Top 5 Best Comparison Argumentation Practice Exercises (Literature 11)

Practice (pages 116-117, Literature 11 Textbook, Volume 1):

Exercise 1

- The feelings of two authors, Ha Tri Chuong and Che Lan Vien, when returning to their hometowns in their poems:

- Similarities:

+ Circumstances: Leaving as a child, returning in old age, both feeling like strangers in their hometown.

+ Emotions: Astonishment at the changes, feelings of nostalgia and longing.

Exercise 2

- The method of comparison argumentation is used: Learning is like planting a tree:

+ Spring and autumn represent different stages: initially, the harvest is small, but later it grows larger.

+ Learning is hard at first, but over time, understanding increases, leading to personal growth and knowledge.

=> Planting trees increases economic income. Learning fosters intellectual growth.

Exercise 3:

- Similarities: Both are seven-character eight-line poems, following the rules of rhyme and strict parallelism.

- Differences:

+ Ho Xuan Huong's poems use simple, everyday language like: rooster crow, on the bomb, thatched roof, and even rare words like: why is it twisted? old-fashioned; sharp-nosed... A line even uses many Sino-Vietnamese words: "The talented scholar, who is that?"

+ Ba Huyen Thanh Quan's poems use more formal Sino-Vietnamese words like: twilight; young shepherd; lonely village, and literary references such as: thousand roses; distant journey; and historical allusions like Chương Đài.

=> Poetic style:

- Ho Xuan Huong's style is close, simple, with a tinge of melancholy, yet playful.

- Ba Huyen Thanh Quan's style is more formal and serious.

Exercise 4

- Students select some proverbs, sayings, or famous quotes with a comparison element:

+ Silence is golden (emphasizing the importance of listening in life).

+ Forests are gold, seas are silver (highlighting the importance of forests and seas in human life...)

Question 1 (page 116, Literature 11, Volume 1)

The emotional state of the poetic speaker when returning to their hometown in both poems:

When young, and when old

The familiar tone of the homeland remains, yet hair has turned gray

Children stare, not greeting

Asking: Where do you come from?

(Ha Tri Chuong - Written by chance during a return trip, translated by Pham Si Vi)

Returning to An Nhon, now much older,

Old friends from childhood are no longer around

The house now replaced by a new office

Can one really return and still recognize anyone?

(Che Lan Vien - Returning to An Nhon)

Detailed solution:

- Similarities: Both left their homeland as young individuals and returned in their later years. Upon their return, they find themselves strangers in the land of their birth.

+ Ha Tri Chuong writes: Asking: Where do you come from? This is because no one recognizes him as a fellow countryman anymore.

+ Che Lan Vien writes: Can one really return and still ask for someone? The homeland has changed so much after the war, with no trace of the old places or people.

=> The shared emotion: A feeling of melancholy, nostalgia, and quiet sadness.

Question 2 (page 116, Literature 11, Volume 1)

Learning is just as beneficial as planting a tree: Spring brings flowers, and Autumn yields fruit.

Detailed solution:

- Learning is as useful as planting a tree: Spring brings flowers, and Autumn bears fruit.

+ Here, the seasons are used metaphorically. Spring and Autumn represent different stages: first comes the blooming of flowers, and with time, the fruit is harvested.

+ Learning is the same. Over time, as one accumulates knowledge, they will progress and ultimately succeed. This comparison encourages patience in the journey of education.

Question 3 (page 116, Literature 11, Volume 1)

Compare the poetic language of Ho Xuan Huong and Ba Huyen Thanh Quan through the two poems “Self-Reflection (Poem 1)” and “Evening Thoughts of Home.”

Detailed solution:

a. Similarities

Both poems share similarities: They are written in the seven-character quatrain form, with tightly rhymed verses and a strict adherence to parallelism (verses 3-4 and 5-6).

b. Differences

However, there are significant differences in word choice:

+ Ho Xuan Huong’s poem uses many everyday expressions (such as “distant rooster crowing,” “mournful bell,” “lamenting sounds,” “throughout the neighborhood,”) and even some unusual words (e.g. “why is it left, fate’s mockery?”). The poem also features one line with Chinese-Vietnamese words: “Talent is returning, who is that?”

+ Meanwhile, Ba Huyen Thanh Quan’s poem makes extensive use of Chinese-Vietnamese terms: “twilight,” “fishing man,” “distant city,” “shepherd,” “lonely village,” “traveler,” “cold warmth,” etc. The language is more formal and often relies on conventional poetic terms such as “endless horizon” and “willow path.”

c. The differences mentioned above create distinct styles:

+ Ho Xuan Huong’s poem has a style closer to the common folk, full of poignancy, yet playful in parts.

+ Ba Huyen Thanh Quan’s poem reflects a more refined, elegant style, characteristic of the elite scholars of her time.

=> Each poem is unique and beautiful in its own way.

Question 4 (page 117, Literature 11, Volume 1)

Choose a topic and write a paragraph comparing.

Detailed solution:

“A greeting is more valuable than a banquet” implies that a simple greeting is essential and more meaningful than a lavish feast. It speaks to the importance of etiquette and human connections over material wealth. A feast, no matter how grand, shows the host’s ability to provide, but a sincere greeting, full of warmth, showcases one’s character, education, and cultural values. The feast signifies material abundance, while the greeting embodies the warmth between people. A greeting is a means of expressing affection and reflecting the society’s values.

Question 1 (page 116, Literature 11, Volume 1)

Similarities: Both authors left their hometowns as children and returned in their old age.

+ When young, and when old (Ha Tri Chuong)

+ Returning to An Nhon, now much older (Che Lan Vien)

- Upon their return, they both become strangers in their own homeland:

+ The pain and sorrow of not being recognized as a fellow countryman (Asking: Where do you come from? – Ha Tri Chuong)

+ The homeland has changed after the war, and time has erased the old people and places (Che Lan Vien)

- Both authors share a common emotional bond, deeply expressing their love for their homeland, despite being separated by a thousand years.

Question 2 (page 116, Literature 11, Volume 1)

Learning is as beneficial as planting a tree: Spring brings flowers, and Autumn yields fruit.

+ Spring and Autumn are metaphorical images.

+ These seasons represent different stages: first, the flowers bloom, and later, sweet fruit is harvested.

+ Similarly, with learning: accumulating knowledge consistently leads to success (a comparison that serves as motivation).

Question 3 (page 116, Literature 11, Volume 1)

The poetic language of Ho Xuan Huong and Ba Huyen Thanh Quan

- Similarities: Both poems are written in the seven-character quatrain form, following strict classical rules.

- Differences:

+ Ho Xuan Huong’s poem uses common, everyday language (e.g., “rooster sounds,” “mournful bell,” “lamenting sounds,” “throughout the neighborhood…”)

+ She also uses unusual phrases: “why is it left, fate’s mockery?”

+ In contrast, Ba Huyen Thanh Quan’s poem is more formal, using many Chinese-Vietnamese words (e.g., “twilight,” “fishing man from afar,” “shepherd from a distant village…”)

+ Her language relies on conventional poetic imagery and symbolism.

⇒ Ho Xuan Huong’s poetry feels closer to the common people, playful and sometimes rebellious. Ba Huyen Thanh Quan’s work reflects a more formal, refined style.

Question 4 (page 117, Literature 11, Volume 1)

Proverb: “One face of a person equals ten faces of wealth.”

- People are the most valuable asset in life, as our ancestors reminded us to value humans more than material wealth.

- By using a contrasting comparison, the proverb emphasizes the value and importance of people (one = ten).

- Money and wealth can be acquired, but a person cannot be replaced.

- This proverb also criticizes those who prioritize material wealth over human values.

Question 1 (page 116, Literature 11, Volume 1):

Both poets describe the experience of returning to their hometowns after years of absence, revealing the following:

- A sense of shock and amazement as everything has changed, and the old familiar places and faces are no longer there.

- The sadness brought on by the passage of time, the distance from their homeland, despite the deep affection they still have for it.

Question 2 (page 116, Literature 11, Volume 1):

+ Spring and Autumn: Represent different phases, illustrating the continuous flow of time.

+ Flowers and fruit: Represent the growing success that gradually ripens over time.

⇒ Learning and planting both require time, persistence, and patience. The more enduring and persistent one is, the greater the reward will be over time.

Question 3 (page 116, Literature 11, Volume 1):

+ Ho Xuan Huong’s poetic language: Sharp, intense, bold, and full of personality.

- Uses simple, everyday words that evoke vivid expressions.

- Frequently employs onomatopoeic words to create a sensory experience.

- Uses challenging rhymes, like “om,” which is difficult to rhyme with.

+ Ba Huyen Thanh Quan’s poetic language: Formal, elegant, and classical.

- Makes extensive use of Chinese-Vietnamese vocabulary, giving the poem a refined tone.

- Uses symbolic and metaphorical imagery to convey deeper meanings.

Question 4 (page 117, Literature 11, Volume 1):

+ Alexander Hamilton: “Whenever books are burned, mankind is also burned.”

+ Comparison: Books represent all of humanity.

- Books encapsulate and condense human life from various perspectives, both spatially and temporally.

- Books provide immense knowledge to humanity, helping people live meaningful and informed lives.

- Without books, humans would be lost, unable to understand who they are, where they come from, or where they are going.

Question 1 (page 116, Literature 11, Volume 1):

The emotional state of the lyrical characters in the two poems "Accidentally Written on a New Return to the Hometown" (Ha Tri Chuong) and "Returning to An Nhon" (Che Lan Vien):

- Common ground: Both poets left their hometowns as young people and returned in their old age.

- Upon their return, both poets found themselves as "strangers" in their birthplace.

+ Ha Tri Chuong writes: "I ask, where are the guests coming from? For no one recognizes me anymore."

+ Che Lan Vien writes: "Can it be that I visit my homeland and ask for people? For the place has changed so much after the war, the old scenes and people are gone."

Question 2 (page 116, Literature 11, Volume 1):

Learning is as beneficial as planting a tree, where Spring brings flowers, and Autumn yields fruit. In this sentence, Spring and Autumn are metaphors. Spring and Autumn represent different phases: the blooming of flowers at the beginning, and, over time, the harvesting of sweet fruits. Similarly, with learning, through diligent accumulation of knowledge, we will gradually progress and eventually succeed.

Question 3 (page 116, Literature 11, Volume 1):

Comparison

- Similarities: Both poems follow the seven-character quatrain form of classical Chinese poetry.

- Differences:

+ Ho Xuan Huong’s poem uses everyday language (e.g., “rooster calls,” “mournful bell,” “sorrowful sounds,” “echoing everywhere...”) even using words that are challenging to pronounce (e.g., "why is it left?" "fate’s mockery?").

+ Ba Huyen Thanh Quan’s poem, on the other hand, uses many Chinese-Vietnamese words (e.g., “twilight,” “fisherman,” “distant village,” “shepherd,” “lonely traveler,” “cold wind...”). Many words are symbolic and frequently used in classical poetry.

→ This creates a difference in style between the two poets:

- Ho Xuan Huong's style is closer to the common people; though she carries a sense of sadness, there are also playful, rebellious elements in her work.

- Ba Huyen Thanh Quan’s poem has a formal, refined style.

Question 4 (page 117, Literature 11, Volume 1):

Example of a proverb: "Love others as you love yourself."

- It advises to love others as much as you would love yourself.

- This is a piece of advice, a philosophy on how to live and interact with others. The guidance and life philosophy here are deeply humanistic.