Top 5 Best Analytical Essays on 'The Earth-Leveling Journey' (Literature 10)

Perhaps, the mysteries of nature have always been one of humanity's greatest questions since ancient times. To answer these queries, people created stories. In reading "The Earth-Leveling Journey," we see how the sky and earth were divided. In the story of "Prometheus and Mankind," we learn how the gods created all things and humanity. Unlike these two works, "The Earth-Leveling Journey" offers simple explanations of how people united to flatten the earth for farming, without the intervention of any gods. The story impresses with its unique theme and artistic form.

The theme of "The Earth-Leveling Journey" revolves around the process of land reclamation and the transformation of nature by the ancient Lô Lô people. This process required everyone's help. The ancient Lô Lô people had a simple understanding of the cosmos and were aware of their role in shaping the world around them. When the Earth was still untamed, the people worked together to cultivate and shape nature. Time was vague, and the ancient ones only knew it as:

"Long ago, from far away...

The elderly couldn't remember...

How many hundreds, thousands of years...

Long ago, from far away...

The young ones didn't know...

How many thousands, millions of years"

This vague timeframe leaves us unsure of its exact period. It was so ancient that the elderly couldn't remember, and the young ones couldn't fathom. Life back then was simple. Before leveling the earth, people lived together, shared meals, and worked as one. The Lô Lô people utilized natural conditions for farming, planting corn, and drinking water from "the belly of the stone". However, living in an untamed world with uneven terrain, the people had to urgently work together to transform the world.

To flatten the earth and the sky, the Lô Lô people knew how to harness the strength of animals around them:

"Find the ox with curved horns,

Choose the ox with long horns"

They selected strong, capable oxen to help plow the land, enduring tireless work. With their help, the Lô Lô people's task of transforming the earth was achievable. However, since the work of flattening the earth and sky was a communal effort, they sought assistance from moles, frogs, and other creatures. But when asked, these animals avoided the task. Unable to rely on them, humans pooled their strength to change nature. The story "The Earth-Leveling Journey" is not merely an explanation of the earth and sky's flatness, but also reflects the Lô Lô people's understanding of the world's creation. According to their view, to achieve the flat earth and sky we see today, they had to come together and work as one. Through this, we see how early humans had an awareness of transforming nature to serve their lives.

Not only is the theme unique, but "The Earth-Leveling Journey" also shines with artistic brilliance. The ancient Lô Lô people created this myth in poetic form with a lively, cheerful tone that engages readers.

The story also uses personification and simple, vivid language. The animals are personified with human-like actions, making the story more dynamic. The ancient Lô Lô people used accessible, simple language that allows readers of all ages to easily grasp the story.

"The Earth-Leveling Journey" is one of the most distinctive myths of the Lô Lô people. It provides an early explanation of the cosmos and the world, written in five-line verses and artistic techniques. Through this story, we are further impressed by the creativity of the ancient people in shaping their folk culture.

The human journey is long, spanning countless eras, each marked by the evolution of humanity. From the days of primitive survival to the advanced societies we see today, human imagination has played a role in recounting the story of land development through legends. "The Earth-Leveling Journey" presents simple insights into the lives of ancient people.

The story tells of the process of reclaiming land by humans at that time. People worked together, contributing their efforts to explore and settle new territories. The Lô Lô people had a simple perspective on this evolution. They believed that when the Earth was still in its primitive form, all humans needed was to unite and cultivate the land to survive. They could not pinpoint when this began, only knowing that it was "a very long time ago".

"Long ago, from very far away...

The elderly could not recall

How many hundreds, thousands of years

Long ago, from very far away...

The young ones had no knowledge

How many thousands, millions of years"

Terms like "long ago, very far away, thousands of years" conjure images of distant, foggy times. Yet, despite this, people then showed unity and camaraderie that we must admire today. They ate, lived, and worked together to improve their lives. The ancient Lô Lô people were already growing crops on high mountains and drinking water from "the belly of the stone." They did not give up on their challenging journey, transforming the uneven world into a new history.

Over time, they learned to use animals to replace human labor. This is also where the story touches upon animals such as moles and frogs that did not contribute to the world's development. These stories, however, show that the ancient people knew how to call on nature's help.

The Lô Lô people relied solely on human strength, without the aid of machines or animals, to level the earth. This demonstrates the limitless power and potential of humanity. This is one of the unique features of the story. Artistically, the tale is engaging and fresh, as the myth is told in poetry rather than prose. This adds a sense of novelty and excitement for the reader.

The Lô Lô's tone is lively, not burdened by the hardships of the work. To them, this was a victorious conquest of nature. With clever repetition, the story transports readers to that distant time, filled with extraordinary people. The personification of animals makes the story more relatable and down-to-earth. The simple yet colorful language makes the story accessible to readers of all ages.

While "Prometheus and Mankind" discusses the origin of humans, "The Earth-Leveling Journey" focuses on humanity's expansion of land to improve life. Through artistic techniques, the story vividly portrays the hardships of this endeavor. Even today, we must admire the ancient people, not only for their strength but also for their remarkable artistic culture.

Literature is one of the most refined creations of humanity, designed to enrich the spirit and soul of people. Its inherent power arises from human nature itself, as people craft literary works to fulfill practical needs, especially for education, aesthetics, and awareness. Throughout the millennia of earth’s formation, literature has always existed as one of the key tools in human life, a vital 'food' to nourish the soul. Literature and the arts offer more than just entertainment; they contain profound human values that influence various aspects of life, helping to diversify and enrich the human experience. From science, art, and history, countless creative works have explored the creation of the world, but no field has provided fully convincing hypotheses on the subject. Thus, literature has been humanity's first source of knowledge, explaining the mysteries of existence, especially through mythical tales. The story 'Saning the Earth,' an excerpt from the Lô Lô people’s myth 'Mother Earth, Mother Sky,' reflects many of these characteristics.

The mythological genre is not unfamiliar to modern readers due to the fascinating and captivating details filled with magic and mystery, offering easily digestible knowledge. These stories often feature gods performing extraordinary feats. However, in the 'Saning the Earth' excerpt, the main characters are familiar animals, not gods, and they are anthropomorphized to take on human-like roles in the transformation of the world. This distinction sets it apart from other myths. Though the story has evolved through oral traditions and may no longer retain all its original elements, it still preserves its core values and artistic lessons about life in the human world. The question of why the earth is flat remains a mystery, but the Lô Lô people's story provides an intriguing perspective. Though fictional, it invites reflection and enjoyment in the process of engaging with art. The excerpt belongs to the category of mythological stories that explain the origins of the universe and natural phenomena, created in ancient times when humans were first given life by the gods. It offers a narrative about why the earth is flat. The story carries a profound, humanistic message that remains relevant today: humanity’s relentless desire to conquer nature and the universe, alongside their monumental efforts to shape the natural world. While other myths attribute the alteration of nature and life to the extraordinary deeds of gods, in this story, it is humanity's achievement that stands out, demonstrating that humans too possess latent, extraordinary powers that can be revealed when needed.

Right from the start, much like other mythological stories, this tale introduces an undefined ancient past with the following passage:

'Once upon a time, a very long time ago,

Old people no longer remember,

How many hundreds, thousands of years ago,

Once upon a time, a very long time ago,

Young people do not know,

How many thousands, tens of thousands of years ago.'

Unlike stories like 'The God Who Holds Up the Sky,' which focus on the infinite, cosmic scale to portray time and space, 'Saning the Earth' centers on humans. 'The old people, the young people,' spanning generations, are unable to recall the exact time, emphasizing the mythological style with its undefined space and time. In that era, humans lived in harmony, and the story reflects their unity, calling them 'Earth people':

'Earth people eat together,

Walk together, live together,

Plant corn on high mountains,

Drink water from the belly of stones,

Earth people live together,

Walk together, live together.'

The daily life of the Earth people is depicted realistically, suggesting their closeness. They live together harmoniously, 'Walk together, live together,' a symbol of their unity, which helps them overcome the challenges posed by nature. They produce on high mountains and drink water from rocks, using the resources granted by the gods to survive, work, and thrive. This peaceful existence sets the foundation for future human civilizations.

However, as humans, they think and reason, always striving to improve their lives. While content with their current existence, they seek to enhance it further, wishing to perfect their world:

'The sky is not yet flat,

The earth still undulates,

We must level the sky,

We must level the earth.'

The Earth people aim to reshape their world, recognizing that the uneven sky and earth are unsuitable for their development, work, and creativity. Thus, they set out to level the land, making it easier to produce food and enjoy a more comfortable and civilized life. The vastness of the earth may seem an impossible task to level, but they are determined to undertake this monumental work, demonstrating the limitless power of humanity.

'Find a buffalo with curved horns,

Choose a buffalo with long horns,

Carve a yoke for the buffalo,

Drill holes in the yoke and thread a rope through,

Make flexible ropes for plowing,

Use long ropes for harrowing.'

Unlike gods who rely on magical powers, the Earth people use familiar tools to perform extraordinary feats. This is what makes the story unique. They select the buffalo, a symbol of labor and food production, choosing one with curved, long horns, and use the best materials to help it plow and harrow, leveling the land. The buffalo, endowed with divine strength, works tirelessly, symbolizing the admirable human qualities of diligence, persistence, and hard work. The hardworking, diligent nature of the Vietnamese people has been a cherished tradition that contributes to the beauty of their culture, with the buffalo serving as a metaphor for humanity’s strength. Humans can undertake difficult tasks without complaint, because these efforts bring joy and reward. The task of leveling the earth is not the responsibility of any one species but of all living beings on this earth:

'Leveling the land is a collective task,

People call each other to help,

Many hands with one heart,

Level the earth for prosperity,

Many hands with one purpose,

Level the earth for success.'

Unity is a core element in creating a collective force. Only through unity can individuals overcome challenges and work hard to achieve meaningful results. This message is not limited to the story, but applies to any era—unity is the key to accomplishing great and extraordinary things. Beyond just a myth, the story carries deep philosophical and valuable lessons.

Not only the buffalo but other animals are also called upon to contribute to the task of leveling the earth:

'People seek rat holes,

People seek frogs and toads.'

Every species is invited to contribute, but only the buffalo, tied to human labor, participates in the effort, while the other animals offer excuses to avoid the task. This detail conveys deep meanings. Leveling the earth is a collective effort, involving all living creatures, but those animals that do not contribute symbolize laziness, passivity, and lack of enthusiasm for hard work and unity. Such individuals do not deserve to share in the collective rewards.

The Lô Lô myth 'Saning the Earth' paints a beautiful picture of human strength and virtues in the process of reshaping nature, highlighting humanity's potential and determination to conquer the natural world. The story uses fantastical elements typical of mythological tales, captivating readers with its magic. The characters are not gods but humans and animals, anthropomorphized to work together in a shared task. Furthermore, the story employs metaphors, personification, and other artistic techniques to critique those with negative traits in society, reflecting literature's educational value in daily life. Unlike other lengthy and potentially tedious stories, 'Saning the Earth' is a concise and vivid poetic narrative that effectively conveys the underlying messages of a simple folk tale. All these artistic elements make it a remarkable and highly humanistic work.

Literature carries profound human values, born from human life, refined through a process of selection and creativity, and conveying meaningful lessons to society. Only genuine literary works possess such power, and this cycle continues until the world is cleansed, leaving only happiness. The Lô Lô story 'Saning the Earth' is not merely an entertaining myth but a work of true literary value with profound, timeless insights.