Compose an essay on 'The Declaration of Independence, Author's Section'

Compose an essay on 'The Declaration of Independence - Author, short 1'

A. BASIC KNOWLEDGE

I. AUTHOR:

1. Biography
- Hồ Chí Minh (1890 - 1969), born in Kim Lien village, Nam Dan district, Nghe An province. In his youth, he was known as Nguyễn Sinh Cung and Nguyễn Tất Thành. During revolutionary activities, he adopted the name Nguyễn Ái Quốc and several others.
- In 1920, he attended the Tours Congress and became one of the founding members of the French Communist Party.
- He presided over the unification conference of communist organizations in the country in Hong Kong, establishing the Communist Party of Vietnam on February 3, 1930.
- At 48 Hang Ngang Street, President Hồ Chí Minh drafted the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945, which was read at Ba Dinh Square.
- A visionary leader in the great revolutionary cause; securing independence and freedom for the nation.
- He laid a solid foundation for revolutionary literature in Vietnam.
- Recognized by UNESCO as the 'Hero of National Liberation of Vietnam, Great Cultural Figure.'

2. Literary Career
a. Creative perspective
- Hồ Chí Minh views art as a rich spiritual activity that effectively serves the revolutionary cause. Artists are soldiers on the cultural and ideological frontlines.
- He emphasizes the authenticity and national character of literature. He urges writers to 'describe vividly, truthfully, and heroically' the reality of life and to 'maintain genuine emotions'; to 'pay attention to developing national characteristics' and be conscious of preserving the purity of the Vietnamese language.
- However, artists must also be creative. He warns against 'restricting them within a framework, stifling creativity'....
- Hồ Chí Minh always begins with the purpose and the intended audience to determine the content and form of a work. He consistently asks himself: 'Write for whom?', 'Write for what purpose?', then decides 'What to write?' and 'How to write?'. Therefore, the realism and adaptability of his literary work to life are highly commendable.

b. Literary Heritage
- Political Essays: Directly serving the purpose of political struggle throughout revolutionary periods. Hồ Chí Minh's political essays are written not only with keen intellect and sharp wit but also with the deep love, intense hatred, and profound sentiments of a great heart. Exemplary works include:
+ Verdict against the French colonial regime (1925, in French).
+ Declaration of Independence (1945)
+ Nationwide call for resistance (1946)
+ Nothing is more precious than independence, freedom (1966)
+ Testament (1969)

- Tales and Chronicles: Written during the time spent in France. Generally, these tales aim to expose the cruel atrocities, the inherently brutal and cunning nature of colonialists and reactionary lackeys towards the laboring people of colonial countries, while elevating patriotic and revolutionary examples. Representative works include:
+ Lamentation of Trưng Trắc (1922)
+ Man who knew the smell of gunpowder (1922)
+ Journey on foot (1923)
+ Entertaining stories like Va-ren and Phan Bội Châu (1925)
+ Sinking ship diary (1931)....
– Poetry: The most prominent field in Người's literary career.
+ Prison Diary (1942 – 1943; in Han script, 133 poems)
+ Hồ Chí Minh's Poems (86 Vietnamese poems)
+ Hồ Chí Minh's Han-script Poems (36 poems)

3. Artistic Style
- Hồ Chí Minh's artistic style is both unique and diverse. Overall, in each literary genre, from political essays, tales, and chronicles to poetry, Hồ Chí Minh creates distinctive, unique, captivating, and enduring styles.
+ Political Essays: Revealing sophisticated thinking, rich cultural knowledge; theoretical discussions linked to practicality; rich in polemical content; effectively applying various expressive methods.
+ Tales and Chronicles: Proactive and innovative in writing techniques; clearly manifesting intellectual qualities and modernity.
+ Poetry: Diverse styles. When in classical poems, profound and subtle, using many classical allusions, reaching high artistic standards. In modern poems, exploring practical issues specific to human life, flexibly employing various poetic forms, directly serving revolutionary missions.
– In summary, regardless of the subject, genre, or language used, Hồ Chí Minh's works are always concise, simple, clear, embodying steel-like qualities, a revolutionary spirit of high optimism, a broad humanitarian heart, all moving towards revolution, light, joy, and life.

II. THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WORKS

1. Genesis of the Declaration
On August 19, 1945, power in the capital Hanoi returned to our people. On August 23, 1945, in Hue, in front of tens of thousands of our compatriots, King Bao Dai abdicated. On August 25, 1945, nearly a million people in Saigon - Cholon rose up to seize power. In less than 10 days, the August Revolution and the Revolution of August shone brilliantly.
In late August 1945, at the house number 48 Hang Ngang Street, Hanoi, leader Ho Chi Minh drafted the Declaration of Independence. On September 2, 1945, at Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi, He, representing the temporary Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, read the Declaration of Independence before tens of thousands of our compatriots, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, ushering in a new era of independence and freedom.

2. Structure
- Part 1 (from the beginning to... 'irrefutable by anyone'): establishes the legal basis and righteousness of the Declaration of Independence.
- Part 2 (continuing to '...in Yen Bai and Cao Bang'): denounces the crimes of the French colonialists against our people for over 80 years and the process of our people's struggle for independence.
- Part 3 (remaining): declares the end of the colonial regime, abolishes all privileges of France on Vietnamese soil, affirms the right to independence, freedom, and the determination to protect the nation's independence.

3. Values in Content and Artistry
a) Content.
- The Declaration of Independence is a document of great historical significance and literary value.
- Bác wrote the Declaration not just for the people and an abstract world but also not merely to declare independence. The global audience here primarily refers to the French, British, and Chinese.
- Therefore, at the beginning of the Declaration, Bác states the general principle: all people and nations have equal rights, the right to live, the right to freedom, and the right to pursue happiness. Presenting this principle helps prevent clever objections from these nations against the Declaration. Based on the application and extension of this principle, the author strongly affirms the right to independence and freedom of the Vietnamese people as well as of all nations worldwide. This is a logical, convincing, and persuasive assertion.
- Based on objective facts: Hồ Chí Minh accused the French colonialists of their undeniable atrocities. For over 80 years, the French colonialists abused the banner of freedom, equality, and humanity to seize our country, oppress our people economically, politically, socially, culturally. Their actions were contrary to justice and the principles laid down by their own ancestors. They sowed a series of extremely brutal crimes: economic exploitation, suppression in all aspects—economic, political, social, cultural—and, in five years, they sold our country twice to the Japanese, leading to the tragedy of over two million of our compatriots dying of hunger throughout provinces and cities from the North to the Central..
- On subjective grounds: the struggle of our people. Bác made it clear that France had sold our country to Japan. Therefore, we ended relations with France; France ran away, Japan followed. Our people overthrew the colonial regime, establishing an independent Vietnam; King Bao Dai abdicated. Our people overthrew the feudal regime, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

b) Artistry
- The Declaration of Independence demonstrates the admirable writing prowess of the author, including: sharp and tightly argued reasoning, justified viewpoints, a majestic writing style containing profound truths, and highly persuasive language that is concise, clear, and simple... the Declaration deserves to be a heroic literary work in the modern era.

B. ANSWERING QUESTIONS, EXERCISES
Analyzing the poem Evening Shadows (Grave) in the Diary in Prison to clarify the unique harmony between the classical and modern styles of Ho Chi Minh's poetry.
Suggested approach
- Ho Chi Minh's Prison Diary was written from August 29, 1942, to September 10, 1944, when He was arbitrarily imprisoned by the Tuong Gioi Thach regime, spreading across the labor camps in Guangxi, China. Among the 133 poems in the collection, Evening Shadows is considered one of the representative works showcasing President Ho Chi Minh's modern Duong Luat style.
- Evening Shadows is composed in the form of a poem with seven words per line and four lines per verse. The original poem reads as follows:

Entwined birds soar in a realm of peace,
Thin clouds drift leisurely across the vast sky.
The mountain village lacks maidens, ghosts fill the void,
Ghosts fill the void, red blossoms adorn the path.

- The poem is ranked 31st in the Prison Diary. Immediately following it is poem number 32, 'Night's Sleep in Long Tuyen.' Thus, we can determine that the poem was created in October 1942, while Bác was on the way from Thien Bao to Long Tuyen.
- Tired birds seek a resting place in the forest / Cloud clusters float lightly in the expansive sky. These two lines depict classical beauty: the author uses a minimalist approach to convey depth, portraying stillness in motion and extracting much from few words. By introducing two subjects, flying birds and drifting clouds against the vast sky, the poet evokes the soul of the scenery, the setting sun, the descending night, creating a sense of transition to a state of rest, fatigue...
- Flying birds, drifting clouds make the sky more expansive, the tranquil evening scene more peaceful. The evening scene carries a sense of yearning, reminiscent of a bird returning home in the poetry of Nguyen Du: 'Birds returning home chirp in the forest.'
- The last two lines feature an antithetical structure, with a slow, gentle rhythm and a faint sadness. A revolutionary soldier in exile, chained, gazes at the sky, following the scenery with a heavy heart. The exceptional depiction of the external scene subtly reveals the modern touch. The demeanor of a soldier, a poet before the beauty of nature, becomes apparent.

- The lonely cloud (she remains) drifting in the sky is a commonly used metaphor in classical poetry, evoking the loneliness and hardship of the exile on distant roads. The poetic language adopts the Ham Sucs style, describing landscapes with implied emotions, softly and gently, a style exceeding the classic norms.
- Initially, one might think that the poet focuses solely on describing the peaceful evening scenery in a foreign land. However, in reality, this also subtly hints at a hidden dream of a stopping place. The perspective here records the imprint of modernity: on the journey, as the landscape appears, the poet encounters a picturesque scene saturated with personal sentiments. The intertwining of classical and modern imprints is woven into the panoramic view, appearing fleeting, comfortable, and evoking a nostalgic mood of loneliness.
- The last two lines, A girl in the mountain hamlet grinds corn at night / The coal kiln has turned completely red, directly depict human life. The modern element is evident in the choice of poetic images: a girl working. This image is not a preferred aesthetic of classical poetry.
- The girl and the red kiln are the focal points of the labor picture. A youthful, simple drawing: the girl is grinding corn. The circular motion of the grinding mortar and the repetitive action of the girl are conveyed through the device of repeating phrases: The three words 'ghosts fill the void' at the end of the third line are echoed by 'filling the kiln with smoke' at the beginning of the fourth line. The meticulous labor of the girl in the mountain hamlet is felt and valued.
- After grinding corn, the coal kiln has turned completely red, warm. When night envelops, in the natural setting of the mountain hamlet, it is likely to be desolate, the red kiln provides warmth, and the light dispels the darkness.

- The imagery of a girl grinding corn and a coal kiln glowing red symbolizes a warm family home, contrasting with the solitude of exile. However, the poet's intent is to focus on that warmth rather than depict the loneliness and hardship of oneself. This reflects a broad humanitarian heart: the poet forgets personal pain to share in the joy and happiness of people in the peaceful homeland.
- The peace and tranquility also symbolize the revolutionary soldier's striving for his homeland. Turning to a scene of daily life, simple: a girl grinding corn, watching the fire, the kiln glowing red while burdened with heavy chains, released in the evening, the poet finds a bright future emerging. Loneliness, isolation, and coldness are dispelled before the serene labor scene.

- The portrayal of the girl grinding corn and the glowing red kiln is vibrant, warm, and youthful. Bác's sentimental style harmonizes classical, idealistic colors—predominantly in the first two lines—with the modern, youthful simplicity in the last two lines.
- 'Evening Shadows' was composed during dusk. The poetic scene is about to be enveloped in the shadow of the night, but somewhere, the red fire has been kindled, dispelling the chilly, desolate atmosphere of the mountains, restoring the simple rhythm of its inherent life. A future is unfolding. In the darkness, one sees the light of tomorrow. The author successfully connects with modern values within the eternal classical ones. The poem resembles a delicate painting of human life and the expansive soul of an artist soldier in a prison landscape.

C. PERSONAL COMMENTARY
1. Assessment of Ho Chi Minh's artistic style, the Grade 12 Literature textbook states: 'Ho Chi Minh has an extremely unique and diverse artistic style.' Please elaborate on this statement.
Suggested approach
- Ho Chi Minh created various genres: poetry, stories, essays, short stories.
- He used multiple languages in literary composition: Vietnamese, French, and Chinese. Each language has its own linguistic structure, creating richness and diversity in the expression style.
- The Han script poetry style has a classical charm, closely resembling poetry from the Tang and Song dynasties.
- His narrative and essay style from the 1920s in France bears the modern European mark.
- In poetry, Ho Chi Minh explored various forms: ballads, versification, aphoristic poems, proverbs ('To Farmers,' 'Advising Youth'), festive poems, classical love poems, and more.
- The poetic tone is both innocent and profound, delicately nuanced ('Late Evening'), profoundly classical, optimistic ('Early Departure').
- Stories and essays exhibit diverse writing styles. Sometimes modern (Wandering), sometimes employing a serialized novel approach.
- Political essays concentrate on the flexibility and diversity in Ho Chi Minh's persuasive writing style. The tone and words range from profound to passionate attack, from tender to mocking.
- Despite this diversity, everything converges into a consistent style: concise, profound, sophisticated,... towards the goal of revolutionary struggle, national liberation. Ho Chi Minh views literature as a vital weapon in the revolutionary cause: Now in poetry, there must be steel | Poets must also know how to advance.

2. What are the main contents of the 'Declaration of Independence'?
Suggested approach
- The quoting of the American Declaration of Independence and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen aims to assert major principles about human rights. Our nation's right to independence and freedom aligns with international law, similar to France and America.
- This quoting seeks to utilize the 'a stick to beat the master' effect as Western countries conspire to invade our nation again, especially the French colonialists. Placing our Declaration of Independence on par with the Declarations of those two powers, the author aims to affirm the value and significance of our nation's liberation revolution.
- The purpose of the Declaration of Independence is to announce to the fellow countrymen and the world about the right to independence and freedom of Vietnam.
- Presenting reasoning and evidence to refute the enemy's rhetoric:
+ Public denial of colonialism.
+ Accusation of the true nature of so-called 'protection.'
+ Affirmation that the Vietnamese seized independence from the Japanese, not the French.
- Our nation has the right to enjoy independence because we stood with the Allies against fascism, showing humanity towards even the French colonialists despite their brutal repression of Viet Minh political prisoners.
- The Declaration of Independence is an outstanding political discourse, with a tight structure, logical, forceful argumentation, heroic, accusing the enemy's crimes, and affirming the just sovereignty of the Vietnamese people.

3. Present the persuasive values of the 'Declaration of Independence.'
Suggested Approach:
- Through the 'Declaration of Independence,' President Ho Chi Minh expanded the territorial authority of the nation to the world. The voice of the 'Declaration of Independence' is a global voice, speaking not only for the Vietnamese people but also as a representative voice, a voice for all oppressed nations.
- Contrast, analogy, or metaphor are artistic techniques predominantly used in the 'Declaration of Independence.'
- Comparing the declarations of the United States, France with our 'Declaration of Independence' is an effective method. Our declaration doesn't just assert the independence and freedom of our nation like theirs, but it holds equal value.
- The primary contrast is reserved for French colonialists. The French enjoy specific benefits from their declaration of human rights, yet with those same 'rights,' they subject the Vietnamese people to slavery, imprisonment, and brutal death. Hence, 'their actions are entirely against humanity and justice.'
- Metaphor comparison is also a strength in the argumentative structure of the 'Declaration of Independence.' Thanks to these implicit metaphors (such as the value of our independence echoing the independence values of France, the USA, etc.), the text has created intellectual depth, captivating readers at the profound layer of words, making every generation, every level of education, admire President Ho Chi Minh's sophisticated cultural reach.
- The listing technique is used very effectively. To counter the protective rhetoric of France, Ho Chi Minh lists all the essential aspects that France, in the name of protection, exploits to turn the Vietnamese people into slaves.
+ These include: political aspects (divide-and-rule policies to prevent unity and solidarity).
+ Education (more prisons than schools to weaken the spirit).
+ Health (opium, alcohol to debilitate the national physique).
+ Economy (resource plunder, preventing the rise of the native bourgeoisie)...
+ All aimed at comprehensively deteriorating the life of the Vietnamese people. This argumentative method exposes the crimes of French colonialists layer by layer, and the nation's suffering becomes 'escalated.'
- The repetition of sentence structure is also used. The most notable is the sentence: 'A nation that has gallantly resisted the yoke of French slavery for over 80 years, a nation that has staunchly stood with the Allies against fascism for many years, that nation must be free! That nation must be independent!.'
- Over 60 years have passed since President Ho Chi Minh read the 'Declaration of Independence' at Ba Dinh Square, yet that historic moment still burns hot in every word and sentence.
- With the 'Declaration of Independence,' the Vietnamese people have gained their unique voice, their unique face, and have obtained a powerful and sustainable internal motivation on the journey to independence, freedom, equality, and humanity.
- Moreover, many times our nation has become a symbol of the spirit of freedom, independence, of the lofty right to self-determination of progressive humanity on the globe.
- Today, the 'Declaration of Independence' continues to be a source of great encouragement, inspiring our nation on the path of construction and development of the Fatherland.

Compose the 'Declaration of Independence' - Author, brief 2

Question 1. Outline the main points regarding Hồ Chí Minh's views on literary and artistic composition. How has this perspective deepened your understanding of his poetry?