skillful, with each character, each emotion, he has a way of describing, using words, sentences, to make the characters vivid and authentic, although his style still does not exceed the formulaic, idealistic nature. For the character Từ Hải, a worldly figure, full of idealistic qualities, Nguyễn Du's honorific style and dialogue language are vivid and exquisite.

Analysis Model 3

Assignment:

Reading Nguyễn Du's The Tale of Kieu, one finds in Thuy Kieu's life three love affairs, three encounters: Kim Trong - Thuc Sinh - Tu Hai. The meeting with Tu Hai marks the most beautiful, glorious period of her life and also marks the most heroic pages of 'The New Cry of the Phoenix'. Kieu met Tu Hai when she was sold into the green house for the second time. In this encounter, Nguyen Du introduced the portrait of the character Tu Hai, the epitome of the ideal hero, and further revealed the character of the central figure Thuy Kieu.

Tu Hai is introduced in the excerpt not like Kim Trong with golden melodies foretelling, or Ma Giam Sinh with a matchmaker, but he appears suddenly, revealing himself like an idol:

The upper floor, cool breeze, and clear moonlight,
Suddenly, a guest appeared at the fortress.

After the extraordinary appearance that impressed the readers, the author sketches the portrait of a hero reborn with extraordinary features in appearance: 'bushy beard, hawk nose, and bold eyebrows', in stature: 'broad shoulders, ten cubits tall', in character: 'dignified and heroic', with talent: 'more skillful than powerful, encompassing strategy', and especially in demeanor:

'Treading the earth and trampling the heavens, Named Tu Hai, of the people of Viet Dong. Accustomed to the ways of the world, Carrying a sword and a load, navigating the mountains and rivers with ease.'

The imagery and language of the author have a formulaic and romanticized quality when describing the heroic character with 'bushy beard, hawk nose, and bold eyebrows', 'martial prowess', and 'military might'. Nguyen Du's talent here does not adhere to the norms of the poetic system; she still reveals her unique creativity. With a strong and heroic rhythm, with powerful language, Nguyen Du has creatively portrayed the image of an extraordinary, heroic figure, intellectually and physically superior, profoundly ambitious.

However, most striking of all is the character of the Tu family. Nguyen Du used very distinctive dialogue language to portray his character through the encounter with Thuy Kieu. Tu Hai is a hero, a bird soaring thousands of miles, seemingly only pursuing lofty ideals yet harboring simple feelings. Tu Hai noticed Kieu first because of her heartfelt pain and her steadfast heart.

Listening to the voice of Kieu
Even the heart of a young girl admires the hero.

Although they are individuals who have experienced the ups and downs of life, the meeting of two souls, two hearts, remains as pure as the initial stirring of true love:

The lady's name leads to the pink pavilion
Both sides glance, both hearts fondly embrace

Unlike other village guests, Tu Hai came to the green pavilion not for pleasure but to find someone with a 'pure heart' and 'green eyes'.

For so long, hearing the sound of the bell
Green eyes never let anyone in, is that true?

And Kieu responded to Tu Hai with humility and grace:

She said: 'Even if it's worth a lot of money,
Only after you see the bright moon over Tanshui.
Pity the pondweed, disdain the flowers,
A little fragility dares not trouble tomorrow.

Hearing Kieu's response, Tu Hai's heart was delighted, as he found in Thuy Kieu a 'bosom friend'.

He laughed, saying: 'Bosom friends, before and after, how many?'

For Tu Hai, only Kieu had the 'insightful eyes', recognizing the hero amidst hardships and adversity. Therefore, he was ready to reciprocate the worthy heart of a bosom friend:

A word once known to us,
Wanting to share a thousand things, together we have each other.

With artistic inspiration about the hero character, Nguyen Du has constructed the diverse personality of the character Tu Hai.

She is a person with extraordinary ideals, simple human sentiments, outstanding appearance, and talents. In the excerpt, Tu Hai is the hero who assists Thuy Kieu - upright and promptly rescues Kieu from disgrace and brings freedom and happiness to her life.

Also through dialogue, Nguyen Du has portrayed, dignified Thuy Kieu, in the relationship with Tu Hai. Despite falling into the green house for the second time, living a life full of humiliation and torment, Kieu still maintains her integrity. She does not live recklessly, not forlorn, so when Tu Hai asks 'Does the green eyes not let anyone in?' It's not without reason. Tu Hai saw that noble quality in Kieu. With innate intelligence and a sensitive soul, Kieu immediately recognized the extraordinary character, outstanding talent, and especially the generous and heroic heart of Tu Hai. She modestly replied to Tu Hai: 'If I can repay...'. But those humble words touched Tu Hai, and he saw in her a bosom friend, intelligent, witty, 'insightful', worthy of a hundred years of friendship.

Meeting Tu Hai, Thuy Kieu revealed her true noble character and personality traits. Not only was she virtuous in the months spent in the brothel, but she also had 'insightful eyes', understanding Tu Hai amidst a life full of ordinary people, and more than half of her had empathy and sympathy with Tu Hai's future aspirations. And it was precisely the unexpected encounter that led to understanding and empathy early on that brought about a beautiful ending.

Both sides in harmony, hearts aligned,
As if fate joined the phoenix, beauty within the heart's realm.

If before, Thuc Sinh had to resort to all sorts of tricks, secretly bribing Kieu, now Tu Hai acts openly and honestly, waves gently carrying his bosom friend out of the cycle of shame, out of the brothel to live happily and freely together.

The excerpt used is a romantic scene written by Nguyen Du with inspiration and a hint of epic style. With delicate, sharp, and richly expressive language, Nguyen Du successfully portrayed a unique and extraordinary love story with vivid, noble, and bright characters.

In summary, 'Kieu meets Tu Hai' is a quite captivating excerpt. We perceive the striking portrait of Tu Hai, a hero character that Nguyen Du has constructed with the same reverence and affection as Thuy Kieu Kim Trong. Furthermore, through the encounter with Tu Hai, we also gain a fuller understanding of Thuy Kieu's character, a hapless girl with a precious personality.

Analyzing the segment of poetry where Kiều encounters Từ Hải is an essential lesson that students must grasp thoroughly. Following this lesson, we will proceed to prepare for answering questions on Kim Trọng's characterization through the encounter in Kiều's poetry along with the analysis of Mã Giám Sinh's character in the segment where Mã Giám Sinh buys Kiều to improve proficiency in the subject of Literature.