1. Composition on "How to Write an Expressive Essay on a Literary Work" No. 4
I. UNDERSTANDING HOW TO WRITE AN EXPRESSIVE ESSAY ON A LITERARY WORK
1. Read the essay "Thoughts on a Folk Song" (page 146, Textbook for Grade 7, Volume 1).
2. Answer the following questions:
a. What folk song is discussed in the essay? Please read the full song.
b. How does the author express their thoughts about the folk song? Look for signs of imagination, associations, reflections, and contemplation in the essay.
Answer:
a) The folk song discussed is: "Last night I stood by the pond"
Last night I stood by the pond
Watching fish dive, stars dimly shine
Sad to see the spider spinning its web
Spider, oh spider, who are you waiting for?
Night after night, I think of the Milky Way
The star of Tinh Dau has been three years
The stone wears down, but the heart does not fade
Dao Khe’s river flows but remains unmoved.
b) The author expresses thoughts through imagination, associations, recollections, and contemplation of the song's images and details:
- The emotions and associations from the first two lines: "Last night... stars dimly shine".
- The emotions and associations from the following lines: "Sad to see... who are you waiting for?"
- The emotions and associations from the next lines: "Night after night... three years".
- The emotions and associations from the final lines: "The stone wears down... remains unmoved".
The author expresses their feelings through imagining a specific person in a distant land, recalling memories of home, and associating the imagery of the spider and its web, and the river of the Milky Way with nostalgia and longing. The author also evokes a deep sense of loyalty, symbolized by the river Dao Khe that still flows despite the passing of time.
II. EXERCISE SECTION
Question 1. Share your thoughts on one of the following poems: "Thoughts on a Quiet Night", "Written by Chance on Returning to My Homeland", "Night Scene", "Full Moon Night".
Suggested answer for the poem "Night Scene".
a. Introduction: Introduce the poem by Uncle Ho and the context in which the writer encountered it.
b. Body: Feelings and thoughts evoked by the poem:
- The moment the writer connects with nature.
- The poetic comparison of the sound of the stream to a song.
- The lyrical beauty of the moon.
- The writer’s patriotic heart as both a poet and a revolutionary soldier.
- Thoughts on the artistic characteristics of the poem.
c. Conclusion: A general impression of the poem.
Question 2. Outline your thoughts on the poem "Written by Chance on Returning to My Homeland".
Suggested answer:
a. Introduction: Introduce briefly about Ha Tri Chang and the poem.
b. Body: Emotions and thoughts about the poem’s images and feelings:
- Unique and special circumstances surrounding the poem’s creation.
- The contrast between youth and age, going far and returning home, and the poet’s changes (the loss of his youth).
- The unchanging feature after years of separation: the voice of the homeland (symbolizing affection for the hometown).
- The poet’s sadness when the children in the village see him as a stranger.
- Thoughts on the poem’s artistic features.
c. Conclusion: Overall feeling towards the poem and the writer’s affection for their homeland.
You can also refer to more model essays on the topic "Thoughts on the poem Written by Chance on Returning to My Homeland".

2. Composition on "How to Write an Expressive Essay on a Literary Work" No. 5
I. Understanding How to Write an Expressive Essay about a Literary Work
Example: Reading the poem:
THOUGHTS ABOUT A FOLK SONG
Last night I stood by the pond
Watching the fish dive, watching the stars dim...
The illustration in the lesson shows the silhouette of a person wearing a scarf and a long robe, hands clasped behind their back, gazing at the sparkling stars in the sky near the dimly lit bridge by the pond.
At times, I thought this person was someone familiar, perhaps a relative from afar, yearning for home:
Looking at the spider weaving its web
Oh spider, spider, who are you waiting for?
I only vaguely heard the teacher explaining meanings, ideas, and comparing images. My mind and gaze were more fixated on the trembling web before the wind, with a spider suspended in the air, its legs outstretched, seemingly watching, yet waiting, confused and disappointed. The wind at night whispered. And the silhouette of the person in the headscarf, hands clasped behind, without a face, calling out to the sky, to the stars, to the spider.
At night, I imagined the Milky Way
The Star of the North had been shining for three full years...
So, that starry region like sand or crystal in the illustration is the Milky Way? A! The Silver River! The Silver River! This is the legendary river I had known for so long, where every July, a couple named Cowherd and Weaver Girl meet, just for one day, and that river, with its unnamed figure, is familiar and dear to me, gazing upwards, filled with longing and waiting. A longing and nostalgia that cannot be fully described—of someone, somewhere, a place, a feeling, a scene, both vague and tender:
The stone may erode, but the heart never fades
Though the Tào Khê river flows, it remains unchanged.
And there’s the Tào Khê river again! More than forty years later, I stood on its muddy bank, looking at the sky, the clouds, the river, and the stars. The Tào Khê river winds through Quế Võ district in Bắc Hà province, flowing into the Cầu river. It’s small and narrow, but its currents stir deep emotions, making even those who have been there before feel the nostalgia:
The stone may erode, but the heart never fades, I said to the river:
- Oh Tào Khê! The Tào Khê river is filled with worn stones! But the Tào Khê river’s waters never run dry, just like my steadfast loyalty!
Because of the nostalgia and sadness, a poem not thoroughly studied still sticks in my memory, as did many of my friends.
(Nguyên Hồng, A Childhood of Literature)
2. Answering Questions
a. Which folk song is the essay about? Read the full folk song.
b. The author expresses their thoughts about the folk song through imagination, association, reflection, and contemplation of its images and details. Identify these elements in the essay.
Answer:
a. The essay is about the folk song: 'Because of the nostalgia, I feel sadness.'
Here is the full folk song:
Last night I stood by the pond
Watching the fish dive, watching the stars dim.
Sadness watching the spider spinning its web
Oh spider, spider, who are you waiting for?
At night, I imagined the Milky Way
The Star of the North had been shining for three full years.
The stone may erode, but the heart never fades
Though the Tào Khê river flows, it remains unchanged.
b. Imagination: A person with a scarf, wearing a long robe, hands clasped behind, gazing at the twinkling stars, standing by the dim bridge near the pond.
Association: A truly familiar person, perhaps a relative from afar, yearning for home.
Reflection: I vaguely heard the teacher explaining meanings and comparing images. My focus, mind, and eyes were fixed on the trembling web in the wind, as a spider dangled in the air, seemingly watching, while also waiting, confused, and disappointed.
Contemplation: So, that starry region like sand, like crystal in the illustration is the Milky Way? A! The Silver River! The legendary river I have known for so long... filled with both wistfulness and longing.
Again, the Tào Khê river! Forty years later, I stood on its bank, gazing at the sky and the river. Many of my old friends have felt the same way.
Remember:
Expressing thoughts about a literary work is to share one's feelings, imagination, associations, and reflections on its content and form.
Structure: 3 parts
Introduction: Introduce the work and the context of encountering it.
Body: Feelings and thoughts prompted by the work.
Conclusion: General impression of the work.
Practice
Question 1: Express your thoughts on one of the following poems: ...
Express your thoughts on one of the following poems: Thoughts in a Silent Night, Spontaneously Written After Returning to My Hometown, The Night Scene.
Answer:
Thoughts on the poem 'The Night Scene'
Outline:
a. Introduction:
Introduce the author Hồ Chí Minh
Context of writing: The early years of the resistance against the French.
Overall impression: The beautiful night scene in the Vietnam Bắc forest and the feelings of the author.
b. Body
Lines 1+2: The calm, poetic scene of a moonlit forest night.
In the quiet of the night, the sound of the stream flows gently. The verse uses a unique comparison technique.
The moonlight shines on the ground, creating beautiful patterns of light and shadow, creating a magical and mysterious atmosphere.
-> Creating a stunning moonlit forest scene that captivates the reader.
Lines 3+4: The author’s feelings in the quiet of the night.
In the enchanting landscape of the Vietnam Bắc forest, the author is entranced by the scenery.
The author hasn’t slept, partly because the beautiful night scene delights the artist’s soul, and partly because of concerns for the country.
-> The love for nature is inseparable from the deep patriotism of the author.
c. Conclusion:
Restate the writer’s feelings: This is a beautiful poem expressing the sensitive soul and deep patriotism of the author.
Sample Essay:
Ho Chi Minh is not only known as a brilliant politician and a great leader of the Vietnamese people, but he is also recognized as an artist with a free-spirited, joyful, and independent soul. The poem 'The Night Scene' was written in 1947 when he was living and working in the resistance base in Vietnam Bắc during the early years of the resistance against the French. The poem, written in the form of a four-line stanza, uses simple, pure language, yet conveys the author’s soul, love for nature, and his deep concern for the nation:
The stream’s sound is as clear as a distant song
The moon shines through the trees, casting shadows on flowers
The night scene seems like a painting of a person who is awake
Not sleeping, thinking about the nation’s fate
The scene depicts an incredibly peaceful and quiet night in the Vietnam Bắc mountains. I imagine the vastness of nature, with the moon high in the sky, its light streaming through the leaves, creating glowing patches on the ground like flowers. The sound of the stream flows gently and clearly, like a song. This reminds me of the stream in Nguyễn Trãi's poem:
Côn Sơn stream flows gently
I hear it like the sound of a zither by my ear
Both poems feature the sound of a stream, but each portrays it differently. While Nguyễn Trãi’s stream sounds like a gentle and delicate zither, the stream in Hồ Chí Minh’s poem is clear and high-pitched, like a song. Despite the differences, the natural sounds in both poems are portrayed with great emotion and sensitivity.
People often think that Hồ Chí Minh focused solely on nature, but no, his main concern was always the fate of the country:
The night scene seems like a painting of a person who is awake
Not sleeping, thinking about the nation’s fate
The country was still suffering under the oppression of invaders, and the people were enduring hardship, so how could the leader rest peacefully? No matter how beautiful the nature was, how peaceful the sounds, if people lived in slavery, none of it would matter. The image of the revolutionary soldier becomes even more significant and grand, not because of the silhouette illuminated by the moonlight but because of the deep concerns about the country’s fate.
The poem ends with the image of the revolutionary soldier contemplating the struggle, yet it leaves the reader with the profound heart of a person who is wholeheartedly devoted to the people and the country, fighting for freedom and democracy.
Question 2: Outline an essay expressing thoughts on the poem...
Outline an essay expressing thoughts on the poem 'Spontaneously Written After Returning to My Hometown'.
Answer:
a. Introduction: Briefly introduce Hạ Tri Chương and the poem.
b. Body: Feelings and thoughts about the images and emotions in the work.
Context of writing the poem and its uniqueness.
The contrast of being young and old, far away and returning, and the changes in the author (his hair has fallen).
What remains unchanged after so many years: the voice of home (which is also the love for the homeland).
The encounter with the children in the village.
The author’s sorrow at being seen as a stranger by the children.
c. Conclusion:
General thoughts on the poem.
Feelings of the author towards the homeland.

3. Composition "How to write an expressive essay about a literary work" number 6

4. Essay on "How to Write an Emotional Essay on a Literary Work" No. 1
Question 1: Read the essay
Question 2: Answer the questions
a. The essay is about the folk song "Last Night, I Stood by the Pond":
Last night, I stood by the pond
Watching fish dive, watching stars fade
Feeling lonely, watching the spider spin its web
Spider, oh spider, who awaits the next prey?
Every night, I dream of the Milky Way
The North Star has been fixed for three years
The rocks may wear down, but my heart does not
Tào Khê, the water still flows steady.
b. The elements in the essay:
- Imagery: a figure wearing a scarf and long dress...
- Imagination and association: At times, I think this is a real acquaintance of mine, perhaps a close relative...
- Memory and imagination: The sound of the evening breeze and the figure...
- Reflection and pondering: Here is the Tào Khê river again! Over forty years later, I stood by its bank, observing the sky, the river, and the stars...
Practice
Express your thoughts:
a. The Poem "Thoughts on a Tranquil Night":
Introduction:
- Briefly introduce the author.
- Introduce the poem.
Main Body:
The emotions and thoughts evoked by the work:
+ The scene of moon gazing.
+ The vague, sorrowful tone.
+ The act of looking up and down, symbolizing homesickness.
→ Recognize the author’s love for nature and nostalgia.
Conclusion:
The short poem carries profound meaning. The author’s longing for home and their subtle perception of nature provoke deep reflection.
b. The Poem "Accidentally Written Upon Returning to My Hometown":
Introduction:
Introduce the main points about the author, the work, and the poem's context.
Main Body:
- Thoughts on leaving and returning: contrasts between the old and the new, youth and age, far and near, represented by the image of mist and graying hair.
- The poet’s sense of alienation as they are called a guest on their own land.
- Sympathy for the poet’s predicament.
Conclusion:
Shared emotions with the work, empathy for those far from home, and the feeling of homesickness.
c. The Poem "Night Scene":
Introduction:
Introduce the poem, highlighting its key elements.
Main Body:
- The time of day when the poet engages with nature.
- Analyze the beauty of delicate comparisons and the poetic imagery such as "the stream’s voice" and "moonlight filtering through the tree branches, shadows mingling with flowers".
- Perceiving the poet’s soul that loves nature and their devotion to both the people and the nation.
Conclusion:
The poem leaves a lasting impression of the poet and their work’s deeper themes.
d. The Poem "Full Moon of the First Lunar Month":
Introduction:
Share your knowledge about President Ho Chi Minh and the full moon of the first lunar month. Introduce the poem.
Main Body:
- The vast and expansive imagery in the poem.
- The scene of the full moon at the beginning of spring, the moon’s "radiance", and the vitality of spring filling the air.
→ Express the poet’s love for nature and their poetic soul.
- The image of President Ho and his comrades "discussing military matters" on a boat → optimism and joyfulness in the revolutionary spirit.
- The final verse, full of the moon’s dreamy radiance, symbolizes imminent victory and conveys unshakable confidence in the revolution.
Conclusion:
The Full Moon of the First Lunar Month is a unique poem. It showcases not only the poet’s love for nature but also the optimistic spirit during the hardships of war.

5. Essay on "How to Write an Emotional Essay on a Literary Work" No. 2
Part I: Understanding How to Write an Emotional Essay on a Literary Work:
1. Read the text:
2. Answer the questions (page 147, Literature 7, Volume 1):
a. The essay is about the folk song: "Last Night, I Stood by the Pond".
b. The elements:
- Imagery: a figure wearing a scarf and a long dress...
- Imagination and association: At times, I think this is a real acquaintance of mine, maybe even a close relative...
- Memory and imagination: The sound of the evening breeze and the figure...
- Reflection and pondering: Here comes the Tào Khê river again! Over forty years later, I stood at its banks, gazing at the sky, the river, and the stars...
Part II: PRACTICE:
Answer the questions (page 148, Literature 7, Volume 1):
1. Thoughts on the poem "Night Scene":
* Introduction: introduce the poem by Ho Chi Minh.
* Main Body:
- The time of day when Ho Chi Minh connected with nature.
- The imagery, vivid and intertwined.
- The harmony between nature and man.
- Ho Chi Minh’s noble spirit: His devotion to the people and the nation.
* Conclusion: General feelings. Thoughts on the work.
2. Create an outline for "Accidentally Written Upon Returning to My Hometown":
* Introduction: Briefly introduce the poem and its context.
* Main Body:
- Reflect on the poet’s departure and return.
- The contrasts between the changes and the constants in the poet’s life.
- The poet being viewed as a stranger in their own land.
- Sympathy for the poet.
* Conclusion: Empathy for those far from home.
Brief Key Concepts:
Expressing thoughts on a literary work (essay, poem) involves sharing your emotions, imagination, associations, and reflections on both the content and form of the work.
An emotional essay on a literary work also consists of three parts:
Introduction: Introduce the work and the context in which it was encountered.
Main Body: Emotions and thoughts evoked by the work.
Conclusion: Overall impression of the work.
Specific Content Overview
I. Understanding How to Write an Emotional Essay on a Literary Work
An emotional essay aims to express one’s feelings, thoughts, and evaluation about the world and stir empathy in the reader. ...
Expressing thoughts on a literary work (essay, poem) is about sharing emotions, imagination, associations, and reflections about its content and form.
An emotional essay about a literary work includes:
Introduction: Introduce the work (including how you encountered it).
Main Body: Thoughts on the work: What themes are expressed in the work? How do you perceive the way those themes are presented?
Thoughts on artistry: How are the themes conveyed artistically? Evaluate those artistic methods.
Conclusion: General impressions and thoughts on the work.
II. Example:
Thoughts on the poem "Night Scene".
1. Introduction
Introduce the poem "Night Scene" by Ho Chi Minh
2. Main Body
a. The beauty of nature in the first two lines
The whispering stream, trickling, echoing like a sweet song.
The moonlight provides shelter, illuminating the forested mountains.
The moonlight envelops everything, covering the old trees and embracing the flowers.
→ A poetic, enchanting, and vivid depiction of nature with sound and visuals.
b. The beauty of the revolutionary soul
Ho Chi Minh doesn’t sleep:
Because nature is too beautiful
Because his heart remains heavy with concerns for the nation.
→ A heart that never ceases to worry for the country, showing deep love for the nation.
c. A summary of the poem’s content and artistry: It vividly portrays the night scene in the forests of Việt Bắc, while also sketching the portrait of a revolutionary patriot who is deeply concerned about the nation’s fate.
3. Conclusion
Thoughts on the poem: Ho Chi Minh’s poems are simple, easy to understand, easy to memorize, and filled with affection. Reading his poems, I feel more love and respect for his heart. I will strive to study well and live meaningfully to live up to his hopes and sacrifices.

6. Essay on "How to Write an Emotional Essay on a Literary Work" No. 3

