Top 5 Best Lesson Plans for 'The Tale of An Dương Vương and Mị Châu - Trọng Thủy'

1. Based on the storyline, identify details related to the character An Dương Vương.

Details about An Dương Vương:

- King An Dương Vương built a citadel and crafted a magical crossbow with the help of the Golden Turtle: "King An Dương Vương of Âu Lạc, of the Thục lineage named Phán ... then sought peace."

- The king married his daughter to Triệu Đà.

- When Triệu Đà's army attacked, the king remained calm, but when he used the crossbow, it failed, leading to the loss of the kingdom.

- The king beheaded Mị Châu and then vanished into the sea.

a) Why was An Dương Vương helped by divine beings? What does the magical assistance reflect about the king?

- An Dương Vương received help after performing rituals to seek divine aid for building the citadel.

- This highlights the people’s admiration for the king and pride in the nation's achievements in building the citadel, crafting the crossbow, and defending against invaders.

b) How did the king's lack of vigilance manifest?

- Firstly, the king allowed his daughter to marry the enemy's son.

- Secondly, during the invasion, he was overly reliant on the crossbow and carelessly played chess, leading to the loss of the kingdom.

c) Through the details of the Golden Turtle, Mị Châu, and the king beheading his daughter, what emotions and attitudes did the people convey towards An Dương Vương and the fall of Âu Lạc?

- The people expressed respect for the king's courageous and decisive actions, distinguishing national interests from personal ties, and criticized Mị Châu’s lack of vigilance.

2. Regarding Mị Châu secretly showing Trọng Thủy the crossbow, there are two perspectives. What is your opinion?

- Mị Châu's actions reflect her complete trust in her husband. In a marital relationship, trust is essential for harmony. If she had refused, it would signify doubt in both her husband’s loyalty and the peace between the nations.

3. Mị Châu was accused by the Golden Turtle and executed by her father, yet her blood turned into pearls, and her body into jade. What do these fictional elements reveal about the people's attitude towards Mị Châu?

- The people harshly condemned betrayal, intentional or not, due to their deep patriotism. However, turning her blood into pearls symbolizes her innocence and highlights the people's forgiveness and understanding of her mistake.

4. Trọng Thủy caused the downfall of Âu Lạc and Mị Châu’s death. What is the significance of the "pearls and well" imagery?

- The "pearls and well" symbolize the enduring love between Mị Châu and Trọng Thủy, with the well representing Trọng Thủy’s remorse and redemption.

5. What is the historical core of the story, and how has it been mythologized by the people?

- The historical core: The establishment and fall of Âu Lạc under An Dương Vương, its advanced defenses, and the invention of the magical crossbow by Cao Lỗ (Liên Châu crossbow).

- Mythologization: The Golden Turtle symbolizes divine support, Mị Châu and Trọng Thủy’s story explains the loss of the kingdom, and their transformation into pearls and the well reflects the reconciliation of historical pain.

Question 1.

Based on the storyline, identify details related to the character An Dương Vương. From these details, analyze the following:

a) Why was An Dương Vương aided by divine forces? What does the story of this miraculous assistance reveal about how people evaluate the king?

b) How is the king's lack of vigilance portrayed?

c) Through the creation of details like the Golden Turtle, Mị Châu, and the king beheading his daughter, what attitudes and emotions do people express toward An Dương Vương and the loss of Âu Lạc?

Answer:

Details about An Dương Vương:

- The king struggled to construct a fortress but failed initially.

- With the help of the Golden Turtle, An Dương Vương built the fortress and created a magical crossbow: "King An Dương Vương of Âu Lạc, whose surname was Thục and whose name was Phán... finally requested peace."

- The king successfully repelled Triệu Đà's initial invasion.

- The king married his daughter to Triệu Đà's son.

- When Triệu Đà's army attacked again, the king was complacent and relied on the magical crossbow, resulting in the loss of the kingdom.

- Defeated, the king killed Mị Châu and disappeared into the water.

a) An Dương Vương received divine assistance because he was vigilant and prioritized building fortifications and preparing weapons against invaders. By narrating this miraculous help, the people praised the king's achievements, taking pride in the triumph of building the fortress, crafting the crossbow, and defending against foreign enemies.

b) The king's lack of vigilance is evident in the following details:

- First, he accepted a truce and allowed his daughter to marry the enemy's son, who became a resident in his kingdom.

- Second, when the enemy attacked, he remained complacent, playing chess and over-relying on the magical crossbow, which led to the kingdom's fall.

c) The creative elements, such as the Golden Turtle, Mị Châu, and the king beheading his daughter, reflect the people's respect for the king's courage and decisiveness in prioritizing national interests over personal ties. They also critique Mị Châu's negligence, which contributed to the loss of Âu Lạc.

Question 2.

Regarding Mị Châu secretly showing Trọng Thủy the magical crossbow, there are two perspectives:
- Mị Châu acted out of spousal loyalty, forgetting her duty to the nation.

- Mị Châu's actions were natural and reasonable as a wife.

What is your opinion?

Answer:

Details about Mị Châu's role in Âu Lạc's downfall:

- Mị Châu naively revealed the secret of the magical crossbow to Trọng Thủy.

- During the retreat, she scattered goose feathers, aiding Trọng Thủy and his soldiers in pursuing them.

Mị Châu's lack of vigilance lies in her blind trust, which led to the nation's defensive secret falling into enemy hands. Moreover, when defeated, she unwittingly guided the enemy, pushing her father and herself to a tragic end.

The belief that "Mị Châu acted solely out of marital loyalty, neglecting her national duty" or "her actions were a natural outcome of her role as a wife" oversimplifies her character. The story highlights her naivety and credulity, teaching a poignant lesson on safeguarding the nation that resonates through generations.

Question 3.

Mị Châu was accused of treachery by the Golden Turtle and executed by her father, yet her blood transformed into pearls and her body into jade. What does this fictionalized ending convey about people's attitudes toward Mị Châu, and what lessons are meant for future generations?

Answer:

The people's sentiments toward Mị Châu:

- By having the Golden Turtle accuse her and her father execute her, the story shows the people's strict stance against betrayal, whether intentional or unintentional, stemming from a deep-rooted love for independence and freedom.

- The transformation of her blood into pearls and her body into jade signifies her innocence, proving that she did not intentionally betray her country. This also reflects the people's compassion and forgiveness for Mị Châu's mistakes.

The story teaches future generations to balance personal and national interests carefully and make decisions wisely, ensuring harmony between private and public responsibilities.

Question 4.

Trọng Thủy caused the downfall of Âu Lạc and Mị Châu's death. What is your interpretation of the imagery of "pearl and well"?

Answer:

- Trọng Thủy directly caused Âu Lạc's tragedy and the deaths of Mị Châu and An Dương Vương by blindly following Triệu Đà's orders. From this perspective, he was a national adversary.

- However, the "pearl and well" imagery is both beautiful and symbolic, marking a bittersweet end to their love story. The pearl signifies Mị Châu's purity, while the well reflects Trọng Thủy's eternal regret. Washing pearls in the well's water highlights the unbreakable bond of their love, showing Trọng Thủy as both a tragic lover and a regretful figure.

Question 5.

Based on your analysis, what is the "historical core" of the story, and how has folklore transformed it?

Answer:

- The "historical core" lies in Âu Lạc's establishment under An Dương Vương, fortified with defenses and advanced weaponry, which allowed it to resist Triệu Đà's invasions but ultimately succumbed to his conquest. Cao Lỗ, the creator of the magical crossbow, also played a pivotal role.

- Folklore has mythologized the story with the appearance of the Golden Turtle, dramatizing the nation's achievements in defense. The romanticized tale of Mị Châu and Trọng Thủy provides a bittersweet explanation for the kingdom's loss, tempering the historical pain with poetic justice. Mị Châu's and Trọng Thủy's transformation into pearls and a well further immortalize the tragedy, underscoring themes of purity, remorse, and reconciliation.

Question 1 (Page 42, Grade 10 Literature Textbook, Volume 1):

Details related to An Dương Vương:

+ An Dương Vương repeatedly attempted to build the citadel, but it collapsed each time.
+ The king received assistance from the Golden Turtle Spirit, who helped construct the citadel and provided a claw to craft a magical crossbow.
+ Thanks to the magical crossbow, the king defeated Triệu Đà in the first invasion.
+ The king underestimated the enemy when Triệu Đà launched a second invasion.
+ The king fled with his daughter, sought help from the Golden Turtle Spirit, and ultimately executed Mị Châu.

a) An Dương Vương’s divine assistance:

- Due to his early efforts to protect the nation by building the citadel against invaders, An Dương Vương was blessed with divine help.

- This divine intervention reflects the people’s gratitude and admiration for the king’s efforts to safeguard the country through the construction of the citadel and the magical crossbow.

b) The king’s lack of vigilance is shown through:

- The king agreed to the marriage proposal, giving his daughter Mị Châu to Trọng Thủy, Triệu Đà’s son, and allowed Trọng Thủy to reside with them. ⇒ This decision shows his ignorance of Triệu Đà’s intent to invade Âu Lạc again.
- When Triệu Đà attacked a second time, the king failed to verify the readiness of his weapons. When the enemy army reached the citadel, he fled with Mị Châu. ⇒ His overconfidence and poor judgment contributed to the downfall.

c) Through these creative details, the people expressed:

+ The moment when the king followed the Golden Turtle Spirit’s advice and executed Mị Châu symbolizes respect for an honorable ruler who prioritized the nation over personal ties.
+ Details concerning Mị Châu highlight her carelessness, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and national responsibility.
+ The narrative provides an explanation and softens the pain of losing the country.

Question 2 (Page 43, Grade 10 Literature Textbook, Volume 1):

Interpretation 1: Mị Châu’s actions were driven by her devotion to her husband, neglecting her duty to the nation. ⇒ Her actions stemmed from prioritizing personal emotions over critical judgment.

Interpretation 2: Following her husband’s wishes was natural and justified ⇒ This explanation aligns with feudal ethics, where a married woman must obey her husband.

However, both interpretations fail to fully grasp the situation. Mị Châu was a victim of political schemes. As a wife, she was loving and trusting; as a citizen, her actions were unforgivable. Her final words revealed a pure heart, devoid of treachery, merely a victim of manipulation.

Question 3 (Page 43, Grade 10 Literature Textbook, Volume 1):

The symbolic meaning behind Mị Châu’s death:

+ Mị Châu’s execution by her father reflects the people’s deep disdain for betrayal and a commitment to protecting the nation.
+ Her blood turning into pearls and her body into jade represents forgiveness and compassion for her.
+ Her death conveys a moral lesson about balancing individual desires with the collective good of the nation.

Question 4 (Page 43, Grade 10 Literature Textbook, Volume 1):

The significance of “pearl - well” imagery:

+ Pearls, formed from Mị Châu’s blood, symbolize her pure intentions and innocence.
+ The well, where Trọng Thủy drowned in regret, signifies his remorse.
+ Washing pearls in the well water, making them shine brighter, reflects Trọng Thủy’s realization of Mị Châu’s sincerity.
+ This imagery mourns their tragic love and provides a bittersweet conclusion to their story.

Question 5 (Page 43, Grade 10 Literature Textbook, Volume 1):

- Historical core:

+ An Dương Vương’s construction of Cổ Loa Citadel.
+ Âu Lạc’s invasion by Triệu Đà.
- Folklore’s embellishment of history:

+ The Golden Turtle Spirit aiding the king.
+ An Dương Vương’s descent into the sea.
+ The “pearl - well” detail.
- These magical elements:

+ Add intrigue and depth to historical accounts.
+ Idealize An Dương Vương’s legacy, portraying him as a noble figure.
+ Cleanse Mị Châu of the blame for treason.
+ Affirm the sincerity of Trọng Thủy and Mị Châu’s love, culminating in a poignant ending.

Practice:

Question 1 (Page 43, Grade 10 Literature Textbook, Volume 1):

Evaluations of Trọng Thủy in both opinions a) and b) lack nuance and fairness:
+ Regarding Âu Lạc:
Trọng Thủy’s theft of the magical crossbow enabled Triệu Đà’s successful invasion.
He directly caused the deaths of An Dương Vương and Mị Châu.
⇒ From this perspective, Trọng Thủy deserves criticism.
+ Regarding his relationship with Mị Châu:
Trọng Thủy cherished his wife and sought to reunite despite the war.
Overcome with guilt and sorrow for Mị Châu, he took his own life.
⇒ From this perspective, Trọng Thủy is a tragic, lovesick figure.

Question 2 (Page 43, Grade 10 Literature Textbook, Volume 1):

Although An Dương Vương executed his only daughter, folklore immortalized both in temples beside one another. This reflects the nation’s compassion, humanity, and understanding.

Question 3 (Page 43, Grade 10 Literature Textbook, Volume 1):

In Tố Hữu’s poem “Confession” from the collection “Ra trận”:
... I tell the tale of Mị Châu,
A misplaced heart laid upon her brow.
The magical bow lost by mistake,
Left the kingdom to the ocean’s wake ...

Main theme:

The tale of An Dương Vương and Mị Châu-Trọng Thủy explains Âu Lạc’s downfall, teaching vigilance against enemies and the importance of resolving personal versus collective interests. The characters and creative details in the story highlight the interplay between historical facts and folklore imagination.

Question 1 (Page 42, 10th Grade Literature Textbook, Volume 1): Details related to the character of An Duong Vuong:
An Duong Vuong builds a fortress but fails => The Golden Turtle helps to build the fortress and create the divine bow => the king defeats Trieu Da => he becomes overconfident when Trieu Da brings his army to attack => fails and must flee, after hearing the Golden Turtle’s verdict, the king beheads My Chau and follows the Golden Turtle to the sea.

An Duong Vuong was assisted by divine powers because the king had an early awareness of the need to fortify his defenses, prepare weapons, and protect the nation from invaders. Imagining this divine aid, our people have praised the king’s efforts in constructing the fortress, crafting the bow, and fighting against foreign invaders.

The king’s carelessness is evident in the following:

1) The first instance of carelessness: the king blindly agrees to form an alliance with Trieu Da, allowing the opponent’s son to infiltrate as a spy.
2) The second instance: when Trieu Da’s army arrives, An Duong Vuong, relying on the divine bow, becomes careless and loses the battle.
The detail of the Golden Turtle, My Chau, and the king beheading his daughter upon the Golden Turtle’s orders was created to express the people’s respect for the heroic king, while criticizing My Chau’s carelessness, explaining the reason for the loss of the kingdom and alleviating the grief over the loss.

Question 2 (Page 43, 10th Grade Literature Textbook, Volume 1): Evaluation of My Chau secretly showing the divine bow to Trong Thuy:

- Regarding the first opinion: If we accept this view, My Chau’s fault is significant. She is a person who, driven by personal feelings, lacks responsibility for the country and disregards the fate of the nation. A citizen like this is unacceptable in any era.
- Regarding the second opinion: This judgment stems from the feudal system’s moral code, where a woman is expected to follow her husband without question.
Both views are flawed. My Chau is a tragic victim of a political plot. She is naïve, trusting, and innocent. She makes the mistake of blindly trusting her husband. For her country, she committed a great crime that cannot be forgiven. However, the prophecy she made before her death coming true shows that the Vietnamese people never betray their country; instead, they are exploited by the enemy. Thus, My Chau deserves our sympathy and is more tragic than blameworthy.

Question 3 (Page 43, 10th Grade Literature Textbook, Volume 1):

The ending of the story, involving My Chau’s death, presents two seemingly contradictory yet deeply unified perspectives by the folk author. My Chau’s punishment is final; the people have passed judgment and executed the sentence of history. This conclusion arises from the Vietnamese people’s patriotic tradition and deep love for independence and freedom.

Yet, My Chau is also a tragic victim. Being labeled a “traitor” is an unjust accusation against her, and thus the folk author allowed her curse to come true to express sympathy and compassion for her. My Chau’s story is indeed a message from the folk author to future generations on resolving the balance between familial loyalty and national duty, between the personal and the collective.

Question 4 (Page 43, 10th Grade Literature Textbook, Volume 1):

The image of “pearls – the well” is beautiful and full of meaning. It is a perfect ending to a love story and a symbolic punishment for My Chau’s “betrayal.” The detail of My Chau’s blood turning into pearls when eaten by oysters proves her purity. Trong Thuy’s act of throwing himself into the well represents his regret for betraying his wife. The pearls’ brilliance after being washed in the well water signifies that Trong Thuy has found redemption in his love for My Chau in the afterlife. From this perspective, we feel sympathy for the love story of My Chau and Trong Thuy.

Question 5 (Page 43, 10th Grade Literature Textbook, Volume 1):

The “historical core” of the story is An Duong Vuong building the Co Loa fortress and the defeat of Au Lac by Trieu Da’s invasion. The folk tales have added mystical elements to make the “historical core” more vivid and engaging. First, we see the image of the Golden Turtle helping the king build the fortress, craft the bow, the curse of My Chau with the “pearls – well” detail, and ultimately the king following the Golden Turtle to the sea. These mythical elements reshape a historical story from the folk’s perspective, making it uniquely different: the hero An Duong Vuong does not die but enters another world, My Chau is “cleansed” of her betrayal, and the love between Trong Thuy and My Chau ends in a perfect way.

Question 3 (Page 43, 10th Grade Literature Textbook): The poem “Tâm sự” (Confessions) from the poetry collection “Ra trận” by poet To Huu: ... I tell the story of My Chau from the past, The heart that was deceived placed on the head. The divine bow unknowingly passed to the enemy, So the kingdom’s glory sank into the sea...

Summary:

After assisting King An Duong in building the Loa Fortress, the Golden Turtle God gifted him a special claw to create a divine crossbow trigger before leaving. With the help of the divine weapon, An Duong defeated the invading forces of Trieu Da. After this defeat, Trieu Da pretended to seek peace and sent his son, Trong Thuy, to propose to the princess My Chau, and the king accepted. Trong Thuy tricked My Chau into showing him the secret crossbow, then secretly swapped the divine trigger to take back to the North. Soon after, Trieu Da launched an invasion of Au Lac. Without the crossbow, King An Duong lost the battle and fled south with My Chau. Following a trail of goose feathers, Trieu Da's army tracked them down. At the shore, the Golden Turtle God appeared and accused My Chau of being a traitor, leading the king to behead her before following the Turtle into the sea. My Chau died, and her blood turned into pearls in the ocean. Trong Thuy, grieving over his wife's death, returned her body to Loa Fortress, where it transformed into jade. Overcome with sorrow, Trong Thuy threw himself into a well and died. Later generations who found the pearls washed them in the well water, making them even clearer.

==> The story of An Duong Vuong and My Chau - Trong Thuy is a historical tragedy about the loss of the kingdom by An Duong Vuong and the tragic love of My Chau and Trong Thuy.

Study Guide:

1. Question 1 (Page 42, Literature Textbook 10, Volume 1):Details about the character of King An Duong:

King An Duong built the fortress but failed => The Golden Turtle helped build the fortress and craft the divine crossbow => the king won over Trieu Da's forces => became overconfident when Trieu Da sent troops => lost the battle and fled, and after hearing the Golden Turtle's accusation, the king beheaded My Chau before following the Turtle into the sea.

King An Duong was helped by the divine powers because the king was aware of the need to prepare defenses, build walls, and create weapons to defend against foreign threats. Imagining this miraculous help, the people praised the king’s efforts and took pride in the fortress, the crossbow, and the victory against invaders.

The king’s lack of vigilance is reflected in the following ways:

1) First lapse in vigilance: The king, without suspicion, agreed to form an alliance with Trieu Da, opening the door for the enemy’s son to infiltrate as a spy.

2) Second lapse in vigilance: When Trieu Da’s army arrived, King An Duong, relying on the divine crossbow, failed to prepare properly, leading to his defeat.

The story of the Golden Turtle, My Chau, and the king’s beheading of his daughter as per the Turtle’s verdict was creatively added to express the people’s respect for the heroic king, while criticizing My Chau’s negligence, explaining the loss of the kingdom as a way to soothe the pain of losing the land.

2. Question 2 (Page 43, Literature Textbook 10, Volume 1): Evaluate My Chau secretly showing the divine crossbow to Trong Thuy:

- Opinion 1: If we accept this view, My Chau’s fault is significant. She was someone who, due to personal affection, did not prioritize the welfare of the country or the destiny of the nation. Such a citizen is unacceptable in any era.

- Opinion 2: This view comes from feudal ethics, where a woman’s duty was to obey her husband unconditionally.

Both opinions are not entirely accurate. My Chau was a tragic victim of a political scheme. She was naive, trusting, innocent, and foolish. Her complete trust in her husband led to her mistake. For the country, her actions were unforgivable. However, the detail of her curse before death being fulfilled suggests that the Vietnamese people do not sell out their country but are exploited by enemies. Thus, My Chau deserves sympathy, and her story is more tragic than blameworthy.

Question 3 (Page 43, Literature Textbook 10, Volume 1):

The ending of the story, involving My Chau’s death, presents two seemingly opposite but ultimately unified views from the folk author. My Chau’s punishment was a definite decision; the people had rendered judgment and executed the sentence of history. This conclusion reflects the deep patriotism and love for independence and freedom that the Vietnamese people held.

But My Chau was also a tragic victim. Being labeled as a traitor was an injustice to her, and so the folk author made her curse come true to show compassion and understanding for her. My Chau’s story is a message from the folk author to future generations about balancing family ties and national duty, personal feelings, and the greater good.

Question 4 (Page 43, Literature Textbook 10, Volume 1):

The image of “pearls – well water” is both beautiful and meaningful. It symbolizes the perfect end to a love story and serves as a symbolic purification of My Chau’s “betrayal.” The detail of My Chau’s blood turning into pearls after her death proves her pure heart. When Trong Thuy threw himself into the well, it showed his deep regret for betraying his wife. The pearls, when washed in the well water, become even clearer, signifying that Trong Thuy found peace with My Chau in the afterlife. From this perspective, we can feel sorrow for the love story of My Chau and Trong Thuy.

Question 5 (Page 43, Literature Textbook 10, Volume 1):

The “historical core” of the story is King An Duong’s building of the Cổ Loa Fortress and the reality of Au Lac’s defeat at the hands of Trieu Da’s invasion. Folk traditions have added mythical elements to make the “historical core” more vivid and engaging. First, the appearance of the Golden Turtle helping the king build the fortress and craft the crossbow, followed by the curse of My Chau with the “pearls – well water” motif, and finally King An Duong following the Turtle into the sea. These mythical elements offer a different perspective on history: the hero King An Duong did not die but moved to another realm, My Chau was “purified” for her betrayal, and the love story of Trong Thuy and My Chau reached a final, peaceful conclusion.

Practice:

1. Both evaluations above are incomplete and inaccurate. Specifically:

- For the country of Au Lac:

+ Trong Thuy’s theft of the crossbow trigger led to Au Lac’s invasion.

+ He directly caused the death of An Duong and his son.

⇒ Trong Thuy is a spy who should be condemned, his love for My Chau was a lie.

- For My Chau:

+ Trong Thuy mourned their love, realizing the impending war and trying to find a way for them to reunite.

+ Out of regret and sorrow, Trong Thuy jumped into the well and committed suicide.

⇒ Trong Thuy is a tragic lover.

2. This approach aligns with the traditional moral values of the nation, showing mercy to those who made mistakes but later regretted them and accepted appropriate punishment.

3. Some poems about My Chau – Trong Thuy:

* My Chau – Trong Thuy (Tản Đà):

"A pair of people, one from Viet, one from Qin

Half love, half sorrow

The turtle claw was swapped

The goose feathers guided the way

Sworn as husband and wife

Women’s loyalty

Of kings and rulers

This love and destiny unfinished!

Silk cushions, bird feathers

A hundred years of tears

Pearls from well water

A thousand years of incense smoke"

* Poem by Tố Hữu in "Ra trận":

"I tell the story of My Chau from long ago

Her heart placed in the wrong place

The divine crossbow unwittingly given to the enemy

Leading to the ruin of the nation"