The 6 Best Lesson Plans on 'Literal Meaning and Implication (Continued)' for Grade 9

I. Conditions for Using Implication:

Question 1 - Page 90, Grade 9 Vietnamese Textbook, Volume 2: Identify the implications in the bolded sentences. Why did Chị Dậu avoid speaking directly to her child and choose to use implications instead?
Answer:

Implication: This is the last meal her child will have at home because the mother has sold her child.

* Cái Tí doesn't understand this implication.

- Implication: The mother has sold her child to the family of Mr. Nghị in Đoài Village.

* Chị Dậu doesn't speak directly to avoid the emotional pain of having to sell her own daughter.

Question 2 - Page 91, Grade 9 Vietnamese Textbook, Volume 2:

Which sentence from Chị Dậu is more direct in its implication? Why did she need to be more explicit? Which part of the excerpt shows that Cái Tí understood the implication in her mother’s words?
Answer:

The implication in the second sentence is clearer.

II. Practice Exercises:
Solve Question 1 – Practice Exercise - Page 91, Grade 9 Vietnamese Textbook, Volume 2: Who are the speaker and listener in the bolded sentences below? Identify the implication of each sentence. Do you think the listener understands the speaker’s implication? What details indicate this?
a)

- Keep talking.

- He urged.

- Report it all!

- The young man returned cheerfully.

- In five minutes it will be ten. Just twenty more minutes. Go inside, it’s steeped. The brief remaining time pushes the old artist along. He follows the young man into the house, looking around before sitting down on a chair.

(Nguyễn Thành Long, Lặng lẽ Sa Pa)

b)

- […] Anh Tấn! You are so dignified now, why bother with these broken wooden things? They are a hassle to carry. Just let us carry them for you. We, poor as we are, can still use them.

- What do you mean dignified? We just need to sell this stuff…

- Ah, now you are a man of status but claim not to be dignified? Three maids, eight people carry the sedan chair when you go, and you still say you’re not dignified? Hmph! We can’t hide anything from you! I knew I couldn’t express this, so I kept quiet and stood there, lost in thought.

- Oh, the richer you get, the less willing you are to part with a coin! The more you hold on to it, the wealthier you become!

(Lỗ Tấn, Cố hương)

c)

She quickly greeted: “Miss, you’ve come here now! Women have so many hands, many faces, and many hearts. The more wicked their beauty, the more tragic their fate.” Hoạn Thư’s soul wandered as she knelt at the throne, ready to voice her complaints.

(Nguyễn Du, Truyện Kiều)

Answer:

a. The speaker is the young man, and the listener is the artist and the girl.

- Implication: Inviting the doctor and the girl inside for tea.

- Both listeners understand the implication.

b. The speaker is Anh Tấn, and the listener is the old woman.

- Implication: We cannot give this away.

- The listener understands the implication.

c. The speaker is Thúy Kiều, and the listener is Hoạn Thư.

- Implication: Even the privileged Miss must now face this “Flower Girl.”

- Prepare for a revengeful outcome—Hoạn Thư understands the implication.

Solution to Question 2 – Practice Exercise - Page 92, Grade 9 Vietnamese Textbook, Volume 2: What is the implication in the bolded sentence below? Why couldn’t the child speak directly and had to use an implication? Was the use of the implication successful? Why or why not?

The child looked around for a moment and then shouted:

- The rice is boiling, please strain the water!

- It was indirect. I prompted:

- You should say 'Dad, please strain the water for me.'

The child seemed to ignore my advice and called out:

- The rice is boiling, it’s mushy now! Father Sáu remained silent […].
(Nguyễn Quang Sáng, Chiếc lược ngà)
Answer:

- The implication in the sentence: please strain the water to prevent the rice from becoming mushy.

- The child used an implication because their previous direct request was ignored, and they were frustrated. Additionally, the urgency of time played a role.

- The use of the implication was unsuccessful.

Question 3 – Practice Exercise - Page 92, Grade 9 Vietnamese Textbook, Volume 2: Complete the dialogue with a sentence from Speaker B that implies refusal:

A: Come back to my hometown tomorrow!

B: /…/

A: I guess so.
Answer:

Possible response: I can’t, I have to study for exams or visit a sick person.

Question 4 – Practice Exercise - Page 92, Grade 9 Vietnamese Textbook, Volume 2: Find Lỗ Tấn’s implication in the following comparison of “hope” to “a road” in these sentences:

I thought to myself: If something is called hope, you can’t distinguish what’s real from what’s not. It’s just like the roads on the ground; in fact, there are no roads on the surface. People keep walking, and the road eventually forms.

(Lỗ Tấn, Cố hương)
Answer:

Implication: Although hope can’t be seen as real or false, if you keep trying to achieve it, it can become a reality.

Question 5 – Practice Exercise - Page 93, Grade 9 Vietnamese Textbook, Volume 2: Identify the sentences with invitations or refusals in the dialogue between the child and the people in the clouds and waves (from the poem 'Clouds and Waves' by Tagore). Add a clearer invitation to each sentence.

Answer:

Sentences with invitations or refusals in the dialogue between the child and the people in the clouds and waves:

* Sentence with invitation:

- We’ve been playing since...

- We play with...

- We sing...

- We travel...

* You can add a more direct invitation to these sentences, for example: “Would you like to play with us?”

* Sentence with refusal:

- My mother is waiting at home.

- In the afternoon, my mother always wants me to stay at home, so how could I leave her to go with you?

Basic Knowledge

In order to use implication, two conditions must be met:

- The speaker (or writer) must consciously embed the implication in their words.

- The listener (or reader) must possess the ability to interpret the implication.

For reference, please review the previous lesson from the guidebook "Nghĩa tường minh và hàm ý" published by Học Tốt.

Guide for the next lesson: "Nghĩa tường minh và hàm ý (continued)"

Suggested answers to the questions in the textbook:

Conditions for using implication

Read the excerpt (Page 90 of the textbook) and answer the questions:

1. What is the implication in the bolded sentences? Why doesn't Chị Dậu speak directly to her child, but instead uses implication?

2. Which sentence of Chị Dậu's carries a clearer implication? Why does she need to clarify it? Which details in the passage show that Cái Tí understood the implication of his mother's words?

Answer:

1.

- The sentence "You’ll have your last meal at home today" implies "Mother has sold you".

- The sentence "You’ll stay at Mr. Nghị's house in Đoài village" implies "Mother has sold you to Mr. Nghị's family".

Chị Dậu doesn't speak directly to her child to avoid causing pain for both of them.

2.

The second sentence of Chị Dậu has the implication: "Mother has sold you to Mr. Nghị's family". This implication is clearer, and Cái Tí shows he understands it. He jumps up and cries out, "Mother, did you really sell me?"

Practice

Question 1 - Page 91 of the textbook

Who are the speaker and the listener in the following bolded sentences? Identify the implication of each sentence. Do you think the listener understands the implication? What details show this understanding?

a) – Keep going. – The old man urged.

- The report is finished! – The young man quickly responds with a cheerful voice. – Ten more minutes to go. Just twenty minutes left. Please come inside, the tea has steeped.

In the short time remaining, the young man urges the old artist to come inside. The artist follows him into the house, scanning the room before sitting down in a chair.

(Nguyễn Thành Long, Lặng lẽ Sa Pa)

b) – […] Now, Anh Tấn! You're all fancy now, why would you need these old, worn-out wooden things? It’s troublesome to transport them. Just let us carry them for you. We poor folks can make do with them.

- What’s so fancy about that! We need to sell these things...

- Oh, now you're a government official and say you're not fancy? With your three maids. Every time you go out, you have eight men carrying your sedan chair, and you still claim it’s not fancy? Huh! Nothing can hide from us!

I knew I couldn’t say anything, so I kept silent and stood deep in thought.

- Oh, really! The richer you get, the less willing you are to part with even a single coin! The more you cling to it, the wealthier you get!

(Lỗ Tấn, Cố hương)

c)

At a glance, she greeted him with:

"The young lady is already here!"

Women like her have a limited number of hands,

In the past, there were only so many faces; in this life, there are so few with guts!

Being easy-going is the nature of a beauty,

The more malicious one is, the more unjust it becomes.

Hoạn Thư, her spirit lost,

Bowed low under the command, silently contemplating the complaint.

(Nguyễn Du, Truyện Kiều)

Answer:

a) The speaker is the young man, and the listeners are the artist and the girl.

b) The implication in "The tea has steeped" is "Please come inside and drink tea." The listeners understand the implication, as shown by the artist following the young man inside and sitting down.

c) The speaker is Thúy Kiều, and the listener is Hoạn Thư.

- The implication in the line "The young lady is already here!" is sarcastic and mocking.

- The implication in "The more malicious one is, the more unjust it becomes" is a preparation for receiving retribution.

- Hoạn Thư understands the implication, as shown by her "spirit lost" and her actions of "bowing low under the command".

Question 2 - Page 92 of the textbook

What is the implication in the bolded sentence below? Why does the child not speak directly and instead use implication? Was the implication successful? Why?

The child looks around for a moment and then shouts:

- The rice is boiling, please help drain the water!

– The child repeats this, without directly asking.

I stepped in to explain:

- You should say "Please help drain the water, Father" instead of just saying it like that.

It seemed the child didn't pay attention to what I said, and again shouted:

- The rice is boiling, it will turn mushy!

Uncle Sáu still sat there...

(Nguyễn Quang Sáng, Chiếc lược ngà)

Answer:

The implication in the sentence "The rice is boiling, it will turn mushy" is "Please drain the water so the rice doesn't get mushy." The child uses implication because their previous direct approach was unsuccessful. The urgency is heightened as the rice will become mushy if left unattended.

- The use of implication was unsuccessful because Uncle Sáu remained still and didn't react, showing he wasn't cooperating.

Question 3 - Page 92 of the textbook

Complete B's line in the following dialogue with a sentence that implies refusal.

A: Why don't you come with me to my hometown tomorrow?

B: /.../

A: I guess that’s alright.

Answer:

Suggested response: You can mention something they have to do tomorrow that prevents them from going, such as: "I have extra math classes tomorrow," or "I need to visit someone who's sick"...

Remember, the response should include a refusal, not vague statements like "I'll see" or "Maybe later".

Sample answer:

A: Why don't you come with me to my hometown tomorrow?

B: Oh, I have extra math lessons tomorrow. Plus, I don't think my mother would let me take the day off.

A: I guess that’s alright.

Question 4 - Page 92 of the textbook

Identify the implication in Lỗ Tấn's comparison of "hope" and "a road" in the following passage:

I thought to myself: "Hope cannot be defined as either true or false. It's like the roads on the earth; in fact, there are no roads on the earth. Only after people walk repeatedly does a path emerge."

(Lỗ Tấn, Cố hương)

Answer:

Lỗ Tấn writes: "Hope cannot be defined as either true or false. It's like the roads on the earth; in fact, there are no roads on the earth. Only after people walk repeatedly does a path emerge."

The implication of the author is: "To create a road, one must keep walking down the same path. Similarly, if we have hope, we must continue to pursue it, and the impossible will turn into reality, the unreal will become real."

Question 5 - Page 93 of the textbook

Find sentences with implicit invitations or refusals in the dialogues between the child and the beings from the clouds and waves in the poem "Mây và sóng" by Tagore. Add a more explicit invitation to each sentence.

Answer:

- Sentences with implicit invitations:

• "We’ve been playing since dawn until dusk"

• "We play with the golden sunrise, we play with the silver moon".

• "We sing from morning till evening".

• "We travel from place to place, not knowing where we've been"

• A clearer invitation could be added to each, such as: "Would you like to join us?"

I - ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE TO UNDERSTAND

The listener doesn't always recognize implicit meaning; sometimes, the speaker may not even intend to convey any, yet the listener might infer it. Thus, to use implicit meaning, two conditions must be met:

- The speaker must consciously embed the implicit meaning in their words.

- The listener must have the ability to decipher the implicit meaning.

II - GUIDANCE FOR UNDERSTANDING THE LESSON

Part 1. Conditions for Using Implicit Meaning

Question 1

- The sentence "You can only eat at home this one more time," from Mrs. Dậu implies "I have sold you. After this, you will not be able to stay at home anymore".

- The sentence "You will eat at Mr. Nghị's house in Thôn Đoài." implies "I have sold you to Mr. Nghị's family".

Mrs. Dậu didn't speak directly to avoid causing pain.

Question 2

The implicit meaning in the second sentence is clearer. Mrs. Dậu had to say it that way because the child didn't understand the first sentence. By then, the child understood and reacted by "wriggling and crying".

.

Part 2. Practice

Exercise 1

a) The sentence "The tea is brewed." is said by the young man to the old painter and the girl. The implicit meaning is: "Please come in for tea".

b) The sentence "We need to sell these items to..." is said by the character Tân to the bean seller. The implicit meaning is: "We cannot give them away." The bean seller understands this and responds with: "The richer you are, the more reluctant you are to part with even a single coin!"

c) The verse in quotation marks is spoken by Thúy Kiều to Hoạn Thư. The line "You, young lady, are here now!" is a greeting but also has the implicit meaning of sarcasm: How can a powerful, cunning lady like you be summoned to court? This reflects Thúy Kiều's sharpness, as it is indeed a case of "the old thief meets the old woman!" The line "The more bitter the situation, the more severe the retribution" implies that Hoạn Thư should prepare for harsh punishment. Hoạn Thư understands the implicit meaning, as shown by her "lost soul and bewildered spirit - bowing before the official, awaiting her fate."

Exercise 2

The sentence "The rice is boiling, it will become mushy soon!", the child wants to ask their father for help but does not directly say "Father" (the earlier direct request was also ineffective). Additionally, the urgency of time (the risk of the rice becoming mushy) plays a role. The child's attempt at using implicit meaning fails because, even though he understands, Mr. Sáu pretends to sit still (not cooperating).

Exercise 3

Person A makes an invitation, and Person B responds if possible, without obligation; if necessary, the refusal should be polite, with an acceptable reason to avoid upsetting the other person. For example: "I promised to help my mother with the shopping" or "Sorry, I already have plans to visit my father's hometown"...

Exercise 4

The concept of "hope" is compared to "a road." Hope is something that doesn't exist yet but could be realized with determination. It is like the roads on the earth, which don't exist initially but "become roads once people walk them repeatedly."

Exercise 5

There are sentences with implicit invitations or rejections in the conversation between the child and those on the clouds and waves (from the poem Mây và sóng):

Sentences with implicit invitations:

- "We play... with the silver moon".

- "We sing... not knowing where we've been".

You can continue these sentences with a clearer invitation, such as: "Would you like to join us?"

Sentences with implicit rejections:

- "My mother is waiting at home".

- "In the afternoon, my mother always wants me to stay home..."

I. Conditions for Using Implications

1. The bolded phrase "you can only eat here today" implies that the child will not be allowed to eat at home after this day.

- "You will eat at Mr. Nghị's house in Thôn Đoài" implies that the mother has sold her child to Mr. Nghị's family.

As she had to part with her own child, chị Dậu could not speak directly about it. Instead, she used implication to hide and avoid the painful truth.

2. The implication in the second sentence is weaker, meaning it is easier for the listener to understand. Tí could grasp the implication in his mother's words when she "tossed the potato into the basket and cried" and asked, "Mother, did you really sell me?"

Exercises

Exercise 1 (p.91, Grade 9 Literature Book 2)

a. "The tea is ready now": The speaker is the young man, the listener is the painter and his daughter. The implication is an invitation for them to drink tea.

b. "We need to sell these things...": The speaker is Mr. Tấn, and the listener is the bean seller. The implication is that they cannot give these things away.

c. Both of Thúy Kiều's statements contain implications for Hoạn Thư:

- "Is the lady also here now!" The implication is mocking, as someone of high status like the lady shouldn't be in such a place.

- "The more cruel, the more unjust": This is a warning about the fitting punishment for someone as cruel as Hoạn Thư.

The speaker and the listener both understand the implication in these statements, as shown by the following details:

a. He followed the young man inside and looked around before sitting down.

b. "Oh! The richer you are, the more reluctant you are to part with a penny! The richer you are, the more stingy you become!"

c. Hoạn Thư’s soul was disturbed, her head bowed in submission.

Question 2 (p.92, Grade 9 Literature Book 2)

The phrase "The rice is boiling, it’ll become mushy now!" implies the need to pour out some water to prevent the rice from becoming too soft.

Little Thu's words imply that she refuses to call Mr. Sáu 'father', and her stubbornness is evident.

In this case, using implication was not effective as the listener refused to cooperate, pretending not to hear.

Question 3 (p.92, Grade 9 Literature Book 2)

Some implied statements include:

- "What a pity, I have an end-of-term exam tomorrow."

- "I’ll visit my sick friend tomorrow, so I’ll see you some other time."

Question 4 (p.92, Grade 9 Literature Book 2)

Through the comparison by Lu Xun, the implication is: While the hope is uncertain, with effort, it can be achieved.

Question 5 (p.92, Grade 9 Literature Book 2)

a. Sentences implying invitations:

+ "We play from dawn until dusk. We play with the golden sunrise, we play with the silver moon."

+ "We sing from morning till evening. We play with the golden sunrise, we play with the silver moon."

Sentences implying refusal:

+ "My mother is waiting for me at home."

+ "In the afternoon, my mother always wants me to stay at home, how could I leave her?"

b. Additional sentences with clearer invitations could be written:

+ "Would anyone like to play with us?"

+ "Playing with us is so much fun!"

Part I: CONDITIONS FOR USING IMPLICATION

Read the excerpt provided (page 90 of Literature 9, Volume 2) and answer the following questions.

Chị Dậu spoke while tearing up:

- I won’t eat, leave this for you. You can only eat here this one last time. I don’t want to eat your portion. You should eat well, don’t hold back for me.

Cái Tí didn’t fully understand her words, his face turned pale as he nervously asked:

- So where will I eat next time?

After another sob, chị Dậu looked at her son with a deep sorrow:

- You will eat at the house of cụ Nghị in thôn Đoài.

Hearing this, Cái Tí jumped up, like lightning struck his ears. He threw a potato into the basket and burst into tears:

- Did you really sell me, mother? Please, I beg you, I’m still small, don’t sell me, it’s too cruel. Let me stay at home with my younger sibling.

(Ngô Tất Tố, Tắt đèn)

1. What is the implication in the bolded sentences? Why did chị Dậu not say it directly but used implication instead?

2. Which of chị Dậu’s sentences carries a clearer implication? Why did she need to be more direct with that? What detail in the passage shows that Cái Tí understood his mother’s implication?

Answer:

1. The first sentence by chị Dậu implies: “After this meal, you will no longer stay at home with your parents and siblings. Mother has sold you.” chị Dậu avoids stating this directly because it is too painful to say outright.

2. The second sentence implies: “Mother has sold you to the house of cụ Nghị in thôn Đoài.” This implication is clearer. Cái Tí didn’t understand the first implication but understood the second. His outburst and the phrase he cried out, “Did you really sell me, mother?” show that he understood what his mother meant.

Part II: PRACTICE

Question 1 (page 91 Literature 9, Volume 2):

Who is speaking and listening in the bolded sentences below? What is the implication in each sentence? Do you think the listener understands the speaker’s implication? What details demonstrate that?

a) – Keep talking. – The old man urged.

- That’s it! – The young man replied cheerfully. – It’s five minutes until ten. Just twenty minutes more. Please, both of you, come inside. The tea is ready now.

The little remaining time pushes even the old artist to hurry. He followed the young man into the house and quickly glanced around before sitting down.

(Nguyễn Thành Long, Lặng lẽ Sa Pa)

b) – […] Anh Tấn! You’re so high-class now, why would you need these broken things? Too cumbersome to carry. Let us take them for you.

- It’s nothing high-class! We really need to sell these things to…

- Oh! So now you’re a high official, but you still claim you’re not high-class? With three maids, you always ride in a large sedan carried by eight men, yet you say you’re not high-class? Hah! You can’t hide anything from us!

Realizing he couldn’t respond, I silently stood there, lost in thought.

- Oh dear! The richer you are, the less you want to part with a single coin! The less you let go of money, the richer you get!

(Lỗ Tấn, Cố hương)

c)

Suddenly, she greeted:

“So the young lady has now come here!

So rare, those who have multiple arms,

How many faces of the past, how many guts of the present!

It’s so easy to be a beauty,

The more cruel, the more wronged.”

Hoạn Thư was lost in thought,

She bowed her head, trembling, wondering what complaints she should voice.

(Nguyễn Du, Truyện Kiều)

Answer:

a) The speaker is the young man, and the listener is the artist and the young woman.

- The implication in the bolded sentence is: “Please come in and have some tea.”

- Both listeners understand the implication, as demonstrated by the details: “The old man followed the young man into the house” and “sat down on a chair.”

b) The speaker is Anh Tấn, and the listener is the shopkeeper’s wife.

- The implication is: “We can’t give this away.”

- The listener understood the implication, as shown by the final remark: “The richer you get, the less you want to part with a single coin! The more you hold on to money, the richer you get!”

c) The speaker is Thúy Kiều, and the listener is Hoạn Thư.

- The implication in the first bolded sentence is a mocking greeting.

- The implication in the second sentence is: “Prepare to receive appropriate retribution for your cruel actions.”

- Hoạn Thư understands the implication, as shown by the detail: “lost in thought, trembling, she bowed her head, wondering how to complain.”

Question 2 (page 92 Literature 9, Volume 2):

What is the implication of the bolded sentence below? Why can’t the child say it directly but instead uses implication? Was the use of implication successful? Why?

She looked around for a moment before shouting:

- The rice is boiling, please drain the water! – She blurted out.

I spoke up to guide her:

- You should say “Dad, please drain the water for me,” you need to say it like that.

She seemed not to listen to my suggestion, and yelled again:

- The rice is boiling, it’s going to get mushy now!

Uncle Sáu remained still […]

(Nguyễn Quang Sáng, Chiếc lược ngà)

Answer:

- The implication in the bolded sentence is: “Please drain the water so the rice doesn’t become mushy.” Bé Thu used implication because she had tried saying it directly before with no result, and now she was frustrated. Moreover, the second time was more urgent, as the rice was in danger of getting too mushy if left for too long.

- The use of implication was unsuccessful because “Uncle Sáu remained still,” indicating he did not cooperate (pretending not to hear or understand).

Question 3 (page 92 Literature 9, Volume 2):

Fill in B’s line in the following dialogue with a sentence that implies a refusal.

A: Will you go back to the countryside with me tomorrow?

B: /.../

A: Well, then.

Answer:

- You can refer to something else you will be doing tomorrow (so you can’t go), for example: “I have to study for my exam,” “I have to visit a sick friend”...

- Be sure to use a sentence that implies “refusal,” as requested by the task, and avoid vague responses like “Let me check first,” or “Maybe tomorrow!”

Question 4 (page 92 Literature 9, Volume 2):

Find the implication in Lỗ Tấn’s comparison of “hope” and “road” in the following sentences:

I thought to myself: Hope is like a road, it cannot be determined whether it’s real or false. Just like the roads on the ground; in reality, there are no roads. People walk so much that they create a path.

(Lỗ Tấn, Cố hương)

Answer:

Through Lỗ Tấn’s comparison, we can infer that hope is not clearly defined as either true or false, but if we make an effort, we can achieve it.

Question 5 (page 92 Literature 9, Volume 2):

Find sentences with implied invitations or refusals in the dialogues between the child and the characters on the clouds and waves (in the poem 'Clouds and Waves' by Tagore). Add a clearer implied invitation sentence to each dialogue.

Answer:

- The sentences with implied invitations are the ones starting with “We play...”.

- The sentences with implied refusals are “My mother is waiting at home” and “How could I leave my mother and go?”

- You could add a clearer invitation: “Would you like to play with us?”

- You could add a clearer refusal: “I must return to my beloved mother’s side.”

A. Key Knowledge

I- Conditions for Understanding Implication

Read the following excerpt and answer the questions:

Chị Dậu spoke while sobbing:
- No, I won't eat; save some for my child. This will be the last meal at home for my child. I don't want to take from them. They can eat their fill, no need to save any for me.
Cái Tí did not fully grasp his mother’s words, his face turned pale and he anxiously asked:
- So, where will I eat next time?
With another sob, Chị Dậu looked at him with a painful expression and replied:
- You will eat at the house of Mr. Nghị in the Đoài village.
Cái Tí, shocked by the revelation, threw his sweet potato into the basket and cried out:
- Mother, are you really selling me? Please, Mother, I beg you, I am still so small. Don’t sell me, please. Let me stay home and play with my younger sibling.
(Ngô Tất Tố, Tắt đèn)
a) What is the implication of the bolded sentences? Why did Chị Dậu use implication instead of stating things directly?
b) Which sentence by Chị Dậu carries a clearer implication? Why did she feel the need to clarify it further? Which part of the text shows that Cái Tí understood his mother’s implication?
Answer:
a) The implication of the bolded sentences:
"You can only eat at home this one last time": After this meal, Mother will sell you, so you will no longer eat at home.
"You will eat at Mr. Nghị’s house in the Đoài village": Mother has sold you to Mr. Nghị’s family.
Chị Dậu could not directly tell her child the painful truth of selling him, as it would break her heart. Therefore, she had to use implication to shield herself from this sorrow.
b) The implication in the sentence: "You will eat at Mr. Nghị’s house in the Đoài village" is clearer because Cái Tí did not understand the first implication. His frantic reaction and the question, “Mother, are you really selling me?” show that he understood his mother’s intent.

B. Exercises and Solutions

Question 1: page 91, 9th-grade Literature, volume 2

Who are the speaker and listener in the bolded sentences? Identify the implication of each sentence. Do you think the listener understands the speaker’s implication? What details suggest this?

a) - Keep talking - Mr. said impatiently.
- All finished! - The young man quickly responded with a cheerful tone - Five more minutes, then it’s ten. Only twenty more minutes. Please, go inside, the tea is ready.
With the short remaining time, the old artist was urged. He followed the young man into the house and glanced around before sitting down.
(Nguyễn Thành Long, Lặng lẽ Sa Pa)
b) - [...] Mr. Tấn! You’re so fancy now, no need for these old wooden things. It’s troublesome to carry them back and forth. Let us move them for you. We can use them at our poor home.
- What do you mean fancy! We just need to sell these things because...
- Oh! You’ve become a high-ranking official, and you’re still pretending not to be fancy? With your servants! Every time you go somewhere, eight men carry your palanquin, and you say you're not fancy? Nothing escapes us!
Unable to say more, I kept silent and pondered.
- Oh, look! The richer you get, the less you want to part with a single penny! The less you part with your money, the richer you get!
(Lỗ Tấn, Cố hương)
c)
She quickly greeted,
"So, Miss, you came here now!
Women are so easy to deal with,
In the past, and now it’s no different!
Easy are the ways of beauty,
The more cruel, the more unjust."
Hoạn Thư was lost in thought,
Bowing her head under the command, yet voicing complaints.
(Nguyễn Du, Truyện Kiều)

Solution:

a)
"The tea is ready": The speaker is the young man, and the listener is the old artist and the girl.
The implication is: Please come inside and have tea.
The following details show the listener understood the implication: The old artist followed the young man into the house and looked around before sitting down.
b)
"We need to sell these things": The speaker is Mr. Tấn, and the listener is the shopkeeper.
The implication is: We cannot just give these away.
The following details show the listener understood the implication: Oh, look! The richer you get, the less you want to part with a single penny! The less you part with your money, the richer you get!
c) In both cases, the speaker is Thúy Kiều, and the listener is Hoạn Thư.
"So, Miss, you came here now!": This is sarcastic, mocking Hoạn Thư for her presence.
"The more cruel, the more unjust": This implies that Hoạn Thư will face the consequences of her cruelty.
The following details show the listener understood: Hoạn Thư was lost in thought, bowing her head under command but still complaining.

Question 2: page 92, 9th-grade Literature, volume 2
What is the implication in the bolded sentence below? Why didn’t the child speak directly but instead use implication? Was the use of implication effective? Why?

The child looked around and then shouted:
- The rice is boiling, please pour off the water! The child said this in a tone of urgency.
I suggested:
- You should say, "Dad, pour off the water for me." Say it that way.
The child ignored my advice and again shouted:
- The rice is boiling and getting mushy now!
Mr. Sáu remained silent (...)
Nguyễn Quang Sáng, Chiếc lược ngà
Solution:
The implication in the sentence "The rice is boiling and getting mushy now!" is: Please pour off the water so the rice doesn’t get mushy.
The child used implication because the direct request was not effective earlier. This time, the child added urgency: “getting mushy now!”
However, the use of implication was not effective, as the listener did not respond and ignored the request, pretending not to hear it because it wasn’t addressed to him directly.

Question 3: page 92, 9th-grade Literature, volume 2
Fill in B’s reply with an implied rejection:

A: Come back to the countryside with me tomorrow!
B: /…/
A: Never mind.

Solution:
A: Come back to the countryside with me tomorrow!
B: Sorry, I have class tomorrow.
A: Never mind.

Question 4: page 92, 9th-grade Literature, volume 2
What implications can be found in Lỗ Tấn’s comparison of "hope" with roads in the following sentences:
I thought to myself: Hope cannot be clearly defined as either real or false. It’s like the paths on the ground; in fact, there are no real paths on the ground. People walk so much that a path is created.
(Lỗ Tấn, Cố hương)
Solution:
This comparison implies that while hope cannot always be distinguished as true or false, if one is determined enough, the goal will eventually be reached.

Question 5: page 93, 9th-grade Literature, volume 2
Identify the invitations or rejections in the dialogue between the child and others in the poem "Clouds and Waves" by Tagore. Add a clearer invitation sentence after each excerpt.

Solution:
Sentences with invitation implied:
"We play from dawn till dusk. We play with the golden sunrise, we play with the silver moon."
"We sing from morning till evening. We roam around without knowing where we have been."
Sentences with rejection implied:
"My mother is waiting at home."
"In the evening, my mother always wants me to stay home, how can I leave her?"
Here’s an additional clearer invitation:
Would anyone like to join us in playing? It’s so much fun!