Exploring Tản Đà's unique self in the poem Hầu Trời

Two sample essays expressing thoughts on Tản Đà's unique self in the poem Hầu Trời

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1. Tản Đà's Unique Self in the Poem Hầu Trời, Sample 1

Tản Đà (1889-1939) was the pen name of Nguyễn Khắc Hiếu. A talented poet, his name shone in the Vietnamese literary scene in the 1920s. He wrote both prose and poetry, with notable works including Giấc mộng con, Giấc mộng lớn, Khối tình con, Tản Đà vận văn,... He was the best translator of Chinese poetry in our country. Tản Đà's romantic and lofty self is the soul of his poetry: profound, passionate, melancholic yet deeply connected to his homeland. Hoài Thanh considers Tản Đà as a 'figure of two centuries' because his poetry bridges the gap between two literary periods of the nation: classical and modern.

In literary creation, not everyone can express their self on paper. The self is closely tied to the creative personality of a writer. It requires the writer to demonstrate a unique, aesthetically valuable self, capable of making positive contributions to the overall literary scene. Tản Đà, referred to as a poet with a 'wandering, audacious, and romantic' spirit, possesses the three elements needed to form a distinctive self in Vietnamese poetry. However, the unique self of the poet, as revealed in 'Hầu Trời,' is an exceptionally audacious self. 'Audacious' here does not only refer to a particular social and artistic behavior. The audacity mentioned is based on one's own abilities—talented individuals confident in their skills, bold enough to assert themselves to the world. Such audacious people create unique styles, different from others, leaving profound impressions.

Essay on Appreciating Tản Đà's Unique Self in the Masterpiece Hầu Trời

The aura of audacity is often embodied by writers and poets who possess a heightened awareness of their talent and emotions. With such talent, they contribute to life while also leaving an indelible mark on their image in the passage of time. They can be audacious because they have the skill, a source of pride and a challenge to life and society. In life, each individual is a unique personality, a distinctiveness that cannot be mixed with others. And this audacity in 'Hầu Trời' creates a unique self for the poet.

Poets have a profound awareness of their talents. Hence, the poetic resonance 'echoing through the Milky Way' keeps the heavens awake lies in that aspect.

'Last night, whether it was good or not
Not a sigh, not a dreamy murmur
Truly soulful! Truly majestic! Truly lamenting
Truly ascending to a strange celestial joy!'

The enchantment of ascending to the heavens is intertwined with the poetic narrative, connected to the moments of inspiration for the poet. An imaginative yet almost tangible tale; perhaps Tản Đà's unique self lies in the realm of natural allure, fascinating yet destined. To have the world recognize a poet's talent is challenging, but even the heavens are enamored—such celestial admiration is truly peculiar. This vividly portrays the poet's audacity in the poem Hầu Trời. Having had the opportunity to visit the Celestial Court, Tản Đà seizes the chance to showcase his talent:

'Oh, I humbly implore to read
Read through verses, shift to prose
From preaching to playful writing
As the pleasing reading unfolds
Sipping tea, a better tone is preferred.'

The author reads poetry with confidence, boasting his skills, reading with elevated enthusiasm, fully immersing himself in the work. This vividly highlights the poet's distinctive self, a conscious expression of his personal identity. Alongside, the poet takes the opportunity to introduce his works:

'I dare not close the doors to Heaven
The printed verses are all here
Two volumes of Thuyết lí love prose
Two volumes of playful love prose
Spiritual money, novel-like dreams
Reflecting, reaching six ranks in life
The Chinese-style woman, translated prose
Up to eight, now it's ten volumes
Thanks to Heaven, my works still sell
I wonder how many copies have been printed?'

The poet seems quite content as he is aware of his talent. Asserting his unrestrained self, acknowledging the value of his talent amidst life. Before Tản Đà, scholars and literati all flaunted their talents, but the word 'talent' often carried a broader connotation. They dare not speak of the excellence, the 'perfection' of their poetry, especially not in front of the heavens. Clearly, the personal consciousness of the poet has reached an advanced level. Hence, even the heavens must applaud:

'Eloquent prose resonates through the celestial realms!
The heavens listen, finding it truly fine.
The heart blooms, the tongue dances with grace
Hằng Nga, Chức Nữ raise their eyebrows in awe
Song Thành, Tiểu Ngọc stand with attentive ears
Finishing a piece, applause echoes through the skies.'

'Heaven rejoices again: Truly splendid prose!
Transcendent prose surely has its merits
Literary style polished like a comet!
Literary spirit robust as shifting clouds!
Gentle as a breeze, pure as morning dew!'

Because of his love for literature, he confidently creates, conveying fresh emotions and ideas into his verses. It seems, for him, being in the Celestial Court is the most beautiful moment. Therefore, he presents his talent before the heavens and celestial beings. At this moment, his new perspective is revealed: literary creation is a profession. Though not explicitly stated, behind the words, there is a different perception of this special intellectual activity. For Tản Đà, literature is a livelihood, a trade with sellers and buyers, a complex market not easy to navigate. Particularly noteworthy is how the poet recognizes the necessity of dedicating oneself to the literary profession, acknowledging the need for investment in pursuing it:

'Thanks to Heaven, my works still sell
Remaining literary capital still thrives'

It's audacious for a poet to want to 'market literature' to the heavens.

'Celestial beings wish earnestly:
Brother, bring it up here, sell in the Heavenly market!'

Stirring up celestial realms with rich and diverse prose, now the poet desires his literature to spread through the palace so everyone knows him—a true talent of the mortal world. This is when the potent self becomes strikingly apparent.

Through the poem 'Hầu Trời,' Tản Đà doesn't stop there; he reveals the harsh reality: talent doesn't align with fate. In the poet's life, lacking understanding, empathy, and harmony:

'Literature in the lower realm as cheap as weeds
Earning a penny profit is truly hard
Earning time is meager, spending time is abundant
Work all year round, yet not enough to spend.'

Hence, he yearns to ascend to the heavens, read poetry, and find someone with empathy. Only Heaven and celestial beings truly comprehend the beauty in his poetry. The words of Heaven praising him are the heaviest affirmation, unquestionable and doubtless. Indeed, a poet with an assertive and audacious style.

To make Heaven understand poetry, to receive praise for exquisite verses, Tản Đà promptly lays out a clear exposition of his identity, perfectly fitting the narrative:

'Oh, humbly before Heaven I speak
I am named Khắc Hiếu, with the surname Nguyễn
Homeland in Asia, journeyed to Earth
River Đà, mountain Tản, waters of South Vietnam.'

Differing from the ancients, Tản Đà separates his name and surname in a modern and openly detailed manner, even specifying the continent and planet. Through this, he passionately expresses love for his country, immense pride in his identity, and a profound nationalistic consciousness. A name— a real name, not a pseudonym— spoken with such solemnity, the poet must feel an undeniable value attached to it. Through the verse, the author subtly introduces his pen name. Tản Đà is a person who flaunts his talent, displays his abilities openly, and is quite audacious. Therefore, in front of celestial beings, he never restrains himself but always showcases all his talents.

From start to finish, the poet is confident in his own talent, once again affirming his audacity, the audacity of one who proclaimed himself a 'fallen immortal' banished to the mortal realm for his audaciousness. The poet asserts his talent and the 'extraordinary nature' of his identity.

This extraordinary difference lies in the poet being acknowledged as a heavenly being, sent down to the mortal realm to fulfill a noble mission: 'the divine task for humanity,' 'Heaven says it's not Heaven's banishment, Heaven has assigned me this task, It's the 'divine task' for humanity, Send me down to narrate life.' Once again, that audacity is blown into the poetic theme. Yet, this audacity arises because it opposes the unjust society, as he has to undertake the task of reclaiming the lost 'divine task' of humanity:

'Two words, divine task, Hiếu recalls
Daring to ask, not to disappoint the hopeful gaze of Heaven'

The poet is conscious of individuality, a personality transcending all constraints of fame and fortune. It opposes the unjust, profit-driven society, chasing after money and fame of that era.

Ultimately, the poet still wants to affirm, self-praise his poetry. The poetry of literary talents is not only beautiful but also contains lofty ideals about life, divine tasks, worldly perspectives on human existence... In summary, everything humanity needs to reach the realm of goodness and beauty. Breaking free from the notion of 'poetry with a moral purpose,' Tản Đà truly soars in the artistic world, revealing the emotions of his unique personal freedom.

Inheriting the audacity of tradition, but in Tản Đà's audacity, one doesn't see audacity to the extent of indulging in pleasure and luxury with a somewhat negative connotation, like a way of dealing with life as in the case of Nguyễn Công Trứ. Nor is there audacity in seeking a style, a unique expression like Nguyễn Tuân, who worships beauty. Tản Đà's audacity is that of a person immersed in dreams: dreams about life, dreams about change, being intoxicated with dreams, dreaming to defy the world. However, it can be seen that they meet at a fundamental point, without which one cannot be 'audacious,' that is talent, passion, and consciousness of their own inherent ego. They create unique artistic styles, leaving a lasting impression on readers and not mixing with the audacity of any other poet.

After exploring reflections on Tản Đà's unique self in the poem 'Embracing the Sky,' you can also discover more related sample essays on Mytour, such as Thoughts on Tản Đà's 'Embracing the Sky' poem, Grade 11 Literature - Embracing the Sky, The unrestrained, audacious, and self-affirming identity of Tản Đà in the poem 'Embracing the Sky,' Thoughts on Tản Đà's 'Embracing the Sky,'...
 

2. Tản Đà's Unique Self in 'Embracing the Sky,' Sample 2

The poet Xuân Diệu once said: 'Tản Đà is the first poet, marking the beginning of modern Vietnamese poetry. Tản Đà is the first person who courageously embraced the role of a poet, expressing himself in an honest, bold way, daring to preserve a unique self.' With his courage, Tản Đà brings a new vitality to Vietnamese literature. The poet directly manifests his individual self in a highly unique and innovative manner, and 'Embracing the Sky' is one of the poems crystallizing those distinctive features.

Tản Đà boldly portrays his personal 'self' - a self that is audacious and remarkably unrestrained! This is also a way of expressing awareness of one's talent, the true value of oneself, and the desire to assert one's identity in the midst of life. The poem can be summarized as follows: On a quiet night, the poet, feeling melancholy, brews tea and starts reciting poetry aloud. The recitation echoes to the heavens. Two celestial maidens descend, commanding the poet to ascend to discuss matters. The poet is warmly welcomed, invited to recite his poetry. The heavens and celestial beings praise and applaud. The heavens inquire about his identity; the poet recounts the hardships of pursuing the literary profession in the mortal realm. The heavens console and advise, and the poet expresses gratitude before tearfully departing from the heavens and celestial beings.

The approach to the poem's introduction is quite intriguing, allowing readers to sense Tản Đà's unique fictional artistic talent and charming guidance:

Last night, who knows if it was real or not,
Not startled, not dreaming
Truly soulful! Truly audacious! Truly physical!
Truly ascending to the celestial - strangely delightful.

The poet, as a participant in last night's dream, is uncertain whether it was real or a mere illusion. If a dream, it can't possibly be real, yet every detail, every image appears vividly, making disbelief impossible. Therefore, in the next three lines, the poet emphatically affirms as if in a dialogue with the listener. The strong tone highlights the real elements: Truly soulful! Truly audacious! Truly physical! Truly ascending to the celestial - strangely delightful. All of this sparks curiosity and captivates the audience.

Analyze Tản Đà's Unique Self in the poem Embracing the Sky to perceive the distinctive character and the author's self-awareness of talent.

In the subsequent verses, the poet recounts the scenario of being invited to the Celestial Palace by the Heavens:

While the night watchman lies alone,
Squeezing legs beneath the green light's shadow.
Lying melancholic, rising to boil water for a drink,
After drinking the warm water, lying immersed in literature.
Playing with verses, bored, then playing with the moon,
Into the courtyard, dancing with the shadow.
In the sky, suddenly seeing two goddesses descend,
Smiling and speaking as follows:

- 'Heavens hear, who's singing in the mortal realm,
The recitation echoes across the Milky Way!
Making Heaven lose sleep, Heaven is scolding
Whether it's good or not, Heaven hears it all.'
Wished forever to meet celestial beings just now!
The celestial beings, upon hearing, seem familiar again!
Which literature is so captivating
That Heaven mistakenly called at the wrong time.
Following the two goddesses on a cloud journey,
Flying swiftly without wings.
The red-gate dazzling, majestic and resplendent,
The Heavenly Gate seems to be right here!
Entering, seeing Heaven, kneeling down in awe,
Heaven commands the female celestial to lead and guide.
The throne like snow, the clouds like veins,
Transmitting wisdom to the seated literary figure playing there.

The story begins with the recitation echoing across the Milky Way by the poet in the mortal realm, causing Heaven to lose sleep. Clearly, the fortuitous chance to serve the Heavens is intertwined with the poetic narrative, linked to the poet's moments of inspiration. It seems the author wants to convey that although the story may not be real, it feels authentic in expressing his thoughts and emotions. The imaginative tale, though fabricated, appears natural and captivating.

As the celestial beings gathered in full attendance, the Heavens proclaimed: 'Command the 'literary figure to read and recite poetry!' With an invitation as open as a bared heart, the poet hastily and reverently responded: 'Yes, I humbly comply, dear Heavens.' Reading his poetry with unmatched enthusiasm and inspiration, the poet seemed more captivated than ever before. Without leaving any time gaps, he read continuously:

Reading through verses, transitioning to prose,
From persuasive discourse to playful banter.
Amidst the triumphant reading, thoroughly delighted,
Sipping tea, the more melodious, the better.

The poet, elevated and self-assured, relished this rare opportunity for the Heavens and celestial beings to appreciate the poetry of the poet from the Đà River and Tản Mountains. The audience listened with fervent encouragement. The celestial beings collectively praised and innocently revealed admiration through expressions, gestures, postures, language... Igniting the poet's inspiration to new heights with every passing moment:

Long prose resonates well, echoing through the celestial realm!
The Heavens listen, finding it quite pleasant.
The soul blossoms, poetic skill exquisite,
Hằng Nga, Chức Nữ raise their brows in awe.
Song Thành, Tiểu Ngọc stand with attentive ears,
Applauding after each poem, showing their approval.
The poet, elated, proudly declares:
The literature is enriched, diverse in style,
Even the Heavens find it amusing to hear!

The reading session concluded, leaving a profound impression:

Celestial beings fervently wish to compete and say:
'You carry the burden of the celestial market up here!'

Upon hearing the poet recite, the Heavens spared no praise, showcasing the divine ability to appreciate literature and delicate poetry:

The Heavens further applaud: 'Exceptional literature
Clear prose is undoubtedly rare.
Polished language akin to a comet!
Literary vigor powerful as shifting clouds!
Smooth as a gentle breeze, refined like dew!
Abundant as a summer rain, cold as snow.'

In this intriguing poem, Tản Đà ingeniously borrows the words of Heaven to praise his own literary work. Clearly, Tản Đà's awareness of his personal identity is high, and the poet is not unjustified in self-praise: 'Literature is enriched, diverse in style.' The prose and literary vigor are compared to the magnificent beauty of nature: like comets, shifting clouds, gentle breezes, dew, rain, and snow. It seems that the essence of the Tản Mountains and the Đà River has been fully captured in the poet's soul. The verse maximizes the use of literary devices to express the full spectrum of emotions, from sublime and powerful to refined and enchanting.

The unexpected scenario of Hầu Trời has provided Tản Đà with an excellent opportunity to showcase his literary talent before the world. It's fascinating how all characters in the story are overwhelmingly excited, from the poet to the celestial beings, and especially Heaven—a fairly down-to-earth deity in behavior and speech. Noteworthy is the fact that the poet reaches such heights of elation only when encountering someone who truly understands and empathizes with him. Finding someone so understanding and sympathetic in the mortal realm is not an easy task! Heaven's praise is undoubtedly the most accurate and irrefutable assessment. Truly a bold and Tản Đà-esque self-affirmation, unparalleled in history!

The reader feels the poet's immense pride as he asserts and praises his literary talent. No author has dared to be as bold and unabashed. Perhaps a poetic revolution has truly begun with Tản Đà—the poet considered the 'bridge' between old and new poetry.

Following Heaven's request, the poet confidently reveals his name and identity:

'Dear Heaven, allow me to say,
My name is Khắc Hiếu, Nguyen by birth.
Homeland in Asia, now on Earth's plain,
Đà River, Tản Mountains, Southern Vietnam.'
Heaven, puzzled for a while, then ordered a celestial official to check:
After reviewing the celestial records,
The official reported to the Supreme Deity:
'Here's a man named Nguyễn Khắc Hiếu,
Being sent down for his audacious act.'
Only then did Heaven declare:
'It's not Heaven's punishment,
Heaven intended a mission for him:
Participate in humanity's celestial fate.'

With Heaven's consent, Tản Đà poured out his long-suppressed grievances. Through Heaven's words, he spoke of the mission to spread divine morality (explaining that goodness is innate). This shows that despite being romantic and audacious, Tản Đà is not entirely detached from reality, still bearing a sense of responsibility for life and a desire to carry life's burdens. It's also a way of self-affirmation.

The main inspiration of the poem is romantic, but in the following passage, the poet uses specific and meticulous descriptions:

'Dear Heaven, my real-life situation is poor
Measured plots in the mortal world are nil
Thanks to Heaven, I learned a little in the past
Left with one stomach for literature.
Paper from others, ink from rent, printing from hired shops
Literature in the mortal realm is as cheap as weeds
Earning a dong of profit is genuinely difficult.
Time is scarce, expenses are many
All year round, earnings are never enough.
Worries about food and clothing every day
Studies diminish as age grows
Strength in youth, now weakened
A shelter for four years, now squeezed.
Heaven assigned a task too heavy
Knowing, but not daring to follow.'

Tản Đà doesn't explicitly articulate his views on literature and the literary profession. Nevertheless, readers can somewhat imagine the essence of this special spiritual activity. For Tản Đà, literature is no longer merely a lofty spiritual concept; it has become a livelihood like any other profession. The literary market is as complex as any other, with sellers, buyers, and the challenges of literary trade. Hence, writers and poets find success challenging.

Tản Đà painted a stark and harsh picture of the literary profession using everyday language. It depicts a life of poverty: In the mortal world, there is no land to measure; the poet must make a living through writing, poetry, and publishing, with nothing but a pen. Artists must endure the hardships: Literature in the mortal realm is as cheap as weeds; earning a dong of profit is genuinely difficult. Time is scarce, expenses are many; worries about food and clothing persist. Here, the poet's emotions turn poignant and bitter, quite different from the romantic and triumphant sentiments when reciting poetry to Heaven.

All these realities have surfaced numerous times in Tản Đà's literary works. A talented poet living a life of poverty and hardship:

Yesterday, no money for rent,
All night, thoughts for poetry, no verse found.
In and out, walking aimlessly,
Wandering around, spending on tobacco for poetry.

Towards the end of his life, he had to resort to palmistry to make a precarious living; then, he started teaching Classical Chinese and National Literature, but with no students. Ultimately, he died in abject poverty, a truly heart-wrenching circumstance!

Was the dream of Serving Heaven a fervent, intense manifestation of the desire to affirm the poet's talent amidst the literary world, cheap and the creator's fate scorned by society? Only by going to the Heavenly Court can the poet find a kindred spirit, and this can only happen in dreams! It seems that Heaven also understands the poet's frustration, offering sincere advice:

Saying: 'You don't need to tell, Heaven knows it all,
Even though sitting high, Heaven understands it all.
Just go back and make a living,
Open-hearted, don't worry about mist or snow!'

The parting between the poet and Heaven and the celestial beings is affectionate and poignant. The day has dawned, roosters crow energetically. The poet wakes up, but the impression of Serving Heaven is still vivid, leaving the poet wistful and yearning, wishing every night to ascend to the Heavenly Court and serve Heaven.

The tale of Serving Heaven's literary gathering with celestial beings vividly reflects the soul and character of Tản Đà - a poet both arrogant and melancholic. It's a Tản Đà who's acutely aware of his talent, daringly showcasing and proudly affirming his literary prowess. The poet not only self-praises but also borrows accolades from Heaven and celestial beings to exalt his poetry. It stems from the pride of a poetic spirit infused with the essence of the Sông Đà and the Tản mountains. In a self-praising poem, Tản Đà proudly wrote:

In the land of Sơn Tây rises a man,
Barely any age, yet profoundly literary.
Tản mountains and Sông Đà echo his essence,
The divine pen early and boldly swings...

That 'self' is truly audacious, seeking the Heavenly Court to assert his talent before celestial beings and the Jade Emperor!

The audacity in literature is the reaction of highly talented artists with strong personalities, unwilling to confine themselves to narrow existing frameworks. Audacity is also the attitude of intellectuals with a firm character, turning their backs on an unjust, chaotic society they refuse to accept. Audacity in literature is always associated with the talent and character of the penholder. Tản Đà is not a unique case in Vietnamese literature; before him, there was Thượng Nguyễn Công Trứ, challenging with a golden-plated horse bit high, defiantly asking: Who dares to be as lofty as him? And cursing the corrupt society outright: Next life, please don't make me human, Make me a pine tree standing in the sky and shouting... Tú Xương curses directly at the rotten society, going mad: The world has turned to ashes but still sets off fireworks, Human relationships are white yet smeared with chalk... and decides: This time, I'm determined to trade in hypocrisy, Cursing and advertising, both are lucrative.

However, Tản Đà's audacity has distinctive features influenced by the transitional period blending Western and Eastern influences. Tản Đà reacts to society with the audacity of a highly talented artist. The air of arrogance and self-praise seems intentionally exaggerated in the poem 'Serving Heaven' to leave a strong impression on readers. The poet values his writing so much that even Heaven and celestial beings must lavish praise. This implies that in the mortal realm, no one deserves to be a soulmate in talent and virtue. Tản Đà even acknowledges being a fallen celestial being for his audacity, yet Heaven entrusts him with the noble mission of spreading righteousness among humans.

The poetic creation of the 'Serving Heaven' story challenges a narrow view of human values in a society that worships money, underestimating spiritual values. Tản Đà's audacity shares similarities with Nguyễn Công Trứ's audacity in the poem 'Song of Arrogance': a high consciousness of personal talent, daring to speak eloquently about entities like Heaven, Immortals, and Buddhas; boldly asserting the 'self' beyond the confines of Confucian ethics.

The difference between them is that while Nguyễn Công Trứ, though extremely arrogant, maintains: My loyalty to the king remains steadfast, Tản Đà does not consider it crucial. Moreover, Tản Đà's flaunted talent lies in the realm of literature, not the 'earth-shaking talent' like Nguyễn Công Trứ. Clearly, poet Tản Đà has shed many responsibilities usually burdening Confucian scholars throughout history (Inner cosmos bears the burden of cosmic affairs) to live more comfortably with the newfound personal freedom the era brings.

The poem 'Serving Heaven' is written in the form of a free-flowing heptameter, with a narrative structure following chronological order. Since the author is the main character, emotions naturally unfold, conveying a light-hearted, humorous storytelling style. The colloquial language and humorous tone are harmonious, supporting each other to vividly express the poet's enthusiastic attitude towards a special audience engrossed in listening to his prose and poetry. The relationship between the poet and Heaven and Immortals seems simple and intimate, like that among like-minded peers.