Analyzing the similarities between lamenting verses and the poem Floating Rice Cakes

Topic: Based on the characteristics of lamenting verses and the poem Floating Rice Cakes studied in the 7th-grade literature curriculum, analyze the similarities between lamenting verses and the poem Floating Rice Cakes.

Analyzing the similarities between funeral chants and the poem 'Floating Rice Cakes'
 

I. Outline: Analyzing the similarities between funeral chants and the poem 'Floating Rice Cakes' (Standard)

1. Introduction

Introducing the author and the work:
+ Renowned female poet Hồ Xuân Hương utilized her pen to express the sentiments of women in ancient society.
+ 'Floating Rice Cakes' stands out as one of the most prominent poems, serving as a heartfelt confession, revealing the innocence and loyalty of a young woman's heart.

2. Main Body

- The similarity is reflected in the motif of introducing 'myself': portraying the smallness and loneliness of the woman.
- The imagery of 'floating rice cakes,' a sweet delicacy of the Vietnamese people...(Continued)

>> See Detailed Outline Analyze the similarities between funeral chants and the poem 'Floating Rice Cakes' here.

II. Sample Essay Analyzing the Similarities between Funeral Chants and the Poem 'Floating Rice Cakes' (Standard)

Hồ Xuân Hương, the talented female poet of Vietnamese literary history. Her poetry carries a gentle, feminine yet fiercely passionate tone, expressing a desire for affection. 'Floating Rice Cakes' stands out as one of the most prominent poems, serving as a candid confession of a pure-hearted girl, steadfast in her resolve. Readers can easily recognize the similarities between the imagery and the familiar language used in funeral chants from the folk literary treasure trove.

The fluctuating fate, the twists and turns of love's path, always make the poetess empathize with the silent sorrows of women. Therefore, her literary works always speak for women, expressing their emotions, confessions, and intense desires. With 'Floating Rice Cakes,' Hồ Xuân Hương constructs the image of a pure, beautiful girl, albeit struggling, with a fate in flux, yet inherently virtuous, loyal, and steadfast.

The similarity between the poem 'Floating Rice Cakes' and the funeral chants is primarily expressed in the familiar motif of 'myself.' In the history of folk poetry, many funeral chants begin with this familiar phrase.

Myself is like raindrops falling
Drops into the well, drops into the peach garden

Excellent

Myself is like water by the dock
Some wash their faces, some just wash their feet

The commonality of these funeral chants lies in depicting the insignificance and vulnerability of women, their fate not of their making, merely: 'raindrops falling,' 'water by the dock.' By using the motif of 'myself,' the author emphasizes the smallness and extreme loneliness of women. It is thought that only 'raindrops falling,' 'water by the dock' have to endure such miserable fate, but here, though 'fair and round,' a beauty abundant, complete. Two words 'myself' resound bitterly, bitterly, understanding the fate of women choked in feudal society.

The similarity of the poem with these funeral chants is shown in the choice of imagery to liken to women. 'Floating rice cakes,' a gift from Vietnamese people made from rice flour, extremely cheap and easy to find. In ancient folk verses, folk authors always delicately choose symbolic images to compare with women, depicting their fateful misery, unhappiness, having no power over their own lives.

Myself is like a piece of peach silk
Fluttering amidst the market, who knows whose hands it will fall into

'Floating rice cakes,' 'peach silk' are both beautiful items, but with uncertain fates, unsure of what tomorrow holds. Stemming from real circumstances, in ancient society, women had no say in their own destiny. If lucky to marry a loving husband, life was blissful, but if the husband's family was harsh, that woman would live a bitter, resentful life. These highly symbolic images, representing women, their demeanor, and youth, but unlucky, dependent on those with power and status in society.

An interesting similarity between the poem and funeral chants is the flexible use of folk proverbs, sayings in speech. In 'Floating Rice Cakes,' the author cleverly transforms the folk saying 'three sinks, seven floats, nine drifts' to express the hardships, vicissitudes, and misfortunes of human fate. In the treasury of funeral chants, these proverbs are used to emphasize the unhappiness, misery of fate.

Myself is like a floating water caltrop
The wind slaps waves, unsure where to settle