Reflection on the Short Story 'Rừng xà nu' by Nguyễn Trung Thành

Prompt: Reflection on the short story 'Rừng xà nu' by Nguyễn Trung Thành

Reflection on the Short Story 'Rừng xà nu' by Nguyễn Trung Thành

I. Outline of Reflection on the Short Story 'Rừng xà nu' by Nguyễn Trung Thành

1. Introduction:

- Introduction to the 'Rừng xà nu' work
- The piece bears the distinct imprint of the people and the Tây Nguyên region.

2. Body

a. The Symbolism of the Xà Nu Tree:
- A recurring image throughout the work, beginning with the imagery of the Xà Nu forest and concluding with a succession of interconnected Xà Nu forests.
- This tree is intimately connected with the Tây Nguyên land in various aspects of life and significant events.

b. Successive Generations of Heroes in 'Rừng xà nu':

* Cụ Mết: Representative of the Preceding Generation
- Appearance: Cụ, despite being in his sixties, possesses a 'beard ... shadow', a 'voice ... chest', and lives 'bare ... large'
- Cụ represents the first generation of heroes in Xô Man village, fittingly depicted as a character with epic influences.
- Each of his statements reflects condensed ideologies such as 'As long as the Party exists ... this remains', and 'they hold a gun ... a flag'
- Personality: Cụ is resolute, courageous, far-sighted (stockpiling food for the fight against the enemy), caring, and protective of the villagers.
=> Cụ symbolizes the preceding generation, embodying the noble qualities and virtues of the people of Tây Nguyên, constructed within the heroic epic ambiance.

* Character Tnú
- A young representative of the second generation succeeding Cụ Mết, embodying the noble qualities and strong will of the people of Tây Nguyên, also constructed within the inspiration of the heroic epic.
- Tnú has a poignant fate: orphaned, raised by the villagers, inheriting the characteristics and virtues of the people of Tây Nguyên, and especially early revolutionary awareness.
- Since childhood, Tnú brought rice into the forest to hide from officers 'wearing the holster ... officers'.
- Tnú is determined to learn to read and write, to lead the village like Anh Quyết; learning isn't successful, 'he holds ... gun and machete'.
- Despite this, during communication, he is extremely intelligent, resourceful, and quick-witted, crossing forests and streams to make contacts for the Revolution 'never ... a big fish'.

- Tnú is also deeply attached to his homeland and loves his wife and children immensely;
+ Seeing his wife and children tortured by the enemy, he experiences extreme pain 'he tore off ... not hear: then'jumps' on the soldier torturing his wife with bare hands, sacrificing himself to save his family.
+ He is also a person with a strong bond with his homeland, even though he has been away for three years, he remembers every tree, every place on the road to the village.
=> Tnú is the crystallization of the people of Tây Nguyên with noble qualities, the backbone of the resistance against the US, the second generation continuing the heroic traditions of the people of Tây Nguyên, of the Strá ethnic group, and the Xô Man village.

* Character Dít
- Mai's younger sister and Tnú's wife, also a person with early revolutionary awareness.
- Following in the footsteps of Tnú and Mai, Dít also brings rice into the forest to hide from officers and is captured by the enemy.

* Character Bé Heng
- Appears at the beginning of the story but represents the next generation of the resistance, a young Xà Nu tree in the Tây Nguyên mountains.
- Though still young, Heng has fulfilled the task of communication, mastering the pitfalls and traps set up by the villagers to guide officers and guests into the village.
- Heng - representing the generation of young trees growing up 'rising ... the sky' => promising a stable future.

c. General Remarks:
- 'Rừng xà nu' is the story of an entire community of heroic individuals, this tribe seamlessly continuing the legacy of different generations in the Tây Nguyên mountains. They exhibit the noble qualities of mountainous people: courage, resourcefulness, love for their homeland, and a deep-seated hatred for the enemy.
- They are like Xà Nu trees - symbolic of this mountainous forest, always growing vigorously with fierce vitality, loving freedom, embracing the Revolution, despite bombs falling and bullets firing. This layer of trees succeeds another, 'reaching to the very edge of the sky.'

3. Conclusion

- 'Rừng xà nu' is the most successful work by Nguyễn Trung Thành

II. Sample Essay Reflecting on the Short Story 'Rừng xà nu' by Nguyễn Trung Thành

The revolutionary poetry and literature always make us proud as we flip through each page of stories, each poem. Every writer seems to choose a piece of land to explore, to immerse their pen in the culture of the homeland. We have Tô Hoài with memoirs about the Northwest, Nguyễn Thi with works closely tied to the people of the South,... and then Nguyễn Trung Thành chooses the Tây Nguyên region to sow inspiration. In this land full of epic, Nguyễn Trung Thành penned 'Rừng xà nu' - a work deeply infused with the culture of the Tây Nguyên people during the resistance against the US.

The content of the work revolves around significant historical issues of the nation. It portrays the entire nation standing up against the invasive enemy, with successive generations of heroes on the Tây Nguyên land. The image of the xà nu tree is closely associated with the ethnic minorities in Tây Nguyên, symbolizing the vibrant life of the people here.

Perhaps that's why, at the beginning of the work, Nguyễn Trung Thành shows us a forest of 'thousands of xà nu trees' right at the entrance of the Xô Man village. This imagery appears first, last, and throughout the entire work. The tree is intertwined with the people here in their daily lives, production, and the resistance against the enemy. In daily life, xà nu becomes wood for cooking, smoky blackboards for practicing writing, and the xà nu torches brightening houses, roads, and more. Additionally, the xà nu tree appears in most important events in Xô Man village, such as lighting torches to sharpen weapons against the enemy and illuminating paths to kill the enemy.

However, that xà nu forest is the most heavily bombed area by the enemy because Xô Man village is within the range of the enemy's artillery, and the xà nu forest is the protective shield for the village. Three times a day, the bombardment's 'ritual' rains down on the 'hillside of xà nu next to the big river.' The image of xà nu trees standing as a barrier in front of the village, enduring the damage caused by enemy bombs, 'thousands of trees, not a single one without injury,' is heart-wrenching for the reader. They endure the severe destruction of the enemy's bombs, yet they still proudly 'stretch out their large chest, shielding the village.' Injured xà nu trees, 'cut in half, pouring out like a storm,' then slowly 'ooze out, overflowing,' gradually 'swell back, dark and thick, into large clots of blood.' These are images of the agony of the soulful destruction of the xà nu trees. Using these painful images of tree trunks, the author wants to convey the pain that people must endure under the enemy's invasive bombing.

Despite being heavily devastated, the xà nu forest continues to thrive every day, with an incredibly intense vitality. 'In the forest, few trees sprout and flourish as vigorously, next to a fallen xà nu tree, four years of saplings have grown, green and sharp like arrows soaring straight up into the sky.' A fallen xà nu tree becomes a layer of saplings that will grow next, even more robust. This layer replaces the previous layer or is also the revolutionary generations side by side, succeeding one another in the Xô Man village, in Tây Nguyên. Is xà nu perhaps the symbol of the people of this Tây Nguyên land, their life force, and determination? In war, no matter how fierce the bombing is, how brutal it is, they steadfastly rise, resisting fiercely. 'The artillery shells cannot kill them, their wounds heal quickly on their robust bodies!'

Xà nu is also a tree that craves light, the pure and golden sunlight. 'It shoots up very quickly to catch the light, the sunlight in the forest shining down from above in large, straight rays.' Xà nu trees crave sunlight to rise, to enjoy, to sprout, and to develop. Could that light be the light of freedom, of the desire for a happy life? And the people of Tây Nguyên, like xà nu trees, carry within them that intense love for freedom, rising above despite the harshness and pain.

The image of the xà nu forest permeates the work, starting with the image of xà nu trees and ending with the image of continuous xà nu forests reaching the sky. It symbolizes the people of this Tây Nguyên land. Xà nu trees can be said to embody the resilience, strength, and the love for freedom within the people of Tây Nguyên, boldly facing the fierce war, the brutality caused by the invaders.

The work 'Rừng xà nu' not only highlights the image of the xà nu tree with its intense vitality but also stands out with the successive generations of heroes in the Strá ethnic village - Xô Man village.

First among the generation of these heroes is Elder Mết - an elderly villager, a revolutionary representing the preceding generation. Elder Mết is over sixty years old, at the age of 'seventy with youthful vitality,' sporting an unexpectedly robust appearance. 'His beard has grown to his chest, still dark and glossy, his eyes remain bright and sharp.' Moreover, the elder bears a long scar on his right cheek, a scar that is still 'glistening.' These are marks of time, marks for the years of ups and downs, shaping the Elder Mết of today. Elder Mết represents the generation of those who followed the first Revolution in the Xô Man village. Therefore, when describing the elder, Nguyễn Trung Thành infused it with the epic resonance of the Central Highlands with a 'heavy-handed touch' and a 'thunderous voice,' a 'chest as firm as a large xà nu tree.' Elder Mết is someone who has lived through more than half a lifetime, intimately connected with this Tây Nguyên mountain forest. He understands and cherishes the cultural values and human values here. Hence, the elder is a pioneer on the revolutionary path of resistance against the United States. Each of his words embodies truths distilled through the vicissitudes of time, such as 'While the Party exists, this country exists' or 'If they have guns, we must have spears.' These statements form the essence of Elder Mết - a heroic figure, an ancient xà nu tree, the profound sage of Xô Man village in particular, and Tây Nguyên's mountain forest in general. Carrying the noble qualities of the Strá ethnic group, of the Xô Man village, and of the Tây Nguyên mountain forest, the elder is resolute, courageous, farsighted, and, along with the villagers, stockpiles food to resist the enemy over the long term, always loving and sheltering the people.

Elder Mết is the symbol of the preceding generation in the resistance against the United States, embodying the finest qualities of the people of Tây Nguyên and the epic resonance.

The second generation following in the footsteps of Elder Mết is Tnú - a communist youth, resolute and steadfast, leading the Xô Man village in uprising against the enemy. Following Elder Mết, Tnú also carries the noble traditional qualities of the local people.

The first thing we notice about Tnú is the boldness, quick-wittedness, and agility of a mountainous youth. Anyone reading the work knows that Tnú has a very painful fate, orphaned from a young age, growing up in the loving arms of the people of Xô Man village. From a young age, he demonstrated the noble qualities of the local people, such as boldness, courage, and revolutionary awareness from a very early age. Even when 'as tall as Elder Mết's belly,' he engaged in revolutionary work, becoming someone who hid officials in the forest instead of the young men and women, the elderly of the village at that time. Readers might be impressed by a child 'wearing his mother's small machete, leaving it on a bundle of vegetables under which he hides two white rice cans, running like a squirrel through rocky crevices, running awkwardly in the forest to feed the official.' From a young age, Tnú realized the importance of the Revolution and was determined to follow the Revolution without any fear of sacrifice.

Tnú learns to read and write determined to replace comrade Quyết in the Revolution. Unable to learn, Tnú 'takes a stone, smashes it on his head, blood flowing profusely.' It is an action demonstrating the unwavering determination of a tiny revolutionary fighter.

In terms of academics, Tnú may be a bit slower than Mai, but when trekking through the forest to communicate with officials, 'its head shines strangely.' Unlike others who prefer to go on well-trodden paths, flat roads, Tnú 'never takes the beaten path, it climbs a tall tree to look around, takes a look, then tears through the forest, slipping through all the encirclements. Across the river, it doesn't like calm water, choosing places with strong rapids to swim across, riding the waterfall like a catfish.' Nguyễn Trung Thành painted a vivid and authentic picture of a nimble and quick-witted liaison child, the most agile of the Tây Nguyên mountain forest, with lively and truthful language. One can almost see the shadow of the child faintly through the tall trees, across the high streams, and large waterfalls, still swiftly overcoming everything.

When captured by the enemy, Tnú is surprised when 'the enemy's guerrilla gun is pointed into his ear, freezing cold,' yet it manages to 'swallow the letter.' This is the quickest, bravest, and smartest action of the tiny liaison person! Despite being captured and imprisoned, Tnú still finds every possible way to return to his homeland, to his village, after three years of captivity and torture. From here, he becomes the leader of his village, standing up against the brutal enemy with all his will and deepest hatred. Alone, he went to Ngọc Linh mountain, brought back stones to the village. If before it was to get chalk for writing, now he brings back the sharpest stones to sharpen spears, preparing to fight the enemy. It can be said that Tnú is the next generation after Elder Mết with an even stronger will, deeper determination, and more powerful manifestation of the noble qualities of the local people.

Therefore, when witnessing the scene of his wife and children being tortured, he could not restrain himself and jumped at the big, fat soldier with bare hands. Brave is he, captured by the enemy, fingers burned by xà nu fire, yet not a single cry of mercy is heard, 'Communists don't bother to cry out.' Anh Quyết said so, and Tnú will also steadfastly refuse to cry out to his enemies. Truly, a spirit of steel, an indomitable courage to the utmost of a son of Tây Nguyên.

Tnú, not only a steadfast revolutionary soldier, is also deeply attached to his homeland and loves his wife and children dearly! After three years of revolutionary work far away, upon returning, Tnú vividly recalls the trees and every old path to his village. He races along the familiar path with an eager heart, wanting to meet all his beloved ones in that village.

He is immensely devoted to his wife and children. Witnessing the torture of Mai and their child, he feels extreme pain, standing beside a fig tree, 'he plucks dozens of figs without realizing it' and then jumps at the soldier torturing his wife and child with bare hands. At that moment, perhaps Tnú had no other thoughts in his mind, forgetting about weapons or anything else, he only knew one thing burning in his mind: the determination to save Mai and the child, even if it meant sacrificing his own life.

Tnú, a son of the Tây Nguyên mountain forests, embodies the noblest qualities of the local people, the core of the resistance against the U.S., and the second generation following the heroic traditions of the people of Tây Nguyên, the Strá ethnic group, and the village of Xô Man. Describing Tnú, Nguyễn Trung Thành also adds an epic quality to him, creating the essence of the people here.

The third generation following these local heroes is Dít, Mai's younger sister and Tnú's wife. Like Mai, Dít is a girl enlightened by the revolution from an early age. She follows in the footsteps of Elder Mết, Tnú, and Mai, becoming a core cadre, replacing Tnú in leading the Xô Man village against the enemy. Like Mai, like Tnú, Dít also becomes a liaison child in the forest, hiding cadre. When captured by the enemy, a ten-year-old child like Dít has to be tied, standing in the open for the enemy to shoot. They don't shoot directly at Dít, but around her, 'shooting one by one, not hitting, just grazing past her ears, combing her hair, plowing the ground around Dít's small feet.' She screams as each bullet grazes, an experience too much for a ten-year-old to endure and truly extraordinary. However, 'by the tenth bullet, she wiped away her tears, and from then on, she stood still for each bullet to pass. Perhaps the fear of a person when it reaches its peak will turn into an indomitable firmness, making that person no longer fear death. And Dít was trained like that! Later, as an adult, Dít became the secretary of the commune party cell, a political member of the commune team, leading the village people against foreign invaders. Dít is a representative of the third generation, the young women in the homeland continuing the heroic traditions and noble qualities of the people of Tây Nguyên.

The fourth succeeding generation is little Heng. Despite being small, he has become a guide for officials and guests into the village, navigating through dense pitfalls. Heng represents the next generation of saplings in the xà nu forest, 'like arrows shooting straight into the sky,' promising a resilient upcoming generation. Just as the xà nu forest connects through its saplings, eager for light and growing rapidly, these people, layer after layer, continue the heroic tradition of their ancestors in resisting the enemy.

The xà nu forest is a tale of an entire community of heroes, this generation succeeding the previous one in the Tây Nguyên mountain forests. They exhibit courage, revealing their heroic qualities like bravery, and above all, the love for their homeland, family, and country. The image of the xà nu forest 'connecting one after another until reaching the horizon' also speaks of the people here, this generation following the previous one, rising strong. They are like vibrant xà nu trunks, full of intense vitality, loving freedom, ready to rise regardless of circumstances, no matter how bombs fall or bullets explode.

The xà nu forest is a work marking the success of the author Nguyễn Trung Thanh. He has crafted the image of an entire village of ethnic minorities standing together to resist the enemy with an epic inspiration. Using exaggeration, comparison, enumeration, and metaphor, he successfully created the image of the xà nu tree symbolizing the resilient and courageous people of Tây Nguyên in the war against the U.S. The majestic narrative, with an epic resonance, simple language, and rustic eloquence, contributes to the success of the work Xà Nu Forest.

The work concludes, but in our hearts, the melody of pride continues to echo. Pride in the resilient and steadfast Vietnamese people during the war against the U.S., their love for their homeland and motherland. Part of it is also the gratitude for the previous generations that bravely sacrificed blood and bone so that we could have the independent nation we enjoy today.