Reflection on the Ode to the Hero Can Giuoc

Prompt: Reflection on the Ode to the Hero Can Giuoc

Reflections on the Eulogy to the Hero Can Giuoc
 

I. Outline Reflections on the Eulogy to the Hero Can Giuoc (Standard)

1. Introduction

- Introduction to the literary work
- The eulogy is a hymn to the unsung heroes, resilient despite adversity.

2. Body of the Essay

a. Introduction of the Context of the Eulogy's Creation:
- Authored by Nguyen Dinh Chieu under the request of the Gia Dinh Provincial Government - Do Quang.
- Emerged after the heroic Can Giuoc forces attacked the French garrison, killing a Vietnamese official. However, more than twenty heroes sacrificed their lives.

b. Opening the poem with a General Overview of the Era and Affirming the Immortality of the Poet's Voice.
- Beginning with 'Oh!': a lament, a mourning, a proclamation of the heroic sacrifice.
- Depicting the contemporary scene: 'Enemy guns ... sky reveals: the country is being invaded - the people's hatred for the enemy reaches the sky.
- Affirming the immortality of the hero's monument.
- Artistic contrast (not necessarily named like a cannon - resonates like a bell).

c. Images of the Heroic Farmer Figures
- Origin:
+ They are poor people, known for their diligence, kindness, 'quietly working' => They are simple, impoverished people who sell their faces to the land and their backs to the sky.
+ The author uses phrases like 'not accustomed, only knows', 'used to, doesn't know': They are farmers who only know to work, labor, never involved in war.
- The patriotism of the farmers.
+ Emotional development of the farmers: When the enemy arrives, the farmers fear the 'sound of guns ... in the month' => eagerly await the army's help 'looking for news ... in the rain' => hate the invaders 'hate the habit ... of grass' => resentful 'whenever we hear ... the biting of necks' => stand up against the enemy 'who dares ... the tiger's den'. => Extraordinary transformation in the emotions of the farmers.
+ They understand their responsibility to the Motherland, so they voluntarily join the army, fight voluntarily, even knowing they will sacrifice: 'Who waits for someone ... the tiger's den', 'A sure death ... hanging on a grave', 'not a crime ... worth it'.

3.  Conclusion

-   Affirming the immortal image of the hero

-  Artfully constructing the image seamlessly intertwined with sincerity. Simple, intimate, and pure language.
 

Tips How to perceive a poetic or literary work

II. Sample Essay Reflection on the Ode to the Hero Can Giuoc
 

1. Reflection on the Ode to the Hero Can Giuoc, Sample #1 (Standard)

There are lives that endure alongside the rivers and mountains, those are the individuals who dedicate all their love, sacrifice, and even their lives for the survival of the country's rivers and lands. The heroes of Can Giuoc sacrificed themselves in the uprising against the French, though they perished at a young age, their love for the country, their noble hearts are eternally cherished and immortalized for generations. Nguyen Dinh Chieu wrote the ode 'Ode to the Hero Can Giuoc' to pay tribute to them, considering it a hymn to the unsung heroes, resilient and majestic despite adversity.

In 1859, the French colonialists devastated three provinces in the East of Southern Vietnam. By December 1861, they attacked the three regions of Can Giuoc, Tan An, and Go Cong. On December 16, 1861, the righteous forces of the three regions rebelled, ambushed the French garrison, and killed a Vietnamese official and several colonial soldiers. In this battle, more than twenty members of the righteous forces sacrificed themselves, awakening the patriotic spirit and boiling determination to protect the rivers and lands of the Vietnamese people. Therefore, Do Quang, the provincial chief of Gia Dinh, requested Nguyen Dinh Chieu to write this ode to encourage the spirit of the heroes with the ideal of 'dying with honor is better than living in shame.' The essay was well-received, spreading far and wide. For the first time in national literature, the image of the heroic farmer resisting foreign invasion was erected into an immortal artistic monument.

In the opening of the eulogy, Nguyen Dinh Chieu discusses the philosophy of life and death, portrays the heroic historical context, and asserts the immortal monument of the peasant heroes. Starting with the phrase 'Oh!', he seems to express condolences, a choked voice for those who have fallen, and also an invitation for the spirits of the patriotic heroes to return and listen again to their past exploits. The following sentence conjures the image of the era with the invasion by French colonialists and the power of modern weapons 'enemy guns shake the earth' causing a seismic shift in the land and sky. On the other hand, there is the contrasting image of the heroic farmers with a determined heart to defeat the enemy, evident to the heavens 'the people's hearts shine'. The Can Giuoc heroes were originally gentle farmers, perpetually muddy-footed, familiar only with the fields, 'for ten years, the field has not burst forth like a cannon', yet when the enemy threatened their homeland, they stood up determined to chase away the foreign invaders. Though sacrificing their lives, their fame for love of country persists, 'though lost, the echo is like a bell.' The contrasting art that Nguyen Dinh Chieu uses here highlights the scenes of the era when the French colonialists invaded Vietnam while affirming the determination of the peasant heroes and their enduring fame.

After affirming the immortality of the heroic image, Nguyen Dinh Chieu further elucidates the image of the heroes who forgot themselves for that country.

These heroes were originally simple farmers, 'quietly working, worrying about poverty', knowing nothing of swords, bows, or horseback combat. They worked 'quietly' in anonymity, silently, with no one to rely on, yet still lived in poverty their entire lives. Just one sentence reveals the full circle of the entanglement without an escape route for these Vietnamese farmers. Starting to work 'quietly' from an early age, struggling to have something to eat, only revolving around the village, a female buffalo plowing, yet ending up in poverty. They never knew of 'riding horses, training rhinos', their entire lives 'never looked' at 'shield training, gun training, bayonet training, flag training'. However, the country was being trampled by enemy forces, and they - those simple farmers - had to live every day in fear of being pursued and attacked by the enemy, 'the sound of the wind flapping louder than twenty months', eagerly awaiting the officials to come and dispel the invaders, but the more they waited, the less they saw. They hated the enemy in every form, 'stains' with a 'stench' like 'farmers hate grass'. They resented those who were 'civilized' trampling their homeland with a 'white tire cover, wanting to come and eat liver', with 'black smoke tubes, wanting to go out and bite necks'. Therefore, when there was a call to stand up against the enemy, they did not hesitate to rise and become the valiant warriors against the French, saving the country, protecting the meager piece of rice. Nguyen Dinh Chieu cleverly emphasized the patriotic spirit and self-consciousness of those farmers:

'A distant place with a vast array, who will let someone cut snakes to chase deer; two suns and moons shining brightly, where are the people hanging goats for sale to dogs?'.

'Who waits for someone to demand food, this time I willingly exert my strength to cut the enemy's neck; no longer retreat upside down, this journey pours out the prowess of a tiger.'

Out of love for the country, these farmers are determined to devote their energy to chase away the enemy, voluntarily joining the ranks, not waiting for 'someone to demand, someone to catch.'

Here, Nguyen Dinh Chieu vividly portrays the lives of the farmers before and after the enemy's arrival using realistic and poetic language. He uses the contrasting phrases 'not accustomed, only know' and 'used to, never' to highlight their heroic stature. At the same time, he expresses both admiration and pride for the selfless heroes of Can Giuoc. If in the past, the farmers were forcibly conscripted into wars with a painful attitude:

'Drums beating in the five-sided battalion
Stepping onto the boat, tears like rain'

These peasant soldiers willingly join the army with joy, a carefree attitude, a patriotic spirit, and a sense of responsibility to the nation. They don't wait for anyone to urge them, demand their enlistment. Even though they know that maintaining the 'virtue' on the battlefield is challenging, 'unexpectedly, the horse's hide wraps the saddle, a hundred years in the dark realm are these principles.' However, witnessing the brutality of the enemy, the devastation they leave behind makes 'the sorrow spreads for miles of grass,' 'old and young suffer the small calamities,' motivating them even more to voluntarily join the army to defeat the enemy 'for a clear conscience.'

Here, Nguyen Dinh Chieu used the emotional development of the heroes to elevate the monument of the heroic farmer. From simple farmers, hardworking, only expecting news of the officials coming to defeat the enemy, they transform into brave heroes, standing against the enemy. They resent those who destroyed their fields, 'a lifetime of rice and clothing in the world, what misfortune of our ancestors,' they hate those who made the officials work hard, 'eating snow, lying in the frost.' So, they rise up following the spirit handed down by their ancestors, 'establishing a strong enemy, returning to the ancestral path.'

The spirit of these heroes has undergone an extraordinary transformation, from fear and waiting to the determination to stand up and resist, creating the image of brave and immortal heroes in the hearts of the homeland's people.

Two days to gather the army of heroes, only two short days without the support of the royal officials. They lack everything, weapons, equipment, just 'people from the villages' because of the 'affectionate recruitment strategy,' but they enthusiastically train as much as possible:

'Eighteen martial arts sects, no waiting for training; ninety battles, not waiting for strategies to be revealed.'

Those heroes had nothing but the strength of spirit. Nguyen Dinh Chieu created a contrasting portrayal between the enemy and the valiant homeland army. The French enemy with state-of-the-art weapons, with 'iron ships, bronze ships,' then 'big bullets, small bullets,' with hired soldiers skilled in battle. Our army only had 'a piece of cloth,' weapons like 'a bamboo spear,' 'iron knives, palm-leaf hats,' 'firecrackers fighting with rice straw.' However, that army achieved glorious victories, 'burned down the house teaching the other religion,' 'cut off the head of the wicked official.'

The eulogy also depicts the fierce battle scene, the boiling determination on both sides:

'Facing the harassment of the officials, stepping over fences, treating the enemy as if non-existent; not afraid of the Westerner shooting big and small bullets, rushing through the door, risking their lives as if they didn't care.'

'The enemy attacks head-on, we strike back in reverse, making the wicked tremble with fear; a multitude before, vultures behind, ignoring iron ships and bronze ships, guns blasting.'

The battlefield atmosphere is intensely fierce, with the beat of drums urging the troops, calls echoing through the sky, harmonizing with the continuous gunfire. The Can Giuoc heroes disregarded their lives, 'risking as if they didn't care,' charging into the enemy stronghold like a storm, 'attacking horizontally, striking back' making the foe 'tremble with fear.' Nguyen Dinh Chieu emphasized the spirit of determination, courage, and resilience of the Can Giuoc soldiers. At the same time, he expressed deep admiration for them – the farmer-heroes. This was his first work featuring the image of a cloth-clad farmer-hero. Still, he erected an immortal monument to the farmer-heroes fighting the enemy and saving the people and the nation.

In conclusion, the eulogy reflects the author's compassion, sympathy for the brave sacrifices of the heroes, and the affirmation that their exemplary conduct will endure for generations to come.

Nguyen Dinh Chieu used the most beautiful words to create the image of the heroes. However, he did not hide the heartbreaking reality when the heroes had to fall. The image of the 'old mother crying for her child,' the 'weak wife searching for her husband' makes us feel deeply moved and sorrowful:

'Agony! The old mother sits crying for her child, a dim lantern sneaking through the tent; heart-wrenching! The frail wife runs to find her support, a shadow crawling in front of the doorway.'

The prose is truly poignant, melancholic, and sorrowful. The image of the fallen heroes: 'who knows how hastily they left' makes us profoundly saddened. The choked sobs of the elderly mother and the young wife both evoke immense emotions and compassion.

They - the heroes lived and fought bravely, dedicating themselves entirely to the Motherland. They sacrificed with resplendence, leaving a timeless legacy. They fell, but affirmed one thing: their homeland is independent, autonomous, and no one has the right to invade; otherwise, they will wield guns, knives, and ideological banners, rise up, and repel the enemy. They are the bravest, most pride-worthy role models:

'Oh!

'A smoke-filled battle, a thousand years of splendor'

The sacrifice of those heroes from Can Giuoc is a beacon, a shining example for the Vietnamese nation about the spirit of patriotism, about the precious lesson: 'to die with honor is better than to live in shame':

'Living to fight the enemy, dying also fights the enemy, the soul assists the body, for a thousand lifetimes, the vow for revenge shall be fulfilled'

Their contributions will forever be engraved in the annals of the national history:

'Heroic tears don't dry, pity for the two words 'heaven' and 'people'; the scent of the noble sacrifice enriches the sandalwood tree, grateful for a phrase that reverberates in the soil'.

'The Eulogy to the Heroes of Can Giuoc' is a poignant cry dedicated to the monument of the heroic farmer-soldiers of Can Giuoc, who displayed courage in the early stages of the resistance against the French invasion. Combined with the unique art of constructing vivid and realistic imagery using simple, heartfelt language, it has created one of the most beautiful monuments to the heroic figures in our national history.

The poem 'The Eulogy to the Heroes of Can Giuoc' not only reaffirms the deep patriotism of the cloth-wearing farmers and the poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu but also serves as a self-praising and deeply thankful expression from the Vietnamese people to the resolute cloth-wearing heroes who bravely stood up against the enemy to protect their homeland. They are shining examples of courage, unwavering spirit, selfless dedication, and profound love for the country that future generations must always remember and emulate.

The opening section of the eulogy philosophizes about life and death. Nguyen Dinh Chieu skillfully uses the artistic technique of contrast: 'The enemy's guns make the land tremble' with 'the hearts of the people reveal themselves.' This technique unfolds a turbulent historical scenario, a fierce clash between ruthless invading forces and the will, determination, and resilience of our people defending the homeland. The author further employs a contrast in time: 'ten years toiling the fields' and 'one noble battle against the West.' It is precisely this 'ten' and 'one' that affirm the lofty determination and intense sacrifices of the Can Giuoc warriors.

The Best Reflections on the Eulogy to the Heroes of Can Giuoc

For these simple heroic farmers, their dedication to the nation began long before any war erupted. Through vivid description, the author praises the virtues of the farmer - the national hero.

'Remembering ancient spirits:
Bending down to work, facing poverty and hardship...'

The origin of these heroes lies in the toil of humble farmers, enduring and hardworking, living their lives with the familiar fields of their villages and the routine tasks: plowing, hoeing, cultivating... They were unfamiliar with 'royal horses, embroidered robes,' and had no idea about military shields and guns. Hearing the 'court music,' they anticipated the court's strategies to resist the invaders. Yet, the court was weak, indifferent to the country's affairs, fueling the people's resentment: 'Seeing the colorful pomp, they crave the liver; witnessing the black smoke rising, they yearn to bite the enemy's throat.'

Before taking up arms against the enemy, they were all unfamiliar with war, but since the French colonialists invaded, a transformation occurred in their souls. They became resilient warriors, patriotic and resentful towards the enemy, voluntarily standing up to fight, ready to sacrifice for the homeland. Nguyen Dinh Chieu vividly and realistically describes the language and mannerisms of the hardworking farmers. They went into battle equipped with rudimentary tools, lacking (a piece of cloth, a bamboo pole, a knife, a conical hat), in stark contrast to the modern weapons of the invaders (tin ships, bronze ships, big and small bullets). Imagine the contrasting weapons in battle; who would suffer and face a painful outcome? Despite the disadvantage, the spirit of these heroes is indomitable, attacking like a storm, treating death lightly as a feather. Through sharp language and powerful verbs - burn, chop, step on, push, charge - Nguyen Dinh Chieu reveals the fearless spirit and self-sacrifice for the great cause of the nation. Death, a harsh reality, becomes a dramatic tragedy for our country in that dark period of history.

In the final part of the eulogy, the sound of lamentation, the sorrow of the nation over the sacrifices of those who fell is heard. The author expresses the pain of the people and his own through each deeply poignant word. These heroes used their deaths to illuminate a truth: 'To die with honor is better than living in disgrace.' They fought to the end, even in death, rather than live as slaves to foreign invaders. The closing lines are cries of mourning, expressing regret without surrender. They continue to praise the merits of the warriors, inspiring, urging, and encouraging those still alive to continue the fighting legacy of the Can Giuoc warriors.

Nguyen Dinh Chieu was remarkably successful in constructing characters—humble, rustic, yet steadfast heroes. Combined with sincere sentiment, realistic elements, and a pure language reflecting the Southern essence, he crafted an ageless ode, praising the fervent spirit of the Can Giuoc heroes.

The eulogy recounts the virtues of those lost, expressing the living's condolences with a majestic resonance. The warriors of Can Giuoc will live eternally in Nguyen Dinh Chieu's words, forever an immortal monument of our Vietnamese nation.

2. Impressions of the Eulogy for the Can Giuoc Heroes, Sample 2:

Nguyen Dinh Chieu—a figure dubbed a bright star in the nation's sky. He was not only an exemplary teacher and virtuous herbalist but also a talented poet and writer. He consistently used literature to fight for justice. This righteousness is evident in his famous and enduring work, 'The Eulogy for the Can Giuoc Heroes.' He erected an immortal monument for the heroic farmers of Can Giuoc. The piece is a poignant lamentation in the painful historical period of our people.

For these noble warriors, the humble, rustic farmers willingly dedicated their lives to the country even before the outbreak of war. Through vivid realism, the author extols the virtues of these farmer-heroes. 'Remember ancient spirits: Crouching to make a living; worried about poverty and hardship...' These heroes, originating from humble peasant origins, endured toil and hardship, living a life familiar with village fields and common tasks: hoeing, plowing, tilling. Unfamiliar with 'saddles and velvet fields,' oblivious to military maneuvers, upon hearing the 'battle cry,' they eagerly awaited the court's strategic plan against the enemy. Yet, the court appeared feeble, neglecting national affairs, intensifying the people's resentment: 'Seeing the smoke pipes, desiring to bite the throat.'

Before wielding weapons against the enemy, they were unfamiliar farmers, naive to warfare. Yet, the French colonialists triggered a transformation in their souls. They became resolute soldiers, patriotic and resentful of the enemy, voluntarily rising to fight, ready to sacrifice for the homeland. Nguyen Dinh Chieu vividly and realistically describes the language and life of the laboring farmers. Armed with rudimentary tools and lacking necessities (fabric scraps, bamboo staffs, pruning knives, conical hats), they stood in stark contrast to the modern, sophisticated weaponry of the invaders (tin ships, bronze ships, large and small bullets). In this mismatch, who would suffer and endure the painful fate? Despite the adversity, the spirit of these heroes remained resilient, launching an offensive like a storm, viewing death lightly as a floating feather. Through sharp language and powerful verbs—burn, chop, trample, rush—Nguyen Dinh Chieu reveals the fierce spirit of the people, unwavering in the face of death for the noble cause of the nation. Death—a harsh reality—became a tragic drama for our nation during that dark historical period.

In 1858, French colonialists invaded our country, sparking rebellions against foreign invaders. By 1861, brave farmer-heroes launched a daring attack on the enemy outpost in Can Giuoc, eliminating some enemy officers and puppet district officials. Unfortunately, over 20 heroes sacrificed their lives. Touched by this tragedy, Nguyen Dinh Chieu composed a eulogy to be recited at the memorial for these fallen heroes.

Commencing the work, in the Uprising section, the author vividly portrays the nation's anguish with the invasive gunfire of French colonialists: 'Enemy rifles echo on our fertile land; the people's hearts unveil.' The author praises the people's radiant spirit despite the absence of military weapons. Simultaneously, the poet provides an overview of two life stages of the farmer-heroes: 'Ten years of toil in the fields, fame not as buoyant as a balloon; a battle against the West, its echo lost like a mute.' Although the period as farmers is lengthy, living a peaceful life, they readily become heroes in a short time. Their renown echoes through generations. They are upright individuals, embodying a selfless spirit, standing up against the invaders.

In the Realism section, from sentence 3 to sentence 15, the author extols the beauty of farmer-heroes in daily life and during war. Born as farmers who 'crouched to make a living, worried about poverty and hardship' year-round, they are no longer 'looking to officials as the sky depends on rain' when invaders attacked. The simple beauty of these mud-covered, hardworking farmers now shines brilliantly due to their deep-seated hatred for the enemy. They express their emotions genuinely, 'hating the enemy's habits like farmers hate weeds.' They deeply understand their responsibility in the fight for national independence, willingly joining the battle. Armed with 'fabric scraps' and rudimentary tools like bamboo staffs, they courageously participate in the fort assault: 'Struggling with the officials, drumming the gong with urgency, trampling the fence, facing the enemy as if they weren't there; unafraid of the Westerners shooting small and large bullets, rushing the door, risking themselves as if it were nothing.' Their decisive actions—burning, chopping, trampling fences, storming doors, stabbing and slashing—create fear in the enemy: 'The devilish souls shiver; last year's gang, this year's horde, ignoring iron and copper trains, guns firing.'

In the Mourning section, from sentence 16 to sentence 25, the author expresses his sympathy and admiration, shared by the people, for the farmer-heroes. It is an enduring pain for the families of the heroes: 'The old mother sits crying for her child, the dim light creeping in the tent; a worried wife replaces her weakened husband, shadows crawl in front of the door.' Despite the sorrow, Nguyen Dinh Chieu affirms the sacrifice of the Can Giuoc heroes as valorous and noble: 'Better to fall in the battlefield, returning to our ancestors with honor; better than submitting to Westerners, enduring a life of misery.'