Reflection on the poem 'Ông đồ' by Vũ Đình Liên

Essay topic: Reflection on the poem 'Ông đồ'

5 sample essays Reflecting on the poem 'Ông đồ'

1. Reflection on the poem 'Ông đồ', sample 1:

Vũ Đình Liên (1913-1996) was a teacher who wrote prose and poetry. He was famous in the New Poetry movement with the poem 'Ông đồ' written in pentameter, consisting of 20 lines. It belongs to the category of 'từ cạn' poetry, where 'tứ sâu' expresses a humane, compassionate soul, rich in empathy and nostalgia.

Ông đồ are Confucian scholars, not achieving high ranks to become officials, but only teaching 'holy and kind words'. They are said to be talented Confucian scholars. They appeared during the 'peach blossom bloom' period... 'beside the busy street'. They had beautiful days, beautiful memories:

'Flowers on hands releasing lines
Like phoenixes dancing, dragons flying'

Peach blossoms blooming beautifully. Red paper, black Chinese ink. The strokes of calligraphy are skillful. What could be happier:

'Beside the busy street
How many people hire writers
Heartily praising the talent'.

Latest essay Reflecting on the poem 'Ông đồ'

The times have changed. Confucian studies have declined in the semi-feudal colonial society: 'There's nothing left of Confucianism - Mr. Nghè, Mr. Cống also curl up...' (Tú Xương). The old Confucian scholars are like talented guests born in the wrong era. In the past, 'beside the busy street', now 'each year is more deserted'. In the past, 'How many people hire writers', now 'Where are the people hiring writers?'. A question that evokes many puzzled and sympathetic feelings. The sorrow, the grief from the Confucian scholars' hearts seem to dry the ink and leave it in 'the inkstone', as if making the red paper 'sad but not bright'. The red paper, the humanized ink, absorb the deep sadness of human life:

'Sad but not bright red paper
Ink lingers in the inkstone of sorrow...'

The landscape is sad. The people's hearts are sad. Vũ Đình Liên has brilliantly written two lines of poetry that touch the hearts of many with compassion.

The sadness from the depths of the human heart permeates, spreading into the landscape. Under the dusty rain, 'Ông đồ vần' sits motionless. Solitary and lonely: 'No one knows passing by'. The gold of the leaves, the dullness of the paper, the dust-filled sky, and the rain within the person. A lingering sadness:

'Golden leaves fall on paper
Outside, the dusty rain flies'.

The poem describes little but evokes much. The desolate landscape is vast. The heart feels deeply sorrowful.

Ending the poem is a question expressing an empty, mournful, and sorrowful sadness. The peach blossoms bloom again. Where is the old Confucian scholar going...

Thus, we have suggested the Analysis of the poem Mr. Do for the next part, prepare for the Interpretation of 2 stanzas in the poem Mr. Do and along with the section Analysis of the verse: 'This year the peach blossoms bloom again... Where is the soul now?' in the poem Mr. Do to understand more about this content.

2. Analysis of the poem Mr. Do, sample 2:

According to the endless timeline, everything will fade into the misty past, leaving behind many regrets. Especially when the beauties of talent and talent of a time are only echoes. Also stemming from that inspiration, the poem Mr. Do expresses a nostalgic reminiscence, compassion for a spiritual value about to decline. The poem is a reflective mirror of the rich humanitarian and nostalgic soul of Vu Dinh Lien.

Emerging in the New Poetry movement, but the poem escapes the two main emotional axes of that time: love and nature. While romantic poets were immersed in personal ego, wanting to paint the reality they desired, indulging in illusions, Vu Dinh Lien - a Western-educated intellectual at a loss, turned his head back and suddenly realized the 'pitiful relics, pitiful of an era'. Mr. Do - the final image of Confucianism that once existed throughout a thousand years of feudal Vietnam.

The decline of Confucianism led to a whole class of people becoming victims of suffering. Mr. Do by Vu Dinh Lien is evidence of a beauty that will never return. It is an image that has deeply ingrained in the subconscious of people and therefore has not completely disappeared, especially for those who are nostalgic for the beauty of the past like Vu Dinh Lien. When the noble meaning no longer has a place, it has to come out to the sidewalks, streets, has become a commodity... people then sigh, startle, and feel sorry for the once brilliant glory. That sentiment is expressed in the poem creating a convergence of empathy between the sentimental character and the sentimental subject:

Every year the peach blossoms bloom
He sees the old Confucian scholar
Displaying red ink and paper boats
By the crowded street.

There are images, impressions deeply engraved in the memory of a very young man. It is the cycle of peach blossoms, of the old Confucian scholar, of red ink, paper boats that create a unique sanctity of the national cultural space when Tet comes, spring arrives. But one cannot help but be touched by the sight of the old Confucian scholar having to struggle on his path to make a living. Is it the pitiful old age or the impending decline of Confucianism? Ironically, where he can hold onto the cultural beauty, where he can make a living again is 'by the crowded street'. The lonely, solitary figure of a person seems helpless before the harsh reality. In the busy stream of life, the image of the old Confucian scholar emerges, weaving talent and dedication in every word amidst the market of life:

So many people hire writers
To lavish praise on their talents
Hand flowers weaving lines
Like phoenixes dancing, dragons flying.

Selected reviews of the poem Mr. Do

It is the echo of a bygone era, but also a sad image in the futile struggle, like a bright sunset, blazing when the day is almost over. The scene of crowding, pushing to buy a couplet, a new Confucian word is painful. In each person, does anyone truly feel sorry for the disastrous decline of the Holy Confucian word - a spiritual value placed on par with material value?

Although the presence of the old Confucian scholar adds a warm, solemn traditional beauty to Tet and the phrase 'like phoenixes dancing, dragons flying' tries to cling to a little final prestige, admired and admired by everyone, but can't avoid the feeling of disappointment, embarrassment? But that remaining tiny honor doesn't last forever, it is still ruthlessly buried by time without mercy:

But every year more and more empty
Where are the hired writers now
The red paper is not vibrant with sadness
Ink pools in the pen of sorrow.

The misery of poetry is a disappointment in the eyes of seeking: 'Where are the hired writers now?', it is the rhythm of time etched to heartache: 'Every year more and more empty'. The decline of Confucian culture is inevitable, the new will replace the old, every glory will eventually dim, be forgotten, indifferent in the busy life with the struggles of livelihoods, but the harsh reality also makes the descendants like Vu Dinh Lien cannot help but hesitate, regret when facing a desolate, melancholy scene. In the faded, sad paper, the cold congealing of ink itself has raised a deep sorrow. It is an external scene but also an internal scene, a profound sadness that even lifeless objects are imbued with sorrow like their owners 'alone, knowing alone, sad alone', 'weighed down by worries, pitiful before the changing times'. And even more sadly, by the fourth stanza, there remains the image of the old Confucian scholar silently, lonely amidst the bleak scene:

The old Confucian scholar still sits there
No one knows passing by
Yellow leaves fall on paper
In the sky, dust and rain fly.

With the remaining fragile hope, a bit of effort for a meager meal, the old Confucian scholar patiently waits. But in response to that hopeless wait is the bustling, indifferent, forgetting presence of him by everyone. Amidst the noise, the hustle and bustle around is the lonely figure of the old Confucian scholar. The contrast between the old Confucian scholar and the bustling life makes the poet rueful. Amidst that crowded space, the old Confucian scholar still sits, a contemplative figure different from Nguyen Khuyen in the past 'leaning on a pillow, holding a book for a long time with no avail'. The falling yellow leaves on the road, falling on the paper along with the vacant, absent-minded gaze looking out at the hazy dust and rain is truly haunting, arousing so much sadness, stirring the conscience of each person. The desolate space is so eerie. Suddenly I think of Yen Lan's verse in Ben My Lang: 'The moon is full, casting golden light on the book'. 'Yellow leaves fall on paper' also evokes a space permeated with sadness. 'Yellow leaves fall', like the grim fate of the old Confucian scholar has come to an end.

3. Review of the poem Mr. Do, sample 3:

'Mr. Do' is a masterpiece by Vu Dinh Lien, a prominent author in the New Poetry movement. The poem consists of 5 quatrains that leave readers with many thoughts about the image of Mr. Do from the golden age to his lingering shadow.

Mr. Do in the past was a Confucian scholar, tasked with teaching, he is closely associated with the cycle of time:

'Every year the peach blossoms bloom
He sees the old Confucian scholar
He sees the old Confucian scholar
Displaying red ink and paper boats
By the crowded street.'

When the peach blossoms bloom, it is the time when spring is coming, Mr. Do's image appears, he resumes his familiar work, with his talent he 'weaves lines like phoenixes dancing, dragons flying', many people hire him to write and everyone praises Mr. Do's talent.

But times have changed, Confucian studies are in a period of decline during the semi-feudal colonial period, the line 'Where are the hired writers now?', a question full of melancholy. Red paper, ink and brush are the luggage closely associated with the old Confucian scholar on the path of creating beauty for people but now it is also sad, silent. The author used personification to describe the sad sorrow of lifeless objects. Not only that, 'is the sad scene ever happy' Mr. Do's sadness is powerful enough to spread into space, making the surrounding scenery also dark, gloomy.

'Yellow leaves fall on paper
In the sky, dust and rain fly.'

Sample essay: Review of the poem Mr. Do by Vu Dinh Lien

The line reads like a scene but the author also expresses Mr. Do's feelings, this is a metaphorical description. The falling yellow leaves combined with the falling rain only intensify the protagonist's sadness. Mr. Do still sits there, the street is still crowded but no one feels his presence anymore. He himself feels lonely, lost in the familiar scene.

'This year, the peach blossoms bloom again
No longer see the old scholar
Where are the souls of those ancient people now'

This year the image of the old scholar is no longer there, the beauty, the essence of spiritual values ​​has disappeared. Those ancient people are the old scholars, hired writers, or anyone else, that is no longer important, the line reads like a lament, a regret for the fate of the old scholar. The value of beauty is gradually being forgotten, the question seems to remind everyone not to forget the past, the culture because it is the quintessence of the nation.

The poem Mr. Do seems to remind us not to forget the past, to appreciate and preserve the beautiful values ​​of culture, spirit so as not to regret, regret.

4. Review of the poem Mr. Do, model 4:

In the national culture, the image of the scholars during the traditional Tet has entered the hearts of the people. A beauty that brings knowledge, rich imagination, every word the scholars write for those who come to ask for words carries a different meaning, but in general, we Vietnamese still believe in asking for luck according to their wishes for a smooth sailing new year. But it seems that the changes have made that beauty somewhat faded, the image of the scholars imprinted in the mind in the poetry of the author Vu Dinh Lien is clear, profound.

The scholars are people who have the ability to write elegant Chinese characters. Chinese characters are a type of script full of imagery, rich in meaning. These people are trained, well-educated in the Confucian culture, exposed to Chinese characters a lot, and are successful in passing exams, recognized, they can make a living by writing.

In Confucian culture, exposure to Chinese characters a lot, and are successful in passing exams, recognized, they can make a living by writing.

Each year the cherry blossoms bloom
And again, the old scholars are seen
Displaying red paper and ink
Among the bustling streets.

The atmosphere of Tet can be seen through the blooming branches of cherry blossoms, signaling a new spring along with the land and sky. People's mood seems joyful, happy, bustling in preparation for the special and important days of the Lunar New Year. At this very moment, the scholar can demonstrate his talent through meaningful and comfortable work, making a living by writing as requested by those interested in words. His tools are simple: 'Red ink, red paper, and knowledge.' The image of the scholar is mentioned with affection, evoking peace, joy contrary to the bustle of the streets. He is simple, calm yet still attracts many people, becoming the center of attention in this painting. The painting the author portrays in memory full of noise, images, characters, with memories of the most beautiful time of the wonderful spring. It opens up a four-line poem full of meaning.

How many people hire writers
Full of praise for their talent
Handing flowers, creating strokes
Like dragons dancing, phoenixes flying.

The simplicity carries its precious qualities, making him attract many people. They want to ask for words, ask for beauty from him. He is also very pleased to hear phrases like 'full of praise for their talent,' the respect in every word making 'how many people hire writers' with a great meaning, both for learning knowledge, learning Chinese characters to become important people emphasizing the relationship of each person and the five virtues through learning characters, which are: Humanity, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Trustworthiness, thereby guiding people to follow the best path. The following lines describe the talent of the scholar most clearly. And those with many flowers not only write characters, but they also create a work like a painting with many artistic meanings. The image of the scholar sitting calmly, gently waving his hand with the pen confidently, skillfully to each detail 'clear lines, bold lines, overlapping lines', graceful in every word like 'Dragons dancing, phoenixes flying' shows freedom, but does not lose accuracy in the style of writing Chinese characters for Tet decorations, writing a work for posterity. Our folk saying 'The strokes of characters reveal one's personality' demonstrates talent, heart through delicate strokes, containing the essence of the soul, aspirations, and ideal steadfast living style of the scholars. The characters he writes in many different styles are all a continuous creativity from that intellectual. And the poem doesn't stop at joy, there's a bit of quiet in stanza 3 that continues the train of thought between the past and the present.

But every year, more and more absent
Where are the people hiring writers now?
The red paper is sad, not bright
Ink lingers in pens with melancholy.

Reflections on the poem The Scholar

The word but signals some kind of change, whether little or much, the message from each... each lengthens the verse about time, space, the descending calm, prolonging that is self-consoling for the reality of requesting words from the Scholar is no longer as widespread as before. The author has posed a question for himself about those who hire writers gradually fading away, perhaps they too have faded their love over the years with Chinese characters as they have developed a new source of writing 'Quoc Ngu script', the rapid flow of the times. The unhired person, the unused item in each sentence becomes permeated with sadness along with humans through the successful use of the anthropomorphic rhetorical device. Now, the appearance of the Scholar contrasts with the joy, respect, and love from those requesting words with all the originally given hearts, a very unique beauty for spring that has temporarily subsided. But for the Scholars now:

The Scholar still sits here
No one knows across the street

The Scholar 'still waiting, still sitting here' remains the calm, noble as ever but met with the cold indifference of the people. The author, like someone standing from afar looking in, must sigh for the career of the Scholars, the neglect, pushed aside on the sidelines of ancient calligraphy, indifferent to the existence of the Scholar is what we should be agonizing, pondering, empathizing about.

The act of requesting words has become sweet memories that the older generations have witnessed and enjoyed. The work has depicted the most truthful image of the Scholar, conveying the message that requesting words from the Scholar is a very good tradition, worth preserving for the future generations of the nation, contributing to educating the way of life for the young people.

Nowadays, there have been more 'young scholars' appearing in cultural areas, entertainment areas during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, satisfying the passion for calligraphy in the people. They contribute to preserving the national identity, embellishing the city as a beautiful aspect of Spring.

5. Reflections on the poem The Scholar, sample 5:

Fate brings someone to welcome, someone to see off
End of fate, leaving early, returning at noon, feeling resigned.

Somehow, when it comes to the poem 'The Scholar' by Vu Dinh Lien, I am haunted by the distant singing of the Quan Ho folk songs. But the story of fate, end of fate here is another story, the story of loss and gain of a class of people of a bygone era, through the central image: the Scholar, as the author himself said, is a poignant relic of a declining era.

The poem consists of 5 verses, depicting a complete artistic conception: the Scholar, on a linear timeline, from past to present, from existence to disappearance, from the golden moment to just a lingering shadow.

If we consider the poem as a portrait of the Scholar, then from the first perspective, the Scholar is seen as a talented artist from the past.

The appearance of the Scholar is closely linked to the regular cycle of time, inevitably so:

Every year, as the cherry blossoms bloom
We see the old scholars
Displaying red ink and paper
By the bustling street.
How many hired writers
Praise the talent highly
'Their hands embellish the lines
Like phoenixes dancing, dragons flying'

Time is measured by the blooming cherry blossoms, a sign of spring, colors woven from bright cherry blossoms, vivid red paper, the rhythm of life measured by the bustling street, the feelings of people expressed by the image: How many hired writers, praising the talent highly.

Standing out against the bright, cheerful background is the portrait of the scholar, the artist, in the admiration, admiration of everyone:

'Their hands embellish the lines
Like phoenixes dancing, dragons flying.'

The cherry blossoms have given way to the talent of the scholar, spreading like embroidered flowers. The characters from his hand seem to have a magical touch, compared to phoenixes dancing and dragons flying. This is a beautiful and rich metaphor, showing the elegance and spiritual depth of his writing, free and noble, yet soulful like phoenixes dancing and dragons flying. The characters seem to soar amidst the glory of the spring sky, the vibrant cherry blossoms. This is a beautiful depiction, praising the scholar, an artistic talent.

Reflection on the poem 'Scholar' and the image of the scholar in the poem

I recall the magic brush of Le Ma Luong in a Chinese fairy tale, where everything the brush touched seemed to come to life, drawing birds that took flight, drawing fairies that danced... So much talent, so much dedication of the scholar is embodied in that artistic brushstroke. This was his golden age: beauty ascendant, talent revered.

But that golden age of his only passed by like an illusion, according to the poet's reminiscence, a heartbreaking reality unfolded:

But each year, each absence
Where are the hired writers now?
The red paper is sad, not vibrant!
The ink gathers in pens, in sorrow...
The scholar still sits there,
No one knows as they pass by,
Yellow leaves fall on the paper!
Dust flies in the air in the rain outside.

The second perspective, the scholar - born out of sync with the times, now out of luck.

Two stanzas, four with the narrative and the verses describing the image of the scholar still sitting there but the scene around him has changed from the past:

In the past, it was a bustling street with many hired writers, now it's empty, deserted. In the past, they praised talent, now those same people, no one knows as they pass by; familiar faces become strangers. In the past, they admired, now they stand aloof, cold; the situation has reversed, life has changed. The scholar suddenly becomes lonely, lost amidst the hustle and bustle of a cold, urban civilization even though he is still present in life. The scholar still sits there, still clinging to life with determination, even more solitary, lost: thus becoming a person born out of sync with the times.

Sadly, the writing that once danced like phoenixes and dragons in the past, now laments being buried in oblivion:

The sad red paper is not vibrant
The ink gathers in pens, in sorrow.

The red paper, the ink, the tools that are inseparable from the scholar on the journey of creating beauty, but now also quietly, languish in the sadness of being deserted by guests.

The paper is forlorn, sad, red but fading, losing its vibrancy, the ink not touched by the pen, the ink also gathers like tears.

With a richly evocative technique, Vu Dinh Lien delicately portrayed the unutterable sadness, seeping from the heart into the indifferent objects, weighing down the ink and red paper with sorrow.

Every scene is tinged with melancholy,
For the sad, there's never any joy.

The sadness of the character reflects in the surroundings. The sorrow of Ong Do not only affects the ink and red paper but also spreads, obscurely filling the space, turning the spring picture into a cold, gray, melancholic canvas:

Yellow leaves fall on the paper!
In the sky, dust flies with the rain.

Yellow leaves fall silently, dust flies without wetting anyone's clothes, as if each autumn dies, each autumn rolls away following the shadow of a generation.

The golden past of Ong Do is no more. He and those like him seem to have lost their rhythm, stumbling amidst the vastness, the wind, and the waves of urbanization.

He is just a lifeless, pitiful remnant of a bygone era.

The third perspective: Ong Do - the ancient man.

This year, the peach blossoms bloom again,
But the old Ong Do is nowhere to be seen.
Where are the souls of those from ancient times now?

This year, the peach blossoms bloom again, returning to the cycle of spring. The peach blossoms still smile with the winter wind, but the old Ong Do is not seen. The scene remains the same, but the wild man is no more.

The old Ong Do has become the ancient Ong Do, merging into those from ancient times. He belongs to the distant past, only the lingering soul remains.

With a structure that corresponds from beginning to end, each year the peach blossoms bloom again... The 9 poems are like a connection between the past and the present. The image of Ong Do gradually fades, disappears on the endless path of time. His shadow is gone, his address is also gone because the bustling streets of the past are now filled with urbanites, indifferent and indifferent.

Therefore, the two closing lines of the poem are like a deep, heartfelt call:

Where are the souls of those from ancient times now?

Ong Do is no longer here, but his soul, meaning his spirit, still lingers. The soul, accurately calling to what has passed, cannot be lost. The soul is immortal because it is the essence, the spirit. The soul can also be understood as the beauty of the Vietnamese soul, Vietnamese culture, which only knows ups and downs but never loss.

The poem has touched the deepest spiritual resonance of the race, so it remains deeply cherished.

Prepare in advance the content of the Hometown Composition by Tế Hanh for study preparation to actively learn and grasp knowledge.

Prepare in advance the content of the Hometown Composition by Tế Hanh for study preparation to actively learn and grasp knowledge.