Prompt: Reflection on the excerpt 'Love and Enmity' by Nguyen Dinh Chieu
1. Outline
2. Sample Article #1
3. Sample Article #2
4. Sample Article #3
Exemplary Essay: Impressions of the excerpt 'Love and Hate,' Memorable
Tip: How to appreciate a poem or prose, achieving high scores
I. Outline: Reflection on the excerpt 'Love and Hate' (Standard)
1. Opening
- Introduce key aspects of the author Nguyen Dinh Chieu
- Provide a general overview of the excerpt 'Love and Hate'
2. Body of the Essay
* General Overview of the Work:
- Origin: 'Love and Hate' is an excerpt at the beginning of the poetry collection 'Luc Van Tien'
- Main Content: The encounter, conversation between Mr. Quan and four young scholars going for an exam...(Continued)
>> See details of the Outline for Reflection on the excerpt 'Love and Hate' here.
II. Exemplary Essay: Reflection on the excerpt 'Love and Hate'
1. Impressions of the excerpt 'Love and Hate' by Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Sample #1 (Standard):
Nguyen Dinh Chieu stands as one of the exemplary authors in the medieval Vietnamese literature, showcasing numerous outstanding works that reflect humanitarian thoughts, patriotism, and compassion for the people. The masterpiece 'Tale of Luc Van Tien' is one of his most remarkable and widely renowned works. Reading the entire work in general and the excerpt 'Love and Hate' in particular, readers will perceive the profound compassion and the poet's intricate sentiments of love and hatred for his homeland in the southern region.
The sixteen opening verses of the excerpt vividly depict the dialogue between Mr. Quan and Luc Van Tien, thereby expressing Mr. Quan's perspective on hatred. Firstly, the introductory verses serve as Mr. Quan's self-introduction:
Quan asserts: history has been witnessed
Reviewed, yet perpetually evoking sorrow.
In our era, if asked again
For hatred or love, both are expressions of care.
Mr. Quan is not a specific character but a fleeting presence in the work, leaving a deep impression on the readers. It is easy to observe that Mr. Quan embodies the qualities of a scholar, a Confucian hermit well-versed in history, with a candid and straightforward personality, and clear-cut feelings of love and hatred. Particularly, the concluding statement of Mr. Quan's introduction, 'For hatred or love, both are expressions of care,' evokes the interconnected and intimate relationship between hatred and love. These seemingly opposing concepts are intricately woven together.
Reflection on the excerpt 'Love and Hate' to unveil Mr. Quan's perspectives on the notions of love and hate
Before Mr. Quan's introduction, Van Tien responded with humility, expressing a desire to hear Mr. Quan's explanations, seeking a more detailed and comprehensive understanding of the concepts of love and hate.
Tien states: In the muddled without walls
Neither knowing love nor hate, how are they defined?
Following the dialogue between Mr. Quan and Van Tien, Mr. Quan delved into an in-depth explanation, elucidating his viewpoint on the concept of hate:
Quan asserts: Detesting the deceitful
Hatred sharp, bitter, penetrating to the heart.
It can be observed that the first thing Mr. Quan detests is 'deceitful actions.' As we know, 'deceitful actions' are frivolous, futile deeds, meaningless. The intensity of this detestation is emphasized, magnified as the term 'detest' is reiterated three times, accompanied by an escalating intensity level. Subsequently, the author proceeds to enumerate and clarify the 'deceitful actions' that Mr. Quan despises in the following verses:
Detesting the era of Kiet, Tru's debauchery,
Causing the people to suffer in pits and caves.
Detesting the era of U, Le's duplicity,
Leading the people to endure lamentation in abundance.
Detesting the era of Ngu, Ba's perplexity,
Favoring deceit and causing hardship for the people.
Detesting the era of Thuc Quy's icy divisions,
Early to rise, late to rest, causing confusion and harm to the people.
By means of enumeration, Mr. Quan listed a series of individuals he detests. These include the era of Kiet, Tru's debauchery, the era of U, Le's duplicity, the era of Ngu, Ba's perplexity, and the era of Thuc Quy's icy divisions. Mr. Quan expressed his aversion towards various kings, but one can notice similarities among these reigns such as unrestrained indulgence, fostering conflict and chaos, division, and causing numerous troubles in the lives of the people. Thus, it is evident that Mr. Quan took a standpoint, the position of the common people, to convey his detest, indirectly highlighting the suffering of the people under the reigns of oppressive kings, neglectful of the well-being of the people.
Not only stopping at clarifying his perspective on the attitude and emotion of 'hatred,' Mr. Quan also provides readers with reflections on 'compassion.'
Compassion is for the virtuous individuals
When in Song, Wei, during Tran, and Khuon's times.
Compassion for Master Nhan Tu in his unfulfilled youth
Thirty-one years old, detached from worldly honors.
Compassion for Gia Cat's talent and goodness,
Facing the collapse of the Han dynasty, resigned and forlorn.
Compassion for Master Dong Tu's lofty aspirations,
Faithful to his era yet unacknowledged.
Compassion for Nguyen Luong, resolute and upright,
Assisting the country but forced to retreat to plow fields.
Compassion for Mr. Han Du's unfortunate fate,
Offering talents but compelled to travel far in darkness.
Compassion for Master Liem Lac's departure
Expelled and returning home as a humble teacher.
While discussing the concept of hatred and mentioning the objects of his detestation, Mr. Quan expressed anger and disgust. Now, when referring to the objects of 'compassion,' the poetic tone descends, carrying within it affection and earnestness. Mr. Quan feels compassion for Kong Zi - an individual who traversed many lands for enlightenment but, unfortunately, did not succeed. He empathizes with Master Nhan Tu, who had talent and virtue but died prematurely when everything was still incomplete. He pities Gia Cat Luong for his talent but having to face the inevitability of 'resignation and forlornness.' Mr. Quan also empathizes with Master Dong Tu's grand ideals and broad learning, yet not receiving recognition and support, resulting in him not gaining recognition for his talents. He further feels compassion for Nguyen Luong, Han Du, Liem, Lac - individuals with talent and the desire to help the country and its people but facing obstacles. It can be seen that the commonality among the individuals Mr. Quan compassionates is their talent and virtue, having aspirations, yet due to the circumstances of their times, they could not achieve their own desires and aspirations. While expressing his perspective on compassion, Mr. Quan subtly reveals his profound sympathy for these individuals.
By expressing his viewpoint on hatred and compassion, Mr. Quan clearly delineates his distinct sentiments of love and hatred. Additionally, in the last two sentences of the excerpt, he elucidates the relationship between hatred and compassion.
Explore the details of the sample essay Reflecting on the excerpt Dislike and Affection, you can also refer to other essays such as: Dislike and Affection - heartfelt verses about hatred, universal love by Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, Nguyen Dinh Chieu's Mind Map, a shining star in the nation's literature, Compose the Dislike and Affection essay, ... to review and perform better in the 11th-grade Vietnamese language.
2. Reflection on the Dislike and Affection excerpt, sample 2:
Nguyễn Đình Chiểu epitomizes a noble character amidst a chaotic country, a decaying feudal regime, and imperial invasion. In this great figure, we firstly witness an extraordinary willpower transcending tragic fate. Following that, we see a sense of justice expressed in prose and poetry in a profound and sincere manner. Reading his literary works, one draws lessons on ethics and the patriotic spirit of a true Confucian scholar. One can also discern what is right, what is wrong, what is affection, hatred, how to appreciate and criticize. The most exemplary illustration of his passionate words is the excerpt Dislike and Affection from the poetic tale Lục Vân Tiên.
It's no coincidence that the character Mr. Quán in this short excerpt is beloved by many. It's through analyzing the verses analyzing the essence of dislike, the words of affection from Mr. Quán that one truly understands the utmost dedication of the blind poet Nguyễn Đình Chiểu. He always writes with a genuine, straightforward pen, never hesitating, and, above all, the teacher's heart always turns towards the people. The deep-rooted dislike and affection of Mr. Quán also stem from the study of many historical books, where the noble disposition of the ancient Confucian family is easily understood, and one has to exclaim: 'Reading it again makes the heart perpetually saddened.' Because the events in historical books are never deceitful, Mr. Quán sees much injustice and pain spanning thousands of years of history, becoming even more sorrowful. From there, he drew a highly heartfelt statement, which can be said to be the soul of the entire excerpt and the origin of dislike and affection, that is: 'For appreciating or disliking is also for affection.' And of course, starting like this, no one understands Mr. Quán's thoughts, so Lục Vân Tiên had to ask Mr. Quán to explain. Right from the beginning, this character demonstrated his deep dislike. Mr. Quán dislikes 'overblown matters', broadly detests those who talk too much, fabricate stories, and are meaningless. His dislike progresses, not just surface-level but 'deep into the heart', the dislike has consumed the blood and soul, never changing. Mr. Quán dislikes the grandiose things, that scale includes resentment for deteriorating and corrupt dynasties, 'dislikes the life of Kiệt, intoxicated with Trụ', 'dislikes the life of U, deceitful Lệ', 'dislikes the life of Ngũ bá with indecision', 'dislikes the luxurious life of the privileged'. Mr. Quán dislikes dynasties where rulers only indulge in debauchery, sink into revelry, fight for power and gain, flatter the gods, causing the country to suffer and the people to endure hardships. The main point is that the essence of dislike is also due to affection, Mr. Quán pities the fate of the common people who have to suffer hardships, endure many hardships simply because of the debauchery of the ancient ruling class. Because of such lofty affection, Mr. Quán's disdain or, rather, Nguyễn Đình Chiểu's disdain, carries historical significance.
Essay Reflecting on the Excerpt Dislike and Affection Concisely
Differing from dislike, if Nguyễn Đình Chiểu criticized ancient dynasties in general, then in his affection, he spoke of individuals, saints, with a sense of regret. He empathizes with Confucius, the progenitor of Confucianism with many noble qualities, yet did not live in the right era. Despite tireless efforts to spread his teachings, few responded, leading to a sense of frustration and disillusionment for not finding like-minded individuals. He also expresses affection for Master Nhan Tu, pitying the fate of short-lived talents who, without contributing to society, had to depart prematurely. Mr. Quán also sympathizes with eminent figures of the past such as Gia Cát Lượng, Đổng Trọng Thư, Đào Uyên Minh, Hàn Dũ, Chu Đôn Di, Trình Hạo, Trình Di. Although all of them were brilliant talents with high character, fate did not favor them, and they were not valued, resulting in their talents being buried. This leaves future generations with a mix of emotions—both sympathy and admiration, as well as sorrow. While Mr. Quán does not explicitly mention it, deep within his heart is the desire for the nation to have such talents, coupled with righteous kings, so they have the opportunity to serve the country and improve the lives of the people, rather than enduring hardships and suffering.
Reading the excerpt Dislike and Affection, one further appreciates the noble character of the blind poet Nguyễn Đình Chiểu. Through the pen of a true Confucian scholar, a virtuous gentleman, dislike and affection are explored profoundly, illuminating the author's heart. Through this, we gain a deeper understanding of the poet's patriotic heart, the love for the people, and the praise for individuals with good character and talents. Alongside this, there is a strong aversion to the complexity and corruption of the ancient feudal regime. Although Nguyễn Đình Chiểu does not explicitly state it, the criticism is palpable when reading the poem.
3. Reflection on the Excerpt Dislike and Affection, Sample 3:
Literature is the refined creation that vividly portrays human life across different eras. It carries the core values and life lessons, morals, and ethics to educate people towards goodness. Just like the excerpt Dislike and Affection by Nguyễn Đình Chiểu—a star in the medieval Vietnamese literature, it conveys ethical issues through the character Quán in the passage. Quán, a hidden Confucian scholar, straightforwardly reveals his 'dislike and affection,' thereby reflecting the author Nguyễn Đình Chiểu's patriotic and compassionate heart.
The excerpt 'Dislike and Affection' is taken from the work 'Lục Vân Tiên,' which Nguyễn Đình Chiểu composed while blind, revolving around good and evil. He consistently upholds the spirit of chivalry, condemns evil, and establishes an unchanging law: righteousness always triumphs over wickedness. The passage is extracted from the beginning of the work, depicting the encounter and conversation between Quán and four scholar candidates. Through this excerpt, the distinct perspective of Quán on 'dislike and affection' is clearly manifested.
