- Xuan Quynh is one of the most renowned poets from the anti-American war period. Her poetry reflects the deep emotions of a woman, combining innocence with sincerity, expressing a passionate longing for simple, everyday happiness.
- In December 1967, while at the Diem Dien beach, Xuan Quynh composed the poem 'Waves,' which was later included in her collection 'Flowers Along the Trenches.' These were the years of the national resistance against American imperialism, when young men and women were rushing to the battlefield. Understanding the context of these times helps highlight the deep yearning of a woman in love. The poem was written during a field trip to the Diem Dien beach in Thai Binh.
- Standing before the vast, endless sea with waves crashing onto the shore, the poet's mind was filled with deep thoughts and emotions, which became the inspiration for this poem.
- Before 'Waves' was born, Xuan Quynh had experienced heartbreaks in love. This poem is a representation of her poetic soul and style, and it was published in the collection 'Flowers Along the Trenches.'
- Through the image of the waves, and exploring the similarities between the waves and the poet herself, the poem expresses the intense and sincere emotions of a woman in love, steadfast and passionate, determined to overcome the challenges of time and the finite nature of life to make her love eternal. The poem reveals that love is a noble emotion and a great source of happiness for human beings. It portrays a woman’s heart, full of sincerity, concern, and an unwavering desire for everyday happiness.
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Illustrative Image2. The Boatman of the Da River
- The essay 'The Boatman of the Da River' was published in the collection 'The Da River' (1960), consisting of 15 essays and one draft poem. This work was created during the period of socialist construction in the North. It resulted from the author's field trip to the Northwest during the anti-French resistance, particularly the 1958 trip. Nguyen Tuan visited various regions, living with soldiers, workers, and local ethnic communities. The practical experience of building a new life in the highlands provided him with creative inspiration.
- In addition to the majestic and beautiful landscapes of the Northwest, Nguyen Tuan also discovered precious qualities within the human soul, which he described as 'pure gold tested by fire, the pure gold of the soul of the Northwest.'
- Through 'The Boatman of the Da River,' Nguyen Tuan proudly depicted the poetic, majestic, yet harsh nature of the country through the image of the Da River—both fierce and lyrical. At the same time, the author celebrated the artistic spirit, the courage, and the intelligence of the new workers in the socialist construction, embodied in the image of the boatman of the Da River. Thus, the writer praised the Da River, the majestic and poetic mountains of the Northwest, and the hardworking, brave, and talented people of the region.
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Illustrative Image- 'Who Named the River?' was originally titled 'Hương ơi, e phải mày chăng?' It is an essay by the writer Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Tường, written in Huế on January 4, 1981, and published in a collection of the same name in 1984. This collection was created after the reunification of the country, during the era when the spirit of heroism permeated all artistic and literary works.
- The theme of the work: Love for the homeland and the country, intertwined with the affection for nature and pride in the nation's beautiful cultural traditions.
- Main content: It explores the beauty of the Perfume River (Sông Hương) from various perspectives: geography, history, culture, and poetry... It expresses a deep love for the homeland, pride in the beauty of the river, and showcases the rich knowledge and artistic talent of the writer Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Tường.
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Illustrative Image- The short story 'A Phu and His Wife' is a masterpiece from the collection 'Tales from the Northwest' (1953). It resulted from the author's participation in the Northwest liberation campaign, during which Tô Hoài lived with the people of the Northwest for eight months in 1952. The author remarked, 'The land and people of the Northwest left me with memories I will never forget.'
- The story's background allows readers not only to gain insight into but also feel the deep sorrow of the oppressed lives of the poor ethnic minorities in the Northwest (in the story, Mị and A Phu), who lived under the feudal and colonial rule of landlords (Lí Pá Tra's family) and colonial forces. It also sheds light on their latent strength and the path they took to join the revolution.
- Theme: Through the lives of Mị and A Phu, Tô Hoài poignantly portrays the suffering of the mountain people under the rule of feudal landlords and colonizers, while also celebrating their resilience, the strength of their spirit, and their journey toward liberation and a new life.
- Artistic excellence: The story excels in its unique character portrayals and sharp, sensitive psychological analysis. The language is rich in ethnic flavor, visually descriptive, and poetic.
- With these remarkable qualities, 'A Phu and His Wife' is rightfully considered one of Vietnam's greatest short stories, earning the First Prize at the Vietnam Writers' Association Awards in 1954-1955.
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- The story 'The Picked Wife' originated from the novel 'The Immigrant Village'.
- The work was written shortly after the August Revolution but was left unfinished and the manuscript was lost.
- When peace was restored in 1984, Kim Lân revisited the old plot to create the story 'The Picked Wife'.
- The work was published in the short story collection 'The Ugly Dog'.
- The story reflects the lives of impoverished yet kind-hearted people, enduring severe hunger caused by colonial and feudal forces. They supported each other and held onto hope for a better life that the revolution promised.
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- Origin: The short story 'The Xanu Forest' was first published in the literary magazine 'The People's Army' (Central South Vietnam, Issue 2, 1965), and later included in the collection 'On the Homeland of the Heroes of Điện Ngọc'.
- Creation Context: In 1965, as the US military aggressively advanced into southern Vietnam with a campaign to wipe out the Viet Cong, they landed in Chu Lai in March 1965, marking the start of the U.S. military's escalation. Amid this tense, perilous situation, the writer Nguyễn Ngọc crafted 'The Xanu Forest' as a form of encouragement to inspire the people to rise up against foreign invaders and defend the nation’s independence and freedom. This work also affirms the bravery, resilience, and determination of the heroic people of Tây Nguyên and the entire Vietnamese nation during this critical time.
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- 'The Boat from Afar' by Nguyễn Minh Châu was written in August 1983. Initially published in the collection 'Bến quê', it was later used as the title for a short story anthology released in 1987. The year 1983 marked a significant time for Vietnam, as the war against the U.S. and its allies had ended in victory, and the country was returning to normal life. This period also signaled the start of the national renewal process, leading to new and exciting experiences that captured the imagination of artists, including Nguyễn Minh Châu.
- 'The Boat from Afar' is a notable short story from the second phase of Nguyễn Minh Châu’s writing career. During this time, the author underwent a significant shift in style: from a focus on wartime struggles to a deeper exploration of human existence, depicting individuals on a difficult quest for happiness and peace. The story embodies profound humanistic values, while also conveying essential artistic messages that reflect the author's evolving worldview.
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8. Declaration of Independence
- In August 1945, taking advantage of Japan’s surrender to the Allies, the Communist Party led the people in an uprising to seize power and reclaim independence. However, the hard-won independence was threatened by a complex political situation.
- Globally, there were tensions within the Allied powers, particularly between the UK, France, the USA, and the Soviet Union. The Communist Party of Vietnam, in its 15/8/1945 National Congress, predicted that this conflict could lead to Britain and the USA conceding to France, allowing them to re-enter Indochina. Furthermore, France used deceptive rhetoric, claiming to 'civilize' and 'protect' the colonies, as a pretext to resume their imperialist control over Vietnam.
- Domestically, 200,000 troops of Chiang Kai-shek in the North, under the pretense of disarming the Japanese military, were actually paving the way for American forces to enter Indochina. Meanwhile, in the South, French forces regrouped to reclaim control of Southern Vietnam.
- In response to this situation, on August 26, 1945, President Hồ Chí Minh returned from the Việt Bắc region to Hanoi. In House No. 48 on Hàng Ngang Street, he drafted the Declaration of Independence.
- On September 2, 1945, at Ba Đình Square, Hồ Chí Minh read the declaration, officially establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in front of tens of thousands of citizens, both from the country and abroad.
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- Quang Dũng was a multi-talented artist whose creativity left a mark in various fields including writing, poetry, and painting, with poetry being his most prominent form of expression. In the diverse world of wartime literature, Quang Dũng’s poetic voice stands out for its free-spirited, audacious style that remains deeply romantic, reflecting the refined and sophisticated soul of the young men of Hanoi. When thinking of Quang Dũng, his boldness and elegance come to mind, and 'Tây Tiến' is the quintessential embodiment of his poetic essence.
- Having been a soldier in the Tây Tiến battalion, Quang Dũng wrote 'Tây Tiến' from the perspective of a soldier, capturing his personal experiences with his comrades during their difficult yet unforgettable time in the resistance. The Tây Tiến battalion was established in 1947 with the mission of coordinating with the Laotian forces to drain enemy strength and protect the border. The core of this battalion was made up of young men and students from Hanoi, and Quang Dũng was honored to serve in its ranks as a company commander. However, by the end of 1948, he was reassigned to another unit in Phù Lưu Chanh, where, in a moment of deep emotion and nostalgia, he penned the poem 'Tây Tiến' to record the sacred memories and bonds he shared with his comrades and the rugged land of the Northwest.
- The soldiers of Tây Tiến were mainly youth from Hanoi, fighting under extremely harsh conditions, plagued by malaria, but they remained spirited with a heroic, romantic sense of duty.
- After their operations in Laos, the Tây Tiến troops returned to Hòa Bình and established Regiment 52.
- Quang Dũng served as a company commander in the Tây Tiến unit from 1947, but was reassigned in 1948. The poem 'Tây Tiến' was initially titled 'Nhớ Tây Tiến' (Remembering Tây Tiến), written during his time in Phù Lưu Chanh.
- Through the lens of the elegant and romantic youth of Hanoi, Quang Dũng brought a new, deeply emotional dimension to the portrayal of soldiers. These were soldiers with ideals, who remained optimistic in every circumstance, embodying youth, romance, and charm. Through 'Tây Tiến', readers encountered a completely new portrayal of soldiers in the resistance: they were not only patriotic individuals with a burning belief in the cause but also young men who exuded a love for life and the world.
- The title 'Tây Tiến' itself conveys a rich sense of nostalgia and longing. The poem not only reminisces about the soldiers, the land of the Northwest, and Quang Dũng's deep connection to his comrades but also captures the vibrant, idealistic spirit of the soldiers fighting during the French Resistance.
- In 'Tây Tiến', Quang Dũng masterfully conveys the brutal, fierce atmosphere of the French Resistance, but even amidst the war's hardship, the poet evokes a strong emotional response with the portrayal of the bold, romantic spirit of the Tây Tiến soldiers.
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- Inspired by an endless love for the homeland, this excerpt celebrates the proud values of our national traditions.
- This passage is from the opening section of Chapter V in the epic poem *The Road of Desire*. Written by Nguyễn Khoa Điềm in 1971 during the brutal years of the Vietnam War, while he was fighting in the Trị Thiên region. The poem’s purpose is to awaken the youth, to nurture love for the nation and people, and to instill a sense of responsibility in them, urging them to contribute to the national liberation struggle.
- Realizing the true face of the American imperialists, turning toward the people and the land, and understanding the mission of their generation, the youth in the South rose up and took to the streets in protest. The epic consists of 9 chapters, completed in 1971 in the Trị Thiên area and first published in 1947.
- In summary, this excerpt explores the poet’s vision of the nation from different perspectives, emphasizing the people's connection to the land and the influence of folklore and mythology.
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