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1. Essay Draft 1
2. Essay Draft 2
Exploring Kiều's experience at the Ngưng Bích tower, excerpted from 'The Tale of Kieu' by Nguyễn Du
Preparing an analysis of Kiều's experience at the Ngưng Bích tower, excerpted from 'The Tale of Kieu' by Nguyễn Du, Brief 1
Kiều at Ngưng Bích Tower (Excerpted from 'The Tale of Kieu')
Section 1:
- The phrase “lock of spring” suggests that Kiều at Ngưng Bích tower is essentially in captivity.
- The six-word line evokes an eerie ambiance: “All around vast and distant.” The scene of “distant mountains,” “near moon” conjures the image of Ngưng Bích tower amidst the vast expanse of sky and water.
- The phrase “morning clouds, evening lamps” evokes a cyclical, enclosed time.
Section 2:
- Initially, Kiều remembers Kim Trọng. This not only aligns with psychological norms but also demonstrates the subtlety of Nguyễn Du's pen.
- Next, Kiều recalls her parents. Thinking of her dear ones, Kiều feels affection and sorrow. She cherishes her parents in the morning, in the evening leans on the door awaiting news of her child, yearning for solace. She is saddened by her parents' old age and frailty, unable to care for them herself and presently uncertain who will look after them.
Section 3: Indeed, the scene at Ngưng Bích tower is viewed through Kiều's emotions: scenes from afar to near, colors from pale to bold, sounds from calm to dynamic, sorrows from melancholy, confusion to anxiety, fear. The wind whips her face and the sound of waves echoes around her seat, a terrifying scene, as if heralding the stormy fate that will rise, push, and crush Kiều's life.
Preparing an analysis of Kiều's experience at the Ngưng Bích tower, excerpted from 'The Tale of Kieu' by Nguyễn Du, Brief 2
Structure:
-Section 1: First 6 lines: Setting of Ngưng Bích Tower
-Section 2: Next 8 lines: Kiều's homesickness for her family and Kim Trọng
-Section 3: Last 8 lines: Kiều's emotional state depicted through the natural scenery
Essay Draft:
Section 1 (page 95 Literature Class 9 Volume 1): Natural scenery in front of Ngưng Bích Tower
-Space: “Distant mountains, near moon,” vast and expansive, golden sandbars: The space is described from high, distant, wide perspectives. The space in front of Ngưng Bích Tower is vast, expansive, distant from the mortal realm.
-Time: Time is depicted through “morning clouds, evening lamps,” moonlight. Kiều always stays up late, wakes up early due to a nagging, regretful feeling for her life
-Words describing emotions: desolation, spring's lock: Through this, we see Kiều is in a situation of confinement, separated from the outside world. She feels pity, shame for her own fate.
Section 2 (page 95 Literature Class 9 Volume 1):
a, In that situation Kiều remembered her family and remembered Kim Trọng. She remembered Kim Trọng first, remembered her parents later. Remembering like this is reasonable because before Kiều was sold, Kim Trọng did not know. She betrayed Kim Trọng's sincerity, fearing that he was waiting and searching for her. Remembering parents later because of pity for parents at home without anyone caring, sick without anyone waking them up
b,
- Remembering Kim Trọng: Expressed through vows under the moonlight, through pity for Kim Trọng's wasted waiting. Especially expressed through the phrase “a piece of vermilion”: Kiều wants to affirm to Kim Trọng her own heart, fearing he might think she is unfaithful
- Remembering parents: Expressed through the phrase “leaning against the door,” “warm and cold fan” worried about parents standing at the door waiting for her every day, no one at home to take care of them, wake them up
Section 3 (page 96 Literature Class 9 Volume 1):
a, The scenery here is described through Kiều's emotions. Nguyễn Du used poetic techniques to describe the sentimental scenery. Through each pair of verses, different memories are expressed: the first 2 lines she remembers her parents, the next 2 lines she remembers her lover, the last 2 lines she pities her own fate.
b, Nguyễn Du used phrases like “sadly waiting” to express Kiều's weary, sorrowful anticipation for news from her family and lover. The sorrow is profound, vast, lonely, and tragic.
Nguyễn Du employs words like “far away, bustling, green” to depict Kiều's mood. The melancholic mood prevails. In the last 2 lines, the author uses the term “bustling” to foretell an impending obstacle in Kiều's life.
EXERCISES
- Describing sentimental scenery is a characteristic technique of medieval literature in general, and of Nguyễn Du's pen in particular, with the mechanism of describing scenes to reveal human emotions, describing scenes to speak of love rather than just painting purely scenic pictures.
- The art of describing sentimental scenery in the last eight lines of verse. All eight lines serve to depict Kiều's lost, lonely, and anxious mood regarding her own fate.
Continue reading other lessons to excel in Grade 9 Literature
- Enhance Vocabulary Assignment
- Compose Essay Exercise 2, Autobiographical Writing
