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Prompt: What do you understand about the great poet Nguyễn Du?
Part 1: Your comprehension of the great poet Nguyễn Du
Part 2: Sample essay What do you understand about the great poet Nguyễn Du?
Essay:
Nguyễn Du, a significant poet and cultural figure of the Vietnamese people, revered as the 'Great Poet of the Nation' by our people. Nguyễn Du can be considered not only an outstanding figure in the national poetry but also a global cultural celebrity. His life and career left behind a body of work, though not vast in quantity, holds significant value, becoming the literary and cultural heritage of the nation.
Nguyễn Du's Biography:
Nguyễn Du was born in 1766 and passed away in 1820, with his courtesy name Tố Như and alias Thanh Hiên. He hailed from Tiên Điền commune, Nghi Xuân district, Hà Tĩnh province - a land long renowned for its exceptional individuals. Born into a scholarly and influential family, his father, Nguyễn Nghiễm, held the position of Tể tướng under the Lê dynasty, while his mother, Trần Thị Tần, hailed from Bắc Ninh province.
Life and Character:
His childhood was spent in a wealthy yet scholarly family, but tragedy struck early with the loss of his father at the age of 10 and his mother three years later. Nguyễn Du, along with his siblings, began to experience the turbulence of life amidst the era's upheavals. In 1783, he participated in the provincial examination and was successful, marrying Đoàn Nguyên Thục's daughter and holding a minor military position. However, the invasion of the Tây Sơn dynasty forced him to flee, returning to his wife's hometown in Quỳnh Côi district, Thái Bình province. Later, he was captured by the Tây Sơn army in Nghệ An, enduring hardship until 1802 when Nguyễn Ánh ascended the throne. He was appointed to various positions under the Nguyễn dynasty, serving as a magistrate, examiner, and envoy to China. In 1814, he was promoted to the Ministry of Rites, but before departing for China, he passed away unexpectedly in Huế. Nguyễn Du was buried in Huế before being reburied in his hometown of Hà Tĩnh. His life's trials deeply ingrained in him an empathetic understanding of human suffering, particularly that of the laboring class, which fostered great compassion within him. Living through a tumultuous period of history significantly influenced Nguyễn Du's ideology, which although complex and contradictory, always harbored lofty ideals and aspirations.
Poetic Career:
Nguyễn Du was a highly educated individual, early exposed to literature and poetry within his family and lineage, hence regarded as a scholarly poet. His compositions circulated during his lifetime, rich in both ideological and artistic value. Nguyễn Du's poetic works can be categorized into two domains: those written in classical Chinese characters and those in demotic script (Nôm). His Chinese poems consist of 249 pieces categorized into three major volumes: Thanh Hiên's poetry collection (78 pieces written before his tenure under the Nguyễn dynasty), Nam Trung miscellaneous verses (40 pieces during his official tenure), and Bắc Hành miscellaneous records (131 pieces during diplomatic missions). Nguyễn Du's Nôm poetry includes: Đoạn trường tân thanh (comprising 3254 lục bát verses), Văn chiêu hồn (Offering Ceremony for the Ten Classes of Sentient Beings - 184 double seven six-eight verses), Thác lời trai phường nón (48 lục bát verses), and Văn tế sống Trường Lưu nhị nữ (98 verses of văn tế style). Ideologically, Nguyễn Du's works tended towards realism, vividly recording historical events and human destinies in contemporary society. Alongside a pervasive humanitarian ideology, his works displayed deep empathy, reverence, and criticism. Artistically, Nguyễn Du's contributions were significant in the development of national literature and culture. His Chinese poetry was remarkably skilled, while his Nôm poetry reached a dazzling peak.
Conclusion
Nguyễn Du's life and career have become a heritage of thought and art for the Vietnamese people. He was an exceptional, distinguished poet, dedicating his entire life to the pursuit of art. Over time, the monument of the Great Poet of the Nation shines ever brighter.
