Top 6 Best Essays on 'Chạy Giặc' (Nguyễn Đình Chiểu) (Literature 11)

Structure

2 parts

Part 1 (First 6 lines): A vivid depiction of the chaotic retreat during the war.

Part 2 (The remaining 2 lines): The author's deep sorrow and personal reflections.

Lesson Overview

This poem vividly portrays the chaotic retreat, while expressing the author's profound sorrow for the nation's suffering and his intense hatred towards the invading forces of the enemy.

Essay Writing Guide

Question 1 (Page 49, Literature 11 Textbook, Volume 1):

- The tragic situation of the country is depicted through these striking images:

+ Children helplessly running

+ Birds frantically flying away

+ The riverbank foaming in turmoil

+ The sky over Đồng Nai clouded with despair

=> The poet uses powerful imagery to capture the sudden, overwhelming, and sorrowful scenes of the chaotic retreat during the war.

Question 2 (Page 49, Literature 11 Textbook, Volume 1):

- The author's emotions: Deep sorrow seeing the people trapped in such misery.

- The author's attitude: Intense hatred towards the enemy, and a yearning for a wise leader to rescue the nation.

Question 3 (Page 49, Literature 11 Textbook, Volume 1):

The question asks, 'Why is the palace silent when the people are suffering?'

- This rhetorical question reveals the author's bitter criticism of the feudal government, highlighting his deep patriotism and concern for the welfare of the people.

Answer to Question 1 (Page 49, Literature 11 Textbook, Volume 1):

The situation of the country and its people when the French invaders arrived:

- The marketplace was in disarray as the sound of gunfire from the French signaled the sudden onset of the invasion. The people were exhausted from a long day and caught off guard.

- The downfall of the Nguyễn Dynasty was as quick as a game of chess lost in an instant: The country was swiftly thrown into turmoil and despair, with no hope for recovery.

- Children running aimlessly, abandoning their homes, and the birds frantically flying away: These heartbreaking images depict the defenseless children fleeing in terror, without direction or hope.

- The once prosperous Bến Nghé is now a place of water foam, and Đồng Nai, once a land of plenty, now darkened under clouds: The fertile lands, once rich and thriving, have been ravaged and destroyed.

=> The scene is one of deep tragedy, a country losing its freedom and people in chaos.

Answer to Question 2 (Page 49, Literature 11 Textbook, Volume 1):

The emotions and feelings of the author in the face of the French invasion:

- Shocked, bewildered, and stunned by the sudden disaster of foreign invasion.

- Grief and sorrow for the country's fall and the destruction of families and homes.

- Hatred for the invaders and those who betrayed the country.

Answer to Question 3 (Page 49, Literature 11 Textbook, Volume 1):

The poet's attitude as expressed in the rhetorical question in the last two lines:

- The bitterness towards the court and the cry of the people fleeing from the invaders.

- The sarcastic and harsh questioning; 'How could you allow the people to suffer?' is a lament, condemning the Nguyễn court for abandoning its people to face destruction.

- The final lines express both a sense of resignation and a critical view of the powerless and irresponsible court that abandoned the country and its people.

- Along with vivid, realistic descriptions, symbolic imagery and a sorrowful tone reflect the poet's deep emotions.

- This is a portrayal of the poet’s love for his people, hatred for the cruel invaders, and a silent reproach towards the incompetent court.

Structure

Structure: 2 parts

- Part 1 (first six lines): The situation of the country and its people during the French invasion.

- Part 2 (last two lines): The emotions and attitudes of the poet.

Question 1 (Page 49, Vietnamese Literature 11, Volume 1)

The state of the land and people when the French invaders arrived:

- The marketplace dissolves as the sound of gunfire from the French invaders rings out: the sudden calamity of invasion strikes just after a long day, as people prepare to return home to their families.

- A chessboard where one wrong move leads to defeat: the Nguyễn Dynasty quickly crumbles, and the nation plunges into an irreparable disaster.

- Children scatter, fleeing in terror / The lost birds fly aimlessly: a heartbreaking image of helpless children running in panic, without direction or protection.

- Bến Nghé and Đồng Nai, once prosperous, now lie in ruin, swallowed by flames and pillaged: once thriving regions are now ravaged and destroyed.

> Nguyễn Đình Chiểu’s vivid realism paints a scene of panic, death, and destruction as the nation faces the overwhelming force of French colonial invasion.

Question 2 (Page 49, Vietnamese Literature 11, Volume 1)

- The author’s emotional response to the loss of the country, the destruction of homes, and the suffering of the people:

+ Shocked and dazed by the unexpected invasion.

+ Deep sorrow and grief for the nation’s downfall.

+ Hatred for the invaders and those who betrayed the country.

Question 3 (Page 49, Vietnamese Literature 11, Volume 1)

The attitude of Nguyễn Đình Chiểu through the concluding two lines:

“Ask where the defenders of the land have gone,”

“Why let the common people suffer like this?”

- These two final lines raise pointed, specific questions, not abstract ones. The question “Where are the defenders of the land?” expresses the author’s deep resentment of the incompetent court officials and the cry for help from the suffering masses.

- The rhetorical question conveys sarcasm and bitterness, criticizing the Nguyễn Dynasty for abandoning the people to their suffering during this calamity.

- These closing lines reflect both the poet’s emotional anguish and his criticism of the weak and irresponsible government that failed to protect the country and its people.

- Alongside vivid, realistic depictions, the symbolic images and the poignant, sorrowful tone of the poem highlight the poet’s deep affection for the people and his disdain for the brutal invaders and the inept ruling class.

Structure

- The first two lines describe the sudden outbreak of French gunfire.

- The next two lines depict the chaos and destruction of the people’s lives.

- The following two lines summarize the aftermath of the invasion.

- The final two lines express the poet’s sorrow and criticism of the helpless, inept officials.

Question 1 (Page 49, Vietnamese Literature 11, Volume 1)

The poem begins by describing:

+ The panic of the people fleeing at the sound of the invaders’ guns.

+ The chaos of a rural market disrupted by the invaders.

+ The critical situation of the country, as depicted by the metaphor “one wrong move on a chessboard” representing the sudden collapse of the Nguyễn Dynasty.

+ The picture of terrified children running aimlessly, and birds flying frantically in the chaos.

+ The inability of the feudal government to respond to the enemy, resulting in national disaster and loss of life and property.

b. Analyzing the distinctiveness of the author’s realistic style:

+ The two lines describing the destruction of the country offer a vivid, tragic portrayal of the people’s fate as they face the sudden appearance of the French invaders.

+ The use of inversion emphasizes the despair and confusion of the children and the birds, symbolizing the nation’s collective panic and disorientation.

+ The specific locations of Bến Nghé and Đồng Nai, once prosperous, now lay in ruin, overtaken by the invaders.

+ The poet’s words express his profound sorrow and rage over the plight of the innocent people, as well as his deep hatred for the invaders.

+ The poem conveys the poet’s anger and determination through sharp, poignant imagery.

Question 2 (Page 49, Vietnamese Literature 11, Volume 1)

Each line of the poem resonates with the painful cry of the poet’s heart, grieving for his homeland ravaged by the enemy’s cruelty.

+ The poet laments the loss of the country and the devastation of its people.

+ He expresses despair at the sight of his homeland overwhelmed by foreign invaders, while the feudal government does nothing to protect the people.

→ Nguyễn Đình Chiểu’s work stands as a shining example of resistance against foreign aggression.

Question 3 (Page 49, Vietnamese Literature 11, Volume 1)

The final lines of the poem reflect the poet’s deep sorrow for his nation’s suffering:

+ He poses a rhetorical question, specifically asking who will come to the rescue of the nation.

+ The term “defenders” carries a tone of respect, questioning those in power regarding their failure to act in the face of the national crisis.

+ In the final lines, the poet lowers the status of these officials, revealing their incompetence.

+ The poet indirectly accuses the Nguyễn Dynasty of being weak, ineffective, and cowardly.

→ The poem combines realistic portrayal with broader commentary to condemn the invaders and mourn the suffering of the people. Its value lies in its portrayal of Nguyễn Đình Chiểu’s fierce resistance spirit against foreign invaders.

Structure

Part 1 (First 6 lines): The heartbreaking scene of the country as foreign invaders arrive.

Part 2 (Last 2 lines): The author's sorrow and reflections.

Question 1 (Page 49, Vietnamese Literature 11, Volume 1):

- The state of the country: desolate and sorrowful.

+ abandoning homes, losing foundations

+ children scattered in panic, birds flying aimlessly

+ wealth dissolving like foam on water, tiles stained by the color of the sky

- Realistic writing: The imagery vividly captures the chaos and tragedy of the people, the death and despair that followed the first wave of French colonial invasion.

Question 2 (Page 49, Vietnamese Literature 11, Volume 1):

- The author's emotions and mindset:

+ Grief and sorrow at the loss of the nation and its people.

+ Hatred towards the invading French forces.

+ A longing for a wise leader to rise up, to drive out the invaders, and to save the country and its helpless citizens from this disaster.

Question 3 (Page 49, Vietnamese Literature 11, Volume 1):

- The phrase "Where have the heroes gone?" is used sarcastically, criticizing the abandonment of the people by the Nguyen court during this time of crisis.

- The final lines express both admiration and condemnation, criticizing the powerless and irresponsible Nguyen dynasty for abandoning the land and its people.

- Alongside the precise, realistic details, the symbolic imagery and the sorrowful tone of the poem convey the deep emotions of the poet.

- It expresses love for the people, hatred for the brutal invaders, and a subtle reproach toward the ineffective court.

Meaning

"Running from the Invaders" is one of the earliest patriotic works of the late 19th century, reflecting the horrors and pain of the country when the French came to invade, while also expressing the poet's own grief at this harsh reality.

Structure: 4 parts

- 2 lines Introduction: The people's plight as they flee from invaders

- 2 lines Description: The suffering of the common folk

- 2 lines Argument: The atrocities of the invading forces

- 2 lines Conclusion: The author's attitude towards the situation

Question 1 (Page 49, 11th Grade Literature Textbook, Volume 1):

The tragic scene of the country is depicted through vivid imagery:

+ Children running in confusion

+ Flocks of birds flying aimlessly

+ The river of Ben Nghe disturbed by the waves

+ The Dong Nai River clouded by mist

This imagery creates a realistic and dramatic portrayal of the chaos, death, and sorrow that gripped the nation during the early days of the French colonial invasion.

Question 2 (Page 49, 11th Grade Literature Textbook, Volume 1):

In this context, the author's emotions and thoughts emerge:

- The author's mood: sorrow and grief at the destruction of the nation and loss of homes.

- The author's attitude: hatred towards the invaders and hope for a leader to rise up and drive out the colonial forces, saving the country from ruin.

Question 3 (Page 49, 11th Grade Literature Textbook, Volume 1):

The two lines of poetry pose a question that is specific, not just general. The phrase 'Who is responsible for ending the chaos?' refers to the authorities who should be concerned with the country's and people's plight. The poet then condemns their indifference and irresponsibility for allowing the nation to fall into a state of ruin, where the people suffer terribly. The question reflects the poet's deep sorrow for the nation's fate.

This conveys the profound realism in the work.