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1. Study Guide Example 4
Structure
2 parts
+ Part I: Overview of the author's biography
+ Part II: The author's literary career
Study Guide Instructions
Question 1 (page 142, Literature 11 Textbook, Volume 1):
* Biography
- Trần Hữu Tri (1917-1951), from Hà Nam - a poverty-stricken farming region, oppressed and exploited.
- After completing middle school, he moved to Saigon to work in journalism, later teaching in Hanoi and returning to his hometown.
- In 1943, he joined the National Cultural Relief Association, became a village chairman (1945), and participated in the resistance against the French. He died in 1951.
* Character Traits
- Often melancholic, conflicted with the oppressive feudal system. Frequently engaged in inner struggles to achieve good moral values.
- Kind-hearted, deeply caring for people, especially the poor and weak, and emotionally attached to his homeland.
Question 2 (page 142, Literature 11 Textbook, Volume 1):
Main ideas in his artistic views:
- Literature should serve humanity, be truthful, and avoid superficiality.
- Literary works should have profound social meaning and strong humanitarian content.
- Writers must continuously innovate and explore new ideas.
- A writer needs a rich life experience to produce valuable works.
Question 3 (page 142, Literature 11 Textbook, Volume 1):
- Writing about the poor intellectual: struggles with spiritual tragedy, torn between ideals and reality.
- Writing about the peasants: anguish and regret over their tragic fate, poverty, and degradation.
Question 4 (page 142, Literature 11 Textbook, Volume 1):
Main characteristics of the author's artistic style:
- Special attention to the inner lives of characters, their mental states.
- Exceptional talent in discovering, describing, and analyzing characters' psychology.
- Sophisticated, distinctive dialogue and monologue styles.
- Simple plot and relatable topics but raising deep and complex issues.
- Tone: sorrowful, bitter, indifferent, yet compassionate and tender.
2. Example Study Guide 5
Answer for Question 1 (page 142 Literature 11 Textbook, Volume 1):
Biography and character of the writer Nam Cao:
* Biography of Nam Cao:
- Born into a farming family, once a private school teacher.
- Led a hard life, surviving as a writer and private tutor.
- Actively participated in the national resistance, working as a reporter, writer, and soldier involved in journalism and propaganda.
* Character of Nam Cao:
- Deep, constantly turbulent inner world.
- Perpetually conflicted and introspective.
- Longed for a “pure soul” and dreamed of a beautiful world and virtuous people.
- A compassionate, warm-hearted individual with great love for others.
Answer for Question 2 (page 142 Literature 11 Textbook, Volume 1):
Nam Cao's artistic views:
- Literature must stem from life and serve life.
- Emphasizes exploration and creativity.
- Values the conscience and responsibility of the writer.
- A valuable work must embody humanitarian values and serve humanity.
- After the August Revolution of 1945, his belief was that one should live before writing, and when the nation is in danger, the artist-soldier must unify and harmonize with the times.
Answer for Question 3 (page 142 Literature 11 Textbook, Volume 1):
The themes in Nam Cao’s works:
- The peasant theme reflects concerns over:
+ The poverty-stricken, desolate rural landscapes.
+ The moral decay and brutalization of many decent people forced into desperate situations.
+ The affirmation of human dignity in impoverished peasants.
- The intellectual theme addresses:
+ The spiritual tragedy of petty bourgeois intellectuals.
+ Criticism of an oppressive, dehumanizing society that stifles human rights.
+ Affirming the aspiration for a life worthy of being human.
Answer for Question 4 (page 142 Literature 11 Textbook, Volume 1):
Nam Cao's artistic style:
- Exceptional talent in depicting psychology: psychological characters, psychological structures, and psychological language.
- Writing about the seemingly trivial but with universal, profound philosophical implications.
- Sharp, clear, objective writing that subtly conveys deep affection and reflection.
- Language is flexible, authentic, and rich in tones, often blending cold, detached narration with passionate lyrical moments.
3. Example Study Guide 1
Answer to Question 1 (page 142, Literature 11, Volume 1):
Nam Cao's real name: Trần Hữu Tri
- Born in Lý Nhân, Hà Nam, into a poor, large family of intellectuals from a farming background.
- He actively participated in the revolutionary movement, serving as a reporter on various battlefields.
- He was a compassionate person with a deep, rich inner life, confronting harsh realities and living in hardship, leading to a shift in his perspectives.
- Discontented with society, his works critique societal injustices and cruelty, defending the oppressed and understanding their struggles.
- His spirit sought to rise above the petty-bourgeois mindset, aiming for personal growth and a meaningful life.
Answer to Question 2 (page 142, Literature 11, Volume 1):
Nam Cao's approach to literature:
- He did not focus on depicting beauty or romanticized imagery but instead remained anchored in reality, presenting an honest reflection of society.
- He believed literature must portray life, serve humanity, and that a true writer is one with integrity and compassion.
- True literature is permeated with a spirit of humanitarianism, expressing the pains of life and inspiring individuals to overcome their struggles.
- The essence of literature is creativity, rejecting convention and carelessness.
- Writers must have a conscience, for “carelessness in literature is a form of vulgarity.”
Answer to Question 3 (page 142, Literature 11, Volume 1):
Nam Cao’s pre-August Revolution works focus on the lives of intellectuals from the petty-bourgeois class and the peasants.
→ His writings reflect his anguish over the erosion of human dignity and the destruction of character in society.
Answer to Question 4 (page 142, Literature 11, Volume 1):
Nam Cao's artistic style:
- He was particularly interested in the spiritual life of individuals, exploring the complexities within people.
- He often delved deep into characters’ inner worlds, analyzing and expressing their psychological states.
- His dialogues and internal monologues were crafted with authenticity and vividness.
- His narrative tone: melancholic, bitter, and full of compassion for the weak, highlighting the human struggle in an unjust society.
4. Example Study Guide 2
Answer to Question 1 (page 142, Literature 11, Volume 1):
Key points about Nam Cao:
- Born into a peasant family, once a teacher at a private school.
- Struggled through life, surviving by working as a writer and tutor.
- He actively participated in the national resistance as a journalist, writer, and soldier working in propaganda and media.
Key points about Nam Cao's character:
- A deeply introspective person with a rich inner life, always in a state of turmoil.
- He constantly wrestled with his thoughts and emotions.
- He yearned for a “pure soul” and dreamed of a better world, filled with virtuous people.
- A kind, warm-hearted individual, rich in love and compassion.
Answer to Question 2 (page 142, Literature 11, Volume 1):
Main aspects of Nam Cao’s artistic philosophy:
- Art must be connected to life and face reality head-on.
- Art should speak of grand, universal themes and carry a humanitarian message.
- Art is always about exploration and innovation, rejecting repetition and negligence.
Answer to Question 3 (page 142, Literature 11, Volume 1):
- Writing about poor intellectuals: Nam Cao was troubled by their spiritual tragedy, torn between their artistic ideals, life’s principles, and the struggle for daily survival.
- Writing about peasants: Nam Cao expressed anguish over their tragic fates, caught in a battle between moral decay and the fight to preserve their human dignity.
→ He was perpetually concerned with human dignity.
Answer to Question 4 (page 142, Literature 11, Volume 1):
Main characteristics of Nam Cao’s artistic style:
- Emphasis on the human mind, focusing on the psychological processes within individuals.
- A sharp, nuanced approach to analyzing characters' inner worlds.
- His narrative style featured a rich array of voices and tones, capturing complex human emotions.
5. Example Study Guide 3
Answer to Question 1 (Page 142, Literature 11, Volume 1):
a. Biography of Nam Cao:
- Full name: Trần Hữu Tri (1915 – 1951)
- Born in Đại Hoàng village, Cao Đà commune, Nam Sang district, Lý Nhân, Hà Nam province.
- Came from a poor family and was the only one in his family who received an education.
* Before the Revolution:
+ Completed secondary school and worked in various places: Saigon, Hanoi. Due to illness, he returned to his village. Nam Cao faced a hard life, working as a private school teacher, writing, tutoring, and at times living with his wife’s family.
+ In 1943, he joined the National Culture Rescue Association.
* After the August Revolution:
+ Continued writing while also participating in the revolution.
+ In 1946, he joined the Southern Campaign and participated in the 1950 Border Campaign.
+ In 1951, he passed away while on a business trip.
b. The Character of Nam Cao:
- Nam Cao appeared reserved and distant, but his inner life was rich and complex. He constantly battled against mediocrity, striving for a life of nobility worthy of being human.
- Nam Cao was compassionate, with deep ties to his homeland and to the oppressed, impoverished peasants. He believed that without compassion for others, one could not truly be called human (as expressed in *A Life Wasted*). This belief led him to pursue a path of humanistic art, creating works deeply imbued with humanitarian principles.
Answer to Question 2 (Page 142, Literature 11, Volume 1):
Main points in Nam Cao's artistic viewpoint:
* Before the Revolution:
- Art must remain close to life, tied to the struggles of the working people.
- Writers must have a compassionate view of the world, and good literature must carry profound humanitarian messages.
- Literature is an area that demands exploration, innovation, and creativity.
- Artistic labor is a serious, meticulous task, and writers must have integrity.
* After the Revolution: Nam Cao affirmed that the role of writers was to serve the fight for liberation. This marked a significant evolution in his artistic perspective.
=> Nam Cao is rightfully regarded as a profound realist writer with a progressive artistic philosophy.
Answer to Question 3 (Page 142, Literature 11, Volume 1):
- Writing about poor intellectuals, Nam Cao often reflected on:
+ The precarious existence of the impoverished intellectual.
+ The ongoing spiritual agony they endure.
+ The oppressive, dehumanizing society that stifles human life.
+ The longing for a truly meaningful life.
- Writing about suffering peasants, Nam Cao often reflected on:
+ A true-to-life depiction of rural Vietnam: poverty, desolation, hopelessness.
+ The plight of those crushed by society, degraded and humiliated.
+ The moral and physical degradation of the peasants, losing both humanity and dignity.
+ A strong critique of the brutal society that oppresses them.
+ The discovery of goodness even in those who have been dehumanized.
Answer to Question 4 (Page 142, Literature 11, Volume 1):
Nam Cao's distinctive artistic style:
- Always focused on the inner world of individuals.
- Remarkable skill in describing and analyzing characters' psychological states.
- Able to write about the smallest details of everyday life while addressing major social issues with profound philosophical depth and a unique narrative voice.
=> His writing is cold, clear-eyed, weighed down by introspection, yet full of warmth and compassion. Nam Cao is regarded as one of the leading writers in 20th-century Vietnamese literature.
