The literary discourse piece on the excerpt from Sisters Thuy Kieu provides a structured analysis, delving into the essence of the characters and their significance within the narrative.

Analyzing an excerpt from 'Sisters Thuy Kieu' in literary discourse

I. Outline of Literary Discourse on the Excerpt from 'Sisters Thuy Kieu' (Standard)

1. Introduction:

- Introduction to the author Nguyen Du and the excerpt 'Sisters Thuy Kieu'.

2. Body of the Essay:

a. General Overview:

- Location: situated at the beginning of the work
- Content: Describing the beauty and talent of the sisters Thuy Kieu.

b. Detailed Analysis:

* First Four Verses: Introduction to the Two Sisters:

- Nguyen Du introduces the beauty of the two sisters Thuy Kieu and Thuy Van through the imagery of nature such as 'plum blossoms, snow': extremely noble, graceful, and pure.
- The two sisters possess perfect beauty 'ten out of ten.'

- Beauty of Thuy Van (next 4 verses):
+ 'Van exudes a different kind of elegance': the luxurious, dignified beauty of Thuy Van.
+ 'Full moon face': round, prosperous face like the full moon.
+ 'Graceful brows': sharp, bold eyebrows.
+ 'Laughing lips like jade, speech as clear as pearls': a smile as bright as flowers, voice as pure as jade.
+ 'Clouds yield, water bows, snow hair, fair skin': only the beauty of hair and skin of Thuy Van makes nature also bow in respect.
→ Van's beauty is gentle, prosperous, heralding a smooth and favorable future.

- Beauty and Talent of Kieu (next 12 verses):
+ Thuy Kieu possesses a more 'sharp and graceful' beauty than Thuy Van.
+ 'Autumn water eyes': Kieu's eyes are clear and calm like autumn water.
+ 'Spring mountain features': spring mountain figure: her eyebrows are as graceful as the lines of a spring mountain.
+ 'Jealous flowers, resentful willows': Kieu's beauty even makes nature envious.
→ Foreshadowing a life full of ups and downs, vicissitudes.
+ Complete beauty and talent 'Beauty seeks one talent, one talent seeks two'.
+ Not only is she intelligent and talented, proficient in both literature and painting, Kieu is also proficient in the five tones of ancient music, proficient in playing the ancient pipa of the ancient Hồ people.

- Peaceful life of the two sisters (last 4 verses):
+ Kieu and her sister live in peace, tranquility, in a family setting 'the curtain gently sways'.
+ Although reaching marriageable age, the two sisters still live within the bounds of propriety, ignoring the 'buzzing of bees and butterflies' outside.

c. Evaluation of Content, Artistry:

- Content:
+ Describing the beauty and talent of the two sisters Thuy Kieu and Thuy Van
+ Foreshadowing feelings about the future and fate of the two.

- Artistry:
+ Poetic techniques are employed extensively, using nature imagery to describe the beauty of the sisters Thuy Van and Thuy Kieu.
+ The lục bát verse form with its flexible, refined structure, along with similes and personifications: help readers visualize the beauty and talent of the sisters Thuy Kieu, Thuy Van, and anticipate their future.

3. Conclusion:

- Affirming the value of the excerpt and the work.

II. Sample Essay on Literary Discourse of the Excerpt Sisters Thuy Kieu (Standard)

'The Tale of Kieu' by the great poet Nguyen Du is a masterpiece in Vietnamese medieval literature. The work vividly portrays the fate of the protagonist and her fifteen years of exile. Thuy Kieu, a talented and beautiful but ill-fated girl, has her life depicted in detail. One of the finest excerpts from 'The Tale of Kieu' must be the excerpt 'Sisters Thuy Kieu'.

The excerpt Sisters Thuy Kieu is at the beginning of the work, introducing the family and circumstances of Thuy Kieu. When introducing the relatives in Kieu's family, Nguyen Du depicted the portraits of the two sisters Thuy Kieu and Thuy Van.

In the first lines of poetry, Nguyen Du provided an overview of the two sisters of the Vuong family:

'First in their parents' hearts are they
Thuy Kieu the elder, then comes Thuý Vân
Mai and plum, different in style
Yet each a perfect ten in beauty's rank'

Thuy Kieu and Thuy Van are the two beautiful daughters, 'the first in their parents' hearts,' of the Vuong family. The two sisters not only possess graceful beauty like the plum blossom but also purity and nobility like the snowflakes of winter. Nguyen Du used beautiful imagery of nature and poetic techniques to describe their 'perfect ten' beauty. Though each has a different charm, they are both complete in beauty and talent.

After briefly introducing the two sisters Thuy Kieu and Thuy Van, Nguyen Du vividly portrays the portrait of the younger sister Thuy Van in a concise and clear manner through four verses:

'Van exudes a different kind of elegance
Full moon face, laughing lips like jade
Clouds yield, water bows, snow hair, fair skin'

Thuy Van possesses a beauty 'different kind of elegance' compared to other girls. This beauty embodies elegance, grace, and nobility, befitting of a refined young lady. The poet used artistic techniques and nature imagery to depict the portrait of Thuy Van. Her face is round and full like the full moon 'full moon face', her eyebrows dark and sharp 'laughing lips like jade'. Moreover, Van has flowing hair like clouds and fair skin like snow. Her character is graceful and refined. Van's beauty makes nature ashamed, inferior, and yielding. Reading the verses describing Van, one can feel that her future is a series of peaceful days, sailing smoothly, as both nature and creation are deeply respectful and reverent towards her.

Although Thuy Van is Thuy Kieu's younger sister, Nguyen Du describes Thuy Van's beauty first to leverage it for Thuy Kieu's beauty. While the poet only uses four verses to capture Van's beauty, he employs twelve verses to describe Kieu's beauty. Through this, we can see the favoritism that Nguyen Du shows towards Thuy Kieu:

'Kieu's beauty more refined and enchanting
Beauty surpasses all, she's above the rest
Eyes like autumn waters, brows like spring hills
Flower outshining crimson, willow envying green
Graceful as water, towering as mountain peaks
Beauty seeks one talent, one talent seeks two'

If Thuy Van's beauty surpasses nature, then Thuy Kieu's is even 'more refined and enchanting.' To describe Kieu's beauty, Nguyen Du extensively utilized poetic techniques and symbolic imagery to create a perfect portrait of Kieu. Without detailing Kieu's entire face, the poet only describes her eyes, yet we can still perceive Kieu's radiant beauty. Kieu's eyes resemble a tranquil autumn lake, while her brows are as graceful as the lines of spring mountains. With just these features, Nguyen Du paints a masterpiece of Thuy Kieu's beauty. Her beauty is 'more crimson' than flowers, even 'greener' than willow leaves, causing nature and creation to silently envy her 'towering' beauty. Here, Nguyen Du employs personification of nature's jealousy and envy towards Thuy Kieu's beauty. This seems like an ominous foreboding about Kieu's future, as her beauty is so perfect, surpassing all standards of natural beauty, making even nature itself jealous.

Thuy Kieu not only possesses radiant and 'more refined and enchanting' beauty than Thuy Van but also in talent, she surpasses Van by some measure:

'Innate intelligence from heaven's decree
Mixing poetry and painting with the scent of music
Skilled in the five notes of the ancient music scale
Her own skill surpasses a thousand musicians
In her hand, she chooses the notes
Fortune favors her, her mind even sharper'

Thuy Kieu not only possesses perfect beauty but also talent that commands admiration. Kieu is blessed with intelligence and exceptional talent in poetry and music, surpassing others. She excels not only in the ancient music scale but also in playing the traditional instrument, the Ho Cầm. Moreover, Kieu is adept at composing music herself, exemplified by the mournful song 'Silver Destiny.' The melody of her music brings tears to the listeners' eyes, demonstrating a soul of deep sensitivity and foretelling a future full of trials for this exceptionally talented and beautiful individual!

Closing the excerpt is the peaceful and serene life of the two young women:

'Elegantly adorned in pink attire
Spring approaches with its green hue
Tranquil, sheltered under the family's care
As bees and butterflies return to the east'

Despite being from a wealthy family and possessing beauty and talent, reaching the age of maturity, the sisters Thuy Kieu and Thuy Van still live modestly and respectfully. They live in peaceful harmony, shielded by their family, indifferent to the outside world's distractions.