Exposition on the Literary Figure Nguyen Du

Essay Prompt: Write an exposition on the literary figure Nguyen Du

Exposition on the Literary Figure Nguyen Du

I. Structuring the Exposition on Nguyen Du (Standard)

1. Introduction

Introducing the great poet Nguyen Du

2. Body of the Essay

* Overview of Author Nguyen Du
- A prominent poet from the late 18th to early 19th centuries
- Made significant contributions to Vietnamese literature
- His masterpiece, 'The Tale of Kieu,' propelled Vietnamese literature beyond national borders to integrate with global literature

* Life of Poet Nguyen Du
- Nguyen Du (1765-1820) hailed from Tien Dien, Ha Tinh
- Born into a land of eminent scholars, within a family with Confucian traditions, serving as officials for generations.
- Born into a socially tumultuous era
- Endured the 'ten years of storms and dust'--> These societal and personal upheavals helped Nguyen Du acquire invaluable life experiences and profound compassion.
- Served under both Le and Nguyen dynasties

* Literary Career:
- Works composed in both Chinese characters and Nom script
- Themes: Advocacy and empathy for human fate, particularly for talented but unfortunate individuals; Condemnation of the dark aspects of society that trample upon human dignity and happiness.

- Artistic Contributions:
+ Made significant contributions to elevating the traditional poetry of the nation to a level of sophistication and exemplariness.
+ Enriched the national language further

3. Conclusion

General assessment of Author Nguyen Du: A talented poet, with significant contributions to the national literature.

II. Sample Exposition on the Literary Figure Nguyen Du

'For a hundred years within the human realm
The gifted and the fated disdain each other.'

Reading the two lines above, one would immediately recognize it as 'The Tale of Kieu' - a masterpiece by the national literary giant, Nguyen Du. He was a humanitarian poet, astutely using his literary talent to impart moral lessons to humanity.

Nguyen Du, whose courtesy name is To Nu and pseudonym is Thanh Hien, was born in 1765 and passed away in 1820. His father's hometown was in Ha Tinh province, while his mother's was in Bac Ninh, but he was born in Thang Long. Thanks to this, he had a profound understanding of various regions' cultures. It can be said that his homeland was a land of talent, filial piety, and respect for scholars. Moreover, his family had a tradition of scholarly excellence, thus his homeland and family were the roots nurturing a refined poet, a national literary giant - Nguyen Du.

Since his paternal ancestors held high positions in the imperial court, Nguyen Du grew up in luxury. However, when he was ten years old, he lost both his parents, and from then on, his life became turbulent. He experienced a historical period full of societal upheavals during the feudal era. Therefore, his works all carry a profound insight into the society and people of that time.

Nguyen Du was a highly educated and talented individual, achieving success in his career as a government official. However, he remained indifferent to wealth and luxury, his heart always agonizing over indescribable sorrows. Witnessing the lives of the people, the dark side of society, his heart filled with pain and compassion for the people, expressed only through his own verses and prose.

Regarding his literary career, he left future generations with an immense literary legacy. He authored three volumes of poetry in Chinese characters: Thanh Hien Anthology, Southern Miscellany, and Northern Travels Collection. His Chinese works are praised for their simplicity, refinement, and literary brilliance. In Nom poetry, he produced two masterpieces, namely 'The New Story of a Broken Hairpin' (The Tale of Kieu) and 'Ten Kinds of Offerings to the Spirits.'

It can be said that 'The Tale of Kieu' is a landmark, the brightest star among his literary works. Nguyen Du adapted 'The Tale of Kieu' from a Chinese story and it was warmly embraced by our people, passionately absorbed in every verse. This work serves as a reflection of social issues, the fate of oppressed individuals, especially the plight of women through the character of Kieu. Today, 'The Tale of Kieu' still holds a large readership and fan base. It has been translated into many foreign languages such as French, English, and Chinese... Former U.S. President - Obama, during a visit to Vietnam, used a verse from 'The Tale of Kieu' to conclude his speech:

'For a hundred years it has come from here
This bit of faith marks a record.'