Love for One's Homeland in 3 Poems Across the Duong River, Viet Bac, The Country

Essay Prompt: Love for One's Homeland in 3 Poems Across the Duong River, Viet Bac, The Country

Exploring Love for One's Homeland in 3 Poems Across the Duong River, Viet Bac, The Country
 

I. Outline: Love for One's Homeland in 3 Poems Across the Duong River, Viet Bac, The Country

1. Introduction

Introducing the issue to be analyzed:

2. The Essence of Poetry

a. Patriotism in 'Beyond the Đuống River' (by Hoàng Cầm):
- Bonding with the homeland through traditional, venerable images of the Kinh Bắc region:

- Heartfelt sorrow upon hearing the distressing news of the homeland being trampled by French invaders.
+ Regret, sadness witnessing the desolation of the homeland, a pain felt deep within, 'so heartbreaking as palms slipping away.'
+ The recurring refrain 'where to go, where to return' epitomizes the lament for one's homeland and concern for the people's fate here.
- Transitioning from mournful verses to ones brimming with fervor and excitement, the poet reflects the spirit of resistance and eventual triumph.

b. Patriotism in 'Viet Bac' (by Tố Hữu):
- Patriotism in the work is primarily manifested in the deep bond with nature and the people of Viet Bac during the resistance, characterized by unity and solidarity throughout an extended period.
- Patriotism is also revealed through Tố Hữu's appreciation of the beauty and nature of the people of Viet Bac, vividly depicted through a quartet of vases.
- Unwavering commitment to the revolution, pursuing the ideals of liberation, and national emancipation, both by the poet and the entire populace in the Viet Bac combat zone.

c. Love for Homeland in 'The Nation':
- The author defines the nation through poetry combining philosophical depth and profound sentiment.
- Pride in the ethnic roots through the legend of Lạc Long Quân - Âu Cơ, the longstanding civilization of 'Rice must be milled under one sun, two dews,' or the village traditions spanning millennia that shape 'The Nation.'
- Integrating folk cultural elements into poetry with subtlety and fluency.
- Affirming the nation's formation from the people's customs and traditions like betel chewing, teeth staining, hair knotting, naming children,...
- Pride in the tradition of defending the homeland, the resilient and strong struggle of the people, deep-seated hatred for invaders across generations. Also reminding future generations to cherish the homeland, rise to fight when the Motherland calls.
- Asserting a contemporary truth that the nation belongs to the people, created by the people through long-standing cultural traditions, combined with a strong spirit of resistance against foreign invaders to preserve 'The Nation.'
- A sense of pride and attachment to the homeland by continuously listing famous landmarks to depict the nation's landscape. Also deeply loving and cherishing the precious virtues of the Vietnamese people with deep affection in love, valuing friendship, and the beauty of unwavering spirit against invaders.

3. Conclusion

Express sentiments.

II. Exemplary Essay: Patriotism in 3 Poems 'Beyond the Đuống River,' 'Viet Bac,' 'The Nation'

Throughout Vietnamese literature from ancient times to today, love for the homeland has always been one of the most inspiring themes. Especially during turbulent periods, this sentiment grows stronger, more intense, and more fervent in every individual's heart. It becomes a solid foundation for people to stand up and fight to protect the homeland from losses and sorrows. Additionally, it is a central theme in many profound literary works. The three poems 'Beyond the Đuống River' (by Hoàng Cầm), 'Viet Bac' (by Tố Hữu), and 'The Nation' (by Nguyễn Khoa Điềm) were composed in different times and circumstances. However, their commonality lies in vividly expressing profound, fervent love for the homeland, despite the varying styles and expressions of the authors.

'Beyond the Đuống River' was created under unique circumstances. After learning of the French invaders ravaging his homeland of Bắc Ninh, poet Hoàng Cầm stayed up all night to write this poem. Emotions flow in the poem like a abundant river, uninterrupted, where we first see deep-seated hatred for the invaders, intertwined with the painful sorrows before the homeland's current state. The author's profound love for the homeland is expressed through traditional, venerable images, with the Đuống River repeatedly flowing gently, revealing the author's intense longing. The bond with the marvelous land is depicted through familiar, intimate images of a region considered the cradle of the nation's traditions for millennia. These are scenes of beautiful, peaceful nature: sugar cane fields, strawberry shores, vibrant corn fields, bustling markets,... It's the epitome of the Kinh Bắc culture with iconic landmarks, aesthetic cultural traditions like famous festivals, Thiên Thai mountain, Bút Tháp pagoda, Lang Tài district, Dong Ho paintings of pigs and chickens, wedding mouse stories,... Or the charming, adorable images of Kinh Bắc people in labor, eking out a living with traditional occupations depicted by Hoàng Cầm's pen filled with affection:

'Who returns to the Đuống River side
Remembering each lotus-faced girl
The ladies chewing betel with blackened teeth
Smiling like autumn suns
Hồ market, Sủi market, bustling with people
Trầm Chỉ beach, where fishermen set their nets
The weavers selling colorful silk
The dyers in Tỉnh field, Huê Cầu'

Parallel to the feelings of pride and fervent love for the beautiful homeland is the profound sorrow upon hearing the news of the homeland being trampled by French invaders. The author mourns, grieves over the sight of the homeland devastated by a pain felt deeply 'like falling hands.' Alongside the beautiful imagery of the homeland and its people in the past, at the end of each verse, the refrain 'where to go, where to return' is repeated multiple times, expressing lament for the homeland and concern for the people here, after the losses and devastation, where they will go, return, how they will live, especially the elderly, the children, the most vulnerable in society facing calamity. Oh, in the hearts of the Kinh Bắc people, so much indescribable pain, sorrow, and pity for the desolate homeland. The more one thinks, the more one is enraged by the cruel, inhumane French invaders, who wield guns to oppress the good people, trample on the land where crops grow, step on the cradle of the nation's roots. Therefore, after the mixed emotions of pity and pride for his homeland, Hoàng Cầm switched to a new poetic tone filled with fervent emotions, enthusiasm in the momentum of fighting the invaders and victory. The face of the homeland, from the sorrows, devastation, has renewed, donning a cloak of heroism, solidarity, strength mingled with the bright beauty, ready to sacrifice blood and bone in the fight. To ultimately look towards a bright future, reclaiming the ancient traditions buried by enemy bombs of yesteryears.

'When will I return to the other side of the Đuống River
To find you again
You in your graceful attire
You with your pink silk belt
You walking through the hills and rivers
Laughing amidst the endless green of spring'.

In Tố Hữu's 'Viet Bac,' the poem emerged in a rather unique context, not just for an individual but for the whole nation. After the aerial battle of Điện Biên Phủ, the signing of the Geneva Accords, the French withdrew, and the North became completely independent. In that situation, the Central Party decided to relocate the Viet Bac revolutionary base back to Hanoi, after 15 years of living and fighting together. Viet Bac, born in that context, became a poem expressing the enduring affection between revolutionary soldiers and the people of Viet Bac before the tearful parting, while also serving as a summary of the arduous struggle against the French for nearly 15 years until the glorious victory day. Love for the homeland in this work is primarily shown through the deep bond with nature, the people of Viet Bac during the resistance, the unity, and shared suffering over a long period. The people's feelings were not only formed in struggle but also through years of eating, working, and learning together. There are unforgettable memories of the most difficult days, when Viet Bac people wrapped the revolution in pure, honest hearts, with love and sharing 'Sharing cassava, splitting rice half, sharing blankets,' enduring hunger, enduring hardships. Then there are memories of the early days of resistance, the first victories associated with familiar places 'Hồng Thái communal house, Tân Trào banyan tree.' There's also a deep affection for the wild, remote Viet Bac mountains and forests, harsh weather, with 'moon rising,' 'afternoon sun,' 'smoke trails and mist,' 'bamboo forest on the riverbank,' 'Thia stream, Đáy river, Lê stream,' truly dear, memorable, which revolutionary soldiers may never forget. It can be said that the love for the homeland here is the longing, the attachment of those leaving for the nature and people of Viet Bac, a nostalgia full of unspoken feelings 'Remembering like missing a lover.'

Furthermore, love for the homeland is also expressed through Tố Hữu's perception of the beauty and nature of the Viet Bac people, which is vividly depicted through a four-panel picture:

'Lush green forests, bright red banana flowers
High passes under the glaring sun, tying the waist
Spring days dreamily blooming white in the forest
Remembering someone weaving hats, carefully threading each strand
Cicadas chirping, forests pouring with gold
Remembering the younger sister picking bamboo shoots alone
Autumn forest with moonlight shining, blending with peace
Remembering someone singing a loyal love song'

The reality is, the northern mountainous region of our country has always been one of the most rugged terrains with extremely harsh weather conditions, as we can see in Quang Dũng's poem 'Westward March' or Chính Hữu's 'Comrade,' with the piercing cold in winter, salty mist in summer, and the wilderness with 'hills rising like crooked elbows, steep cliffs touching the sky.' However, in Tố Hữu's poetry, the image of the Northwest mountains and forests becomes gentle and uniquely beautiful, with the appearance of natural colors and sounds, vibrant and enchanting, like the red of banana flowers, the yellow of the bamboo forest, the chirping of cicadas, the pure white of apricot blossoms, and the serene beauty of the moonlight, romantic,... Amidst the natural scenery, the image of people in labor has emerged prominently with various postures, vigor, agility, talent, patience, quietly serving the resistance, and ultimately, the optimistic, life-loving spirit, the steadfast affection with 'a song of loyal love.' This shows that only with a deep, passionate affection for the land of Viet Bac and its people could Tố Hữu paint such a harmonious, lively picture. Broadening it, it is indeed a profound love for the homeland. Another expression of love for the homeland in Viet Bac is the steadfast commitment to the revolution, the pursuit of the ideals of liberation, national liberation by the poet, as well as the entire population in the Viet Bac combat zone. This is clearly demonstrated through vivid pictures recreated by the poet about our people's 15-year struggle, from the early difficult years of deprivation, to the glorious victory, complete liberation of the North. With a pen serving the revolution, aiming at the collective 'us' of the entire nation, Tố Hữu wrote Viet Bac as a summary of the resistance against the French through emotionally rich verses deeply rooted in national tradition with lục bát poetry form. Our people's resistance has many memories, much loss and sorrow, and especially the impression of the enthusiastic, vibrant atmosphere of the mountains and forests in the days the battle was nearing its end.

Regarding Nguyễn Khoa Điềm's 'Homeland,' it can be said that the author's love for the homeland is expressed in a completely different way from the two works mentioned above. The image of the homeland is defined by the author through verses combining profound philosophy and deep sentiment. Nguyễn Khoa Điềm defined the term 'Homeland' based on his understanding of traditional culture, love for the homeland, which was manifested through a sense of pride in the ancestral roots of the nation through the legend of Lạc Long Quân - Âu Cơ, through the long-standing rice civilization:

'A grain of rice must go through one sun, two dews to grind, pound, sift
The homeland has existed since then'

Or the traditions of villages that have existed for millennia have made up the 'Homeland.' Secondly, Nguyễn Khoa Điềm's love for the homeland is also expressed through his delicate and smooth incorporation of folk cultural elements into his poetry. The image of the 'Homeland' emerges with mystical, distant colors, deeply traditional through folk tales, legends, mythology, and ancient proverbs. Then there is the philosophical aspect of the author when he believes that the 'Homeland' is formed from the customs and habits of the people, such as betel chewing, teeth dyeing, hair braiding, naming children:

The Land of our ancestors, a tale often told by mothers,
The Land started with the betel chewed by grandma now,
The Land grew when our people learned to plant bamboo and fight invaders...
The embankment, the pillar bear its name

With deep understanding and love for the homeland, Nguyễn Khoa Điềm delicately points out that after the formation of the Land, there needs to be a process of construction, protection spanning the nation's historical traditions. This includes the tradition of defending the country, the resilient, strong qualities in the people's struggle, the profound hatred for invaders from generations past. At the same time, it also reminds future generations to cherish the homeland, to rise up in defense when they hear the motherland's call. In summary, the author affirms a truth of the times that the country belongs to the people, created by the people through long-standing customs, cultural traditions, combined with a strong spirit of struggle against foreign invaders to preserve the 'Land.'

Furthermore, the love for the homeland in the work is also expressed through feelings of pride, attachment to the homeland by continuously listing famous landmarks to depict the country's appearance.

'Wives who miss their husbands contribute the Vọng Phu mountains to the Land,
Loving couples contribute the Trống Mái islet,
The hoofprints of Saint Gióng leaving behind a hundred ponds and marshes,
Ninety-nine elephants contribute to the building of the Hung Vuong ancestral land,
The silent dragons contribute to the deep blue river,
Poor students contribute their mountains and valleys,
Frogs, chickens from the homeland contribute to the splendor of Hạ Long.
The people who have contributed names like Ông Đốc, Ông Trang, Bà Đen, Bà Điểm'

Simultaneously deeply cherish, value the precious virtues of the Vietnamese people with fervor in love, treasuring friendship and the beauty of the indomitable spirit against invaders.

All three poetic works above are embodiments of deep and profound love for the homeland, laden with emotions on various aspects and expressed in different ways. They become songs, echoes that encourage the patriotic spirit, the fighting spirit of the people, making individuals understand more about this sacred and precious sentiment not only in the painful periods of the nation's history but also in its lasting value for the future.

The Love for the homeland in the 3 poems Across the Đuống River, Việt Bắc, The Country analyzed above has provided the most fundamental analysis of the love for the homeland hidden in three famous poems: Across the Đuống River, Việt Bắc, and The Country. To delve deeper into these works, readers are invited to explore further articles such as Analysis of the Việt Bắc poem, Analysis of Across the Đuống River poem, Analysis of the Country poem by Nguyễn Khoa Điềm, and Appreciation of the four-panel painting in the Việt Bắc poem.