Retell a fairy tale or a short story that you love

Prompt: Retell a fairy tale or a short story that you love

5 sample essays: Retell a fairy tale or a short story that you love

Sample Essay 1: Retell a fairy tale or a short story that you love

Once upon a time, there were two poor farmers, an old couple, who lived on a farm belonging to a wealthy landlord. They were kind and hardworking but had reached their fifties without having any children. One day, the wife went to the forest to gather firewood. It was scorching hot, and she was extremely thirsty. Seeing a coconut shell filled with rainwater by the base of a large tree, she picked it up and drank from it. When she returned home, she found herself pregnant. Some time later, her husband passed away. She gave birth to a child who had no limbs, just like a coconut, round and smooth. Feeling sorrowful, she contemplated abandoning the child, but the baby spoke up.

- Mother! It's me! Please don't abandon me, I'm innocent. Moved by compassion, the old woman decided to keep and raise him, naming him Coconut Shell.

As Coconut Shell grew older, he remained the same, rolling around aimlessly without accomplishing anything. His mother was greatly troubled by this. Knowing this, Coconut Shell asked his mother to let him tend to the cattle for the wealthy landlord.

Hearing about Coconut Shell, the landlord hesitated. But thinking that feeding him would cost little and his labor wouldn't be worth much, the landlord agreed. Little did he know that Coconut Shell was very skilled at herding cattle. Every day, he rolled the cattle out to the fields, and in the evening, he rolled them back home. Each cow returned well-fed and content. The landlord was overjoyed!

During the harvest season, the servants were exhausted, so the landlord instructed his three daughters to take turns bringing food to Coconut Shell. In these instances, the two older sisters, proud and cruel, often mistreated Coconut Shell, while only the youngest, naturally kind-hearted, treated Coconut Shell with kindness.

One day, it was the youngest sister's turn to bring food to Coconut Shell. As she approached the foot of the mountain, she suddenly heard the sound of a flute playing softly. Quietly approaching, she saw a handsome young man sitting on a swing playing the flute for the grazing cattle. However, as soon as he stood up, everything disappeared, leaving only Coconut Shell lying there. After several such occurrences, the youngest sister realized that Coconut Shell was not an ordinary person and began to develop affection for him.

At the end of the harvest season, Coconut Shell returned home urging his mother to ask the landlord's daughter to marry him. The old woman was extremely surprised by this, but seeing her son plead persistently, she relented.

Seeing Coconut Shell's mother bring betel leaves to chew, the landlord sneered, saying:

'If you want to ask for my daughter's hand, go back and prepare a dowry of ten gold bars, ten pieces of peach silk, ten fat pigs, and ten jars of aged wine to bring here.'

Reluctantly, the old woman went back, thinking that she would have to give up the idea of marrying off her son. However, on the appointed day, suddenly the house was filled with all the ceremonial offerings, and there were even relatives downstairs carrying offerings to the landlord's house. The landlord, flustered and wide-eyed, called his three daughters to ask for their opinion. The two older sisters scoffed and criticized Coconut Shell's appearance before turning and walking away, leaving only the youngest to bow her head shyly, indicating her consent.

On the wedding day, Coconut Shell presented an elaborate feast, and the household bustled with activity. During the bride's procession, nobody saw Coconut Shell's ugliness; instead, they only saw a handsome young man standing beside the youngest daughter. Everyone was astonished and joyful, while the two elder sisters felt both regret and jealousy.

Since then, Coconut Shell and his wife lived happily together. Not only that, Coconut Shell also proved to be very intelligent. He diligently studied day and night, and sure enough, Coconut Shell passed the imperial examinations that year. However, not long after, he was appointed as an envoy by the king. Before leaving, he gave his wife a piece of flint, a knife, and two chicken eggs, saying they were for her protection.

Out of jealousy towards her younger sister, the two elder sisters harbored resentment and plotted to harm her, intending to take her place as the queen. When the officials were absent, the two sisters persuaded the youngest to row a boat out to sea, then deceitfully pushed her into the water. The youngest was swallowed by a giant fish, but luckily, she had the knife and managed to escape. Drifting to a deserted island, she used the knife to gut the fish and started a fire to cook its meat. Surviving for a few days on the island, the two chicken eggs also hatched into a beautiful pair of chickens to keep her company.

One day, a boat passed by the island, and the rooster spotted it and crowed loudly:

Oh... oh... oh

The official ordered a boat to bring my wife back.

When the official inspected the boat, he was surprised to find that it was his own wife. The husband and wife met, feeling both joyful and sorrowful. After bringing his wife home, the official threw a celebration inviting relatives and friends to share the joy, but he kept his wife hidden inside the house, not letting anyone know. The two elder sisters were ecstatic at this turn of events, competing to tell stories of their younger sister's misfortune, expressing sympathy and regret. The official remained silent, only calling his wife out after the feast was over. The two elder sisters felt too ashamed to face their younger sister and quietly left, never to return again.

Thus, we have suggested Retell a fairy tale or a short story that you love. In addition, you can explore further Recall a time when you did something well to Recount the memory of your first day at school to practice your storytelling skills.

Sample 2: Tell a favorite fairy tale or short story

The Distant Stars is a story about three girls: Thao, Phuong Dinh, and Nho, who work together in the same road surveillance team. Their job is to wait at the high point. When a bomb explodes, they run up, measure the amount of soil filling the bomb crater, count unexploded bombs, and if necessary, defuse bombs. The work is by no means simple. It's extremely difficult and close to death.

They run on the high points all day long, right next to the bombs waiting to explode. But they are brave and cheerful. They are accustomed to wounds, to smoke-filled air, to the horrifying atmosphere, and to the roaring sound of airplanes. Their nerves are always tense, their hearts beating fast, their legs running knowing for sure that bombs are about to explode nearby. But then, when the job is done, looking at the road, they feel happy, breathe a sigh of relief, and quickly return to their cool, damp bunker. They take a sip of cool water for refreshment, and then they all lie down on the damp ground, listening to music or perhaps daydreaming.

That day, at noon, the space was strangely quiet. Phuong Dinh sat leaning against the stone wall and softly sang. She loves singing, sometimes making up silly songs. Dinh is from Hanoi and is a pretty girl with two thick, soft pigtails, a high neck, and beautiful eyes. Many affectionate drivers often send love letters to her.

Lost in vague thoughts, Dinh suddenly jolted awake. There was Nho and sister Thao's urgent call. They had recognized the sound of the reconnaissance plane. The whole team was accustomed to it: silence meant something was amiss. The sound of the reconnaissance plane and the roar of its engines followed.

'It's coming!' Nho turned around, putting on her iron helmet. Sister Thao was still leisurely chewing on some cookies. She remained calm to the point of irritation but was also afraid of blood. She was indecisive in daily life but resolute and daring in her work.

Sister Thao took the ruler from Dinh's hand and said, 'Dinh, stay home. It's leaving less this time, the two of us are enough,' then she grabbed Nho's hand, slung the shovel over her shoulder, and walked out the door.

Dinh stayed home to man the phone. Her heart burned like fire. All around, there was only the haze of bomb smoke and the harsh crackle of gunfire. The enemy's attack was fierce, but luckily, the artillery, intelligence, and engineering units were able to provide support for the three girls in time.

Half an hour later, Sister Thao returned, composed but visibly tired and irritated. The squadron leader had received the information. He thanked the three girls wholeheartedly.

Nho also returned, calm and drenched. She had just bathed in the upstream, looking beautiful and refreshing like a white popsicle.

After a brief pause, the team set out again. They went to defuse bombs in a eerily silent atmosphere. The three girls worked swiftly and skillfully. Twenty minutes later, a whistle blew, then another. The sound of bombs exploding shattered the silent space. The smell of explosives made them nauseous, rocks and dirt fell loudly, silently dissipating into the bushes.

Thao and Dinh were about to head back when they suddenly discovered that Nho was injured. Nho's shelter collapsed when both of her bombs exploded simultaneously.

Dinh and Thao escorted Nho back. Her wound wasn't too deep, but the close explosion left Nho dazed. They took care of her themselves so as not to bother their unit. Shortly after, Nho passed away.

The two girls sat silently looking at each other. They were swallowing tears, needing to stay strong. Sister Thao sang, her melodies off-key and disjointed. But she had to sing. Sing to forget and to hold on to hope.

Clouds gathered, one after another, then more, looming over the cave entrance. The sky darkened, and a sudden storm rushed in like an unexpected shift in the human heart. It was common in the jungle this season. Rain fell. But it was hail. Dinh noticed and amusedly picked up a small hailstone, placing it in Nho's palm, joyful and frantic.

The rain stopped abruptly. Dinh felt stunned and regretful. But she didn't regret the small hailstones. She was reminiscing about her mother, the big stars in the city sky, the ice cream vendor, the asphalt road... the rain had unwittingly swept through the memories in the girl from afar's soul.

Sample Story 3: Narrate a favorite fairy tale or short story

As Nhĩ sat on the hospital bed, his wife spoon-feeding him, he pondered. The weather had shifted; autumn was on the horizon. The stifling heat in the room and the glaring light from the Red River had dissipated.

The sky seemed higher, the early sunrays gently moving from the water's surface to the distant banks of the Red River, where the ancient silt of the river was showcased before Nhĩ's attic window in familiar hues like flesh, the earthy scent of rich soil. Despite his lifelong travels, the opposite bank of the Red River felt close yet distant, a place he had never set foot in.

Nhĩ laboriously lifted his arm to push away the bowl of noodles from Liên's hand. The young man tilted his head up like a child, waiting for his son to wipe his face. After his son had carried the water basin downstairs, he asked his wife:

'Did you hear anything last night, nearing dawn?'

Liên pretended not to hear her husband. He continued, 'What day is it today, my dear?'

Still, Liên remained silent. She knew what her husband was thinking. She gently caressed her husband's thin fingers, then comforted him:

'Last night, almost towards dawn, did you hear anything?'

'Don't worry, dear. Despite the hardships and expenses, you and the children take good care of me,' he said.

Nhĩ felt compassion for Liên. She had suffered so much for him throughout her life. He deeply loved her but didn't know how to express it. After a pause, Liên encouraged him:

'Keep practicing and take your medicine. By next month, you'll surely be able to walk again,' she reassured him. Nhĩ momentarily forgot about his illness. He was drawn into Liên's playful banter. However, when Liên placed her hand on his back, which was hardened and ulcerated, the fatigue from illness returned. Liên left to tidy up, preparing the medicine for her husband before heading to the market. Once his wife had left, Nhĩ called his son and said:

'Have you ever been to the other side?' Nhĩ asked, glancing out the window.

The son seemed not to have heard clearly, so he asked again:

'Where across the river?' he inquired.

'On the other side of the river!' Nhĩ replied indifferently.

Tuấn responded nonchalantly:

-Not yet...

-Nhĩ gathered all remaining strength to utter the last desire of his life:

-Now, son, cross the river to help your father.

-For what, Dad?

-Just for nothing. Nhĩ reluctantly acknowledged the oddity in his thoughts. But he continued:

-Son, just cross the ferry, step ashore on the other side, wander around somewhere, or go into a café to buy me a pastry and then come back.

The son, without hesitation, put on his clothes, donned a wide-brimmed hat, and set off. As soon as Nhĩ heard Tuấn descending the stairs, he gathered all his remaining strength and slowly crawled, crawled on the wooden floor. Managing to get outside the mattress, he felt exhausted and sore. He just wanted someone to help him lie down.

Hearing footsteps on the other side of the wall, Nhĩ stooped down to catch his breath and weakly called out: 'Huệ!'.

The girl from the neighboring house ran over. And as if she was very accustomed to it, she politely asked: 'Do you need to lie down, sir?'.

-Yes, yes... hello, dear. Nhĩ replied.

The girl didn't rush to help Nhĩ. She ran outside to call some friends and then they all helped Nhĩ lie down on the mattress outside. They helped him put one hand on the window sill and stacked a pile of pillows behind his back. He felt happy and even more fond of the kids.

Right outside, just beyond the window frame, Nhĩ saw a sail just catching the wind on the other shore. Near the edge of the land strip on this side, a crowd was waiting for the ferry, looking across, but Nhĩ kept looking and couldn't see his son anywhere. It turned out his son was glued to a chessboard. In the past, he had also been passionate about chess. And now, Nhĩ thought with great sadness: people in life are really hard to avoid the twists and turns. Nhĩ suddenly remembered the day he married Liên. A countryside girl now turned into an urban woman. Nevertheless, like the riverbank, Liên's soul still retained its simplicity and endurance. And it was because of these things that after many wandering days, Nhĩ found a refuge in this small family.

The ferry had crossed over half the river. And just as Nhĩ was imagining himself wearing a wide-brimmed hat and crossing the river like an explorer, there was a voice coming in. He turned around. It was Teacher Khuyến - the one who always came by to ask about his health. As they were talking, suddenly the neighbor panicked when he noticed Nhĩ's flushed face, sparkling eyes, hands gripping the window sill tightly, and trembling. Nhĩ was trying to gather all his remaining strength to peek outside, raising an arm to signal to someone out there.

At that moment, the daily ferry, making its way across the Red River, just touched the sloping land on this side.

In addition to the content above, you can also explore the Exposition about the lục bát poetic form to prepare for this lesson.

In the Vietnamese literature curriculum for grade 10, the poem Độc Tiểu Thanh kí reflects Nguyễn Du's emotions and thoughts on the fate of talented individuals in feudal society. Analyzing the poem Đọc Tiểu Thanh kí to clarify the statement above is an important topic that you need to pay attention to and prepare for in advance.

Sample Essay 4: Retelling a Fairy Tale or a Short Story that You Love

Once upon a time, there was a mischievous boy who was spoiled by his mother and loved to play. One day, after being scolded by his mother, he angrily ran away. He wandered around aimlessly, causing his mother great sadness as she stayed at home, waiting for his return. Days passed, but he did not come back. Overwhelmed with grief and exhaustion, his mother collapsed. It was not until he was both hungry and cold, and bullied by older children, that he remembered his mother.

-'Yes, whenever I was hungry, my mother fed me; whenever I was bullied, my mother stood by me. I must return to her,' he realized.

He immediately set out to find his way back home. Upon arriving, everything looked the same as before, but his mother was nowhere to be found. He called out for her:

- Mom, where are you? I'm so hungry! - The boy collapsed, then hugged a tree in the garden and cried.

Strangely, the tree suddenly trembled. From its branches and leaves, small flowers bloomed, white as clouds. Flowers withered, fruits appeared, growing quickly, with smooth, shiny green skin. The tree leaned, and a large fruit fell into the boy's hand.

The boy took a big bite. It was too bitter.

The second fruit fell. The boy peeled it, biting into the seed. It was too hard. The third fruit fell. The boy gently squeezed around the fruit, the soft peel gradually cracking open. A stream of white, fragrant milk flowed out, sweet like mother's milk.

The boy leaned in and tasted the sweet, fragrant milk, as delicious as mother's milk.

The tree swayed its branches and whispered:

'Only after eating the fruit three times will you know its goodness. Only when you grow up will you understand your mother's heart.'

The boy burst into tears. His mother was no longer there. He looked up at the leaves, one side green and the other reddish like his mother's teary eyes waiting for him. He hugged the tree trunk and cried, the trunk rough and rugged like his mother's working hands. His tears fell onto the tree roots. The tree spread its branches to embrace him, swaying like his mother's comforting hands.

He tells everyone the story of his mother and his regret...

The delicious fruits in his family's garden, everyone loves them. They brought them home, planted them everywhere, and named them Milk Fruit Trees.

Sample story number 5: Tell a fairy tale or a short story that you love

Once upon a time, there was a very smart child named Ma Luong. His parents passed away early. He loved drawing since he was young but didn't have money to buy pens. Every day, he practiced drawing by collecting firewood. He used sticks to draw birds flying in the sky on the ground. While cutting grass, he dipped his hand in water to draw fish and shrimp. When he returned home, he drew everything on the wall.

Ma Luong was deeply passionate about drawing, and he progressed rapidly. He could draw everything so realistically, but the only problem was that he didn't have a pen.

One day, in a dream, he saw an old man with silver hair and beard appear, handing him a magical pen and saying:

- This is a magic pen, it will help you greatly.

Ma Luong cheered with joy.

- What a beautiful pen! Thank you, thank you, sir!

Ma Luong hadn't finished speaking when the old man disappeared. Upon waking up, he found himself holding that magical pen, feeling very strange.

Ma Luong used the pen to draw birds flying gracefully and fish swimming underwater. He loved it so much, then he took this magical pen to draw for the poor in the village, giving whatever was needed.

Word got to the landlord. He immediately sent someone to bring Ma Luong home to draw as he pleased. Ma Luong, being rebellious, refused to draw anything requested by the cruel and wealthy landlord. Furious, he locked Ma Luong in the horse stable. A few days later, thinking Ma Luong had died from hunger and cold, he found Ma Luong eating cakes next to the fireplace. Enraged, he ordered his servants to kill Ma Luong to take the magical pen.

Ten servants rushed into the horse stable, but Ma Luong had already climbed over the wall with a ladder he drew. Escaping from the landlord's house, Ma Luong drew a horse and jumped on, galloping away. Soon, there was noise behind him. Ma Luong knew they were getting closer, so he shot an arrow at the landlord and rode straight off. After several days and nights, he stopped by a small town. Every day, he painted to make a living, but deliberately made his paintings sloppy. One day, while drawing a bird without eyes, he accidentally dropped ink, which landed right in the bird's eye, and the bird flew off. This incident shook the whole town and reached the king's ears. The king captured Ma Luong to paint for him. Knowing the king's greed, Ma Luong refused to paint what was asked. When the king asked for a dragon, he painted a toad instead. The king, furious, threw Ma Luong into the dungeon and confiscated the magical pen. The king painted a mountain of gold, but upon inspection, it turned out to be large rocks. Then he painted gold bars. One bar wasn't enough; he wanted to paint a long gold bar, but upon review, it turned out to be a giant python crawling toward him. Luckily, someone came to rescue. Otherwise, it would have bitten the king to death. Realizing that without Ma Luong, he couldn't accomplish anything, the king reluctantly released Ma Luong and promised to marry him to the princess. Ma Luong pretended to agree. The king returned the magical pen to him and ordered him to paint the sea, a vast sea without waves. The king looked at it and said:

- Why isn't there any fish in this sea?

Ma Luong dotted a few spots, and suddenly the sea was teeming with fish, delighting the king. The king asked Ma Luong to draw a boat for a leisurely ride. With the boat, the king, along with the courtiers, the queen, the princess, and the prince, set sail.

The boat was moving too slowly. The king stood at the bow, shouting loudly: 'Let the wind rise, let the wind rise!'

Ma Luong added a few bold strokes with the pen. The sea surged. Ma Luong added a few more waves, and the sea roared. The sea churned, and the king panicked, shouting:

- Stop the wind! Stop the wind!

Ma Luong paid no heed to the words but continued to draw bold curves. The waves crashed onto the shore relentlessly.

The king, soaked through, clung to the mast with one hand and yelled: 'Ma Luong, stop drawing!' Ignoring the king's pleas, Ma Luong kept drawing. The storm grew fiercer, burying the king's ship beneath the raging waves.

After the king's death, the tale of Ma Luong spread throughout the land. No one knew where Ma Luong went. Rumors had it that he returned to a peaceful life in the countryside among kind-hearted farmers.

Explore the detailed content of the section Reflection on the poem 'Duc Tieu Thanh ki' by Nguyen Du to improve your understanding of Grade 10 Literature better.

In addition to the studied content, you need to prepare for the upcoming lesson with the section Write a short persuasive text expressing thoughts on compassion to grasp your Grade 10 Literature knowledge firmly.

If you're unsure how to retell a fairy tale in a captivating and engaging way from the perspective of a character within the story, you can refer to some sample essays in our next article to learn how to complete this writing task effectively.