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1. 'Làng' - Essay 4
2. "The Village" - Lesson 5
I. Reading and Understanding the Text:
Question 1: The short story "The Village" creates a unique plot that reveals the deep love for the village and the country in the character of Mr. Hai. The plot revolves around Mr. Hai, a man from Dầu Village, who is very proud of and attached to his hometown. After relocating to another area due to the war, he hears the shocking news that his village, Chợ Dầu, has sided with the enemy and become a traitorous village. This devastating news comes directly from other evacuees.
Question 2:
a. Describe the emotional development and actions of Mr. Hai from the moment he hears that his village has joined the enemy until the story’s conclusion.
- Upon hearing the sudden news that Chợ Dầu has allied with the enemy, Mr. Hai feels an overwhelming lump in his throat, his skin tingles, and he goes numb. He stands still, almost unable to breathe. After a while, he asks again, but his voice trembles with disbelief. As others confirm the news, Mr. Hai is forced to accept it.
- On his way home, Mr. Hai walks with his head bowed. Once home, he collapses onto his bed, looking at his children with sorrow. Tears flood his eyes as he curses the traitors.
- For the rest of the day, Mr. Hai stays in his house, avoiding any interaction with others. Whenever he hears people talking in groups or hears certain words like "enemy" or "traitor," he hides in a corner, fearing the judgment of others. His anxiety becomes constant, and he dreads hearing anything that might remind him of the situation.
- Mr. Hai decides to sever all ties with his village and dedicate himself to the resistance and the revolution. He believes, "I love my village, but if it betrays the country, I must despise it."
- When he later learns that Chợ Dầu did not actually side with the enemy, Mr. Hai feels as though he has been reborn. His face brightens, and he buys treats for his children. He tells everyone that his village is still loyal, but he also shares the tragic news that the enemy burned down his village and destroyed his house. This demonstrates his unwavering love for his country.
b. Mr. Hai feels intense pain and shame upon hearing that his village has sided with the enemy because his connection to the village is so deep and personal. His love for the village has been shattered. The emotional conflict between his loyalty to his village and his commitment to the revolution becomes unbearable. Although he has resolved to turn his back on his village, deep inside, the memories of his hometown with its neat houses and stone-paved roads still haunt him. His love for his village, which he must abandon, causes him great emotional turmoil.
This profound sense of shame and pain suddenly arises when Mr. Hai hears the news about his village. It becomes an obsession, and he is constantly afraid. At one point, he reaches a state of complete despair when his landlord threatens to evict his family because they are associated with "traitors." He finds himself caught between two impossible choices: to return to his village or to remain in exile. This internal conflict leads to his emotional deadlock.
Question 3: The conversation between Mr. Hai and his youngest son is one of the most touching moments in the story:
- Mr. Hai’s conversation with his son is actually a form of self-reflection, a way for him to express his innermost feelings.
- Through their dialogue, we can see:
+ Mr. Hai’s deep love for his village. He wants to instill in his son the memory that "Our house is in Chợ Dầu".
+ His unwavering loyalty to the country and the revolution, especially to President Hồ Chí Minh. This is a love that is steadfast and unchanging, as expressed in his words: "I would rather die than betray the revolution."
- Mr. Hai’s love for his village and his country is inseparable, forming a sacred, enduring bond. This love is not only a personal emotion but also reflects the feelings of the entire Vietnamese people towards their homeland and their country.
Question 4: The artistic techniques used to depict Mr. Hai’s emotions and language:
- The author skillfully portrays Mr. Hai’s psychological state through actions, monologues, and dialogues. His journey from despair to emotional deadlock and, ultimately, to relief upon hearing the corrected news shows a well-crafted psychological progression.
- The author places the character in an internal conflict that highlights the depth of his emotional struggle. From the external news of the village’s betrayal, the focus shifts to an internal conflict, as Mr. Hai faces a profound moral dilemma.
- The author’s depiction of Mr. Hai’s internal thoughts, actions, and language is vivid and powerful. The sense of guilt and inner turmoil that Mr. Hai experiences is effectively captured, leaving a strong impression on the reader.
Practice:
Question 1:
The author uses artistic techniques to portray the internal conflict of Mr. Hai when he hears the painful news that his village has sided with the enemy.
Question 2:
Other short stories or poems about love for the homeland and the country: "Homeland" by Đỗ Trung Quân, "Homeland" by Tế Hanh.
The unique aspects of the story "The Village" by Kim Lân:
- The love for the village is deeply intertwined with a sense of pride and attachment.
- This love for the village is set against the backdrop of a national struggle for independence during the war against French colonialism.
Conclusion and Meaning:
The short story authentically portrays the inseparable bond between love for the village and love for the country in Mr. Hai, a farmer who leaves his village to live in exile. Through this, the story celebrates the deep-rooted patriotism of the Vietnamese people during the resistance against colonial forces.
3. "Village" - Lesson 1
Structure:
- Part 1 (from the beginning... so happy!): Mr. Hai before hearing the news that Chợ Dầu village sided with the enemy.
- Part 2 (continuing... emotional turmoil): Mr. Hai's feelings after learning that his village had sided with the enemy.
- Part 3 (remaining part): Mr. Hai's emotions when hearing the news that the village had been cleared of suspicion.
Understanding the text:
Question 1 (page 174, Vietnamese Literature 9, Vol. 1):
The situation: Mr. Hai, a resident of Dầu village, who deeply loves and takes pride in his village, had to flee due to the war. He hears the disturbing news about his village from other evacuees passing by.
Question 2 (page 174, Vietnamese Literature 9, Vol. 1):
- The emotional and behavioral progression of Mr. Hai after hearing that his village sided with the enemy:
+ Upon hearing the bad news: he is stunned, ashamed, and furious; his head hangs low. He suffers in silence, cursing the traitors, staying home for days, and ultimately deciding to sever ties with the village to join the resistance.
+ Upon hearing the correction that the village did not side with the enemy: he is overwhelmed with joy.
- Mr. Hai suffers deeply when hearing that the village was thought to have betrayed, as he holds the village in the highest regard. The more he loved and prided himself on his village, the more painful the news was for him.
- Mr. Hai's emotional turmoil is expressed through his inability to eat, his sleepless nights, and a constant state of distress over the shame. He avoids socializing with everyone because of his embarrassment.
Question 3 (page 174, Vietnamese Literature 9, Vol. 1):
- Mr. Hai's conversation with his young child is essentially him confiding his feelings.
- Through their conversation, we see:
+ Mr. Hai's deep love for his village.
+ His unwavering devotion to the country, the resistance, and his admiration for President Hồ.
- His love for his village is inseparable from his love for his country, the resistance, and Hồ Chí Minh.
Question 4 (page 174, Vietnamese Literature 9, Vol. 1):
- The technique used to depict Mr. Hai's psychology is authentic, profound, and vivid.
- The language of the characters is colloquial, natural, and closely aligned with everyday life.
Practice:
Question 1 (page 174, Vietnamese Literature 9, Vol. 1):
- Analyze the passage: Mr. Hai, the old man, feels troubled... dealing with emotional conflict.
- The literary devices used to depict his psychological state include the character's language and the distinctive narrative technique. The narrative voice and character dialogue are well-integrated. The storytelling is flexible, natural, and relatable to daily life.
Question 2 (page 174, Vietnamese Literature 9, Vol. 1):
- The poem speaks of love for the homeland: "My village used to engage in fishing
Surrounded by water, a river half a day's journey from the sea" (Tế Hanh)
+ Remembering the river of my homeland (Tế Hanh):
"My homeland has a clear, emerald river
Reflections of the trees along the banks mirrored in the water
My soul is like a summer afternoon
With sunlight casting shimmering reflections on the river"
- The distinctive features of the short story "Village": Tế Hanh's poem expresses longing for the homeland, while the short story focuses on events and the emotional development of the protagonist.
4. "Village" - Lesson 2
1. The short story 'The Village' builds a plot that deeply reveals the love for one's homeland and patriotism in the character of Mr. Hai. What is this plot?
Answer:
- The author places Mr. Hai in a critical situation to reveal his deep love for his village and his country. The situation is the news that his village has sided with the enemy and joined the puppet government, which he hears from refugees passing through his area.
2. Recount the emotional developments and actions of Mr. Hai from the moment he hears that his village has joined the enemy until the end of the story.
Answer:
* Mr. Hai's emotional development:
- When Mr. Hai first hears this shocking news, he is stunned: “His throat tightened, his face went pale, and he felt as though he couldn’t breathe.” After regaining some composure, he tries not to believe the news, but the refugees' detailed and confident accounts make it impossible for him to doubt it.
- From that moment on, the news occupies his mind, haunting him. He feels an overwhelming sense of shame and sorrow when he hears people curse the traitors, and he avoids looking them in the eye. At home, he lies down on the bed, feeling devastated as he looks at his children, thinking, “Are they children of the village of traitors too? Will they also be rejected and despised?”
- For several days afterward, Mr. Hai does not dare to go outside. He stays at home, anxiously waiting for updates about the situation.
- Eventually, Mr. Hai makes a firm decision: although he loves his village, if the village has sided with the enemy, he must stand against it. His love for the country, however, is greater, overshadowing his attachment to his village. But even so, he cannot completely abandon his feelings for his village, which only increases his pain and shame.
- When Mr. Hai hears that the news about his village was false and that the village had not sided with the enemy, it is as though he has come back to life, and his face brightens with joy.
* Explanation:
The reason the news about the village betraying the nation affects Mr. Hai so deeply is that he loves his village like a child loves its mother — he takes great pride in it, reveres it, and has a pure, childlike love for it. When he hears that his beloved village has sided with the enemy, it is a devastating blow. The more he loved and took pride in his village, the greater his pain and shame became. Mr. Hai lost his appetite, couldn't sleep, and constantly felt uneasy and ashamed. He even avoided mentioning the betrayal, referring to it as “that matter.” He cut off contact with everyone and “did not dare to step outside” because of his humiliation.
3. Why does Mr. Hai talk to his youngest child in this way? What can you feel about Mr. Hai's heart for his village, his country, and the resistance movement? How are his love for his village and his patriotism related?
Answer:
* Why does Mr. Hai talk to his youngest child?
- Mr. Hai chooses to talk to his youngest child because the child is young, innocent, and easy to communicate with.
- This conversation, though appearing to be a dialogue, is actually a monologue that expresses Mr. Hai's deep and unwavering connection to his homeland, his country, and the resistance movement. By speaking to his child, he is actually confiding in himself, reflecting on his feelings, and justifying his actions.
* Through these words to his child, Mr. Hai expresses:
+ His deep love for his village of Chợ Dầu (he wants his child to remember the phrase “Our family lives in Chợ Dầu village”).
+ His loyalty to the resistance and the revolution, symbolized by Uncle Hồ (he says, “Comrades, brothers, know that my son and I support Uncle Hồ, and he will watch over us”). This feeling is sincere, steadfast, and sacred (“My heart is like this; I would never betray it. I would rather die than betray it.”).
* Relationship between love for the village and patriotism:
Mr. Hai’s love for his country and his commitment to the resistance come first, shaping all his feelings and actions. His loyalty to his country takes precedence over his attachment to his village.
4. Comment on the author's use of psychological description and language in portraying Mr. Hai's character.
Answer:
- The author places the character in an internal conflict, revealing the depth of his emotions.
- The psychological development is depicted vividly, with the author using detailed, expressive language to illustrate Mr. Hai's inner turmoil. The depiction of his obsessive and distressed state is especially striking. This demonstrates Kim Lân's deep understanding of the human psyche, particularly of rural people.
EXERCISES:
1. Choose and analyze a passage that describes Mr. Hai's psychology in the story. What artistic techniques did the author use in this passage?
Answer:
- Passage:
“Mr. Hai gently picked up his youngest child, patting its back softly, and quietly asked:
....
- Yes, that’s right. We support Uncle Hồ Chí Minh, don’t we?”
- Analysis:
This passage reflects Mr. Hai’s profound and sacred feelings for his homeland, his country, and the revolution. Although it is a conversation with his child, it is, in essence, a soliloquy where he confides in himself and reflects on his loyalty to his village and the resistance.
- Artistic technique: The dialogue has the quality of a monologue.
2. Do you remember any other short stories or poems about love for the homeland and the country? What makes 'The Village' different from those works?
Answer:
- Other works about love for the homeland and the country: 'Vietnamese Bamboo' by Nguyễn Duy, 'Homeland' by Giang Nam.
- The uniqueness of 'The Village': The connection between love for the homeland and patriotism is portrayed in a closely-knit, harmonious way. This feeling is emphasized in the specific context of the national resistance against French colonialism.
5. "The Village" - Part 3
Structure:
- Part 1 (from the beginning to "his heart raced with excitement, so happy!"): Mr. Hai's reaction to hearing the news of the battle victories before he learns that his village has sided with the enemy.
- Part 2 (from the next section to "he felt a little relieved"): Mr. Hai's complex emotions upon hearing that his village has betrayed their country and joined the enemy.
- Part 3 (the rest of the story): Mr. Hai's joy, pride, and emotional relief when he learns that the rumor about his village's betrayal was false.
The story "The Village" creates a unique narrative situation that deeply explores Mr. Hai's love for his village and his country. The situation arises when Mr. Hai, a proud villager from Chợ Dầu, hears the devastating news that his village has joined the enemy, becoming collaborators. This news reaches him through the refugees who pass by.
a. Mr. Hai's emotional and behavioral changes from hearing the news about his village's betrayal to the end of the story:
- Upon hearing the shocking news, "his throat tightened, his skin tingled, ... he couldn’t bring himself to believe it."
- Mr. Hai walks home, head down, and upon reaching his house, he collapses on the bed, overwhelmed with sorrow, his tears falling as he looks at his children. He curses the traitors in his village, feeling deeply ashamed.
- For days, Mr. Hai stays indoors, too distressed to go outside, filled with guilt and unease.
- He decides to sever all ties with his village and commit to the resistance: "I love my village, but if my village has sided with the enemy, I must oppose it."
- When he hears the news that his village has been cleared of suspicion, Mr. Hai is overjoyed: "his face brightens with joy, a smile lighting up his face."
b. The reason why Mr. Hai is so distressed by the news of his village’s betrayal is because he loves his village like a child loves their mother—innocently, proudly, and devotedly. When he hears the devastating news that his beloved Chợ Dầu has become a village of collaborators, his heart breaks. The deeper his love for the village, the greater his pain and humiliation when the betrayal is confirmed. Mr. Hai loses his appetite, cannot sleep, and is constantly anxious, troubled by the shame. He even refuses to speak about the betrayal, referring to it only as "that matter" and isolates himself from everyone, ashamed to face the world.
The conversation between Mr. Hai and his youngest son is deeply moving:
- Mr. Hai speaks to his young son, but in reality, he is speaking to himself, confessing and seeking comfort in his own heart.
- Through the conversation, we see:
+ Mr. Hai's profound love for his village. He wants his son to remember, "Our home is in Chợ Dầu."
+ His deep patriotism and unwavering loyalty to the resistance and to Hồ Chí Minh. This is a bond that will never be broken: "I would rather die than betray."
- Mr. Hai's love for his village and country becomes one inseparable, sacred feeling. This bond is not just Mr. Hai’s but is reflective of the deep connection shared by all people with their land and nation.
Question 4:
The art of depicting Mr. Hai’s inner turmoil is demonstrated through the situation, the specific and detailed depiction of his emotions—especially his haunting sense of guilt.
The language used in the story is colloquial, closely reflecting the everyday speech of the people.
Practice:
Question 1 (page 174 of the textbook):
Choose the excerpt:
"The whole village of traitors sided with the enemy..." This sentence from a refugee woman haunts Mr. Hai's mind.
Should I go back to the village?...
He immediately rejects this thought. What’s the point of returning to a village that has turned against the country? Returning there means abandoning the resistance, abandoning Hồ Chí Minh,..."
+ This passage reveals Mr. Hai’s inner conflict when he hears that his village has sided with the enemy. He is torn between wanting to return to his homeland and wanting to reject it entirely.
+ He longs to return to his village, as it holds deep sentimental value for him, but at the same time, he cannot condone its betrayal.
+ Mr. Hai’s deep love for his village and his patriotism are intertwined—his pain and anger grow as he realizes that his beloved village has become a traitor to the nation.
+ The passage uses internal monologue to vividly depict Mr. Hai’s emotional turmoil.
Question 2 (page 174 of the textbook):
+ Some other works that explore themes of patriotism and love for the homeland include "Vietnamese Bamboo" by Nguyễn Duy and "Homeland" by Giang Nam.
+ The uniqueness of the short story "The Village" lies in how it intertwines love for the homeland and love for the village. These emotions are emphasized within the context of the specific national struggle—the resistance against French colonization.
Meaning - Evaluation:
- From the excerpt, students can deeply understand and feel the genuine, moving connection between the villagers’ love for their homeland and their patriotism, especially as seen through the character of Mr. Hai, who has had to leave his village behind.
- Additionally, the effectiveness of the narrative situation, the psychological depth of the characters, and the vivid language used by the author are clearly evident.
