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Reading Comprehension Exercise: Celestial Sentinel (Vietnamese Mythology), Literature Class 10 - Sky Drifter
Preparation for Celestial Sentinel Study - Literature Class 10, Sky Drifter
I. Preparation
1. Explore additional information about Vietnamese mythology from various sources; select and jot down some key information about Vietnamese mythology.
Response:
- Some key information about Vietnamese mythology:
+ Mythology comprises fantastical tales and imaginations of deities, heroic figures, and cultural creators, reflecting ancient human perceptions and interpretations of phenomena in the natural and societal realms.
+ Based on themes, mythology can be categorized into two groups: myths about the origin of the universe and all creatures (myths of creation) and myths about the conquest of nature, cultural innovation (creative myths).
+ Plot: Linear plotline.
+ Main characters of mythology are deities or individuals with divine origins, possessing supernatural abilities, often depicted in colossal forms or with extraordinary strength.
+ The role of characters in mythology is to elucidate and interpret natural phenomena and societal life, reflecting the beliefs and enduring spiritual aspirations of ancient humans.
+ The space in mythology encompasses the universe.
+ Time is ephemeral, imbued with mythical qualities.
2. Have you read any Vietnamese myths? Recall them to share with the class.
Response:
- I have read the Vietnamese myth 'The Legend of the Twelve Midwives.'
- Synopsis: In the story, the twelve midwives are deities tasked by the Jade Emperor with reshaping the body of an individual upon their birth. Each midwife has a specific role, such as molding limbs, teaching speech and laughter, imparting knowledge of vital energy, etc. They teach laughter while still in the cradle.
📝Analysis of Heavenly Pillar - Literature Grade 10 - Sky Kite
II. Reading Comprehension
1. Pay attention to the context when the deity appears.
- Time: indeterminate, unclear.
- Space: The sky is depicted as chaotic, dark, and chilly.
2. What does the deity do?
- Actions of the Heavenly Pillar deity:
+ Rises up, uses the head to lift the sky, digs the earth with hands, stones; constructs a column both large and tall to support the sky.
+ Destroys the stone column, throws stones and soil everywhere.
3. What purpose does the narrator's explanation manifest in?
- The purpose of the narrator's explanation is manifested in the following details:
+ 'When the sky was just right and had dried up, somehow the deity broke the stone pillar'.
+ 'The deity threw stones and earth everywhere'.
=> Purpose: to explain the division of land and the formation of various geographical features including: mountains, hills, plateaus, rivers, seas.
Preparing the essay on Sky Pillar Deity (Vietnamese mythology), Literature class 10, Kite
III. Answering the questions
1. List the main events that the Sky Pillar Deity has done. Which event is related to the meaning of the title Sky Pillar Deity?
- The main events performed by the Sky Pillar Deity:
+ Using the head to touch the sky, using the hand to dig soil and stones to build a tall pillar.
+ Breaking the pillar, throwing soil and stones everywhere.
- The event related to the meaning of the title is: the Sky Pillar Deity using the head to touch the sky, using the hand to dig soil and stones to build a tall pillar.
2. Analyze the rich imagination of the people shown through some wild, fantastical details in this text.
- The rich imagination of the people is depicted through some wild, fantastical details in the text:
+ 'A giant deity whose body is immense beyond measure, each step seeming to traverse from one mountain peak to another.'
+ 'The deity dwells amidst the murky chaos, a tumultuous mess of unknown origin, then suddenly rises up, using the head to touch the sky, hands to dig soil and stones; shaping a column both large and tall to support the heavens.'
+ 'When the sky was perfectly high and dry, somehow the deity broke the stone pillar. The deity hurled stones and earth everywhere.'
=> The people utilize their rich imagination to explain nature.
3. What phenomena does the story 'Sky Pillar Deity' aim to explain? How is that explanation similar to and different from the myths learned in grade 6 such as 'Saint Giong,' 'The Legend of Hoan Kiem Lake,'...?
- The story 'Sky Pillar Deity' aims to explain the formation of the sky, earth, and the reason why various geographical features such as mountains, plateaus, plains, oceans, the relic of the Heaven Supporting Column, or the Khong Lo Mountain (Giant Mountain) appear.
- Compare with myths learned in grade 6:
+ Similarity: both involve elements of wild and fantastical tales.
=> Reflect the rich imagination of the folkloric author
+ Difference:
4. Illustrate or describe through words the image of the Sky Pillar Deity according to your imagination.
Students describe based on their own imagination.
Suggestion:
According to your imagination and creativity, the Sky Pillar Deity is a figure of immense size with extraordinary strength. Amidst the chaos of humanity, with a colossal body and immense power, the deity used the head to touch the sky and hands to shape the earth into a column tall and wide enough to support the heavens. After the earth and sky were clearly divided, the deity broke the pillar and scattered soil and stones everywhere, creating various geographical features on Earth which later became known as mountains, hills, plateaus, rivers, and seas.
5. In the conclusion, the story mentions seven deities associated with explaining the origins of objects and natural phenomena. According to your imagination, is there another deity besides those mentioned in the conclusion? What is the name of that deity?
Answer:
- According to your imagination, there is another deity besides the ones mentioned in the conclusion, namely the Thunder deity, Wind deity, Rain deity, Sun deity, Fire deity, and Sea deity.
The Sky Pillar Deity belongs to the group of primordial deities, telling the origin of the universe and all species. Through the process of reading and understanding, what makes you love and impressed with the work? Wishing you all good study and high achievement!
Other exemplary literature compositions for grade 10:
- Composing 'Ramayana Accusation' (Extract from the Ramayana Epic by Valmiki), Literature class 10, Kite
- Composing Vietnamese Language Practice Lesson 1, Literature class 10, Kite
