Crafting an exploration into the era of poetry, Literature 11 Connecting Intellectuals

Delving into the composition A bygone era in poetry

I. Preparation - A bygone era in poetry

* Tips for tackling the preparation section:

1. Have you ever found yourself torn between the allure of the new and the comfort of the old? Share your experience

I have a deep passion for shoes. Annually, I indulge in the purchase of 5-6 new pairs. Some only get the chance to grace my feet a couple of times. One day, I encountered a limited edition version of a pair I already owned. The unique color and design captivated me. Eager to make the purchase, a friend intervened, advising against it. They pointed out my abundance of footwear, emphasizing that the existing ones were still in excellent condition. Reflecting on this, I reconsidered and altered my shoe-buying habits.

2. Select and compare a poem from the modernist movement with one from the medieval period to uncover the distinguishing features

* A Comparative Analysis of Two Poems: 'Autumn has Arrived' by Xuân Diệu and 'Autumn Ode' by Nguyễn Khuyến:

- 'Autumn has Arrived':

+ Crafted in the Vietnamese script.

+ Permeating the poem is an unhidden melancholy, a poignant sentiment. The human figure appears weary, the scenery somewhat desolate and vacant. The entire poem carries the hues of sorrow.

- 'Autumn Ode':

+ Penned in Nôm characters.

+ Throughout the poem, a tranquil rural scene unfolds, desolate and quiet, with the poet leisurely fishing. The author's emotions seem subtly concealed, only revealing a nonchalant demeanor in the final two lines.

- The melancholy in Modernist Poetry is expressed overtly and directly. In contrast, in medieval poetry, sorrow is often nebulous, indistinct; one must scrutinize the verses and the emotional undertones to perceive it.

II. Reading Comprehension - Drafting an Essay on an Era in Poetry

* Suggestions for answering the reading comprehension questions:

1. Pay attention to the issue presented for discussion.

- Issue presented for discussion: The spirit of modern poetry.

2. Deciphering the Dilemma: What makes distinguishing between modern and traditional poetry challenging?

- Both modern and traditional poetry delve into common themes, exploring the mundane, the ordinary aspects of life, or crafting masterpieces.

3. Criteria outlined for distinguishing modern and traditional poetry?

The distinguishing criteria for modern and traditional poetry boil down to two words: 'I' and 'we'. Traditional poetry embodies the collective 'we', while modern poetry embraces the individualistic 'I'.

4. Take note of the author's reasoning approach.

- The author presents a clear, concise argument. Introducing the concepts of 'I' and 'we' for analysis, providing a streamlined, logical, and easily comprehensible perspective on the differences between the two poetic eras.

5. The emergence of the 'I' in Vietnamese literature.

- The advent of the 'I' in Vietnamese literature: Carrying a novel, perplexing, and somewhat alienating individualistic notion that unsettled many.

6. Diverse Manifestations of the 'I' in Modernist Poetry.

- Distinct manifestations of the 'I' in Modernist Poetry:

+ 'ascending to the celestial realms'

+ 'adventuring through the landscapes of emotion'

+ 'madly exhilarated'

+ 'intoxicated with passion'

+ 'dreamily melancholic'

7. Take note of the application of literary devices in persuasive discourse.

- Rhetorical device: 'Never before do they feel...'

- Purpose: Emphasizing the author's desire and love for the new poets.

III. After Reading - Drafting an Essay on an Era in Poetry

* Suggestions for answering post-reading questions:

Question 1 on page 89 of Literature Grade 11 Knowledge Connect - Volume 1:

- To elucidate the theme of 'the spirit of Modernist Poetry,' Hoài Thanh presented the following points:

+ The challenge of distinguishing between traditional and modern poetry.

+ Distinguishing criteria: 'Quality comparing with quality' and 'looking at the overall context.'

+ Recognizing the shift from 'In the past, the era of 'we,' to now, the era of 'I' in writing.'

+ The state of the 'self' (personal consciousness) upon its initial appearance in Vietnamese literature.

+ Various manifestations of the 'self' in the Modernist Poetry movement.

+ The significance of the 'self' in Modernist Poetry concerning poetic expression and contemporary society.

- These viewpoints are tightly interlinked, presented sequentially in a logical progression: Commencing with the current situation - Introducing distinguishing criteria - Identifying differences - Analyzing the state of the 'self' before the advent of Modernist Poetry - Clarifying manifestations of the 'self' in Modernist Poetry - Highlighting the significance of the 'self' in Modernist Poetry.

Question 2 on page 89 of Literature Grade 11 Knowledge Connect - Volume 1:

- The author's purpose in presenting the criteria for comparing modern and traditional poetry is to 'understand the spirit of poetry accurately.' This is because traditional poetry is not entirely flawed, and modern poetry is not exclusively composed of masterpieces. This serves as a foundation for the author to persuade readers to agree with interpretations of the 'spirit of Modernist Poetry' in a new era of Vietnamese poetry.

Question 3 on page 89 of Literature Grade 11 Knowledge Connect - Volume 1:

In this excerpt, Hoài Thanh eloquently and uniquely elucidated the concept of the 'self' through the use of highly expressive literary devices, such as:

- Employing the term 'I' to articulate the notion of personal consciousness, contrasting with the word 'we' representing the communal awareness of traditional poets.

- Utilizing personification, metaphor: 'it truly bewildered,' 'it seemed like an outsider,' 'numerous eyes found it discomforting,' 'it arrived alone,' 'known by countless acquaintances,'... to describe the state of personal consciousness upon its inception in Vietnamese literature.

- Employing an array of emotionally charged language to express the explorations and varied expressions of personal consciousness in Modernist Poetry: 'Our lives have lain within the 'I'... We dreamily return to our souls with Huy Cận.' This provides readers with a comprehensive view of the 'self' among representative Modernist Poets.

Question 4 on page 89 of Literature Grade 11 Knowledge Connect - Volume 1:

- In the text, the author utilized evidence quoted from renowned poets of the medieval period and Xuân Diệu - considered the 'newest' among the Modernist Poets:

+ Quoting verses from Xuân Diệu and poets of the previous century (Bà Huyện Thanh Quan, Hồ Xuân Hương) for comparison, illustrating the challenging differentiation between modern and traditional poetry.

+ Employing annotations to provide evidence illustrating the absence of the 'self' in traditional poetry (Segment about Cao Bá Nhạ), thereby elucidating the emotional contrast between modern and traditional poetry (Segment about Nguyễn Công Trứ).

- Carefully selected and logically presented evidence contributes to enhancing the persuasiveness of the interpretations in the essay.

Question 5 on page 89 of Literature Grade 11 Knowledge Connect - Volume 1:

- In the final passage, the author employs rhetorical devices and repeats the phrase structure 'Never before do they feel' to emphasize the unique states of emotion, mentality, and aspirations of the Modernist Poets, individuals who have shaped 'an era in poetry.' The author expresses confidence and encouragement towards the poets in the Modernist movement.

Question 6 on page 89 of Literature Grade 11 Knowledge Connect - Volume 1:

- My understanding of the Modernist Poetry movement through the essay:

+ Poets of the Modernist Poetry movement have expressed the 'self' in a rich and diverse manner.

+ The 'self' in Modernist Poetry is often melancholic, carrying many reflections.

- My understanding of Hoài Thanh's critical writing style through the text:

+ A well-structured and logically coherent system of ideas reflects a scientific and modern mindset.

+ Convincing and well-supported evidence.

+ The writing is expressive, not dry but rich in imagery and rhythm.

* Reading-Writing Connection: Hoài Thanh asserts that poets of the Modernist Poetry movement have 'poured their love for the homeland into the love for the Vietnamese language.' Write a paragraph (around 150 words) expressing your thoughts on this opinion.

Analyzing the statement from Nam Phong newspaper's owner, 'Truyện Kiều' persists, our language endures; our language endures, our nation endures, critic Hoài Thanh summarized that poets of the Modernist Poetry movement have 'poured their love for the homeland into the love for the Vietnamese language.' This is a precise observation. Readers can easily notice that although many Modernist poets were exposed to both Confucianism and Westernization, they all used the Vietnamese language - the national script to express their emotions in poems. The influence of those two civilizations is only reflected in the structure and artistry of the poems, not in the language the poets employ. Therefore, we see that Modernist authors are lovers of the Vietnamese language. Before the Revolution, they used Vietnamese to silently express their sorrow for the country. After the Revolution, they eagerly used Vietnamese to encourage the people, to fight, and to safeguard the nation.

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'An Era in Poetry' is a passage appreciated for its insightful and accurate observations on the Modernist Poetry movement. Study this text thoroughly to use it as foundational knowledge when analyzing other Modernist poetry works. You are also invited to refer to other sample essays compiled by the Mytour team, such as 'Crafting the Essay I Have a Dream, Vietnamese Literature Grade 11 Connecting Knowledge'; 'Crafting the Essay Cầu Hiền Chiếu, Vietnamese Literature Grade 11 Connecting Knowledge'.

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