Introducing the renowned poet Thế Lữ and the poem Remembering the Forest

Prompt: Introduce the poet Thế Lữ and the poem Remembering the Forest

3 sample essays Introducing the poet Thế Lữ and the poem Remembering the Forest

1. Introduction to the poet Thế Lữ and the poem Remembering the Forest, sample 1:

The poet Thế Lữ was born in 1907 and passed away in 1989. His birth name was Nguyễn Thứ Lễ, born in Thái Hà hamlet, Hanoi. Hometown: Phù Đổng village, Tiên Du district (now Tiên Sơn), Bắc Ninh province.

During his childhood, Thế Lữ studied in Hải Phòng. In 1929, after completing his Intermediate level, he attended the Indochina College of Fine Arts, but dropped out after a year (1930). In 1932, Thế Lữ began participating in the Self-Reliant Literary Group and became one of the leading writers for the Phong hoá newspaper and Ngày nay magazine. In 1937, he ventured into theater, working as an actor, director, and touring various provinces in Central Vietnam... with a vision of establishing a national theater foundation. Enthusiastically embracing the August Revolution, he went to Việt Bắc to join the resistance.

The author has published: Some Poems (poetry, 1935); Gold and Blood (stories, 1934); By the Thiên Lôi Road (stories, 1936),... Additionally, Thế Lữ wrote numerous screenplays: Old Master Cụ (play, 1946); Guerrilla Squad (1947); Waiting (1949); News of Victory in Nghĩa Lộ (1952); Thế Lữ also translated many plays from Czechoslovakia, Russia, England, and Poland,...

Thế Lữ is one of the leading poets of the New Poetry movement. The poem Remembering the Forest is closely associated with his name. Mentioning Thế Lữ inevitably brings up Remembering the Forest.

The emergence of the New Poetry movement in the early 20th century ignited a fierce explosion, a true revolution in the literary landscape, especially in poetry. The old poetic forms (typical of Tang Dynasty poetry) with rigid frameworks, fixed rules could no longer contain the overflowing thoughts, emotions, always bursting with innovation. Renewing poetic forms, innovating poetic structures, the new poets simultaneously infused them with abundant, powerful emotions, like streams of molten lava flowing abundantly. Remembering the Forest is one of the representative works of this new trend.
 

2. Introduction to the poet Thế Lữ and the poem Remembering the Forest, sample 2:

Thế Lữ shines as a prominent star in the Vietnamese poetic sky of the early 20th century. Though not becoming a phenomenon like Xuân Diệu or Hàn Mặc Tử or Chế Lan Viên, he laid the foundation stones for the construction of the New Poetry citadel.

Background and Position of Thế Lữ in the Literary Community:

Thế Lữ was born in 1907 and passed away in 1989 in Hanoi, under the birth name Nguyễn Thứ Lễ. He was a renowned poet, writer, and theater activist in 20th century Vietnam. Thế Lữ gained fame in the literary community in the 1930s, with his New Poetry works, especially the poem Remembering the Forest. He is also regarded as a pioneer in the early 20th-century Vietnamese poetry renewal movement, a key figure laying the initial foundations of the New Poetry movement.

Main Activities of Thế Lữ:

Thế Lữ started learning Confucian script at the age of 8 and soon began studying Quốc Ngữ (Vietnamese alphabet) at 10. In 1925, he attended Bonnal Elementary College in Hải Phòng for 3 years before dropping out. During his time at Thành Chung school, he was influenced by the patriotic spirit among students, through newspapers sent from France to Vietnam, as well as from teachers like Trịnh Đình Rư, Hoàng Ngọc Phách, Nguyễn Hữu Tảo.

He quickly engaged in artistic activities, becoming a representative poet of the New Poetry movement from the outset. His poetry aimed to express the sentiments of patriotic individuals but had not yet found a path to save the country. His poetic voice was clear, sometimes tinged with sadness, soaked in inner turmoil.

From 1937, Thế Lữ's activities mainly shifted towards theater performance, becoming an actor, director, playwright, and head of drama departments such as Tinh Hoa, Thế Lữ, Anh Vũ, active even after the August Revolution. During this period, Thế Lữ was extremely active, making significant contributions to the development of Vietnamese stage theater in the early 20th century.

Additionally, Thế Lữ wrote short stories, detective stories, adventure tales, and horror stories. His works featured compelling plots, captivating narratives, a deep storytelling voice, and dramatic storylines that enthralled readers.

When the resistance broke out, he eagerly participated in the resistance against France, creating plays to strongly encourage the fighting spirit of the people.

Even after the country was liberated, Thế Lữ continued to dedicate himself to the development of national literature. He passed away in Hanoi in 1986.

Main works of Thế Lữ:

Poetry works:

Some Poems (1935), Some Poems, New Collection (1941)

Drama works:

Dương Quý Phi (1942), The Blind (1946), Old Master Cụ (1946), Guerrilla Squad (1947), Detective Đề Thám (1948), Waiting (1949), News of Victory in Nghĩa Lộ (1952)

Fiction works:

Gold and Blood (1934), By the Thiên Lôi Road (1936), Lê Phong the Journalist (1937), Mai Hương and Lê Phong (1937), The Promised Strike (1937), The Cigarette Pack (1940), Wind Moon (1941), Bồ Tùng Linh Camp (1941), Thoa (short story, 1942), The Love Story of Mr. Mai (novella, 1953), The Big Swindler (short story, 1953)

Song Lyrics:

Spring and Youth (1946) set to music by La Hối

Thế Lữ also translated many plays by Shakespeare, Goethe, Schiller,...

Despite succeeding in various artistic fields, when mentioning Thế Lữ, readers often recall a talented poet, the pioneer of innovation in the New Poetry movement in Vietnam at the beginning of the 20th century.

Evaluation of Thế Lữ:

It can be said that Thế Lữ was a multi-talented individual. He achieved great success in every field he ventured into. In him, one could see a strong creative force, extraordinary determination, and a noble character.

Evaluating Thế Lữ's career, critic Vũ Ngọc Phan noted: '... a leading figure in building the New Poetry. Phan Khôi, Lưu Trọng Lư only made people pay attention to the New Poetry, but Thế Lữ made people believe in the future of the New Poetry. His poetry is not just new in words but also in ideas'...

To acknowledge this, in the book 'Vietnamese Poets', Hoài Thanh respectfully mentioned his name at the beginning of the volume as a pioneer.

Xuân Diệu praised Thế Lữ as the 'most favored contemporary poet among the new poets around 1932 - 1937'. Perhaps, this honor was achieved because Thế Lữ's poetry was always gentle, subtle; like a melodious song echoing in the heart, sometimes soaring, sometimes quietly; and like the wind blowing, the flute singing from afar and near, captivating and unusual.

However, regardless of how, the influence and pioneering role of Thế Lữ in new poetry are still acknowledged. In the book Vietnamese Poets, Hoài Thanh commented:

'Thế Lữ emerged like a sudden star, shining light across the entire Vietnamese poetry sky. One cannot overlook the contribution Thế Lữ made to establishing the foundation of new poetry in this land... At the time when new poetry was just emerging, Thế Lữ appeared like a sudden star, shining light across the entire Vietnamese poetry sky... Thế Lữ didn't discuss New Poetry, didn't defend New Poetry, didn't engage in battles with the pen, didn't give speeches; Thế Lữ just silently, calmly took firm steps, and in a moment, the ranks of old poetry had to break apart'.

That is also the highest praise for an artist who has devoted himself to the development of the nation's literature.

Style of Thế Lữ's Poetry:

Thế Lữ is considered a pioneer who values beauty in art. He openly declares that art is about seeking beauty. Therefore, his poetry expresses a passion for beauty, seeking it everywhere, in every sound and color. Many of his poems depict exquisite fairy realms or landscapes abundant in beauty. The beauty in Thế Lữ's poetry is transcendent, noble, and idealistic.

Thế Lữ's poetry also touches on love, though his love poetry tends to lean towards purity, dreaminess, and subtlety rather than intoxication and passion like later romantic poetry. He advocates using love to honor the beauty of humanity, and uses suffering as artistic inspiration. He finds in them the beauty of fragile hope, of silent but great sacrifice.

Thế Lữ's poetry reflects a desire to break away from societal realities—a trend among artists of that time seeking an escape for their souls. He portrays an aristocrat out of tune with society, disgusted by artificial life, desiring to live freely, independently, and arrogantly.

He yearns to live freely, to escape constraints and explore a broader world. It seems the limited reality cannot contain his restless soul. Thế Lữ's confessions and aspirations mirror the sentiments of the intellectual youth of that era, seeking their own path.

Thế Lữ has inspired creative inspiration for generations to come. He can be considered the most influential figure for talented emerging poets such as Xuân Diệu, Huy Cận, Anh Thơ, and others.

Recognition:

Following his passing, Thế Lữ continues to be recognized as a pioneering artist, particularly for his significant contribution to initiating the New Poetry movement and for being 'the first to professionalize and develop the art of theatrical performance in our country, making it a complete theatrical art form.'

In 2000, Thế Lữ was posthumously awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Literature and Arts in the field of theater for his two works, 'Cụ đạo, Sự ông' and 'Đề Thám,' two plays he composed and performed during the resistance years. A statue in his honor was erected in the courtyard of the Vietnam National Drama Theatre.

Thế Lữ has had streets named after him in Da Nang, Hai Phong, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City. Many of his works have been translated into multiple languages worldwide.

What holds value will endure over time. While contemporary tastes and artistic consciousness may have changed, Thế Lữ's early poems still captivate readers, and his plays continue to be performed. Thế Lữ truly stands as a genuine artist, a pride of the national poetry through all ages.

3. Introduction to poet Thế Lữ and poem Reminiscing the Forest, model number 3:

Thế Lữ (1907 - 1989), born Nguyễn Thứ Lễ, hails from Bắc Ninh (now part of Gia Lâm district, Hanoi), representing the forefront of the early New Poetry movement. With a rich and romantic poetic soul, he played a significant role in innovating poetry and is regarded as the standard-bearer for the New Poetry, 'laying the foundation of New Poetry in this land' (Hoài Thanh).

In addition to poetry, Thế Lữ also wrote detective stories, horror stories, romantic forest path tales, etc. Later, he shifted entirely to theater activities and was one of the pioneers in building the theater industry in our country. He was awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Literature and Arts in 2000. Major works: A Few Verses (poetry, 1935), Gold and Blood (fiction, 1934), Beside the Thunder Road (fiction, 1936), Le Phong the Reporter (fiction, 1937),...

His poetry reflects the sentiments of the times and the nation, yet it is not despairing or melancholic, but rather profoundly poetic. 'Reminiscing the Forest,' printed in the collection 'A Few Verses,' can be considered the best poem in Thế Lữ's poetic career and also one of the finest in the New Poetry movement. The novelty of the poem lies both in its artistic form and its emotional content.

Regarding Art: The poem is crafted in free verse, with each line comprising eight characters, maintaining a consistent and melodious rhyme scheme. The rhythm in the poem is highly flexible, alternating between short (section 3), long (section 2), hurried and compact, evenly spread, passionate, nostalgic, and sorrowful... all contributing to portraying the diverse emotions of the sincere character - the lord of the forest, embodying the sentiment of an entire generation. The poetic tone is diverse, varied yet coherent, and seamless. The language is inventive, vivid, and evocative. Many lines are packed with imagery, melodies, bold words, making it seem as if 'the words are being pushed and tormented by an extraordinary force' as literary critic Hoài Thanh once remarked.

Regarding Content: This is an epic ode to the majestic tiger reminiscing the lush forest. Thế Lữ not only depicts a majestic tiger but also successfully conveys the rich emotional depth of its relentless yearning for the forest.

Employing seamless contrast throughout the poem, Thế Lữ has constructed a scene that is both realistic and conceals profound secrets. The tiger, the central figure in the poem - the lord of the green forest with its majestic, fierce, and proud demeanor in the past, is now gradually consumed by boredom and monotony within the iron cage, imprisoned, deprived of freedom, degraded, and mocked.

Yet, aware of its majestic status in the deep forest, despite the adversity, the tiger retains its pride. The surrounding world has become mundane and pitiful. In its eyes, humans are just 'arrogant fools,' bears are 'foolish,' pairs of panthers are 'carefree.' It refuses to submit to the present world, while in the past, the vast mountains and forests were its domain. In that world, it confidently faced and ruled the universe with golden moonlit nights, sunrises, rainy days, and even bloody dusks.

Externally, the tiger appears resigned, accepting its fate: 'I lie, watching days pass by.' But deep within, it harbors a grudge, a 'thousand-year-old resentment.' Despite losing its freedom, it refuses to yield, unwilling to lose the pride of being the lord of all creatures. Especially living in confinement, humiliation, with the body imprisoned, its fierce soul still resonates with the sweet melody of love and longing for the past. Its soul still yearns for the call of the green forest, the call for freedom. This reflects a vehement rejection of the current stifling, suffocating, and deceptive reality.

By borrowing the words of the tiger yearning for the green forest, the author has expressed the pent-up frustrations of their generation, their era. It is a resentment towards the stifling, suffocating social reality. A reality that they detest, want to reject. They yearn fervently to reach for liberation, for freedom. The poem voices the demand for self-liberation, the courage to deny reality, to assert oneself. Simultaneously, 'Nhớ rừng' also conveys the hidden patriotic sentiments of the Vietnamese people who lost their country during that time.

Compared to the works of other renowned contemporary poets, 'Nhớ rừng' by Thế Lữ shares the common theme of feeling trapped in real life, resenting its confinement and narrowness, desiring to escape to a different spiritual world. Yet, the difference lies in the inclination towards liberation. While Xuân Diệu, Tế Hanh, Hồ DZếnh turn to love, expressing urgency: 'Quickly, hurry up, my love, / You! Oh, you! Young love is aging.' Lưu Trọng Lư leans into the falling sorrow: 'You don't hear autumn / Under the dim moonlight.' Chế Lan Viên seeks the cold celestial sphere: 'Give me a cold celestial sphere / A lone star at the far end of the sky.' Nguyễn Bính finds solace in the rustic life of the countryside... 'Nhớ rừng' by Thế Lữ is a grand poem about the romantic, sentimental people of an era. Particularly, it subtly conveys love for the country, nostalgia for the glorious past of their ancestors. This is also the epitome of the poem.

It can be said that 'Nhớ rừng' embodies the desire for nature, freedom, and the ambition to conquer territories, as well as a sigh of farewell to a once fierce era. However, 'Nhớ rừng' is also a resolute declaration of non-conformity with the artificial world, even though the era of fervor in the past has receded.

Thus, we have hinted at Introduction to the poet The Lu and the poem Remembering the forest as the next piece. Prepare for the section Reflection on the verse: 'Where are the nights... sharp piece of the sun' in Remembering the forest along with the section Interpretation of the tiger symbol in the poem Remembering the forest to gain deeper insights into this content.

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