Topic: Explaining the proverb A good leaf protects the torn leaf
I. Outline for Explaining the proverb A good leaf protects the torn leaf
1. Introduction
- Introduce the proverb A good leaf protects the torn leaf.
2. Body
a. Concept:
- Literal meaning: When wrapping a cake, if a leaf is torn, people will wrap another leaf outside.
- Figurative meaning: Good leaves are people with good lives, torn leaves are people with difficult and hard lives.
=> The proverb advises people to have a spirit of solidarity, to know how to lend a helping hand to those around them when they encounter difficulties, stemming from a compassionate heart, loving kindness towards people.
b. Discussion:
- In life, there are many unhappy lives, with difficult lives: Poor children who are not able to study, the elderly who struggle to make a living, people who have to endure natural disasters,...
- We are fortunate people with happy lives, we need to have a generous, compassionate, loving and willing heart to help those difficult lives with the abilities that we have.
3. Conclusion
Express personal feelings.
II. Sample essay explaining the proverb 'Good leaf protects torn leaf'
Vietnamese people have long been famous for many traditions and customs that reflect the enduring cultural foundation of our nation. These traditions and beautiful cultural aspects are not only reflected in the daily life of the Vietnamese people but also in the proverbs, idioms, and folk literature, serving as spiritual nourishment, with the meaning of preserving and educating future generations to inherit and promote. One of the beautiful and valuable traditions of our nation is the tradition of solidarity, mutual assistance in times of need, which is clearly expressed in the proverb 'Good leaf protects torn leaf'.
Speaking of the image of 'Good leaf protects torn leaf', it probably originates from the story of wrapping Chung cake of our people, when they wrap Chung cake usually with four layers of leaves, one layer stacked on top of another, sometimes in a moment of carelessness, the wrapper inadvertently tears a leaf, then they will line that leaf inside and then wrap the other good leaves outside. The reason for doing this is to make the cake look beautiful, and at the same time, when steaming the cake, it will not break or crack. When applied to life, it is easy to imagine that the good leaf represents people who have a warm, complete life, with possessions, enough food, and warm clothes. On the other hand, the torn leaf symbolizes those who are temporarily poor, in need, lacking material and spiritual conditions, sometimes in a state of being torn, tattered, extremely difficult, and miserable. Therefore, combining the two meanings above, we can understand that the proverb advises people to have a spirit of solidarity, to lend a helping hand to those around them when they encounter difficulties, to help those unfortunate lives. Originating from a compassionate heart, love for people, it is also the inheritance and promotion of the good traditions of the Vietnamese people from ancient times.
In modern life, human life has gradually eased away from difficulties and hardships, however, not every human life is fortunate enough to be born into a life full of material abundance, to grow up with a healthy body, to enjoy a complete education. On the contrary, there are children as young as 5 or 6 years old who have to wander around to make a living with lottery tickets, candies worth ten thousand, newspapers, and even shoe polish boxes. These unfortunate children have had a childhood of extreme hardship, not enjoying the innocent and carefree childhood like other children, and perhaps with colorful, cute clothes, the days of going to school with a backpack will forever be a dream that never becomes a reality. Then there are the elderly who are 70, 80 years old, at the age of retirement, who should ideally be surrounded by their children and grandchildren, but instead, they still have to struggle in a cramped garden, with a few patches of vegetables, the fruit of the garden to scrape together every penny to support themselves and their descendants. Or it could be those whose lives have stepped out of the poor countryside, from farming on rocky soil, toiling in the city in cramped, damp, dilapidated boarding houses, doing hard, laborious work, working as laborers to scrape together savings to send back to their families. Or it could be the people who have to bear the brunt of natural disasters every year, not only losing property, material things, and even more painfully, they may lose their most beloved family members,... The common point in all these human lives is extreme misery, pity, and extreme hardship, they also want to find a way out of life that is always so bleak. We are fortunate people with happy lives, although not wealthy, tycoons or anything like that, but everyone living on this earth needs to have a tolerant, humane, loving heart, and be willing to help those less fortunate lives with the abilities that we have. Avoiding attitudes, contempt, and disdain, avoiding those who carry the 'torn leaf' fate, instead, we must understand, sympathize, and share, that is the beautiful action, the humanistic aspect, contributing to making society brighter and brighter, making those who are suffering have more faith, motivation to strive in life. There is a saying, 'The hand that gives a rose always faintly smells of fragrance,' which can be understood as when we share and give something without expecting anything in return, but our own selves also receive 'fragrance,' that is joy, peace of mind in our soul, making our hearts brighter and more loving life. Moreover, helping someone in need has never been difficult, if someone is sad, you just need to be there to comfort and listen to them, for a child selling lottery tickets, you just need to buy a few tickets to help them get home earlier, if you meet an old lady wandering around selling candies, you can buy her a sweet candy, or if you meet a beggar in misery, then just a few coins from you may make them happy. Or for the victims of natural disasters, you can donate old clothes, books, food, or simply save five or ten thousand dong for a breakfast and put it in the donation box, that way you have shared some of their difficulties. You see, helping and sharing with others has never been difficult, the issue lies in whether you really want to do it with your tolerant heart.
To sum up, 'Good leaf protects torn leaf' is a very beautiful cultural tradition of our nation, educating people to love one another, the spirit of national solidarity, knowing how to share and help those who are unfortunate and unhappy. Each generation needs to know how to inherit and promote the good traditions left by our ancestors, to enrich our souls, to lessen the miserable lives, to make this world warmer.
'Good leaf protects torn leaf' is a good tradition of our nation, understanding the meaning of proverbs, along with the essay Explaining the proverb 'Good leaf protects torn leaf', students can also refer to some other Good essays for grade 7 such as: Explaining and commenting on the proverb: 'Fish do not eat sour fish'..., Explaining the proverb 'Words are wrapped in gold', Explaining the proverb: 'Drinking water, remember the source', Explaining the proverb: 'Love others as you love yourself'
