Reflecting on 'My Spring' (excerpt from 'January Dreams of the Frosty Moonlight') by Vu Bang

Prompt: Reflecting on 'My Spring' (excerpt from 'January Dreams of the Frosty Moonlight') by Vu Bang

Exploring 'My Spring' by Vu Bang - 5 Essays

1. Exploring 'My Spring' by Vu Bang, Sample 1:

Vu Bang excels in short stories, essays, and pensmanship. His writing possesses both the refinement and uniqueness of someone deeply understanding life, as well as the tender, flavorful essence of a soul deeply loving their homeland. 'January Dreams of the Frosty Moonlight' is a representative work of Vu Bang's literary style.

'January Dreams of the Frosty Moonlight' begins with the fervent, dizzying emotions of the writer before the Northern Vietnamese spring.

In Vu Bang's emotional prose, the atmosphere and scenery of Northern spring in the early days of January emerge beautifully - a distinct, unforgettable beauty. It's a spring with drizzling rain, cool breeze, the sound of swallows chirping in the blue night, the echoing drumbeats from distant villages, and the melodious singing of a girl as romantic as poetry...

Oh, the spring of Northern Vietnam, perhaps it's the atmosphere and scenery of pre-1945 spring that resonates in the heart of a distant son like Vu Bang. It reminds us of the famous verses of Nguyen Binh:

That day, the spring rain gently floated
Layer by layer, the curled flowers fell
Filling the boat procession of Dang village passing through the alley
Mother said the hamlet of Doai will sing tonight

(Spring Rain)

The Best Essays on 'My Spring'

Spring brings about miraculous changes, bursting with vibrant colors, and most importantly, awakening the vitality within people. It makes one want to go crazy, to open the door and step outside, to indulge in the beauty of spring, feeling intoxicated without needing strong liquor. Spring makes the vitality within us swell like blood in a deer's antlers, like the sprouts of plants, lying dormant but unable to resist, bursting into tiny leaves. Especially, spring brings people back to 'life' and yearns for affection.

Spring brings about a peaceful family atmosphere, warm hearts, and a feeling as if countless new flowers are blooming, butterflies are fluttering, hosting festive gatherings in the heart.

It's the ecstatic, dizzying feeling of a person always longing for spring, welcoming it with all their fervent love. Vu Bang's lively, passionate writing has conveyed to the reader, making us feel ecstatic and dizzy too.

A truly beautiful spring (beloved spring of Hanoi, cherished spring of Northern Vietnam) is perceived through the delicate and sensitive soul of Vu Bang. It's as if the author has merged his heart into the scene, to see the drizzling rain, cool breeze, the sound of swallows in the blue night, the echoing drumbeats from distant villages, and the deep, sweet melody of the girl's romantic singing.

The writer not only perceives spring through familiar senses but also through the most special emotions of the soul. This perception is described with rich imagery and suggestive comparisons: 'Spring madness' is felt softly nostalgic; the vitality within people is likened to blood swelling in a deer's antlers, like the sprouts of plants, lying dormant but unable to resist, bursting into tiny leaves, waving hands as pairs of lovebirds stand nearby; the warm family atmosphere makes people joyfully reminiscent of countless new flowers blooming, butterflies fluttering, hosting festive gatherings.

The writer's pen is particularly sensitive in describing the scenery and atmosphere of spring from after the full moon of January. His keen eyes have detected changes (however small) in the colors and atmosphere of the sky, the ground, the vegetation in a short time from the beginning of the month to the full moon: Peach blossoms are fading but still retaining their pollen, the grass is not lush green but emits a cool fragrance; the sky is no longer as opaque as cloudy crystal, waking up to see fresh green streaks appearing on the horizon transitioning into transparent with trembling pink waves like newly molted cicada wings; on the plum blossom trellis, a few diligent bees have flown off to find nectar.

The scenery of spring is already beautiful with drizzling rain, cool breeze, drumbeats, romantic singing, but it becomes even more beautiful here. To the point where even the author has to exclaim: It's so beautiful, oh spring - Beloved spring of Hanoi, cherished spring of Northern Vietnam.

Reflections upon reading 'My Spring' by the author Vu Bang

Living plastic within me swells like blood rising in the deer's antler...'. It's like 'With the return of spring, one's heart seems to grow younger, beating stronger... Like animals huddled together to escape the cold, feeling the warmth of the returning sun then emerging to frolic and forage, he too 'comes alive' and yearns for affection. Outdoors, everyone seems to crave love, and back home, love is abundant...'. It can be said that with regards to the spring of the homeland, writer Vu Bang carries a fervent, lush love. He paints the image of himself living in Hanoi with countless words, beautiful comparisons. It's as if, before spring arrives, he transforms into myriad plants and animals, eagerly bathing in spring, reveling in all the abundant vitality of spring to grow, to rejuvenate alongside spring. The prose flows freely, whimsically, akin to romantic poetry, where the writer's ego becomes a passionate poet, intoxicated, empathetic. The lingering imagery of Hanoi's spring and Vu Bang's longing for his homeland is the depiction of Hanoi families setting up for spring, paying homage to ancestors returning joyously with descendants: 'Incense, candles, and most of all, the familial atmosphere of peaceful reunions, at the altar, before the Buddha, before the Saints, before the ancestors, warms his heart...'. The scenery of spring not only appears through the beauty of nature but also through the beautiful aspects of human affectionate life. It's the traditional culture of the capital Hanoi, of the North, of our beloved Vietnam.

Appreciation and praise for the northern homeland in spring through a narrative that both describes and confides, Vu Bang's pen seems reluctant to stop. Thus, in the third paragraph, he continues to affirm: 'It's incredibly beautiful, oh spring - the spring of beloved Hanoi, of cherished Northern Vietnam'. Then, emotions and writing seem to pause, becoming more tranquil. The writer confides: 'I love spring most around the days after the fifteenth of the first lunar month...'. Here, the writer discovers another beauty of the northern spring. It's the beauty of rejuvenation, of the land, of trees budding, blossoming, bearing fruit. 'The peach blossoms may wither, but the buds still exude fragrance, the grass may not be lush green, but... it still emits a nostalgic scent... spring rain begins to replace the drizzle... On the apricot blossom trellis, a few diligent bees fly off in search of pollen... people start returning to simple meals... the festive activities of Tet also temporarily end to make way for the peaceful everyday life...'. The natural images after the fifteenth of the first lunar month aren't as lively, as radiant as during Tet but seem to calmly return, accumulating, nurturing the vitality of spring to continue the miraculous cycle in human life and in the land, in plants. In this paragraph, the writer's ego doesn't directly appear as in the previous one but lies stretched out by the window... to gaze, to reminisce, and yearn for tomorrow to return to the homeland, to meet again the spring of the North. From the love for nature's spring, the longing for the homeland, the love for the Motherland of writer Vu Bang deepens with each passing moment. The language, the sentences, the literary techniques are increasingly refined, both accurate and boldly embodying the author's literary style, extremely talented, expansive.

It can be said that just through this short excerpt from 'My Spring,' we understand and empathize with the heart of writer Vu Bang towards his homeland, the Motherland. The natural scenery, the spring atmosphere in Hanoi, the North has been felt, reenacted in the poignant nostalgia of someone far from home. Through this, the essay expresses truthfully and concretely the sentiment for the homeland, the country, the love for life, and the delicate, sensitive soul, the talented pen of the author. And through this, we somewhat understand the value of the famous essay collection 'Twelve Loving Memories' by Vu Bang, just as To Hoai commented: 'Twelve Loving Memories are a beautiful aspect of the heart towards life'. Reading Vu Bang's essays, we recall two other famous essays we've learned: One gift of young rice: Cốm (Thạch Lam), My beloved Saigon (Minh Hương), to some extent, both of these aforementioned essays are also beautiful aspects of the heart towards life by the writers. Essays are indeed a very interesting form of sincere prose...

3. Reflections upon reading 'My Spring,' sample 3:

Perhaps spring is a topic that evokes many emotions for artists. Vu Bang is one of the talented writers who deeply delves into spring with a delicate and poetic tone. With his skill in prose and penmanship, he has painted a magnificent picture of the northern spring in 'My Spring.'

'My Spring' is a collection of musings capturing Vu Bang's deepest and sweetest emotions about spring, about the convergence of earth and sky as they step into a new year, a warm new season. With gentle, guiding prose, the author has drawn readers back to peaceful, beautiful springs, brimming with vitality. For spring is the most beautiful, flavorful, and charming season of the year.

Running through the poem is the author's heartfelt affection for the northern spring. The harmonization with nature, with earth and sky, with people.

From the opening lines, the author vividly portrays the characteristic weather and atmosphere of the northern spring with 'drizzling rain and cool breeze' unlike anywhere else. This characteristic serves as the foundation for the author to depict various other beauties. The sounds of swallows chirping, love songs blending with the warmth of incense, the atmosphere of family reunion stir the author's longing. Perhaps it's these warm and simple things that keep the author relentlessly reminiscing.

Writing about Reflections upon reading 'My Spring' reveals the author's love for nature and humanity

Spring is beautiful in its natural scenery, but it's from the hearts of people that exudes that enchanting, intense beauty. The author wrote, 'Unable to sit still. Living plastic within me swells like blood.' Spring makes one's heart want to burst, to throb, to ignite. Spring arrives, 'one's heart seems to grow younger, beating stronger than in the cold winter days.' The cold of spring is a sweet chill from the void, unlike the bitter cold of the northern winter.

Vu Bang's delicate perceptions, language rich with poetry, and numerous fresh comparison images have made readers reminisce about past springs, the springs of the homeland, of the vast human heart.

And spring arrives, January symbolizes the freshest beauty, the convergence of sweet beauties. Like Xuân Diệu once said, 'January is as delicious as a pair of close lips.' In Vu Bang's prose, not as sweet, not as rushed as Xuân Diệu's, but rather deep and poignant, making readers feel elated, enchanted. When January comes, it marks the beginning of a marvelous and delicate transition in the earth and sky. The beauty of northern January is a gentle, lush beauty, with a harmonization between humans and the natural world. And perhaps, people's hearts also resonate with the rhythms of spring.

Indeed, Vu Bang's 'My Spring' is the gentlest, purest, and freshest emotions when writing about spring. It reminds readers of the clear and sweet sounds of beautiful spring.

4. Reflections upon reading 'My Spring' by Vu Bang, sample 4:

Spring is the season of reunions, the season when everyone reunites with family, when we share warm feelings with each other. Flocks of swallows flutter and the images of peach blossoms and apricot blossoms appear, the first signs of spring. The spring drizzles become different, neither too heavy nor too light, they seem to soothe the air and add a gentle touch to the spring weather. The tender buds spread out to welcome the freshness, the essence of heaven and earth, sprouting and flourishing. Spring is also the season of traditional Tet holidays, where everyone gathers around with a pot of Chung cake, a blazing fire, then crackling laughter. The fruit trays along with the cherry blossom branches, create a traditional Tet atmosphere of the Vietnamese people. And with his sensitivity and talent, Bang Viet has composed 'My Spring' as a memory, a moment, the memories of the author about Hanoi spring.

Excerpted from the essay 'January dreams of the young moon, sweet cold' printed in the collection 'Remembering December.' My spring work was written when the author Bang Viet lived in a divided country, and furthermore, the author had to live in the area of mock occupation by the United States. In this situation, the love for the homeland country becomes even more fervent, burning, and by expressing his love and emotions through the pages of his books to express the deep longing for the memories of Hanoi spring.

Short Reflections upon reading 'My Spring'

With skillful use of simile, when comparing the love for Hanoi spring with grand loves, 'who says the hills should not love the rivers, bees should not love flowers, the moon should not love the wind, who forbids the boy from loving the girl, who forbids the mother from loving her child, who forbids the maiden with rosy cheeks from missing her husband, only then would the lovers of spring be all gone.' Those invisible feelings become very clear when someone reads the heartfelt emotions hidden beneath the words.

The images of daily life activities along with familiar scenes of spring are vividly depicted in the work. Those images are so simple, they are the images of Hanoians who always carry within them a certain air, a graceful demeanor, gentleness. The image of spring 'drizzling rain' those two words 'drizzling rain' stir us up so much. Not only the image of drizzling rain - a characteristic feature of spring, but also the familiar sounds 'rowing drum' echoing from afar and the deeply emotional songs that the author has been attached to for years.

With a gentle yet profoundly poetic tone in the work, my spring evokes many new things about a very special yet familiar spring in Hanoi for readers. The love for the homeland, the love for the people permeates every word, with images and words depicting reality, my spring work easily touches the hearts of people.

5. Reflections upon reading 'My Spring' by Vu Bang, model 5:

Vu Bang, real name Vu Dang Bang (1913 - 1984), born in Hanoi, is a writer and journalist who began his writing career before the August Revolution of 1945. He excelled in short stories, essays, and diaries. After 1954, he went to Saigon, writing literature, journalism, and participating in revolutionary activities.

This essay is excerpted from the essay 'January dreams of the young moon, sweet cold' printed in the collection 'Remembering December.' The work was written in the context of the country being divided, the author living in the controlled area of mock American occupation, far from his homeland in the North. The author has infused into the pages his longing for his homeland, his family, and his longing for a peaceful, unified country. This is reflected through reminiscences of the natural landscapes and flavors of daily life in Hanoi, with a beauty deeply rooted in the sophisticated cultural essence of a region and also of the nation as a whole.

Speaking of my intense love for spring, the author borrows the rule to affirm: It's natural like this: everyone loves spring. And January is the first month of spring, the more people adore it, nothing Strange at all. Who says the young shouldn't love the country, butterflies shouldn't love flowers, the moon shouldn't love the wind; who can forbid a boy from loving a girl, who can stop a mother from loving her child; who can prevent a girl with red lips from missing her husband, only then will the one who loves spring be complete.

The writer reminisces about the spring of the North as reminiscing about the beautiful natural scenery and the most characteristic daily life scenes. The beautiful and unforgettable images are vividly recreated in the writer's mind: My spring - the spring of North Vietnam, the spring of Hanoi - is a spring with drizzling rain, cool breeze, with the sound of swallows crying in the blue night, with the sound of paddling drums echoing from distant villages, with the melodious singing of a beautiful country girl like a dream...

Reflections upon reading 'My Spring'

The graceful, solemn, and poetic tone of Vu Bang has led us into a world of nostalgic memories, rich in emotions. That world is an indispensable part of the spiritual life of expatriates. The writer repeats it like a sincere confession, intoxicated: My spring... my sacred spring... That proves that the love of spring has penetrated deeply into the soul, into the blood of the people of the North. To emphasize the vitality and strange attraction of spring, the author used exaggeration; an exaggeration that is still very natural: Yes, my sacred spring makes people want to go crazy like that. Sitting still can't stand it. The vitality inside me swells up like blood swelling in the veins of a deer, like the sapling of a tree, lying still but can't stand it, has to burst out into tiny leaves waving the pairs of lovers standing side by side.

With the return of spring, one's heart seems to feel younger and beat stronger... Stepping outside, everyone seems to want to love, and returning home, they feel love again... It's so beautiful, oh spring - the beloved spring of Hanoi, of dear North Vietnam.

The warm atmosphere of spring also appears in the Tet family scenes with altars, candles, incense... and the affection between father and son, husband and wife, siblings clinging together, embracing each other. Writing about these scenes, the author's tone is both enthusiastic and deeply touching. This has created a romantic atmosphere and a strong emotional impact of the passage.

At the end of the article, the author focuses on describing the unique features of the sky, the earth, and nature from the days after the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year. The author's keen observation and subtle perception are expressed through details, typical images, and carefully chosen words:

... But I love spring most around the time after the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, when Tet is over but not completely, the peach blossoms are somewhat faded but the buds still retain their vitality, the grass is not as green as at the end of winter, early January, but instead, it emits a faint scent.

Moreover, Practice: Expressing Thoughts on Literary Works is a crucial lesson in the Grade 7 Literature curriculum that students need to pay special attention to.

In addition to the above content, students can explore the Preparing for Writing Hexameter Poetry section to prepare for this lesson.