1. Outline #1
2. Outline #2
3. Sample Essay
My Reflection on the Excerpt from 'The Ivory Comb'
I. My Reflection on the Excerpt from 'The Ivory Comb'
1. My Reflection on the Excerpt from 'The Ivory Comb', Model #1 (Standard)
a. Introduction
- Brief overview of the author Nguyễn Quang Sáng and his writing style.
- Insight into the significance and content of 'The Ivory Comb.'
b. Body:
* Title:
- It represents the dream of little Thu and symbolizes the profound father-daughter bond between Mr. Sáu and Thu from the time he was alive to the moment of sacrifice.
- As the last memento left by Mr. Sáu to his daughter, it also deeply engraves the pain that war has inflicted on every family - loss, sorrow, and separation.
* Character Thu:
Before meeting her father:
- Rejects and ignores all the care and affection Mr. Sáu has for her (provide evidence).
- Reason: Because Mr. Sáu's face bears a terrible scar unlike the father figure in the photo that she always cherishes.
=> Portrays the unfortunate irony that war has brought upon every individual - not just the endurance of hardships by soldiers on the battlefield but also the pain and suffering of those at home.
=> Additionally, it showcases Thu's distinctive personality traits - innocence, stubbornness, character, and immense love for her father. Especially her rejection of Mr. Sáu's affection is a way for her to express her deep, heartfelt love for her father.
After meeting her father:
- Embraces her father affectionately, her call for 'dad' tearing through space and hearts, demonstrating the deep-seated emotion that she has hidden for so long.
- Wishes for Mr. Sáu to stay home and not leave => It not only stops at boundless love for Mr. Sáu but also unseen fear. Perhaps the girl senses that this departure of Mr. Sáu is final, hence she doesn't want him to leave even for a moment. She only wants him to stay home with her, the 8 years of separation leaving too much longing in her heart.
- The ivory comb has erased all distances between father and daughter, it's the bond that tightly connects their affectionate love.
* Character Mr. Sáu:
When returning home:
- A soldier facing tragedy within his own family, his daughter whom he longed for refuses to acknowledge him, even discarding all the things he wanted to make up for her. This causes immense pain for Mr. Sáu (provide evidence).
- The immense pain leads him to make a mistake, accidentally hurting his daughter. This not only hurts Thu but also causes even more agony in his heart, even prolonged regret until the moment of sacrifice.
When on the battlefield:
- He misses his daughter to the point of anguish, coupled with remorse for once striking his daughter, causing her pain, making Mr. Sáu deeply sorrowful.
- Crafting and cherishing the ivory comb is like nurturing the dream his daughter had. It soothes the burning regret, yet intensifies the love for his daughter.
- On the day of sacrifice, Mr. Sáu only regrets one thing - not being able to hand the ivory comb to his daughter.
=> Mr. Sáu's boundless love for his daughter, simultaneously reflecting profound pain, tragedies that war has left in the lives of soldiers.
c. Conclusion
- Express personal thoughts.
2. My Reflection on the Excerpt from 'The Ivory Comb', Model #2:
a. Introduction:
- Introduction to the author and the work
b. Body
- Summary of the story
- Thu's feelings towards her father
c. Conclusion
- Personal thoughts on the excerpt.
II. Sample Essay Reflecting on the Excerpt from 'The Ivory Comb'
Nguyễn Quang Sáng - a writer born, raised, and primarily active on the battlefields of the South, with a simple, rustic writing style, imbued with the essence of the Southern region. His writings about life and people here during the fierce national resistance and in the post-war years always leave a profound impression on readers. The short story 'The Ivory Comb' - a touching tale of father-daughter love, born in 1966, is one of his most outstanding works.
First and foremost, the short story 'The Ivory Comb' has constructed two distinctive plot situations, leaving a deep imprint on readers' hearts. The first situation is the emotional reunion of father and daughter, Mr. Sáu and Thu, after eight long years of separation, yet ironically, Thu refuses to acknowledge her father. Just when Thu comes to her senses, Mr. Sáu has to return to his unit. Additionally, the story also builds another unique situation, where Mr. Sáu, stationed at the base camp, pours all his love into making a ivory comb as a gift for Thu but tragically sacrifices himself before he could hand it over to her...(Continued)
>> Check out the full sample essay Reflecting on the Excerpt from 'The Ivory Comb' here.