Top 6 Best Essays on 'Sống chết mặc bay' by Phạm Duy Tốn for 7th Grade

EXPLORING THE AUTHOR AND THE WORK

1. The Author

- Pham Duy Ton (1883 - 1924) was born in Phuong Vu village, Thuong Tin district, Ha Tay province (now part of Hanoi); his birthplace was Dong Tho village (now Hang Dau street, Hanoi).

- He was a pioneering social writer in early 20th-century Vietnamese literature, one of the few to achieve early success in the modern short story genre.

- Pham Duy Ton did not write prolifically, and his works often reflect a clear and profound engagement with the realities of society.

- Though somewhat influenced by traditional ethical trends, his short stories tended to highlight the decaying social reality of his time. In "Sống chết mặc bay" (Life and Death as It Comes), he denounces the ruthless ruling class, obsessed with pleasure, leaving the people to suffer from floods.

- His entire literary legacy consists of just four short stories: "Bực mình hay Câu chuyện thương tâm" (Annoyed or the Heartbreaking Story) (1914), "Sống chết mặc bay!" (Life and Death as It Comes) (1918), "Con người Sở Khanh" (The Man of Sở Khanh) (1919), and "Nước đời lắm nỗi" (The Many Woes of Life) (1919).

2. The Work

- "Sống chết mặc bay!" is Pham Duy Ton's debut and most famous short story, and also the first short story in modern Vietnamese literature, published in Nam Phong magazine in December 1918.

- The innovation of the short story lies not only in its content and vividly depicted details but also in its fresh narrative form.

- The story strongly criticizes a corrupt, heartless official and expresses sympathy for the people's suffering caused by both natural disasters and the irresponsible behavior of the ruling class. The harsh reality of life seems to be tightly compressed in the story to emphasize a specific phenomenon or a deep-rooted aspect of human relationships or psyche.

- Artistic Features:

+ The language is vivid and concrete, with sharply depicted details and a fresh narrative style.

+ The successful use of contrast and escalation in narrative technique.

+ The contrast between the hardworking, desperate peasants and the idle, irresponsible official is sharply illustrated.

- Structure: 3 parts

+ Part 1 (From the beginning to "This section of the dyke is about to break"): The danger of the dyke breaking and the villagers' struggle.

+ Part 2 (From "continue to..." to "Damn you!"): The official and his aides playing cards while supposedly overseeing the dyke.

+ Part 3 (Remaining): The dyke breaks, and the villagers fall into a disastrous situation.

3. A Brief Summary of "Sống chết mặc bay"

At midnight in village X, part of dyke X is at risk of collapsing as the Nhị Hà river floods. Thousands of villagers struggle to hold it back. Meanwhile, the local official, supposed to oversee the dyke, is playing cards with his aides in the safety of the village temple. The official, indulging in the game, pays no attention to the cries of the villagers or warnings about the dyke. When he is told of its failure, he scolds the messenger and continues playing. Ultimately, as the game reaches its climax, the flood devastates the area, destroying homes and crops, leaving the living homeless and the dead unburied.

READING - UNDERSTANDING

Question 1 - Page 81 SGK

How can "Sống chết mặc bay" be divided? What does each part address?

Answer:

The short story "Sống chết mặc bay" can be divided into 3 parts:

- Part 1 (from the beginning to "This section of the dyke is about to break"): The risk of the dyke breaking and the villagers' response.

- Part 2 (from "Continue to..." to "Damn you!"): The negligent official, playing cards instead of overseeing the dyke.

- Part 3 (Remaining): The collapse of the dyke and the villagers' misery.

Question 2 - Page 81 SGK

The technique of contrast (also known as opposition) in literature involves creating actions, scenes, or characters that are in stark contrast to one another to emphasize a specific idea or the main theme of the work.

Based on this definition, please answer:

a) Identify the two main contrasting elements in "Sống chết mặc bay".

b) Analyze each of the contrasts in detail.

c) How is the character of the official portrayed through the two contrasting aspects?

d) What is the author's intention in creating this contrast?

Answer:

a) The two main contrasts in the story "Sống chết mặc bay" are: On one side, the villagers, struggling and desperately fighting against the floodwaters; on the other side, the official, leisurely playing cards while supposedly overseeing the dyke, unconcerned about the people's plight.

b) The villagers work tirelessly from late afternoon until nearly midnight. They are drenched, exhausted, and covered in mud, as the relentless rain falls and the river rises. The author comments: “The situation is truly tragic.”

c) The official, supposedly overseeing the dyke, sits comfortably in the temple. Some aides fan him while others serve him, creating a scene of luxury and leisure. Instead of performing his duty, he is engrossed in playing cards. Even when informed of the dyke’s collapse, he reacts harshly and continues with his game. He only cares about his game, indifferent to the suffering of the people.

d) The author uses the contrasting scenes to emphasize the irresponsibility of the official. The person in power is neglectful, obsessed with trivial pleasures, while the common people face life-and-death struggles against nature. This sharp contrast highlights the selfishness and cruelty of the ruling class.

Question 3 - Page 82 SGK

In literature, the technique of escalation (adding details gradually, each one more intense than the last) helps to emphasize the essence of an event or phenomenon. In "Sống chết mặc bay", the author skillfully combines contrast and escalation to reveal the character traits of the official.

Please analyze and justify this statement by answering the following questions:

a) How does the author use escalation to describe the increasing severity of the storm, rising river levels, the risk of dyke collapse, and the desperate efforts of the villagers?

b) How does escalation appear in the portrayal of the official's obsession with the card game?

c) What is the effect of combining contrast and escalation in revealing the official's "heartless" nature?

Answer:

a) The technique of escalation is used to describe the increasing danger of the dyke. The rain intensifies, the river level rises, and the villagers grow more exhausted as they fight to prevent the dyke's collapse.

b) Escalation is also used to depict the official's growing obsession with his card game. Initially, he is merely indifferent to his duty, but as the story progresses, he becomes increasingly aggressive and dismissive of the villagers' pleas.

c) By combining contrast and escalation, the author effectively critiques the official’s disregard for his responsibilities. While the villagers struggle with nature’s fury, the official grows more entrenched in his selfishness, playing cards as the flood devastates the region. This combination deepens the critique of the official’s cruelty.

Question 4 - Page 82 SGK

Discuss the realism, humanity, and artistic values (language and character imagery) in "Sống chết mặc bay".

Answer:

- The realism of the story is evident in its portrayal of the ruling class’s corruption, represented by the official who neglects his responsibilities while the people suffer from natural disasters.

- The humanistic value of the story lies in its empathy for the hardships of the laboring people, who endure the consequences of the ruling class's neglect.

- The artistic value lies in the modern style of writing in the national script. The characters are more nuanced, and the author uses contrast, escalation, and direct commentary to criticize the official's negligence, revealing his heartless nature.

EXERCISES

Question 1 - Page 83 SGK

What forms of language are used in the story "Sống chết mặc bay"? Please answer by checking the relevant boxes in the following table:

Answer:

Forms of language used in "Sống chết mặc bay":

Language form
Narrative language
Descriptive language
Expressive language
Storyteller's language
Character's language
Dialogue language

Question 2 - Page 83 SGK

From the official's dialogue, what can you infer about his character? Discuss the relationship between language and character.

Answer:

From the official's dialogue, he appears as a cruel, irresponsible, and greedy person. This demonstrates that language plays a crucial role in shaping character in narrative works.

A. Key Knowledge

1. Author:

Phạm Duy Tốn (1883-1924)
Born in: Phượng Vũ village, Thường Tín district, Hà Tây province
He was one of the first to achieve success in modern short story writing, with "Sống chết mặc bay" being his most notable work.
Though still somewhat influenced by traditional ethical trends, his short stories focused on depicting the decaying social realities of his time. In "Sống chết mặc bay," he criticized the ruthless ruling class, who indulged in luxury while leaving the people to suffer in floods.

2. The Work:

"Sống chết mặc bay" is categorized as a short story. At the beginning of the 20th century in Vietnam, this genre was still relatively new. Although there were narrative works in the medieval period, none fully exhibited the fundamental characteristics of the short story genre.
Short stories are a form of narrative fiction, with their defining characteristic being brevity. They provide a snapshot of a moment or an unusual phenomenon in life. All unnecessary details are removed to focus on the most crucial elements. In a short story, reality seems to be "compressed" in order to highlight a particular event or a key aspect of human relationships or emotions.

3. Summary of the Work:

It is nearly midnight, the rain is pouring heavily, and the water levels of the Nhị Hà river are rising, threatening to breach the embankment of X village. Hundreds, even thousands, of people are struggling against the rising floodwaters. Yet, in a nearby temple along the embankment, the local official and his men are leisurely playing cards. When someone reports that the embankment is about to collapse, he calmly scolds them. Finally, as the official triumphantly wins his card game, "all over the region, the water surged, flooding homes, crops, and leaving people homeless and dead without a place to bury them."

B. Exercise and Solution Guide

Question 1: Page 81, Grade 7, Literature Book 2

How can "Sống chết mặc bay" be divided into segments? What does each segment discuss?

Answer:
The short story "Sống chết mặc bay" can be divided into three parts:
Part 1: From the beginning to "Khúc đê này hỏng mất"
=> The imminent danger of the embankment breaking and the villagers' efforts to fight against the flood.
Part 2: From the next part to "Điếu, mày!"
=> The indifferent local official, preoccupied with his card game while the embankment is at risk.
Part 3: The rest
=> The embankment breaks, and the people are left in devastating circumstances.

Question 2: Page 81, Grade 7, Literature Book 2
Contrast (or opposition) in art is the creation of actions, scenes, or characters that are diametrically opposed, highlighting specific ideas or themes in the work.
Based on this definition, answer the following:
a. Identify the two main contrasts in "Sống chết mặc bay."
b. Analyze each of these contrasts.
c. How is the image of the official sent to guard the embankment portrayed by the author?
d. What is the author's purpose in creating this contrast?

Question 3: Page 82, Grade 7, Literature Book 2
In literary art, escalation (adding details progressively with each more intense than the last) is used to clarify the nature of an event or phenomenon. In "Sống chết mặc bay," the author skillfully combines contrast and escalation to reveal the character traits of the official.
Answer the following questions to analyze this technique:
a. How is escalation used in describing the storm, rising river, the danger of the embankment breaking, and the villagers' tense struggle?
b. How is escalation used in describing the official's increasing obsession with playing cards?
c. What is the effect of combining contrast and escalation to expose the true nature of the official in relation to the people's lives?

Question 4: Page 82, Grade 7, Literature Book 2
What is your general assessment of the social, humanitarian, and artistic value (language, imagery, etc.) of the short story "Sống chết mặc bay"?

Practice

Question 1: Page 83, Grade 7, Literature Book 2

List all narrative forms except for internal monologue.

Question 2: Page 83, Grade 7, Literature Book 2

From the official's dialogue, what can we infer about his character? Comment on the relationship between language and character.

Expansion: Share your thoughts on the condition of the peasants in the short story "Sống chết mặc bay"
Answer:
In the midst of a heavy storm, with floodwaters rising, the peasants are forced to continue their labor in the face of overwhelming odds. The situation grows increasingly desperate, yet there is no one to turn to for help. The official, nearby, is too engrossed in his card game to care. The peasants are left to face the storm and floodwaters alone, their suffering exacerbated by the official's neglect. This stark contrast between the official's leisure and the peasants' struggle highlights the story's critique of the feudal system, where the ruling class is indifferent to the plight of the common people.

I. Author and Work

1. The Author

Phạm Duy Tốn was a pioneering social writer of early 20th-century Vietnamese literature. Before becoming a writer and journalist, he worked as an interpreter at the Northern Governor's office. His short story "Sống chết mặc bay" is considered the first short story in Western style in Vietnamese literature.

2. The Work

* Genre:

The text "Sống chết mặc bay" belongs to the short story genre.

In Vietnam, around the early 20th century, the concept of short stories was still quite new. While the medieval period featured narratives and works with a storytelling nature, none truly embodied the fundamental characteristics of the short story genre.

Short stories are a form of narrative, and the key feature of this genre is its brevity. However, the length is not the sole determining factor. As mentioned, many medieval works (with narrative elements) cannot be categorized as short stories because the genre also involves other distinguishing features.

Unlike longer works (such as novels) and novellas, which typically depict the entire life of a character or a significant event in great detail, short stories focus on a snapshot, a moment, or a striking phenomenon in life. To convey profound meanings in a limited space, the language of a short story must be highly condensed. Unnecessary details (those irrelevant to the core plot) and excessive elaboration are eliminated to concentrate on the essential elements. In short stories, reality is often "compressed" to highlight a singular, profound human experience or insight.

* Summary

It is nearly one in the morning, with torrential rain and the Nhị Hà River's water level rising dangerously, threatening to breach the dyke at the village of X. Hundreds, even thousands of villagers struggle against the overwhelming force of the floodwaters. Meanwhile, in a nearby temple on a section of the dyke, the local officials casually play cards, indifferent to reports of the impending dyke collapse. When the official finally wins a big hand, it is the same moment the dyke breaks, flooding the area. Water swirls into deep vortices, sweeping homes, crops, and livestock away, leaving the living homeless and the dead unburied.

II. Guide to Preparing the Lesson

Question 1:

The text "Sống chết mặc bay" can be divided into three parts:

Part 1: From the beginning to "this section of the dyke is doomed": the threat of the dyke breaking and the villagers' efforts to reinforce it.
Part 2: From "Damn it, you!" to the official's indifference and gambling obsession amidst the imminent disaster.
Part 3: The rest of the story: The dyke breaks and the villagers suffer dire consequences.

Question 2:

Contrast (opposition) in art refers to the juxtaposition of actions, scenes, or characters that highlight a specific idea or the main theme of the work.

a) The two main contrasting elements in "Sống chết mặc bay" are:

On one side, the villagers are desperately struggling against the flood's force.
On the other, the official responsible for overseeing the dyke remains seated in comfort, absorbed in his card game, completely oblivious to the people's suffering and the dyke's collapse.

b) Analysis and clarification of each contrasting element:

The villagers at the dyke: It is nearly 1 a.m., torrential rain is falling, the water is rising rapidly, and the scene is one of extreme danger. The people are exhausted, but the rain continues to pour, and the dyke is weakening under the pressure of the floodwaters.
The official playing cards: In the temple, safe and dry, the environment is calm, majestic, and grand, with the official enjoying his card game.

c) Through the contrast, the image of the official overseeing the dyke is depicted as:

Sitting in a safe, comfortable place, with servants at his side
Indulging in luxury food and rare items
With a composed, nonchalant posture as though nothing is amiss
Ignoring the crisis at hand, even scolding those who report the imminent dyke breach.
When the official triumphantly calls out for his big card win, the floodwaters are already devastating the land.

d) The author's intention with this contrasting scene is to compare and highlight the opposites: the responsible person is negligent and absorbed in gambling, while the villagers endure harsh conditions in a futile struggle against nature. Ultimately, the official's irresponsibility leads to the dyke's collapse, while the villagers suffer as the floodwaters rise.

Question 3:

In literary art, there is also a technique of escalation (gradually adding details with each one increasing in intensity), which further clarifies the essence of an event or phenomenon. In "Sống chết mặc bay", the author skillfully combines contrast and escalation to clearly portray the character's nature.

a) The escalation in describing the increasing intensity of the rain, rising water levels, the threat of dyke collapse, and the villagers' mounting struggles (including the sound of drums, conch horns, and cries for help) is as follows:

The rain grows heavier
The water rises higher
The noise becomes louder
The people's strength diminishes
The threat of the dyke breaking grows closer

b) The escalation in describing the official's increasing obsession with gambling is:

His gambling addiction causes him to neglect his duties
Despite the external chaos, he remains calm and composed
He revels in the joy of a big card win while the dyke collapses

c) The effect of combining contrast and escalation in exposing the official's "inhuman" nature is:

This combination condemns and criticizes the official's selfish and callous behavior, showing his utter disregard for the lives of the villagers.

Question 4:

* Realistic Value: The work reflects the complete contrast between the lives of the people and the lives of the officials, while also criticizing the officials' irresponsibility toward the lives of the common people.

* Humanitarian Value: It expresses the author's deep sympathy for the suffering, impoverished lives of the villagers due to natural disasters and the officials' negligence.

* Artistic Value: The author successfully employs a combination of contrast and escalation. The language is vivid, emotional, and skillfully depicts the characters.

I. A Brief Overview of the Author Pham Duy Ton
- Pham Duy Ton (1883-1924), originally from Phuong Vu, Thuong Tin district, Ha Tay province (now Hanoi), born in Dong Tho village (now Hang Dau street, Hanoi)
- He was one of the pioneering authors of modern Vietnamese short stories
- His short stories often focus on contemporary social realities

II. A Brief Overview of the Work "Sống chết mặc bay"
1. Context of Creation
- "Sống chết mặc bay" was written in July 1918
- It is considered Pham Duy Ton's most successful work
2. Summary
The story revolves around the negligence of the local government official in village X, leading to the death of numerous people, houses being swept away, and crops flooded. The living had no shelter, and the dead had no place to rest. While the villagers struggled to hold back floodwaters, the official was indulging in a game of cards in the safety of a high and sturdy pavilion, indifferent to the plight of the people outside.
3. Structure (3 parts)
- Part 1 (from the beginning to "the dyke broke"): The situation of the dike collapse and the people’s efforts to stop it
- Part 2 (from there to "Dieu, you!"): The official playing cards while supposedly supervising the dike
- Part 3 (the rest): The dike breaks and the people fall into misery
4. Thematic Value
"Sống chết mặc bay" harshly criticizes the local official’s "heart of a wolf, soul of a beast" and shows sympathy for the "thousands of sorrows, endless miseries" faced by the people due to both natural disasters and the negligence of the authorities
5. Artistic Value
- Skillful use of contrast and escalation
- Vivid and emotionally rich language
- Clear character depictions

III. Lesson Plan Guide

Question 1 (page 81, Literature Textbook 6, Volume 2)

The short story "Sống chết mặc bay" can be divided into 3 sections:

Part 1 (from the beginning... the dyke broke): The villagers struggle with the collapsing dyke

Part 2 (next... dieu mày): The negligent officials play cards while ignoring the villagers during the flood

Part 3 (the rest): The dyke breaks, and the villagers are thrown into suffering

Question 2 (page 81, Literature Textbook 6, Volume 2)

- The contrasting elements in the story:

The people struggle with the flood, battling the heavy rain >< The officials, safe and secure, play cards, neglecting the villagers

b, Scene of the villagers at the dike: tense, chaotic

+ Villagers wade through the muddy swamp, drenched and exhausted

+ The rain pours down relentlessly, the river surges violently

⇒ The tragic scene of the villagers fighting the flood, enduring hardship

The scene of the officials: relaxed, safe

+ The officials sit in a secure, elevated place, playing cards

+ The atmosphere in the pavilion is calm, grand, and imposing

⇒ The officials’ negligence, greed

c, The image of the official supervising the dike: abandoning the people, sitting leisurely

+ The official’s luxury items reflect a lavish lifestyle: silver pipe, golden watch, ivory-handled knife

+ The official enjoys leisure with attendants, feasting on delicacies

+ The official, enraged, threatens to dismiss and expel the villagers who report the dyke breach

→ The villainous, greedy nature of the official

d, The author sets up the contrast to:

+ Expose the officials’ negligence, greed, and heartlessness

+ Highlight the desperate, hopeless situation of the villagers battling the flood

+ Contrast the villagers’ suffering with the officials’ satisfaction from winning a card game

Question 3 (page 82, Literature Textbook 6, Volume 2)

The use of escalation is evident in several aspects:

- The villagers’ efforts to stop the flood: escalation based on urgency: relentless rain, the river rises dramatically

- The scene of the officials’ leisure in the pavilion contrasts sharply with the villagers’ misery as they fight the flood

- Escalation is used to describe the official’s irresponsible, beastly attitude:

+ The official sits in safety, surrounded by attendants

+ The official scolds and threatens those who report the dyke breach

+ The official’s irresponsibility and unreasonable anger become increasingly evident

c, The use of escalation amplifies the critique of the official’s indifference and negligence in overseeing the dike.

+ The official is jubilant at winning a card game while the villagers are suffering in despair

→ The use of contrast enhances the depth of critique against the official’s heartless nature

Question 4 (page 82, Literature Textbook 6, Volume 2)

- Realistic Value: Reflects the greedy, irresponsible nature of the ruling class, epitomized by the official overseeing the dike

- Humanitarian Value: Shows empathy for the hardships and suffering of the working class in the face of nature’s wrath

- Artistic Value: The short story, written in the national language, begins to develop complex characters

+ The author uses contrast and escalation to directly criticize the officials’ brutal nature

Exercise

Question 1 (page 83, Literature Textbook 6, Volume 2): The types of language used in the story "Sống chết mặc bay" are

All the types of language mentioned, except for inner dialogue.

Question 2 (page 83, Literature Textbook 6, Volume 2): What does the dialogue of the district official reveal about the character? Please discuss the relationship between the character’s language and their personality.

The dialogue of the district official reveals the following character traits:

+ Arrogant, authoritarian, irresponsible...

+ He is indifferent, disregarding the lives of the people

⇒ There is a close relationship between the character’s language and their personality, which is a strength of the author’s writing

Meaning - Comments

Through vivid and specific language and the skillful use of contrast and escalation in the narrative techniques, students can see the author’s sharp critique of reality: strongly condemning the district official’s "heart of a wolf, soul of a beast." At the same time, students can feel the humanitarian spirit of the work through the sympathy for the "thousands of sorrows, endless miseries" of the people caused by both natural disasters and the irresponsible attitude of those in power.

I - ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE TO MASTER

1. The author

Phạm Duy Tốn (1883 - 1924), originally from Phượng Vũ village, Thường Tín district; born and raised in Đông Thọ village (now Hàng Dầu street), Hanoi. He was a writer, journalist, and a pioneer in modern short story writing.

2. The work

With vivid and detailed writing, and a skillful use of contrast and escalation, the story "Sống chết mặc bay" strongly condemns the corrupt local official with a "heart of a beast" while expressing sympathy for the "suffering and despair" of the people caused by natural disasters and the irresponsible attitude of those in power.

II - GUIDELINES FOR READING AND UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

Question 1. The short story "Sống chết mặc bay" can be divided into three sections:

Section 1 (from the beginning to "This part of the dyke is in danger"): The threat of the dyke breaking and the villagers' efforts to prevent it.

Section 2 (from there to "Damn, you!"): The irresponsible official, absorbed in gambling while on duty to protect the dyke.

Section 3 (the remainder): The dyke breaks, and the people face a tragic situation.

Question 2. Based on the definition of contrast:

a) The two main contrasting elements in "Sống chết mặc bay": On one side, the villagers struggle desperately against the wind and rain. On the other side, the official, safe and secure, sits in a dry, comfortable place, focused on his gambling, ignoring the people's fate as the dyke collapses.

b) The villagers working on the dyke: They toil non-stop from evening until nearly midnight, covered in mud, drenched to the bone, exhausted. Meanwhile, the rain pours down relentlessly, and the river rises rapidly. The author describes: "The situation looks truly tragic."

c) The official is seated in a safe, dry place. Some people fan him, others serve him as he plays cards. The scene is relaxed and grand. Instead of supervising the dyke, he enjoys his game, with servants attending to his needs. He becomes irritable when disturbed with news of the dyke breaking. He reacts by angrily ordering the arrest of the person who reported it. He continues to celebrate his card game while the villagers suffer from the dyke breach and the ensuing disaster.

d) The author uses these two contrasting scenes to highlight the irony: the responsible person is irresponsible, immersed in gambling, while the villagers suffer in harsh conditions, fighting nature with no hope. Ultimately, the official's negligence leads to the dyke’s failure. The official is content with his victory in the card game, while the villagers are devastated by the flood.

Question 3. a) The technique of escalation is used to describe the dire situation of the dyke. The rain intensifies. The river rises higher. The villagers are exhausted, barely hanging on.

b) Escalation is also used to describe the official’s increasing irresponsibility and cruelty. The official, rather than helping the villagers, sits comfortably in a safe place, while his servants attend to him. He plays cards leisurely, angrily orders arrests when disturbed, and celebrates his winnings, all while ignoring the villagers’ suffering.

c) The combination of contrast and escalation serves to criticize the official’s selfish behavior. While his gambling might seem like a personal flaw, doing so during an official duty related to the safety and well-being of the people shows utter irresponsibility. His joy from winning the card game, while the villagers endure suffering from the dyke failure, exposes his inhumanity. The author's use of both techniques deepens the critique of the official's actions.

Question 4. The social value of the story "Sống chết mặc bay" is that it reflects the corrupt nature of the ruling class, exemplified by the official who, despite being responsible for the people's welfare, prioritizes gambling over his duty, leading to disaster for the common people.

The humanistic value is seen in the author’s empathy for the villagers’ hardships, who suffer from natural disasters caused by the negligence of the officials.

The artistic value: This is a modern short story written in the national script. The characters are developed with distinct traits. The author uses techniques of contrast and escalation, along with direct commentary, to criticize and expose the flaws of the ruling class. The official reveals his immoral and irresponsible nature through his actions and words.

III - PRACTICE GUIDELINES

Question 1. Pay attention to the diversity of language forms in modern narrative works (compared to folk and classical stories). In this work, descriptive language is prominently used, especially in the passage depicting the official playing cards in the temple and the items he carries with him. Mark any other language forms you find.

Question 2. The official is arrogant, dictatorial, and irresponsible... His language is short, direct, and authoritative: He commands: "Damn, you!" He agrees with a simple: "Yeah." Sometimes his responses are blunt: "I don’t care! Just take it!" "Get rid of them!"

When frustrated, he unleashes a barrage of reprimands:

- The dyke is broken! The dyke is broken, and I will have you punished, throw you in prison. Do you understand? Soldiers, how dare you let him run in here like this? Where's the discipline?

The connection between language and character is strong. The language reflects the character’s personality. This is an effective artistic technique by the author.