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THE TALE OF TENDER GRAIN: GREEN RICE FLAKES
I. GUIDANCE ON READING AND UNDERSTANDING TEXTS
Read the text slowly several times to begin to feel the delicate and profound sentiment of Thach Lam's writing; pay attention to the (*) footnotes to grasp the author and the genre, which is an expressive form of literature, rich in imagery and sentiment. These two aspects will facilitate your reading and understanding of the text.
1. General Understanding of the Text. Consider the following three aspects:
a) What is the text about? - A Gift of Tender Rice: Green Rice Flakes.
b) What expressive methods are used? - Description, narration, commentary, but most prominently, expression, directly conveying the author's emotions, which permeate the descriptions, comments, and narrations (you can provide evidence from the text to support this).
c) How many sections are there? Thach Lam's essay follows a free-flowing emotional and associative pattern, yet remains coherent. You can discern this pattern through the following three sections:
+ Section 1: The opening passage until 'the dragon boat...'. Evokes the scent of green rice, reminiscent of the formation of rice flakes.
+ Section 2: From 'Green rice flakes are a distinctive gift' to 'modest and gentle': Discovers and praises the multifaceted value of green rice flakes - particularly its cultural value.
+ Section 3: The remaining part: Discusses the enjoyment of green rice flakes with profound meanings.
2. How does the author begin the article with 'Forbidden' and what expressive value does it hold?
The opening is natural and evocative: inspiration drawn from the scent of lotus leaves in the summer breeze drifting over the lotus area of the lake. The fragrance of lotus leaves recalls the flavor of rice flakes - a special gift of the green rice season - which is apt and poetic, as these are all pure flavors of nature, of earth and sky, closely intertwined (lotus leaves used to wrap rice flakes are as naturally occurring as the author mentioned in the closing paragraph). The cool, refreshing scent of young rice blooms is described delicately and evocatively with a genuine appreciation: 'In those green husks, there is a drop of fragrant white milk, faintly fragrant with the scent of a thousand flowers... the rice blooms bending down day by day, heavy with the precious purity of Heaven'.
3. The custom of using pink rice and rice flakes as offerings during our traditional festivals. This is a distinctive cultural value of rice flakes described and commented on by Thach Lam with depth, subtlety, and evocation. Using rice flakes as a festival offering is very appropriate and carries profound significance, as rice flakes are the gift of the earth and sky, the flavor of the countryside, nothing could be more suitable (similar to the tradition of making square and round cakes for the Lunar New Year). This offering, along with the pink rice, blends harmoniously, symbolizing harmony and unity in marital bliss. The author analyzes this harmony in two aspects: color (the fresh green color of rice flakes like precious jade, the deep red of pink rice like ripe pomegranate) and flavor (one refreshing and cool, one sweet and colorful, two flavors supporting each other for lasting happiness). This passage leaves a deep impression on the reader.
4. This sentence is considered the key sentence of the text, written by Thach Lam in a concise, profound manner, encompassing all the values of the unique gift of the nation. Students should carefully read the sentence, break it down into smaller ideas to understand and appreciate:
- Green rice flakes are a unique gift of the nation;
- Offerings from the lush green rice fields;
- Carrying within them the simple, rustic, and pure essence of the Vietnamese countryside.
5. The author's delicacy and reverence towards enjoying green rice flakes.
Although a simple gift, seemingly nothing elaborate, one might think there's no need to discuss eating green rice flakes. However, the author has a perceptive perspective and a cultural attitude when discussing the enjoyment of such a humble dish. Students can find evidence in the concluding paragraph to demonstrate two things: the delicacy in enjoying green rice flakes and the respect for a national gift. Thus, for Thach Lam, eating green rice flakes is an appreciation of many values intertwined, representing a cultural perspective on culinary traditions rich in national identity. And the writer contributes to honoring the position of this folk gift in people's lives and consciousness.
6. This sentence should be discussed among students to identify and analyze specific evidence in the text (in fact, these pieces of evidence have already been mentioned when answering the 5 questions above).
II. PRACTICE
1. Choose to memorize a paragraph from the text (you can choose the opening paragraph or the second paragraph from 'Green rice flakes are a unique gift' to 'lasting happiness').
2. Collect folk sayings and poems mentioning green rice flakes. Students should collect them themselves (can ask adults for help).
3. Read Nguyen Tuan's essay 'Green Rice Flakes' in descriptive and narrative literature, Publisher Education, 1998, pp. 68 - 70. Try to compare the expressive methods of the two writers in two works on the same topic.
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In addition to studying Lesson: A Gift from Tender Rice - Young Rice Cake, students should explore other compositions in Grade 7 Literature such as Lesson: Playing with Words or Lesson: Using Words Appropriately to reinforce their knowledge of Grade 7 Literature.
