Reflecting on a beloved folk poem

Prompt: Reflecting on a beloved folk poem

Sample essay: Reflecting on a beloved folk poem

I. Outline: Reflecting on a beloved folk poem

1. Introduction:

- Among the folk songs and traditional tunes depicting romantic love, our ancestors often praised the bonds of loyalty and devotion as they form the solid foundation of marriage.
- The folk poem: Guess who... is a prime example.

2. Body:

* Personal Reflections on the Given Folk Poem:
- Structurally, it resembles a call-and-response format, commonly witnessed in ancient rural festivities...
- This serves as a means to express genuine, unadorned yet meaningful emotions.
- The initial two lines pose a challenge by the young man: Guess who can sweep away the forest leaves... displaying strong determination to overcome all obstacles on the journey to marriage.
- The subsequent two lines simultaneously challenge obstacles and express the unshakable loyalty of the young man, providing significant encouragement to the beloved.

3. Conclusion:

- As the sincere expression of a deeply loving heart, the aforementioned folk poem will endure through time.
 

II. Sample Essay: Reflections on a Beloved Folk Poem

Proverbs, folk songs, and traditional tunes are the embodiment of the emotional life of the Vietnamese people from generation to generation, passed down from one era to another. This is the endless source nourishing the souls of each individual.

Among the folk poems depicting romantic love, our ancestors often praised the bonds of loyalty and devotion because this element forms the foundation of love, marriage, and family. Amidst the strict constraints and prejudices of feudal society, lovers had to overcome countless hardships and challenges to be together. They borrowed folk poems to convey their hearts. The following folk poem is a typical example:

Guess who can sweep away the forest leaves,
So that I can advise the wind not to shake the trees.
Shake the trees, shake the roots, shake the branches,
Shake so that it moves the hearts of you and me.

Still a challenge, but at a higher level, more determined. The image of the wind has taken on a symbolic meaning, symbolizing formidable forces hindering love such as class division, prejudice, social conflicts, religion, family feuds... Not just a strong wind, sometimes it's a storm, difficult to overcome. Yet, when in love, people defy all odds: Crossing rivers regardless of depth, traversing mountains regardless of difficulty.

Short verse rhythm 2 / 2 / 2, intense pace combined with the repeated message three times in a sentence evokes horrifying scenes of storms of public opinion against love daring to defy the strict constraints of tradition. Nevertheless, by the fourth sentence, the poetic rhythm becomes calm, affirming the immense determination and unwavering faith in the stability of love: Shaking stars but unshaking his and her hearts.

Thus, it's clear the folk song above is the heartfelt message from the young man to the girl he passionately loves. It's like a flame dispersing the darkness of fear and hesitation lingering in the girl's mind and heart, giving her the strength to walk confidently on the chosen path, until the final destination.

As the sincere voice of deeply in love hearts, the folk song will endure with time.

"""""THE END"""""-

In addition to Reflecting on a beloved folk song, students should explore other lessons in Grade 8 Literature such as Lesson on Parentheses and Colon or Lesson on Expository Writing and its techniques to solidify their Grade 8 Literature knowledge.