Reflecting on the poignant verses of 'Ông đồ' by Vũ Đình Liên.

Prompt: Reflecting on the poignant verses of 'Ông đồ' by Vũ Đình Liên.

Interpretation of the first 2 stanzas of Vũ Đình Liên's poem 'Ông đồ'.

I. Outline for interpreting the first 2 stanzas of Vũ Đình Liên's poem 'Ông đồ'.

1. Introduction

- Introduction to the author Vũ Đình Liên and the work 'Ông đồ'.
- The first two stanzas depict the esteemed image of the peddler during the Confucian era.

2. Body of the poem:

- The image of the peddler is closely associated with the cherry blossom, signaling the arrival of spring.
+ The peddler and the cherry blossom are intertwined images, heralding the new year.

- The depiction of the peddler during this period is the focal point of everyone's attention:
+ Quietly sitting by the street, yet the peddler captures the attention of all.
+ 'Many hire to write': Everyone desires to obtain the penmanship of the peddler to display at home, to admire the artistic skill of the peddler.

- The talent of the peddler is affirmed by the praise of everyone
+ Every stroke of the pen flying on the red paper earns applause and praise from all,
+ The pen dances 'like dragons and phoenixes' => exceedingly beautiful.
=> The second stanza is constructed to evidence the skill as well as affirm the talent of the peddler.
- During this period, the peddler becomes a distinctive cultural feature in the hearts of every Vietnamese. This is the golden age of hired penmen.

3. Conclusion

- Reaffirming the issue.

II. Sample Essay Reflecting on the first 2 stanzas of Vũ Đình Liên's poem 'Ông đồ'

Emerging in the New Poetry Movement as a breath of fresh air, Vũ Đình Liên has left an impression on readers with his poem 'Ông đồ' - a work of nostalgia and sentimentality for the ancient values of the nation. Reading the poem, we cannot help but feel compassion for the image of the peddlers, 'the pitiful vestige of a bygone era' now obsolete. And the first two stanzas of the poem depict the image of the elderly peddler from the Confucian period being revered, allowing us to appreciate the traditional cultural values of Vietnam:

'Every year cherry blossoms bloom
We see the old peddler again
Displaying red ink and paper
By the bustling street
How many hire him to write
All praise his talent
His brushwork delicate
Like dragons and phoenixes in flight'

Peddlers, originally unsuccessful exam candidates, return to their hometowns to teach literacy to young children. Though not achieving fame, they are still talented individuals, of noble character, hence greatly respected and loved by all.

The image of the peddler in Vũ Đình Liên's poetry accompanies the imagery of 'blooming cherry blossoms', a familiar sight to people of past centuries, ingrained in the subconscious, the most natural, familiar thing. Cherry blossoms signal the transition moment of the new year, and it is then, the peddler appears with red paper, feather pens, and ink by the busy street amidst the bustling crowd shopping. The peddler appears as a law following the cycle of time, a unique feature of the Vietnamese people every Lunar New Year. 'Every year - again' - it's the regular pattern with the appearance of the elderly peddler on the street, it's something so endearing, peaceful in every sacred transitional moment. His appearance is something obvious, too familiar, quiet amidst the bustling streets yet never losing its attraction to everyone:

'How many hire him to write
All praise his talent'

Vũ Đình Liên has painted a vivid picture with the image of the peddler at the center and around are countless people standing admiring every line on the red paper. The flowing characters with many auspicious meanings are perhaps the most beautiful image in the memory of past springs. Everyone wants to have a pair of red couplets hanging in their homes on Tet, to proudly display and bring in more luck. They vie for the beautiful characters, the talent from that elderly peddler. It's what makes the peddler feel the importance, the meaning of his life. Each word of praise, each 'praise of talent' warms the old peddler's heart even more, gives him more motivation to make each character fly even more 'like dragons and phoenixes in flight'. Everyone who comes to the peddler for characters is someone who respects the meaning of words, loves the talent of the peddler. It can be said that during this period, the peddler is the center of attention. To achieve that, the peddler must be a talented person with excellent calligraphy skills and Vũ Đình Liên used two lines of verse to demonstrate the talent of that peddler:

'His brushwork delicate
Like dragons and phoenixes in flight'

For those who understand calligraphy, Confucianism, each character is a painting, an artistic work that not everyone can create but must have the profound knowledge as well as the skillful hands. The image of the peddler carefully writing each character, the strokes graceful, bold, and decisive, is extremely beautiful, making everyone admire. Those characters not only contain the talent of the peddler but also contain his thoughts, essence, aspirations, and ideals.

During this period, the peddler becomes an image, a distinctive cultural feature in the hearts of the Vietnamese people, when Confucianism was still in its glorious development stage. It was a period when everyone giving characters, receiving characters all cherished the Confucian cultural values, promoting that noble, beautiful cultural aspect.