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Prompt: Exploring the work 'Sa hành đoản ca' by Cao Bá Quát
Sample essay: Exploring Cao Bá Quát's 'Sa hành đoản ca'
Sample Essay: Understanding Cao Bá Quát's 'Sa hành đoản ca'
I. General Understanding
1. The Author.
- Cao Bá Quát (1809? - 1855), also known as Chu Thần, with pen names Cúc Đường and Mẫn Hiên, hailed from Phú Thị village, Gia Lâm district, Bac Ninh (now Long Biên, Hanoi).
- He was a talented and courageous poet.
- His poetry boldly expressed strong criticism of the stagnant feudal regime, containing enlightened thoughts, with a spontaneous nature, reflecting the society's need for renewal during the mid-19th century in Vietnam.
In his youth, Cao Bá Quát was renowned as a prodigy, learning from his father in childhood and later studying under contemporary scholars. Legend has it that when he was just over ten years old, Cao Bá Quát excelled in various literary forms.
In 1831, Cao Bá Quát passed his bachelor's degree examination, but due to violating examination rules several times, he failed the imperial examinations.
In 1841, he began working at the Ministry of Rites in the imperial capital of Huế. Once, while serving as an examination proctor in Huế, he encountered a well-written essay that violated exam regulations. He intervened with a lamp wick to correct it. This act led to his exposure, conviction, and death sentence. However, he was later re-evaluated, sentenced to three years in prison, then granted clemency. He was sent to work in Indonesia, where he redeemed himself through service.
In 1847, he worked at the Royal Academy, specializing in collecting and arranging literature and poetry for the king's reading.
In 1853-1854, during a severe drought in the provinces of Sơn Tây and Bắc Ninh, widespread famine and discontent with the feudal government led him to organize a rebellion in Mĩ Lương. The uprising lasted several months before being quashed by the royal court.
Cao Bá Quát sacrificed himself; Emperor Tự Đức ordered the execution of his entire family, and his books and writings were burnt.
2. Poem
a. Circumstances of Composition
Cao Bá Quát passed the bachelor's examination in 1831 at the examination hall in Hanoi. To sit for the doctoral examination, one needed to travel to the imperial capital of Huế. Therefore, he made several trips to Huế to participate in the examinations (though he did not pass the doctoral examination). The journey from Hanoi to Huế passed through many central provinces such as Quảng Bình and Quảng Trị, regions known for extensive white sandy beaches.
We see that the imagery of the sandy dunes of Central Vietnam had already found its way into poetry. Central Vietnam, especially Quảng Bình and Quảng Trị, is a narrow strip of land where one can easily see the Trường Sơn mountain range on one side and the East Sea on the other. Without a doubt, the images of long stretches of sand, sea waves, and mountains were real inspirations for the author in composing the poem.
- The image of the 'same old path' in the poem symbolizes the life deadlock of an intellectual. The intellectual path of the scholars in the past was nothing but study, examination, and officialdom. An outstanding event demonstrates Cao Bá Quát's discontent with the scholarly system under the Nguyễn dynasty.
- Another aspect worth noting is that during the mid-19th century, Vietnamese people in general, and Cao Bá Quát in particular, were exposed to Western culture. They couldn't help but think and compare Eastern and Western education.
b. Genre: Poetic Form
The poem, following classical form, exhibits a degree of freedom in its structure, rhyme, and rhythm. It expresses unrestrained emotions with diverse and lengthy language, without constraints, hence termed 'poetry'; with a fast-paced, urgent rhythm, flowing smoothly without interruption, hence termed 'verse'. A poem possessing both characteristics is termed 'poetic verse'.
II. Analysis
1. Era
- During Cao Bá Quát's time, society was no longer vibrant. It only produced individuals pursuing personal gain, complacent in their comfort, and asleep in their wealth and luxury.
- 'Sa hành đoản ca' reflects the despair of scholars facing a dead-end in life, surrounded by darkness, while also portraying the torment and awakening of scholars as they recognize the difficulties on the path of officialdom.
- During Cao Bá Quát's era, society had lost its vigor, merely producing individuals seeking personal gain, content to sleep in their wealth and luxury. Idealistic individuals like Cao Bá Quát, before finding a meaningful new path, fell into a state of lonely stagnation.
- 'Sa hành đoản ca' portrays the despair of scholars facing a dead-end in life, surrounded by darkness, while also depicting the torment and awakening of scholars as they recognize the challenges on the path of officialdom.
2. The Image of the Sandy Dunes and People Walking on Them
- The sandy dunes and the long road symbolize the journey to seek distant truths, shrouded in mist and hardship. To reach the destination, one must endure great trials.
- Walking on those sandy dunes is an image of people struggling, toiling, and feeling alone. 'One step forward, one step back, the traveler... sheds tears'
- 'Unable to learn from the past... anger lingering' The author's frustration at having to torment himself in pursuit of officialdom.
- 'Throughout history... awakening many' The temptation of societal recognition towards individuals. The author clearly perceives the meaninglessness of the scholarly path, of the traditional pursuit of officialdom.
A broad observation about those obsessed with fame and gain, depicted by the poet through the imagery of people flocking to good taverns, few escaping the allure of alcohol. Fame and gain are akin to a potent drink that easily intoxicates. These six lines prepare for the author's conclusion: the need to break free from the futile intoxication of fame and gain.
- 'Why stand on the endless sand dunes?' The feeling of being stuck in life, unable to find a way out.
=> The extreme despair 'what's the point of standing on the sand dunes?'
It's called a dead end, seeing a terrifying path ahead, the author expresses the unresolved contradiction in his state of mind. Should he continue on, struggling, or give up? If he continues, he'll be as ordinary as those pursuing worldly gains; if he quits, he doesn't know which direction to take because 'to the North, endless mountains; to the South, surging waves.' Every path is blocked, beneath his feet are the sand dunes and the terrifying path, what should he do? The poem concludes in extreme despair: 'What's the point of standing on the sand dunes?'
A resignation, a refusal because he knows beforehand that path will lead to a dead end. Resignation is truly admirable, the deadlock is desperate but it doesn't make them small, insignificant, abandoning the meaningless haze to start again, to find the right path to realize their ideals.
=> The beauty of character, of living ideals in a person who is aware of themselves in life.
3. Artistry
- Changing forms of address. (Sometimes 'guest', sometimes 'I', sometimes 'you') representing various emotional states, helping the author to speak more convincingly about the pursuit of fame and gain in life.
- 'Guest': separating oneself as a guest entity to objectively observe and evaluate the path of officialdom. When addressed as 'I': placing oneself in a dialogue with oneself to seek an escape; 'you': the sincere subject, the position of someone struggling on the path of fame and gain to express the sentiments of those in the struggle.
- The poem is composed in the style of classical poetry, with alternating long and short sentences, smooth rhyme schemes, rich rhythm, and tones that vary between grandeur and melancholy.
Above is the section Understanding the poem Sa hành đoản ca, the next lesson, prepare to answer textbook questions, Analyze the excerpt from the line 'Unable to learn from the past...until the end of the poem' in Sa hành đoản ca along with the Analysis of the poem Tự tình by Hồ Xuân Hương to improve your Literature skills.
