Composing an Overview of Vietnamese Literature from the Onset of the August 1945 Revolution to the End of the 20th Century
A. FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE
1. Common Characteristics of Vietnamese Literature from 1945 to the End of the 20th Century:
- From 1945 to the end of the 20th century, Vietnamese literature is divided into two major periods:
+ From 1945 to 1975.
+ From 1975 to the end of the 20th century.
- The August 1945 revolution gave birth to a new literary era marked by the following major characteristics:
+ Embracing ideals of independence and freedom.
+ Advocating socialist goals.
+ Cultivating a new generation of writers: writer-soldiers.
2. Literature from 1945 to 1975
a) Significant events unfolded in our country:
– A thirty-year struggle for national liberation.
– The endeavor to construct a new life and a new society in the North, later expanding nationwide.
– Liberation of the South in 1975, leading to national reunification.
b) The literary landscape from 1945 to 1975 is divided into three main stages:
– From 1945 to 1954: the years of resistance against the French.
- From 1955 to 1964: the years of building socialism in the North and the struggle for national unity.
- From 1965 to 1975: the years of resistance against U.S. imperialism.
– Additionally, during this period, there is literature in the temporarily occupied areas, namely literature under the colonial regime (both old and new).
c) From 1945 to 1975, liberated-zone literature achieved notable content and accomplishments as outlined below:
d) From 1945 to 1975, Vietnamese literature exhibits the following fundamental characteristics:
- Literary trends primarily align with revolutionary ideals, deeply connected to the nation's common destiny.
+ Emphasis on revolutionary ideology, viewing literature as a weapon in the revolutionary cause.
+ Focus on Homeland themes: defending the country, struggling for the liberation of the South, and national reunification.
+ Central figures are armed forces personnel.
+ Homeland and socialist society become significant sources of inspiration.
+ High regard for labor and praise for the virtuous qualities of laborers – the new individuals.
– Literature turns toward the masses.
+ A new perspective, a dominant inspiration is formed: The nation belongs to the people.
+ Expressing the hardships of oppressed, impoverished laborers.
+ Concentrating on constructing the revolutionary mass image.
+ Mostly short works, easily understandable content, and clear themes.
– Literature predominantly leans towards epic and romantic inspirations.
+ Touching on the collective fate of the community, the entire nation; literature of patriotism and heroism.
+ Idealized characters are representatives of the community, embodying the high virtues of the entire community.
+ Language is adorned with praise, dignity, and magnificence.
+ Romantic inspiration mainly expressed in affirming the ideal aspect of the new life, praising revolutionary heroism, and trusting in the bright future of the nation.
3. Literature from 1975 to the end of the 20th century
a) Notable points in the historical, social, and cultural context of Vietnam:
- The year 1975 marked the victorious end of the war against U.S. imperialism.
- The following decade faced numerous challenges, especially economic difficulties.
- In 1986, the country entered the renovation period. The economy gradually shifted towards a market economy, and culture had the opportunity to interact extensively with various cultures worldwide.
b) Achievements in Vietnamese literature from 1975 to the end of the 20th century:
- Literature moved towards democratization, embracing a profound humanistic and humane essence.
- Poetry tended to delve into personal life, exploring issues related to individuality and the complexities of the spiritual realm.
4. Fundamental limitations of Vietnamese literature from 1945 to the end of the 20th century
- Before 1975, literature, serving the public, sometimes displayed simplicity in form, lacked high artistic qualities, featured less diverse and didn't keep pace with the global literary trends.
- Since 1986, with the development of the market economy, many writers, driven by economic motives, chased after mundane tastes, lacking integrity.
- Overall, in terms of expressive form, our literature is currently lagging behind compared to global literature trends.
Viet Bac is a prominent lesson in Week 8 of the Grade 12 Literature textbook. Students need to prepare for the lesson, read the content in advance, and answer the questions in the textbook.
B. ANSWERING QUESTIONS, EXERCISES
In the poem 'Accepting the Road,' Nguyen Dinh Thi expresses: 'Literature serves the resistance, but it is the resistance that brings a new vitality to our literature. The fires of the battlefield are forging our new literature.'
Share your thoughts on the above opinion,
1. The opinion comprises two main points:
+ Literature serving the resistance.
+ The resistance provides material to form a new literary era.
2. Develop the main points:
* Literature serving the resistance:
- In the intense resistance period against French colonialism, choosing the direction for literature was a crucial task. The concept of literature as 'art' or 'humanity' is not easily distinguishable for every artist.
- Faced with the urgent need to defend independence, genuine literature must bear responsibility towards the Motherland. Therefore, it is natural for literature to serve that resistance.
- Literature becomes a weapon in the struggle to protect independence. Literary works must aim for that goal, and every writer is a soldier on the front lines against the enemy.
– This is the right path that any patriotic citizen must follow. Writers or artists may not directly wield guns against the enemy, but their works will be an effective weapon to expose their crimes, timely praise the heroic fights of our army and people to encourage and cheer everyone towards victory.
b) The resistance as the foundation of the new literary era:
* The resistance provides material for forming a new literary era in two ways:
+ Writers originating or growing up from the resistance. They are the creative subjects. Without writer-soldiers, there would be no combat literature.
+ The resistance also provides events, details, people, etc., for literature. This is a fantastic reality, an endless source nurturing art.
+ Literature originates from life and serves life. From this principle of existence, we see that the reality of the resistance is the foundation, the driving force for the birth of a new literary era. A literature with a high combat spirit is formed. Literature serves the struggle effectively.
3. Conclusion
- In the era when the nation puts all efforts into the struggle for national liberation, literature also develops in that general trend.
– Only by closely adhering to the vibrant combat life reality of the nation can new literature exist and thrive.
- The nation's spirit brings a heroic atmosphere to literature. In turn, literature contributes to the overall victory of the nation.
