Crafting an ode to Côn Sơn by Nguyễn Trãi

Crafting the Ballad of Côn Sơn on page 78 of Literature Grade 7 Volume 1 

COMPOSING: BALLAD OF CÔN SƠN (SHORT 1)

Structure:
- Part 1 (First 4 lines): Côn Sơn's natural scenery
- Part 2 (Last 4 lines): Humanity amidst Côn Sơn's nature

Writing guide:
Question 1 (page 80 Literature Grade 7 Volume 1):
- The poetry form in the Côn Sơn excerpt is hexameter and octameter.
- Hexameter consists of a six-syllable line followed by an eight-syllable line, with the last word of the six-syllable line rhyming with the eight-syllable line, and vice versa for the next pair.

Question 2 (page 80 Literature Grade 7 Volume 1):
a. The character is Nguyễn Trãi.
b. The portrayal of the character depicts a relaxed individual immersed in the scenery of Côn Sơn.
Listening to the stream as if enjoying the sound of a musical instrument.
Sitting on the rock like sitting on a soft mat, lying under the shade to contemplate poetry leisurely.
c. The simile emphasizes that the character is:
- A lover of music and deeply connected to it.
- Enamored with nature, immersing oneself in it.

Question 3 (page 80 Literature Grade 7 Volume 1):
Together with the character's image, the scene of Côn Sơn is described through details:
+ The stream flows murmuringly (Côn Sơn, the stream flows murmuringly)
+ There are moss-covered rocks (Côn Sơn has moss-covered rocks)
+ There is a green bamboo forest (In the forest, there is a shadow of green bamboo)
+ There is shade (Find a shaded place, lie down and relax)
The scene of Côn Sơn is a picturesque, serene, and tranquil natural landscape, a scenic place for poets to contemplate leisurely.

Question 4 (page 80 Literature Grade 7 Volume 1):
The image of the poet contemplating poetry leisurely in the cool green shade of bamboo shadows is a delightful image. It shows a perfect harmony between human and landscape.
Nguyễn Trãi in Côn Sơn is a person with high morality, a poet's soul, living according to the philosophy of being both a noble person and a poet.

Question 5 (page 81 Literature Grade 7 Volume 1):
Repetition of the figure of speech in the poetry excerpt: the figure of speech 'repetition' is used five times.
Function: creates a leisurely and unrestricted tone for the poetry excerpt.

PRACTICE
Question 1 (page 81 Literature Grade 7 Volume 1):Compare the similes of the stream by Nguyễn Trãi and Hồ Chí Minh.
Similarities:
+ Both images are products of the poetic soul capable of harmonizing with nature.
+ Both poets accept the stream as if it were a musical instrument.
Differences: one stream harmonizes with a musical instrument, the other stream is likened to a song.

COMPOSING: BALLAD OF CÔN SƠN (SHORT 2)

Question 1 (page 80 Literature Grade 7 Volume 1):
The poem is written in hexameter: it must have at least one pair of six (hexameter) and eight (octameter) lines. Rhyming pattern: the last word of the sixth line rhymes with the sixth word of the eighth line, and the last word of the eighth line rhymes with the last word of the sixth line.

Question 2 (page 80 Literature Grade 7 Volume 1):
The excerpt has five uses of the figure of speech 'ta':
a. The character is a poet.
b. The character's image and soul: a person who loves and harmonizes with nature, a poet with a free spirit, and high morality.
c. The simile shows the character's love for nature. It also demonstrates the poet's subtlety and imagination.

Question 3 (page 80 Literature Grade 7 Volume 1):
The scene of Côn Sơn is incredibly beautiful, resembling a painting, rich, gentle, and quiet through details like “the stream flows murmuringly,” “moss-covered rocks,” “bamboo trees growing like a screen,” “shady shade,” especially with the poet “contemplating poetry leisurely.”

Question 4* (page 80 Literature Grade 7 Volume 1):
The image of contemplating poetry leisurely in the cool green shade of bamboo shadows is the portrait of the poet Nguyễn Trãi in Côn Sơn. This image is reminiscent of the saints and scholars often found in ancient literature, living peacefully and harmoniously with nature, like someone from another world.

Question 5 (page 81 Literature Grade 7 Volume 1):
- Repetition of several figures of speech in the poetry excerpt: Côn Sơn – 2 times, 'ta' (I) – 5 times, 'như' (like) – 3 times, 'có' (there is) – 2 times.
- The function of these figures of speech in creating the tone of the poetry excerpt: highlights the character and the beauty of nature, creating a gentle, melodious, and flexible tone for the poem.

PRACTICE
Question 1 (page 81 Literature Grade 7 Volume 1):
- Similarities: rooted in and expressing a love for nature, using the comparison method.
- Differences: Nguyễn Trãi compares to the sound of a musical instrument, Hồ Chí Minh compares to singing.