II. Sample Analysis of Tế Hanh's Poem 'Homeland':

Prompt: Analysis of Tế Hanh's poem 'Homeland'

Analysis of Tế Hanh's Poem 'Homeland'

1. Introduction

- Overview of the theme 'homeland'.
- Brief introduction to Tế Hanh and his poem 'Homeland'.
 

2. Body of the Poem:

a. Introduction: “Birds flying along the coast bring news of fish”:
- Provides a general overview of the life intertwined with rivers and seas, with the salty breath of the sea in the lives of the fishermen in the homeland of Quảng Ngãi, as depicted by the author.

b. First Two Verses: “My village...half a day by the river”: 
- Portrays the landscape of the homeland with its distinctive geographical features of being surrounded by water, resembling an island emerging amidst the vast waves, and the geographical distance measured by time “half a day by the river,” echoing the dialect of the riverine region.
- Evokes the year-round fishing activities.

Continue reading the Outline for Analyzing Tế Hanh's Poem 'Homeland' here.

1. Analysis of Tế Hanh's Poem 'Homeland', Sample 1 (Standard):

One could say that 'homeland' is the most sacred and familiar term for every individual, especially for the Vietnamese people, who have a tradition of cherishing their homeland, engraved deeply in their hearts even if they wander in all four directions. Homeland is also one of the familiar themes that many authors incorporate into their works with great reverence and love. For instance, Đỗ Trung Quân's poem 'Homeland,' which has been set to music, resonates with smooth melodies in the hearts of many generations with its verse '...Homeland is a bunch of sweet persimmons, allowing children to pick them every day, each person's homeland is like only one mother, if one forgets their homeland, they cannot grow into a true human being...' deeply touching and profound. Or Tế Hanh with the poem 'Remembering the Homeland River' capturing the rustic features in the author's memories, Nguyễn Đình Thi with 'Vietnam Our Proud Homeland, Tradition,' Nguyễn Hưng with a simple and affectionate 'Homeland,'... In essence, writing about the homeland always evokes many emotions in readers. It's worth mentioning Tế Hanh, one of the most prominent poets of the New Poetry Movement from 1932-1941, who was remarked by Hoài Thanh as 'very refined,' he liked to write about the ordinary, the mundane, he quietly composed poetry and naturally had a place in poetry due to his quiet writing style, but leaving many emotions in the hearts of readers. As Thanh Thảo said, 'Since appearing in the New Poetry Movement, Tế Hanh's poetry has been a phenomenon due to its 'simplicity, sincerity,' its 'freshness, simplicity like a river,' indeed, such poetic spirit writing about the homeland, what more words can describe. And 'Homeland' is one of Tế Hanh's most outstanding works in the Vietnamese poetic arena at that time, even though he had more works later on, but when mentioning Tế Hanh, people still remember 'Homeland.'

The beginning of the poem 'Homeland' is the introduction by Tế Hanh's father 'Birds flying along the coast bring news of fish,' that introduction has provided the most general overview of life closely connected with rivers and seas, with the salty breath of the sea in the lives of the fishermen in the homeland of Quảng Ngãi as depicted by the author. To introduce his homeland, Tế Hanh used a very gentle, warm poetic tone, as if it were a narrative, a loving self-narrative:

“My homeland is where I cast nets and fish,
Surrounded by water, half a day's journey from the sea”

From those two lines, readers begin to envision the characteristics of the author's homeland fishing village, a place where fishing is a year-round profession, intimately acquainted with the sea. It also evokes the image of the homeland with its distinctive geographical features of being surrounded by water, resembling an island emerging amidst the vast waves, and the geographical distance measured by time “half a day by the river,” echoing the dialect of the riverine region.

And speaking of a poor fishing village, one cannot overlook the scene of setting sail into the sea by the villagers, which, through keen, sensitive eyes, along with the deeply earnest sentiment for the homeland, the scene of setting sail has been vividly and beautifully depicted.

“When the sky is clear, the wind gentle, the morning blushes,
Strong young men row their boats out to fish:
The boat, light and agile as a spirited horse,
Its oars cutting through the waves with vigor.
The sails spread wide like the soul of the village,
Embracing the vast expanse, gathering the wind...”

It was a breathtaking scene with incredibly favorable weather, akin to the warm embrace of Mother Nature for her children before they venture into the vast sea. 'Clear sky, gentle breeze, rosy dawn' depicts a picture filled with excitement, romantic emotions abound, marking the auspicious beginning of fishermen's journey at sea. The imagery of 'clear sky' signifies a serene atmosphere, free from storms and tempests, which are dreaded by fishermen; 'gentle breeze' implies winds sufficient to fill sails and push boats offshore, while 'rosy dawn' evokes the warm ambiance of the weather, also conjuring a picturesque sunrise, the time when fishermen prepare to set sail. Beyond the depiction of nature lies the portrayal of humanity in the verse 'Strong men rowing boats to fish.' Contrary to the typical perception of fishermen as toilers enduring hardships, they are seen through Tế Hanh's lens with affection, admiration, depicted as robust and vibrant figures immersed in labor. The phrase 'strong men' evokes images of sturdy, muscular youths, gripping oars firmly, with a spirit of enthusiastic labor, under the radiant morning sun. Tế Hanh's romantic prose in the poem 'Homeland' employs a delicate and simple style, yet manages to encapsulate the magnificent beauty of seaside labor. And more impressive than all is the line 'The boat light as a warhorse, paddles vigorously across the river.' Tế Hanh uses the most common simile in poetry to describe the vigor in the labor of the people, where the boat symbolizes the scores of fishermen heading towards the open sea. Here, we can understand that the fishing expedition, though a livelihood, is akin to soldiers marching into battle, always confronting certain dangers, and must labor, must fight with all their might to achieve the best results. For the fishermen, the boat is a means of transportation, just as the soldier has a warhorse by his side. Saying 'The boat light as a warhorse' firstly signifies the spirited demeanor when venturing beyond the sea by the people, secondly, it denotes the strength, resilience, the majestic beauty of the people in labor standing shoulder to shoulder with the warriors as they step onto the battlefield, displaying pride, resilience, and profound determination. 'Paddles vigorously across the river' illustrates the labor process of fishermen; the author employs the powerful verb 'paddles' to demonstrate the strength and stature of human beings in labor, 'the river' denotes a long, wide river, yet in Tế Hanh's poetry, it becomes a launchpad for the grandeur of humanity. For no matter how long the river, it cannot hold back the footsteps, the oars of those venturing into the sea.

Following the depiction of the sailing scene is the couplet 'The sail spreads wide like the soul of the village/Its expansive body collects the winds,' considered the artistic highlight of the entire poem, affirming Tế Hanh's talent and delicate portrayal of homeland. Literary critic Hoài Thanh once wrote: 'Tế Hanh is very subtle, Tế Hanh has captured very spiritual aspects of rural life. Listeners can perceive even the non-visual, non-sonorous aspects like the soul of the village, on the spread sail... Tế Hanh's poetry takes us into a very familiar world that we often perceive dimly...' Here, it's evident that the author has depicted the soul of the village, the essence of homeland with a white sail, using the abstract to compare with the concrete, yet it's logical and surprisingly unique. If asked to represent the soul of a fishing village, what should be taken as characteristic, a fishing net, a boat, people, or something roughly similar? But only the white sail is sufficient to be representative; with a sail, there's a boat, people, fishing activities, moreover, the sail seems to carry a romantic, more symbolic essence. Hence, Tế Hanh chose it as the vessel to carry the soul of the village, the homeland, the sail accompanying the fishermen to fish carries within it longing, earnest anticipation of those left behind, a reminder, a recollection of the homeland deeply ingrained in those who depart. And of course, the sail is not only symbolic, but it also seems to have a spirit of its own, also endeavoring to contribute to the labor of the fishermen, as a way to express the affection, the support of the homeland through the imagery 'its expansive body collects the winds.' This evokes in the reader's soul the solidarity in the labor of the fishing village people, they coordinate smoothly and sequentially with each other in the fishing work, knowing and doing their job well. They bond not only in activity but also in spirit, to the extent that even an inanimate object can feel the collective effort that they contribute to create the result.

After the spirited, enthusiastic scene of setting sail comes the scene of villagers welcoming the boats back in an atmosphere of joyous celebration, happiness over the accomplishments achieved after a day of hard work.

'The next day, bustling at the docks
The whole village bustling, welcoming the returning boats
Thanks to the calm sea, the boats are full of fish
The fresh, delicious fish, their bodies glistening white.'

Analyzing Tế Hanh's poem 'Homeland' in detail

The entire poem brings readers feelings of warmth, contentment, and joy amidst the 'bustling', 'busy' scenery. And it doesn't forget to convey the tradition of gratitude, acknowledging Mother Nature for nurturing and bestowing 'the fresh, delicious fish, their bodies glistening white', quietly and generously creating favorable conditions for fishermen to labor, fish, providing them with a warm, abundant, and peaceful life by the beloved sea.

'Fishermen's skin darkened by the sun's rays
Their whole bodies exude a distant flavor
The boat silent at the weary dock returns to rest
Feeling the salt seep gradually into the hull'

Once again, Tế Hanh recreates the image of fishermen, with their robust appearance characterized by 'skin darkened by the sun's rays,' yet their unique beauty embellished with a 'distant flavor.' It's unknown how Tế Hanh senses that flavor, but perhaps it's the salty taste of the sea along with the breath of the distant horizon that creates a very distinctive taste deeply ingrained in the soul, the essence of each fisherman defined by Tế Hanh as that 'distant flavor.' To construct the image of fishermen deeply imbued with the taste of the sea, robust, strong, yet equally enduring the toil of survival. Besides the human condition, Tế Hanh is also observant and contemplative about the boat after its long, arduous journey at sea. In the poet's eyes, the boat also has life, has a soul like a human, also knows fatigue, also needs rest after each exhausting labor to recuperate. And in those moments, the boat isn't just lying still, it seems to have senses, to hear, to feel the saltiness of the homeland seeping slowly into each hull, quietly contemplating the distant voyages, the countless memories intertwined with the vast sea. It's evident that Tế Hanh is a very sensitive and compassionate poet, his vision not only rests on humans but also extends to objects he holds dear with love and reverence for the people of the homeland, extending sympathetic, understanding gazes, even drawing the beauty of soul for each object. Making people feel that Tế Hanh's homeland painting, regardless of where it touches, is always saturated with emotion, soaked in the soul of the homeland.

'Now separated, my heart always reminisces
The blue water, the silver fish, the lime sail
Briefly the boat turns, running through the waves to the open sea
I feel overwhelmed by the strong salty smell'

The boat glides lightly like a falcon
Oars fiercely propel it across the river

The labor painting is vividly described as if being witnessed firsthand. With a unique and remarkable writing style, using the simile 'the boat like a falcon', along with the continuous use of strong verbs 'glides, propels, surpasses', adding the adjective 'strong', has created an immensely grand painting. It makes us see the vigorous spirit, a resolute mentality of the coastal people, witnessing the powerful courage of the boat sailing swiftly as if wanting to overcome the waves, surpassing the roaring winds amidst the vast ocean to venture out.

The sail billows large like the soul of the village
Its expansive white body gathers the wind.

With fresh and innocent emotions, the author has felt the beauty and enduring vitality of the homeland through beautiful and creatively poetic images. The boat, a simple and familiar image, is now metaphorically likened by the poet to a 'soul of the village'. Poetic imagery, rich in imagination. From an inanimate object, the sail is likened to a very sacred soul of the homeland. It is like an indispensable, inseparable part of the coastal villagers. Only those closely bonded, deeply affectionate towards life, towards the coastal fishing village and towards the people here, the poet can perceive so delicately.

As the author vividly portrays the fishing boat setting sail with an atmosphere of enthusiasm, joy, and dynamism, the return of the fishing fleet to the shore is depicted with a tone brimming with excitement and optimism.

The next day bustles at the dock
Villagers bustlingly welcome the returning boats
Blessed with calm seas, boats full of fish
The fresh, silver-bodied fish.

The verse captures the scene of fishing boats returning to the shore after a hard day's work at sea. The use of adjectives like 'bustling' and 'teeming' exudes a lively atmosphere of the villagers joyfully welcoming the fishing fleet back with 'fresh, silver-bodied fish' that are visually appealing.

Being coastal dwellers, their livelihoods are heavily reliant on nature. They toil hard in hopes of a better life. Therefore, the moment of safely welcoming loved ones back after a voyage is a greater joy than anything else. They silently thank the heavens and the earth for providing calm waves and tranquil seas for the safe return of the villagers.

Sun-kissed skin of the fishermen
Across their bodies, the scent of the distant
The boat still at the dock, resting after each return
Feeling the essence of salt seeping into the wooden planks.

Standing out amidst the bustling scene of people harvesting fish is the robust and vigorous image of those bodies, year-round grappling with the vast ocean. Those figures absorb the breath, rhythm of the waves, and the intense saltiness of the sea.

Here, the author anthropomorphizes the boat as if it were a person after a hard day's work, now resting. The image of the boat has become more soulful than ever. It's no longer just a means of transportation but has become a dear friend to the inhabitants. Not only humans but the boat itself is imbued with the flavor of the sea, the salty taste seeping deep into every skin, every piece of flesh of the people. A panoramic picture has been vividly recreated by the poet.

Now far from my heart, always reminiscing
The blue water, the silver fish, the lime sail
A glimpse of the boat veering into the waves heading out to sea
In the night, missing the overpowering salty scent too much.

Behind the portrait of the homeland with the activities of the coastal fishermen lies the poignant longing of the poet. Remembering the dearest, most beloved, most familiar aspects of his homeland 'like the blue water, silver fish, the lime sail', especially missing the distinctive scent of the sea, the intense saltiness of the beloved land and sky.

It can be said that this is a panoramic picture of the beloved homeland of the poet. With a robust tone, vivid images along with harmonious and unique artistic techniques such as: comparison, metaphor, personification. Tế Hanh has created a very fresh and vibrant homeland picture. It takes a poet closely attached to life, to the laborious life of the people here, for the poet to create such beautiful verses.
 

3. Analysis of the poem Homeland, model 3 (Standard):

Poet Thanh Thảo has a few words to say about poet Tế Hanh: 'From the moment he appeared in the New Poetry movement, Tế Hanh's poetry has been a phenomenon because of its simplicity, sincerity, clarity, simplicity like a river'. Speaking of his position in New Poetry, we can use two words 'calm', his poetic soul doesn't rise up strongly like the enthusiasm, fervor of Xuân Diệu, nor is it peculiar, crazy like Hàn Mặc Tử, doesn't impress deeply due to the 'provincial' nature of Nguyễn Bính, and doesn't have the autumn melancholy of Huy Cận. However, after all, people never forget Tế Hanh, a poet with a natural tone, consistent writing style, and each of his poetry collections is marked by a few memorable poems, enough to engrave new, delicate emotions into the hearts of readers of a young poet's soul. It can be said that the homeland is the greatest source of inspiration in Tế Hanh's poetic life and the poem Homeland is an excellent and promising start.

Homeland, though composed in the early years when Tế Hanh took his first steps on the Vietnamese poetry scene, specifically within the New Poetry movement, the work itself brought forth new emotions, while also showcasing the poet's special talent and affinity for the homeland, a concept so familiar yet not every poet is delicate enough to write about it softly and deeply. When assessing Tế Hanh and Homeland, Hoài Thanh wrote: “Tế Hanh is very subtle, Tế Hanh has captured very spiritual scenes of life in the homeland. Listeners can hear even the things without form, without sound like the village soul, on the sail... Tế Hanh's poetry takes us into a world very close, often seen blurred...”. Such insightful perspective is also due to his profound soul deeply attached to life, to the homeland, and the nation.

The poem begins with two introductory lines summarizing the rural village “My village is a fishing net weaving village/Water surrounds, halfway between river and sea,” with a poetic tone so gentle and heartfelt, resembling a sincere confession. But it's not just an introduction, it also evokes the image of the homeland, a fishing village surrounded by water like an island floating on the undulating waves of the river. It also reveals geographical features, the distance from the village to the sea with the phrase “half a day's journey from the sea,” and indicates it is a poor village living by the arduous fishing net profession. Tế Hanh uses simple, rustic words with a coastal flavor to describe a homeland full of longing, with eyes brimming with love.

“When the sky clears, the breeze gentle, morning blushes,
Strong men row boats to fish:
The boat swift like a spirited horse
The oars slashing vigorously across the sea.
The sail unfurls like the village soul
Stretching its wide white body to gather the wind...”

Analysis of Tế Hanh's Homeland poem, selected model literature

For a coastal native, the scene of fishing boats heading out to sea has perhaps deeply ingrained in the mind, thus Tế Hanh captured it with overflowing emotions, pure and bright images full of poetic essence. It was a beautiful morning, clear blue skies, gentle breeze blowing, the morning sun shining pink across the entire fishing village, and under that magnificent backdrop, the robust young men brimming with vitality, beginning their work with enthusiasm, vibrant “Strong men row boats to fish”. The labor scene under the poet's gaze unfolds powerfully, full of vigor, under the determined collaboration of the young fishermen in the fishing village, the boat gliding lightly offshore, seeming to defy any hindrance, brave, brimming with vitality like a spirited horse that has traversed hundreds of battles. It can be said that the boat in Tế Hanh's poetry always maintains an active position, “The boat swift like a spirited horse,” ready to face any difficulties, skillfully and bravely facing the sea waves. Before the vast sea, the towering waves, but the small boat rises with strong momentum, bubbling with enthusiasm, as if the ocean has become a green backdrop highlighting the proud beauty of the fishing boat.

But not just stopping at describing the vibrant atmosphere when heading out to sea, Tế Hanh is also very subtle and skillful in applying the technique of comparison between the “sail” and the “village soul”. It can be said that this is an artistic breakthrough in the author's poetic style, using the tangible to compare with the abstract, which was thought to be impossible but Tế Hanh did it and did it excellently. He has drawn the figure of the village soul of the coastal fishing village very spiritually, delicately. The white sail carries the soul, the piece of love, soaked in the emotions of the homeland, always closely following the steps of the fishermen in their labor. There, many emotions are reconciled, including longing, earnest hope of those who stay behind and the poignant nostalgia, a single-minded longing for the homeland of those laboring far offshore. The unique comparison image has brought romance, loftiness to Tế Hanh's verse, where the love of the homeland appears gently, yet deeply and intensely attached. In the next line “The sail unfurls like the village soul,” we recognize the author's use of personification through two very evocative words “unfurls” and “gathers.” It seems the sail carrying the village soul also has a work ethic about the fishermen's work, so it tries hard to “unfurl” its wide body to “gather” more wind, push the boat offshore quickly, far away. Thus, in Tế Hanh's eyes, the sail has now also become a labor force, making certain contributions to the fishermen's work. From there, we see the deep unity, support, and profound bond of the fishing village people, united from the soul, thoughts, not only in humans but also in objects, all combined smoothly to achieve great results.

The scene of heading out to sea with excitement and enthusiasm is mirrored by the bustling and joyful scene of the fishermen returning.

“The next day, bustling at the dock
Villagers bustlingly welcome the returning boats
Blessed with calm seas, boats full of fish
The fresh, silver-bodied fish.”

Continuing with a gentle, deeply affectionate poetic tone, Tế Hanh allows readers to sense the serene, peaceful, and warm joy of fishermen after a strenuous offshore trip. At the same time, Tế Hanh expresses profound gratitude to the homeland's vast sea, which provides people with a comfortable and happy life. Nature's generosity has made the sea calm, devoting effort to nurture abundant fish, bestowing upon fishermen “Fresh, delicious fish with silver-white bodies,” so they can enjoy indescribable happiness after a bountiful offshore trip.

“Fishermen with sun-darkened skin
Entire bodies exuding a distant taste
The boat silent at the weary dock
Feeling the salt seeping gradually into the wood”

Born and raised in a coastal village as a fisherman, Tế Hanh's genuine and subtle perceptions of fishermen and their spiritual lives are apparent. Fishermen endure struggles with the sea, thus they cannot have fair, youthful skin; instead, they bear a characteristic hue of “sun-darkened skin,” conveying a sense of robustness and hardship. Even more subtly, Tế Hanh captures the “distant taste” on the seafarers, which is the salty scent, the scent of distant winds that permeates deep into their souls, the essence of their being. From this, he constructs a unique image of the coastal fishermen with the flavor of the sea, robust, rugged, and incredibly familiar.

Not only does Tế Hanh perceive fishermen after a long fishing expedition, but he also pays attention to the boat itself. While the boat is eager and vigorous when setting out, robustly facing the challenges, upon returning, it becomes tranquil, resting tiredly after a long night sailing offshore. It can be said that Tế Hanh always perceives objects from a spiritual perspective, viewing everything on the homeland with sympathy and love, including the intangible village soul, which becomes tangible. The boat, like a person, knows how to strain its sails, then after relentless efforts, it desires rest, creating a feeling of leisure, tranquility in the fishing village after strenuous labor days. The boat lies still “Feeling the salt seeping gradually into the wood” as if confiding with the sea, reminiscing about the offshore memories. Here, one can perceive a very distinctive shift in sensation, Tế Hanh's taste senses the saltiness, his ears “hear” the saltiness, and he uses tactile sensation to feel the sea's saltiness gradually seeping into the boat's wood, or into the homeland's people's bodies. This is the profound integration, profound bond of all things with the sea of the homeland.