Prompt: Contrasting the Scene of Writing with Crossing the Da River Falls
Sample Essay: Contrasting the Scene of Writing with Crossing the Da River Falls
Sample Essay: Contrasting the Scene of Writing with Crossing the Da River Falls
1. Introduction:
Introducing the author, the work, and the two scenes from the two Works:
-Nguyen Tuan is one of the most outstanding writers of modern Vietnamese literature. Before the Revolution, he was known as a famous romantic writer with works like 'Echoes of a Bygone Era' and 'Missing Homeland'... After the Revolution, his artistic inspiration stemmed from the new reality of life. He became a post-war writer, a revolutionary writer, passionately exploring and praising the beauty of the landscapes and the people of Vietnam in their labor and struggle: 'Pen of the Da River,' 'Our Hanoi Fights the Americans Well'.... In any stage of his creative career, Nguyen Tuan always captivates readers with his extraordinary writing talent. In his literary career, the short story 'The Prisoner's Writing' (from the collection 'Echoes of a Bygone Era' - written before the Revolution) and 'The Ferryman of the Da River' (from 'Pen of the Da River' - written during his actual trip to the Northwest in 1958) are two outstanding successes, representing the author's artistic style in two different creative periods. Particularly, the scene of writing and the scene of crossing the falls are considered the most beautiful prose in Vietnamese literature. Through them, we not only appreciate Nguyen Tuan's artistic talent but also witness the stability and innovation in the author's artistic style before and after the Revolution.
2. Problem Solving:
a/ Analyze the two scenes in the two works respectively
*Scene of Writing:
- Overview:
- Scene of Writing - 'an unprecedented scene'
+Calligraphy (the art of beautiful writing) is an elegant pastime reflecting the beauty of Eastern culture. It often takes place in study rooms or amidst picturesque landscapes, under clear skies with cool breezes, accompanied by tea, wine, and flowers... Yet here, the scene of writing unfolds in the dead of night, within the cramped, damp confines of a prison cell, where walls are adorned with cobwebs, and the floor is littered with mouse droppings and cockroach excrement... In stark contrast to this grim filthiness, stands the radiant glow of a torch, its smoke billowing like a house on fire, a pristine white silk cloth, a fragrant inkwell... truly an 'unprecedented scene' in terms of setting, time, and space.
+The posture of the person writing and receiving the writing is even more 'unprecedented': The writer is a condemned prisoner who will face the gallows at dawn, with shackles around his neck and feet, diligently applying fresh, vibrant strokes onto the pristine white silk still intact on the wooden plank. These cruel restraints accentuate the noble beauty and righteous, sacred actions of the writer. In contrast, the recipient, the prison warden, cowers, the poet trembles as he carries the ink pot.
+In this scene, many things defy the usual order: the prison - a domain of darkness, evil, and ugliness, becomes a place for artistic creation - giving birth to Beauty; the prisoner rises above the constraints of his chains to become an artist with intense artistic inspiration, he appears dignified, resolute, and dignified. This is the triumph of Beauty, nobility, and purity over the ugly, the evil, and the base amidst the prison, the victory of the sublime, the divine over the vile, the despicable.
+Two individuals in opposing positions become kindred spirits. Beauty brought them together, erasing the boundaries between prisoner and jailer, and replacing them with mutual respect. Recognizing true friendship, after finishing writing, Huấn Cao even helps the warden up and offers sincere, heartfelt advice: '...Warden, you should return to your village and live there. Leave this profession behind and only then think about playing with words. It's hard to maintain righteousness here, and eventually, it will lead to a decline in moral integrity. The prison warden, moved, clasps his hands together and bows to the prisoner: 'This humble one pays his respects.' Huấn Cao's demeanor reflects the cultural beauty and the shining spirit of camaraderie, his advice carries profound meaning: Beauty cannot coexist with evil, ugliness, the essence of righteousness is morality, and an artist enthralled by beauty must first preserve righteousness. Before departing from this world, Huấn Cao left behind these words of guidance with earnest hope that humanity would still uphold them today. This aspiration is not only confined to Huấn's time but remains relevant even today. It embodies Nguyen Tuan's aesthetic ideal of unity between Heart and Talent, between Goodness and Beauty.
CONCLUSION:
The passage has demonstrated Nguyen Tuan's mastery in constructing scenes, creating atmosphere, adopting a dignified and venerable tone, and employing contrastive techniques to establish a scene that truly is 'unprecedented.' The scene of writing is one of the most beautiful passages in modern Vietnamese literature, a shining contribution to the success of the work 'The Prisoner's Writing.' The scene of writing brings about a profound conclusion, endearing readers to a beauty inherent in the national culture, inspiring admiration for a talent, a lofty character, instilling in people an enduring belief in righteousness's triumph.
-Analyzing the scene of crossing the falls in 'The Ferryman of the Da River'
+The ferryman in the work is a laborer, representing the people of Northwest Vietnam in the endeavor to build a new life, while also being an artist in the art of crossing waterfalls and traversing rapids.
+To understand the extraordinary skill of the ferryman, we must first talk about the Da River - the entity he conquers. The author vividly describes the ferryman in stark contrast to the formidable natural force of the Da River - an incredibly lively character - bearing the appearance and temperament of humanity's foremost enemy (this appearance is manifested through treacherous terrain: rocky banks, rapids, whirlpools... Most formidable of all is its temperament demonstrated through cunningly laid traps with countless hidden rocks, floating stone fortresses, triple layers of interlocking stone defenses.
+To overcome such a skilled adversary, the ferryman requires extensive experience, courage, intelligence, and especially extraordinary talent...
Thorough understanding of the opponent is a crucial factor enabling the ferryman to take a proactive stance in the battle with the Da River. The scene of crossing the falls is the hottest focal point, an extremely fierce naval battle, full of tension, battlefield atmosphere, highlighting the beauty of the ferryman: the skilled laborer - talented artist.
(Focused analysis on the scene of crossing the falls: Breaking through the 3 layers of interlocking stone defenses)
+The battlefield atmosphere is evident right from the opening sentence of the scene of crossing the falls:
'As soon as the stone defenses were set up, the boat swiftly approached. Coordinated with the rocks, the roaring waterfall provided a backdrop for the stones.' A fierce melee ensued. 'The water surface roared, rushing in to snap the oars, waves as if armies risking their lives charging in.'...'At times, they even boarded the boat together'.... The waterfall waves delivered the deadliest blows, squeezing the boat tightly, causing the ferryman's boat to painfully twist and bend. Despite the danger, the ferryman still tried to suppress the wounds, firmly gripping the helm with his feet, calmly 'keeping both hands on the oars to prevent them from being swept away by the waves'. Still, he could hear the concise, alert commands of the helmsman, steering the boat away from danger. Thus, the first layer of interlocking stone defenses was broken.
+However, the battle did not stop there but intensified with each passing moment. Without a moment's rest, the second encirclement had to be broken, and tactics had to be changed. Thanks to his extensive experience, he firmly grasped the tactics of the river and stone gods, mastering the guerrilla warfare laws of the stone floodwaters in this treacherous watercourse:
The second interlocking stone layer adds more lethal traps to deceive the boat, with life-saving opportunities arranged off-center towards the near bank: 'The roaring waterfall is raging fiercely on the rocky river'. The ferryman initiates the attack by 'firmly grasping the wave bow in the right direction' and directs the boat 'swiftly into the life-saving channel, steering straight towards the rocky gate'. Some stone defenders, 'he avoids and swims up', while others are 'pressed down and split in half to clear the way forward'. In the end, he triumphs while the stone generals suffer a humiliating defeat, 'grimacing with disappointment on their pale green faces'.
The third interlocking layer, both right and left, are 'death currents'. Moreover, a 'living stream is arranged right in the midst of the stone rearguard'. The ferryman strategizes to 'launch the boat straight, puncturing through the central gate', then guides the boat 'soaring through the open and closing rocky gates'. 'The boat is like a swift bamboo arrow piercing through the water vapor, maneuvering automatically as it pierces through'. Thus ends the falls. It's truly a masterpiece beyond words. The skill of ferrying through the rapids places him among the ancient and unparalleled masters! It's only at this point in reading that one feels overwhelmed, exhaling with relief.
-SUMMARY:
-The passage harnesses the power of observation, imagination, association, various rhetorical devices, comparisons, contrasts, rich language, vivid imagery, and interdisciplinary knowledge, particularly military and martial arts. The author creates a highly dramatic battle scene, evoking intense feelings. The mighty, ferocious, and cunning River Da clashes with the small, nimble ferry, but with extraordinary wit and skill. A series of strong verbs express the fury of the River Da: (roaring, surging, grabbing, beating, overturning, seizing, pushing, steering, dodging, flipping, squeezing...); in opposition, the ferry maneuvers boldly, tightly grasping, speeding, steering, pressing down, splitting apart, puncturing through... The dense verb density describes a series of consecutive, vigorous actions, leaving the reader breathless until the end. The scene of crossing the falls can be considered the finest passage in the epic praising the outstanding courage and intelligence of the working people.
b/ Contrasting the two scenes to reveal the stability and new perspective in Nguyen Tuan's artistic style before and after the August Revolution:
-Stability:
The artistic talent of Nguyen Tuan's style through the two scenes:
+Exploring the objects from the aspect of cultural aesthetics, and the people from the aspect of artistic talent. Both character images: Huấn Cao and the ferryman are talented artists. Despite being in different periods, different social classes, and doing different jobs, they are both subjects of beauty in Nguyen Tuan's literature (Huấn Cao in the calligraphy scene appears with the beauty of calligraphy art, of morality, and dignity; the ferryman in crossing the rapids is portrayed through skillful steering).
+Nguyen Tuan's versatility is demonstrated through his extensive knowledge in various fields: culture, history, geography, film, painting, military, martial arts... Both scenes provide readers with valuable and interesting knowledge.
+Particularly inspired by scenes evoking intense emotions, he is a writer of profound sentiments, conveying powerful feelings. Through contrasting techniques, he intensifies impressive scenes. In the calligraphy scene, he presents characters in the dark prison environment, while in the rapids scene, he portrays the small ferry conquering the fierce Da River.
+With rich, accurate, and evocative language, his writing is meticulously crafted. His language is versatile and he is hailed as a language wizard. In both scenes, he affirms his mastery of language.
-New Perspective:
In the scene where the old man seeks the beauty that once echoed in the past, transcending mortal realms, amidst the waterfall, he has discovered and praised the beauty in the tangible life of our nation, the laboring people. In the past, he wielded his extraordinary talent to resist and deny the dark reality, but now, he employs it to seek out and affirm the beauties in the new societal landscape (gold).
- Expansion - elevation: (explaining the significance of this change?)
The changing realities of life bring the writer a fresh perspective, new wellsprings of inspiration, especially under the leadership of the Party, defining the duty of the pen wielder. Love for the homeland, belief in the endeavor to construct a new life, merged with the passion for artistic creativity - all of these elements forge Nguyen Tuan into a talented artist, a pride of Vietnamese literature.
""""""END""""""
After comparing the scene of writing with the scene of crossing the Da River waterfall, you can delve into analyzing the romantic writing techniques in The Script of the Death Row Inmate or refer to impressions of the scene where Huấn Cao hands over the script to the final prison warden to strengthen your understanding.