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Prompt: Take on the role of Cám and narrate the story of Tấm Cám
Sample essay: Stepping into the shoes of Cám to recount the story of Tấm Cám
Sample Story: Playing the Roles of Cinderella and Narrating the Tale of Tam and Cam
I grew up in a relatively affluent family, but unfortunately, my father passed away early. I lived with my mother and a stepsister from another mother named Tam. My mother assigned all the household chores to my stepsister Tam. Since childhood, I enjoyed a comfortable life, pampered by my mother. I didn't have to do much—just eat, sleep, and play—while Tam had to work all day long. My mother and I took turns scolding and oppressing Tam. I knew Tam was suffering a lot, but she endured it, making me feel joyful and blissful beyond measure.
One day, our mother called us and said, 'Hey, you two, go catch crabs. Whoever catches more will get a red apron, and if you don't catch any, remember that a whip is waiting.'
Tam eagerly went and diligently caught a basket full of crabs. I, on the other hand, got lost in playing and chasing butterflies, forgetting about the task. When it was time to go home, Tam's basket was full of crabs, while mine was empty. At that moment, I came up with a plan. Upon reaching the village pond, I called Tam and said, 'Tam, your head is dirty; rinse it, or Mom will scold you.' Hearing my words, she went to wash her hair. I happily transferred all the shrimps and prawns from her basket to mine, then hurried home to claim the red apron from Mom. Tam returned home with an empty basket, and of course, Mom scolded her, while I gleefully adorned my new red apron.
Since then, my mother noticed Tam often bringing a bowl of rice to the well after meals. Suspecting something amiss, she cunningly followed me. Realizing the truth, the next day, my mother told Tam to go herd buffalo far away, while at home, we seized the baby fish that Tam had caught and enjoyed a meal. Returning home to find no baby fish, Tam burst into tears. Oh, what a frail sister, always crying.
Not long after, the king organized a festival. Both my mother and I attended. Tam wanted to join, so my mother mixed a bowl of rice with a bowl of husk and left it for Tam to pick through before she could come. Despite her crying, my mother and I happily left. I encountered Tam at the festival, stunningly beautiful. My mother and I couldn't recognize her, and a sense of envy and resentment overwhelmed me. Back home, I had to torment her to feed my hatred.
Upon hearing the king's proclamation, 'Any woman at the festival who fits this slipper will be my wife,' everyone rushed to try it on, but it didn't fit anyone. My mother and I were no exception. When it was Tam's turn, the slipper fit perfectly. The king ordered to bring Tam into the palace as his wife, right before the disapproving gaze of my mother and me.
On the anniversary of our father's death, Tam came home for the memorial. My mother instructed her to climb the areca tree and pick areca nuts for the ritual. As Tam was up in the tree, my mother below took a knife and cut the tree, making Tam fall and die. I dressed in Tam's clothes and went into the palace to replace her.
Since the day Tam passed away, the king, in constant companionship with his golden bird, became furious. I, enraged, returned home to inform my mother. She advised me to catch the bird, feed it to the cat, and bury the bird's feathers in the garden. Before long, a peach blossom tree flourished at that spot, vibrant and fresh. The king, captivated by its beauty, ordered someone to hang a hammock on the tree to enjoy the cool breeze, cherishing the tree dearly. My mother cleverly cut down the peach blossom tree to frame a loom. While weaving fabric, I heard an ominous voice from the loom frame, saying, 'Weave it, knot it. Take revenge for your sister. Carve out her eyes.' Following my mother's instructions, I set the loom frame on fire and scattered the ashes on the distant road, hoping for peace.
On the day the king welcomed Tam back to the palace, I was utterly astonished. Not only was Tam still alive, but she was also even more radiant than before, leaving me puzzled and consumed by jealousy. Tam advised me to bathe with boiling water to enhance my beauty. Eagerly following her advice, I met an instant demise. Upon hearing the news of my death, my mother, overwhelmed with grief, also perished.
Had I known this day would come, I would have treated sister Tam better in the past. Now, I understand the true meaning of the saying 'sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.'
To gather more material for playing the role of Cám and retelling the story of Tam and Cám, you can explore the content of Retell the Story of Tam and Cám in Tam's Words as well as the article Analysis of the Tam and Cám Story.
In the Literature 10 program, the section Compose a short persuasive text expressing thoughts on compassion is a crucial topic for students to carefully prepare for.
Apart from the aforementioned content, you can explore the section Reflection on Nguyen Du's Poem 'Duc Tieu Thanh Ki' to better equip yourselves for this lesson.
