My Reflection on Hồ Xuân Hương's Poem 'Floating Cake in Water'

Prompt: My Reflection on Hồ Xuân Hương's Poem 'Floating Cake in Water'

4 Sample Essays: My Impressions on Hồ Xuân Hương's Poem 'Floating Cake in Water'

I. Outline My Impressions on Hồ Xuân Hương's Poem 'Floating Cake in Water'

1. Introduction

Introduction to the author Hồ Xuân Hương and the poem 'Floating Cake in Water'

2. Body of the Essay

a. Literal Interpretation:
- Description of the floating cake:
+ Appearance: white, round
+ Characteristics: seven float, three sink when boiled
+ Finished product: when completed, the cake is served white, delicious, and beautiful

b. Figurative Interpretation:
- Description of the woman:
+ Appearance: white, round → full, vibrant, attractive beauty
+ Destiny: seven float, three sink: full of ups and downs, hardships
+ Lack of autonomy in deciding happiness, their own lives
+ Personality: heart of gold → loyal, noble, and courageous
=> Richly meaningful imagery, expressing compassion and reverence for talented but unfortunate women.

3. Conclusion

Express your feelings, thoughts

II. Sample Essay My Impressions on Hồ Xuân Hương's Poem 'Floating Cake in Water'

1. My Impressions on Hồ Xuân Hương's Poem 'Floating Cake in Water', Sample 1 (Standard):

In Vietnamese literature, there are numerous works dedicated to women. They become a major theme in medieval literature, a subject that many authors agonize over when writing about. Particularly in medieval literature, there are many works depicting women that evoke pity and sorrow for their harsh fate. One of the finest poems dedicated to them is 'Floating Cake in Water' by Hồ Xuân Hương, a poem that portrays the lives and destinies of women who endure life's bitterness.

'My body is both white and round
Seven float, three sink in the nonstop flow'

Hồ Xuân Hương doesn't directly expose the harsh reality but rather conveys her message through layers of meaning in her words. The author selects the imagery of the floating cake and likens it to the fate of women at that time. So why a floating cake and not a rice cake, a rice ball, or any other type of cake? Because in that floating cake lie characteristics that, when deeply pondered, one can perceive it as the fate of women in ancient society.

The floating cake is typically made from glutinous rice flour. When the rice is harvested, it's pounded thoroughly by the skilled hands of bakers, molded into round cakes. These cakes have the white color of glutinous rice, the fragrance of its aroma, and the filling made from green beans. Hồ Xuân Hương describes the outward appearance of the cake as 'both white and round' to praise the beauty of women, who also possess a full, graceful figure. They are individuals brimming with vitality, freshness, and a love for life, yearning for happiness.

These individuals deserve happiness, joy, but fate cruelly plunges them into the abyss:

'Seven float, three sink in the nonstop flow'

When the floating cake is boiled, it experiences floating and sinking in the pot, much like the tumultuous life of a woman. They must navigate through all the ups and downs, adversities, and challenges, struggling amidst the sea of injustices and cruelty inflicted by society.

In a society that favors males over females, being born as a female was already a disadvantage, and it becomes even more unfortunate when they cannot even choose their own happiness. The belief that 'parents decide where their children sit' becomes a binding thread in the lives of women. And when married, few escape the fate of 'shared husband,' even the smallest happiness must be shared. Women cannot decide their own lives; they are forced to accept fate, left to the mercy of others.

'Despite being kneaded by others' hands, they remain intact'

The Best Essays: My Impressions on Hồ Xuân Hương's Poem 'Floating Cake in Water'

The meticulous, attentive, and caring will produce a perfect cake, round and white. The careless and indifferent will yield an ugly, misshapen cake. Whether the cake turns out beautiful or not depends on the heart of the maker. Women are the same; they cannot decide their own lives. In a society that favors males over females, being born female was already a disadvantage, and it becomes even more unfortunate when they cannot choose their own happiness. If fortunate enough to find a husband who knows how to share and love, their lives may find some stability. Conversely, if faced with a domineering, unloving husband, their lives will be filled with bitterness and unhappiness.

The third stanza of the poem reminds us of ancient folk verses about women's lives. Happiness is scarce, bitterness and sorrow are plentiful:

'My body floats like a gourd
The wind and waves know not where to crash'

Excellent

'My body is like raindrops
Falling into the well, splashing onto the plowed fields'

If only the ancient society were equal, if only it knew how to love and understand women, it would have been so much better. It is often said that living in an environment of wickedness, selfishness, and decay easily leads people astray, on the wrong path, and even if lacking in integrity, one may become wicked. But the resilient women of the old society have proven otherwise.

'Yet, I still hold onto my heart of gold'

2. My Impressions of the poem Bánh Trôi Nước by Hồ Xuân Hương, sample number 2:

'My body is both white and round,
Seven float, three sink amidst land and pond.
Though snake-bit, by hands that mold,
My heart of red remains untold.'

Bánh Trôi Nước - a humble cake, commonly seen all year round, is vividly depicted by Hồ Xuân Hương, almost as if the cake itself is speaking of its own essence:

'My body is both white and round'

Through this, Vietnamese women can embody those adorable rustic cakes. She doesn't employ a 'heart-shaped face' or 'willow-leaf eyebrows' to describe the aristocratic beauty of women; instead, she uses the imagery of 'round,' 'white' to evoke a strong, lovely beauty. Moreover, the term 'both' further enhances pride in the physical beauty of Vietnamese women. Vietnamese women are strong, beautiful, and adorable, but what about their lives? In ancient feudal society, the fate of women was as fluctuating as a floating cake in the pot.

'Seven float, three sink amidst land and pond'

Life is turbulent, full of storms seemingly reserved for Vietnamese women in feudal society, sounding like a whisper, enduring, yet also hinting at their pride. They float and sink, but float and sink 'amidst land and pond.'

'Though snake-bit, by hands that mold'

My body, both fair and round,

With such physical beauty, one would expect a life of happiness and bliss, but human life, especially that of women, is often laden with bitterness and hardship.

Seven float, three sink in waters profound,

Born to be human, yet women cannot control their own fate; their lives are dictated by others. Lady Vũ Nương, gentle and virtuous, while her husband went to battle, she stayed home alone to care for her elderly mother and young children. She fulfilled her duties as a daughter, a wife, and a mother within the family. However, due to excessive jealousy and suspicion, her husband accused her of infidelity. She had to resort to death to prove her innocence. This story delivers a message: in that society, even good people like her were denied happiness.

Similarly, the lives of women in feudal society are always shaped and pushed by society:

Broken despite the hands of those who mold

My interpretation of the poem 'Floating Cake' by Ho Xuan Huong

Even if life is harsh and unfortunate, they still maintain their inherent value, their noble souls.

Yet I hold onto my steadfast heart

The creativity of the female poet is quite unique. She chooses few details but conveys much. The two words 'my body' placed before the cake, the cake personified, that is the confession of a woman. This artistic touch sparks the reader's imagination and vividly portrays the woman. From a hint of satisfaction, the poetic tone shifts entirely to lamentation about the harsh fate. Ho Xuan Huong has turned the familiar proverb 'three submerged, seven floated' into its opposite, with 'seven floated, three submerged,' juxtaposing the unexpectedness and emphasizing the woman's misfortune.

Here we no longer hear the resigned poetic tone: 'Broken despite the hands of those who mold.' Their lives, they cannot control themselves but entirely depend on others. Yet: Yet I hold onto my steadfast heart. Not only is there a contrast in the attitude of the woman in lines three and four, but also a contrast between resignation and the protection of purity in the human soul. The word 'yet' expresses affirmation, determination to transcend fate to hold onto a steadfast heart. The woman is very aware of her life and her own worth. Even in the bitterness, molding, pushing of life, their admirable value always remains their lifeline.

In a society with such strict Confucian ideology, the concept of three obediences and four virtues, male superiority, and female inferiority has deeply ingrained in people's minds. Speaking as Ho Xuan Huong did is truly admirable, respected. The poem consists of only four lines, a humble theme, but under the magical pen, Ho Xuan Huong has transformed the floating cake into a radiant gem with many colors. The poem contains a ray of light, consciousness about the unjust society oppressing women and their moral values.

Indeed, the poems of Ho Xuan Huong hold profound societal and realistic value. This is the collective voice of women against the injustice of ancient society, affirming their own worth. The poet represents the unfortunate fates voicing their own opinions and that of the era. The poem reflects the eloquence of the 'queen of Nom poetry.'

My thoughts on Ho Xuan Huong's poem 'Floating Cake,' model number 4:

The poet Ho Xuan Huong is known as the 'queen of Nom poetry' in Vietnamese literature. Her poetry is extremely unique with a simple, rustic style, poignant words, and profound metaphors.

In her poems, particularly 'Floating Cake,' she displays incredibly unique and sharp sarcasm. In the image of the floating cake, 'seven floated, three submerged' represents the fate of women in the feudal regime.

The poet utilizes the humble image of the floating cake to indict the atrocities of the old regime that trampled upon the dignity of women. In a society full of injustice, gender inequality, where 'men are honored, women are despised,' women have no voice in life.

The author begins with two familiar lines often used in folk songs, which are 'My body'

My body, both white and round
Seven float, three sink in water and land.

The author, Ho Xuan Huong, employs the image of the floating cake to depict the plight of women of the past, oppressed in the role of women. The floating cake is both white and round, yet it suffers a precarious fate, with the water's surface being uneven. It resembles the beauty of women, soft, pure, sweetly loyal, yet life pushes them to an unstable place devoid of happiness. The author ingeniously borrows the simple, rustic image of the floating cake in folklore to express the beauty of a woman's soul. That is the artistry of our queen of Nom poetry.

Essay: My Reflection on Ho Xuan Huong's Poem 'Floating Cake'

With just two lines, author Ho Xuan Huong demonstrates her mastery in the art of description with utmost delicacy, playing with words boldly to exhibit a truly unique and daring poetic style of a versatile female scholar. Women of the past living in the feudal regime had to endure many injustices, many oppressions, having to bear numerous outdated customs, traditions that made it impossible for them to live for themselves but always had to live according to outdated beliefs, three obediences and four virtues. Women had no voice in the family, always had to obey their husbands, fathers. Even their future happiness as a couple, women had no right to speak up but had to rely on their fate, matchmakers, and parents' arrangements. If lucky, they enjoyed happiness and care, if not, they suffered the harsh realities of the world.

In the next two lines of the poem, the image of a woman emerges with steadfast loyalty and charm:

Broken despite the hands of those who mold
Yet I still hold onto my steadfast heart.

In the 7th-grade Vietnamese literature curriculum, the section Compose with Review of Expressive Texts is an important content that students need to pay attention to and prepare for in advance.