Top 6 Best Guides for 'Đây thôn Vĩ Dạ' by Hàn Mặc Tử for 11th Grade

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Ngày cập nhật gần nhất: 15/4/2026

Content

1. Guide for 'Đây thôn Vĩ Dạ' - Version 4

2. Essay on "Đây Thôn Vĩ Dạ" - Version 5

3. Analysis of "Đây thôn Vĩ Dạ" - Version 6

4. Analysis of the Poem "Đây thôn Vĩ Dạ" - Version 1

5. Analysis of "The Village of Vĩ" - Part 2

6. The Essay on "This Village Vĩ Dạ" No. 3

1. Guide for 'Đây thôn Vĩ Dạ' - Version 4

A. KEY CONCEPTS

1. Author

Hàn Mặc Tử (1912 – 1940), born Nguyễn Trọng Trí, hailed from Đồng Hới, Quảng Bình, and was raised in Quy Nhơn, Bình Định Province.
Life and Career:
Hàn Mạc Tử began his poetic journey at the age of 14 or 15 under the pen names Lệ Thanh and Phong Trần. Despite facing numerous personal tragedies, he became one of the most influential figures in the New Poetry movement.
In 1936, he was diagnosed with leprosy and moved to Quy Nhơn for treatment. There, unable to bear the isolation, he turned to poetry for companionship. He passed away in Quy Hòa.
Notable works: 'Gái Quê', 'Lúa Chiêm', 'Sao Anh Không Về Chơi Thôn Vĩ', and his famous collection 'Điên'.

2. Poem Summary:

'Đây Thôn Vĩ Dạ' was written in 1938 and featured in the collection 'Thơ Điên'.
According to some sources, the poem was inspired by Hàn Mạc Tử's love for a girl from Vĩ Dạ, a small village by the poetic Hương River in Huế. Before falling ill, he had a romantic interest in a girl named Hoàng Thị Kim Cúc. Though they shared mutual affection, his shyness prevented him from confessing. When he contracted the disease, she was already married, but upon learning of his condition, she sent him a postcard.
The poem paints a beautiful picture of the countryside and reveals the poet's deep, passionate love for life and people.

B. EXERCISES AND SOLUTIONS

Question 1: Page 39, 11th-grade Literature Textbook, Volume 2

Analyze the beauty of the landscape and the poet's mood in the first stanza.

Answer:
The opening line, 'Sao anh không về chơi thôn Vĩ?' is a gentle reproach and a heartfelt invitation from the girl of Vĩ Dạ to the poet.
The image of 'sunlight on the areca trees, the new light' in Vĩ Dạ symbolizes a radiant, pure beauty, with sunlight sparkling on the fresh leaves of the areca palm, creating a vivid memory.
The description of the garden as 'lush' and 'green like jade' highlights the distinctive beauty of Vĩ Dạ's garden. The word 'lush' evokes a sense of freshness, while 'green like jade' conjures the image of tree canopies bathed in morning sunlight, giving them a translucent, jade-like hue.
In the first three lines, humans are not yet present. When they appear in the fourth line, the presence is shy and tentative: 'The bamboo leaves cover the face with a square-shaped expression.' This conveys a gentle, modest, and graceful demeanor.

Question 2: Page 39, 11th-grade Literature Textbook, Volume 2
What emotions do the images of wind, clouds, river, and moon in the second stanza evoke?

Answer:
In the second stanza, Hàn Mạc Tử uses vivid imagery to describe the wind, clouds, river, and moon.
'The wind blows through the wind, the clouds follow the path of the clouds, the river flows sadly, the corn flowers sway, and a boat docks at the moonlit riverbank. Does it carry the moon back in time tonight?'
The first two lines evoke the tranquil beauty of Huế. The images of wind and clouds typically travel together, but here they move in different directions, suggesting a sense of separation.
The stillness of the river and the quietness reflect an atmosphere of serenity and contemplation.
The image of the boat and the moon adds a magical, dreamlike quality, further enhancing the peaceful natural scenery of the first two lines.
The rhetorical question at the end reveals a deep yearning and hope, expressing the poet's profound sorrow.

Question 3: Page 39, 11th-grade Literature Textbook, Volume 2
How does the poet express his feelings in the third stanza? Does the question 'Who knows if love is deep?' convey a sincere desire for life? Why?

Answer:
In the third stanza, the poet directly expresses his thoughts on the people of Huế, revealing his emotional vulnerability.
The line 'Dreaming of distant guests, distant guests' is filled with sorrow and longing. It could signify the poet’s feeling of being a guest in this land, wishing to return but unable to.
The line 'Your white dress is so bright, I can't see it clearly' can be interpreted in two ways. Literally, Huế is often foggy and misty, and the white dress symbolizes purity, which becomes indistinct in the mist. Figuratively, the mist and haze could symbolize the confusion of life, blurring human relationships and creating distance.
The rhetorical question 'Who knows if love is deep?' expresses the poet’s doubt and uncertainty: although he longs for Huế, he wonders whether the people there still remember him. This uncertainty amplifies the loneliness and emptiness felt by someone yearning for human connection.

Question 4: Page 39, 11th-grade Literature Textbook, Volume 2
What is notable about the imagery and poetic technique used in the poem?

Answer:
The poem’s central theme, or 'tứ thơ', shapes the entire piece, guiding the poet's emotions, thoughts, and mood. The poem begins with the natural beauty of Vĩ Dạ by the Hương River, blending both real and imaginary elements to evoke feelings of longing, uncertainty, and hope regarding the land and people of Huế.
The poet combines realism, symbolism, romanticism, and lyricism in his style. The vivid portrayal of Huế’s natural beauty is rooted in reality but carries symbolic meaning. The dreamlike quality enhances the romantic tone, while the rawness of emotion deepens the lyrical quality of the poem.

PRACTICE
Question 1: Page 40, 11th-grade Literature Textbook, Volume 2
To whom are the questions in the poem addressed, and what is their role in expressing the poet’s mood?

Answer:
The questions in the poem are not directed at any specific person. They serve to express the poet's feelings, emotions, and state of mind.
The first question, 'Why don't you come to visit Vĩ Dạ?', is a gentle reproach from the girl.
The second question, 'Will the moon return tonight?', is a rhetorical question that reflects the poet’s hope and unspoken affection.
The final question, 'Who knows if love is deep?', intensifies the loneliness and emptiness in the poet’s heart, yearning for connection with life and humanity.

Question 2: Page 40, 11th-grade Literature Textbook, Volume 2
What are your thoughts on the context and content of the poem?

Answer:
The poem was written after Hàn Mạc Tử was diagnosed with leprosy and was undergoing treatment at the Quy Hòa leprosy colony. According to some sources, it was inspired by his unspoken love for Hoàng Thị Kim Cúc. Before falling ill, Hàn Mạc Tử had deep affection for her, but being shy, he never expressed his feelings. By the time he became ill, she had already married, but upon hearing of his condition, she sent him a postcard.
The poem’s main theme is the poet's intense love for life and people, especially during his most painful and despairing moments. This evokes empathy and sympathy from readers, as they connect with the poet’s suffering, creativity, and resilience to create such beautiful works despite personal torment.

Question 3: Page 40, 11th-grade Literature Textbook, Volume 2
Is this poem about love or homeland? Why does the poet's personal emotions resonate so deeply with readers across generations?

Answer:
This poem is about love, expressing the poet’s quiet, unspoken love for Hoàng Thị Kim Cúc. However, through this personal love, the poem also reflects the poet’s deep affection for his homeland.
The poem showcases the beauty of Huế’s landscape and people, revealing the poet's longing for his country. The heartfelt emotion, paired with vivid and evocative imagery, resonates deeply with readers across generations, as it speaks to universal themes of longing, love, and existential yearning.

Value of Content and Artistry of 'Đây Thôn Vĩ Dạ' by Hàn Mặc Tử
1. Content Value
The poem paints a beautiful picture of Vĩ Dạ, blending the purity and serenity of the countryside with the poet’s internal longing. This makes it not just a love poem, but also a reflection of the inner conflict and yearning felt by many. It is infused with deep sadness, longing, and mystery.
2. Artistic Value
The poetic language is rich and evocative, using vivid imagery to bring the scenery to life. The contrast between the tranquility of nature and the poet's inner turmoil creates a powerful emotional impact. The use of rhetorical questions deepens the reader’s emotional connection, drawing them into the poet’s world of solitude and unexpressed desire.

Illustration (Source: Internet)

2. Essay on "Đây Thôn Vĩ Dạ" - Version 5

I. THE AUTHOR Hàn Mặc Tử (1912-1940), born Nguyễn Trọng Trí, hailed from a poor Catholic family in Quảng Bình. His father died when he was young, and he began writing poetry at the age of 16. He studied in Huế, lived in Quy Nhơn, later worked as a civil servant, and eventually moved to Saigon as a journalist. In 1936, he was diagnosed with leprosy, a disease that caused immense suffering both physically and mentally until his death. In just a decade of writing, Hàn Mặc Tử made profound contributions to Vietnamese literature, with several poetry collections and plays. The book “Văn 11” describes Hàn Mặc Tử’s poetic soul as fierce yet tortured by pain, seemingly locked in a brutal struggle between the spirit and the body. His work falls into two distinctive themes: - One theme consists of simple and clear poems reflecting a soul deeply in love with the homeland, the lives of people, and nature. Poems like 'Đây thôn Vĩ Dạ,' 'Mùa xuân chín,' and 'Tình quê' belong to this group, evoking pure, bittersweet emotions that deeply move the reader with their vivid imagery. - The other theme includes frantic, eerie, and mystical poems expressing profound sorrow, despair, and the pain brought on by illness. II. CONTEXT OF THE POEM’S CREATION While working as a land surveyor in Quy Nhơn, Hàn Mặc Tử became acquainted with a young woman named Hoàng Cúc from Huế. Later, Hàn Mặc Tử moved to Saigon for work. When he returned to Quy Nhơn, he learned that Hoàng Cúc and her family had relocated to Thôn Vĩ Dạ, Huế. One day, Hoàng Cúc sent him a postcard depicting a scene with clouds, water, a ferry with a girl rowing, bamboo groves, and sunlight or moonlight reflecting on the water. The message in the postcard asked about his health, but it was unsigned. This postcard and Hoàng Cúc’s words inspired Hàn Mặc Tử to write the poem 'Đây thôn Vĩ Dạ.' He responded with a letter containing the poem and a question: “Did you receive the postcard of Vĩ Dạ’s shore at dawn or on a moonlit night?” It’s essential to note that Hàn Mặc Tử wrote 'Đây thôn Vĩ Dạ' after learning of his terminal illness. The poem is part of his collection 'Đau thương' (Sorrow Poems). III. THEME The poem paints a series of beautiful, poetic memories of Thôn Vĩ Dạ, subtly hinting at a delicate and pure love. IV. ANALYSIS 'Đây thôn Vĩ Dạ' consists of three seven-syllable stanzas. At first glance, these may seem like three entirely independent quatrains, but they are intricately linked by the poet’s emotional depth. The three stanzas create three distinct scenes: 1. The first stanza depicts the garden in the morning sunlight: The poem opens with a question: “Why don’t you come visit Vĩ village?” This question, phrased naturally like a spoken sentence, is a gentle reproach, a soft reminder, and a passionate invitation, full of deep affection, surprise, and a touch of regret. Whether it’s from the girl of Thôn Vĩ or from the poet himself, the question evokes memories of the village garden bathed in the morning light: “Look at the sunlight on the areca trees rising,” “Whose garden is so lush, green like jade?” “Bamboo leaves shielding a square face.” In the early morning light, the “new sunlight” makes the landscape of Thôn Vĩ glow with beauty. The poet uses simple, evocative imagery to capture the vibrant, fresh green of the garden with jade-like leaves and an impression of purity. The delicate, almost dreamlike image of a square face emerging from behind the bamboo adds an ethereal touch. The use of “whose” in the third line creates a feeling of both familiarity and distance, blending intimacy with mystery. 2. The second stanza describes the Perfume River: The four lines in this stanza continue the poet’s memories. The Perfume River appears with the breeze, the clouds, the still waters, and the faintly swaying flowers of the cornfield: “The wind blows as the wind does, clouds drift as clouds do,” “The water is sadly still, flowers faintly swaying.” The breeze is so gentle that it cannot move the clouds or stir the waters. The river flows quietly, as if unwilling to move. The wind is only strong enough to make the cornflowers sway slightly, creating a feeling of sadness. The stillness and quiet atmosphere suggest a deep, melancholic longing. Could this stillness symbolize the hopeless separation of a one-sided love? In this quiet landscape, the image of a moonlit boat adds a surreal, dreamlike quality to the scene: “Whose boat is docked at the moonlit shore?” “Is it bringing the moon back tonight?” The vast moonlit space transforms the river into a “moon river,” with the boat carrying the moon as if it were a traveler in the dreamscape. These two lines express a longing, a fleeting hope that seems too distant to reach. In this moment of reminiscence, Hàn Mặc Tử might be yearning to reunite with his moonlit companion, or perhaps he longs for a lost love. 3. The third stanza shifts to the “old love” in Thôn Vĩ: Here, the poet drifts into a dreamlike state, engaging in an intimate dialogue with someone from the past: “I dream of a distant traveler, a distant traveler,” “Her white dress is so bright, I cannot see her.” The figure from the past remains vague and blurry, like a distant traveler, her “white dress” shining so brightly that she becomes almost invisible. The poet is overwhelmed by her purity, yet it makes her seem unattainable. The longing for this figure, shrouded in mist, continues in the following lines: “Here, the mist and smoke obscure the figure,” “Who knows if anyone’s love is deep?” These two lines are filled with ambiguity and confusion. The word “here” refers to an unknown place. The question “Who knows if anyone’s love is deep?” expresses the poet’s despair, questioning whether anyone will understand the depth of his love. This final unresolved question ties back to the initial question from the first stanza: “Why don’t you come visit Vĩ village?” Perhaps the poet wonders if love can truly bridge the distance, if love can be deep and lasting. ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS 1. The poem expresses the beauty and poetic nature of Thôn Vĩ Dạ and Huế through the dreamy, imaginative soul of Hàn Mặc Tử. - The scene of Thôn Vĩ at dawn: The “new sunlight” shines brightly on the areca trees still wet with morning dew, while the garden flourishes with jade-like green leaves. A gentle, serene face appears behind the bamboo. - The Perfume River, with its wind, divided clouds, and “sadly still” water, evokes a quiet sadness. Yet the moonlight transforms everything into a mystical world: a moonlit river, a moonlit shore, and a boat carrying the moon. - The image of the girl from Thôn Vĩ, dressed in a white dress, remains elusive and dreamlike, fading into the mist as time and distance obscure her. 2. There is a hidden love within the poem Faintly present in 'Đây thôn Vĩ Dạ' is a pure, subtle, deep love, possibly the poet’s love for Hoàng Cúc. The longing for the lost love is clear in the recurring questions: “Why don’t you come visit Vĩ village?” “Look at the sunlight on the areca trees rising.” Like all great loves, this one is filled with yearning and hope, as expressed in the lines: “I dream of a distant traveler, a distant traveler.” Her white dress shines so brightly that it is impossible to see her clearly. This love is filled with both hope and anxiety, as in the lines: “Here, the mist and smoke obscure the figure.” “Who knows if anyone’s love is deep?” These lines create vivid images of a pure, pristine, and noble scene in Thôn Vĩ, with flourishing trees and jade-green leaves. The face of a person appears behind the bamboo leaves—perhaps a real person, or perhaps an imagined vision of the poet. - “Whose boat is docked at the moonlit riverbank?” “Is it bringing the moon back tonight?” These two lines describe the Perfume River in a dreamy, mysterious way, using the moon to create an enchanting image. - The white dress of the girl is so bright that it is almost impossible to see her. Overall, 'Đây thôn Vĩ Dạ' is a perfect poem. Among all its vivid and poignant images, these verses stand out as the most memorable and powerful.

Illustration (Source: Internet)

3. Analysis of "Đây thôn Vĩ Dạ" - Version 6

I. A Brief Overview of the Author Han Mac Tu
- Han Mac Tu (1912 - 1940), born Nguyen Trong Tri
- He was born into a poor, intellectual Catholic family, worked as a civil servant in Binh Dinh, and later moved to Saigon to pursue journalism
- In 1936, he contracted leprosy, returned to Quy Nhon for treatment, and passed away at the Quy Hoa leper colony
- Major works:
+ Poetry: Gai Que, Tho Dien, Xuan Nhu Y, Thuong Thanh Khi, Cam Chau Duyen
+ Dramatic poetry: Duyen Ki Ngo, Quan Tien Hoi
+ Prose poetry: Choi Giua Mua Trang
- Artistic style:
+ Han Mac Tu is known for being one of the most creative poets of the New Poetry movement
+ His poetry is complex and mysterious, deeply expressing a painful love towards the earthly world
+ His work is introspective, focusing on inner emotions rather than external descriptions

II. Overview of the Poem "Đây thôn Vĩ Dạ" (Han Mac Tu)
1. Creation Context
- Written in 1938 and published in the collection Tho Dien, later renamed Dau Thuong
- The poem was inspired by a photograph of the Hue landscape and a greeting from Hoang Cuc, a woman whom Han Mac Tu loved unrequitedly while working at the Dak Dien office
2. Structure
- Stanza 1: The Vĩ Dạ garden at dawn as envisioned by the poet
- Stanza 2: The river and moonlit night of Hue, reflecting the poet’s mood
- Stanza 3: The image of a distant traveler and the poet’s feelings of longing and doubt
3. Thematic Significance
- The poem portrays a beautiful rural landscape and expresses the poet’s deep love for life and people
4. Artistic Significance
- The poem uses expressive imagery, a vivid writing style, and rich, metaphorical language

Exercise 1: Analyze the beauty of the landscape and the poet's emotions in the first stanza.

Answer

The opening line "Why don't you visit Vĩ Dạ?" is not just a question but also a gentle reproach and a passionate invitation from the girl of Vĩ Dạ to the poet. The image of "sunlight on the areca trees" in Vĩ Dạ shines with a sparkling, pure beauty. The moment when new sunlight touches the young areca leaves is unforgettable. The garden’s "lush" and "emerald green" description highlights the unique beauty of the Vĩ Dạ gardens. The word "lush" evokes the freshness and gleaming leaves under the sun, while the comparison of the color to "emerald green" conjures images of smooth, verdant trees, their leaves illuminated by the bright morning sun, almost as if they were made of jade. In the first three lines, no human figure is present. When one appears in the fourth line, it is shy and incomplete: "The bamboo leaves cover her square face." The round, gentle face adds to the impression of modesty and grace.

Exercise 2: What emotions do the images of wind, clouds, river, and moon in the second stanza evoke?

Answer

They evoke a serene, gentle atmosphere typical of dreamy Hue. The wind and clouds, usually moving together, seem to drift apart, each heading in its own direction. The river flows silently and quietly, without the usual rush of water. The image of the boat and moon creates a shimmering, magical effect on the peaceful scene described in the first two lines. The rhetorical question at the end of the second stanza expresses the poet's yearning, hoping someone will return, which further conveys the character’s sorrow and despair.

Exercise 3: How does the poet reveal his innermost feelings in the third stanza? Does the phrase “Who knows if love is truly deep?” express a yearning for life? Why?

Answer

In the third stanza, the poet directly speaks of the people of Hue, contrasting with the first two stanzas. This is the poet’s emotional confession. He longs to return to Hue but cannot. The rhetorical question “Who knows if love is truly deep?” expresses the poet’s doubt: despite his deep longing for Hue, he wonders if the people there still remember him. This line deepens the poet’s loneliness and emptiness, highlighting the yearning and love he feels for both humanity and life.

Exercise 4: What is noteworthy about the theme and style of the poem?

Answer

The poem begins with the beautiful scene of Vĩ Dạ by the Huong River, blending the real with the imagined, and evoking numerous emotions, thoughts, and reflections about the landscape and people of Hue, filled with apprehension, complexity, hope, and love. The poet combines realistic description with symbolism, romanticism, and lyricism in a harmonious manner.

Practice

Exercise 1: Who are the questions in the poem directed to, and what do they reveal about the poet’s feelings?

Answer

The questions in the poem are not aimed at any specific person. They serve to express the poet’s attitude, inner thoughts, and emotions.

Exercise 2: What do the context and content of the poem make you feel?

Answer

The context and content of the poem evoke feelings of sympathy and empathy for the poet’s fate, admiration for his talent and resilience, and respect for a person who overcame harsh circumstances to create beautiful poetry about life and love.

Exercise 3: Is this poem about love or homeland? Why does the poet’s expression of personal emotions resonate deeply with readers across generations?

Answer

This poem is primarily about love, expressing the poet’s feelings for Hoang Thi Kim Cuc, a tender and quiet love. However, through this personal love, the poem also reflects the poet’s love for his homeland. Thanks to its authentic emotions and powerful imagery, the poem has deeply resonated with readers from various generations.

Illustration (Source: Internet)

4. Analysis of the Poem "Đây thôn Vĩ Dạ" - Version 1

Structure

- Section 1: The Vĩ Dạ garden at dawn in the poet's imagination

- Section 2: The scene of the Huế river and moonlit night, reflecting the poet's mood

- Section 3: The image of a distant traveler and the poet's dreams, doubts, and longing

Question 1 (Page 39, Literature Textbook, Grade 11, Volume 2):

* The opening line: “Why don’t you come back and visit Vĩ village?”

- It evokes a sense of mild reproach, but also serves as a heartfelt invitation from the girl of Vĩ village to the poet

- It can be understood as the poet’s own self-reproach, and the longing of one far from home wishing to return

- The use of “come back and visit” brings a sense of closeness, intimacy, and sincerity

- The question in the poet’s dream rekindles in his soul:

+ A longing, deep memories, and beautiful, endearing images

+ The image of the Vĩ village girl, a place where the poet has affection for

* The following two lines describe both the scenery and evoke emotions:

+ The strong impressions left in the poet's memory

+ The verse captures the observer’s view: the straight line of areca trees bathed in the morning sun

+ A keen observation: seeing the harmony of nature

+ The verse evokes the bright, blazing sun of central Vietnam, shining even at dawn

- It brings out the beauty of the local sunlight, pure and clear, making the poet’s recollection come alive

- The third line suggests the poet’s closeness to the people walking through the lush garden of Vĩ village

+ The surrounding trees form a charming aesthetic structure of garden and home

+ The word “moist” suggests the lush, thriving life of the garden, the clean, shiny leaves under the sunlight

* The final line introduces the presence of a person, making the scene more lively

+ The person appears subtly, modestly, true to the gentle nature of the people of Huế

+ The “ chữ điền” face: a gentle, righteous, and upright face

→ Hàn Mặc Tử evokes the soul of Vĩ village: beautiful scenery, kind-hearted people, and the harmonious blend of nature and humankind

Question 2 (Page 39, Literature Textbook, Grade 11, Volume 2):

In the second verse, Hàn Mặc Tử’s mind is firmly set on the inseparable image of Vĩ Dạ, symbolized by the Perfume River, representing the peaceful and poetic nature of Huế

+ Deep within, many emotions and thoughts of the poet surface

- In the first two lines, Hàn Mặc Tử paints the serene, unhurried rhythm of Huế: a gentle breeze and drifting clouds, a sluggish stream, the soft rustling of leaves

- The poet personifies the scene, expressing separation and dissolution

+ The river: sorrowful. The river flows slowly, as though unwilling to continue, losing its vitality

+ The cornflower petals flutter: a gentle sway

- The scene is melancholic, and so is the poet's heart

- The image of the moonlit river and boat, shimmering and mystical

+ The symbolic technique conveys a yearning for happiness

+ The question reflects hope, longing, and even pain and despair

→ The verses are beautiful, evocative, and stir feelings of nostalgia and sorrow

Question 3 (Page 39, Literature Textbook, Grade 11, Volume 2):

In the third verse, the poet expresses his emotions toward the people of Huế

- First, the repetition of “a distant traveler,” at the beginning of the stanza, emphasizes the sorrow and introspective thoughts

+ In response to the girl’s invitation, the poet is perhaps too far away to reach, more than just geographically distant

+ The poet’s intense desire to return to Vĩ village feels unreachable, distant

+ The repetition of “a distant traveler” illustrates the emotional distance, the gap between two worlds in the poet’s mind

- The elusive, unclear image of both the person and the scenery is conveyed through words like: distant, too white, foggy, blurry, image… all heightening the sense of something intangible

- Living in the dreamlike mist of Huế, the image of a woman in an ao dai is also blurred and ethereal

- The final line evokes a sense of doubt with the use of the indefinite pronoun “who,” opening up the meaning of the verse

→ These lines express the poet’s deep affection but also carry a sense of sorrow, loneliness, and emptiness

Question 4 (Page 39, Literature Textbook, Grade 11, Volume 2):

- The theme of the poem is its central idea, which serves as the emotional and intellectual foundation for the entire poem

- The poem begins with the beautiful scene of Vĩ village by the Perfume River, evoking both real and imaginary connections

+ It expresses various emotions and thoughts about the people and scenery of Huế

+ Feelings of doubt and confusion, but also an underlying sense of hope and love

- The poet’s style blends realism, symbolism, romanticism, and lyricism harmoniously

The stunning beauty of Huế is depicted with a realistic touch while having a symbolic depth

+ The dreamlike quality adds to the romantic hue

+ The realism enhances the lyrical essence

EXERCISES

Exercise 1 (Page 40, Literature Textbook, Grade 11, Volume 2):

The questions express the poet’s mood. The questions in all three stanzas connect the emotions of the entire poem

- Stanza 1: Why don’t you come back and visit Vĩ village

+ The reproach of the girl from Vĩ village

+ The poet’s longing for the day he can return

- Stanza 2: Whose boat is docked by the moonlit river?/ Is it bringing the moon back before tonight?

+ The enchanting beauty of the Perfume River

+ The image of the moon is intertwined with Hàn Mặc Tử’s poetry, showing his love for Huế and its people

+ The boat carrying the moon also symbolizes the poet’s anxious longing

Stanza 3: Who knows if love is deep and true?

+ Doubt about love

+ But also the poet’s yearning heart

None of these are questions seeking answers, but rather questions expressing emotions and moods

Exercise 2 (Page 40, Literature Textbook, Grade 11, Volume 2):

The poem’s theme reflects the poet's sorrow, his intense yearning for life, love, nature, and humankind

+ The poem introduces the beauty of nature and the people of Huế

+ The poem was written under special circumstances, as the poet was fighting a terminal illness, haunted by the fear of death and the cold indifference of the world

+ This makes the reader sympathize with the poet’s fate, and admire his resilience and talent

Exercise 3 (Page 40, Literature Textbook, Grade 11, Volume 2):

Both feelings are present in every stanza but with different intensities:

+ The poem brings to life the beauty of the scenery and the people of Huế, revealing the poet’s deep and passionate love for his homeland and country

- Hidden within the lines, the poem also expresses the poet’s feelings toward the people of Vĩ village, filled with longing, restlessness, and doubt

Illustrative Image (Source: Internet)

5. Analysis of "The Village of Vĩ" - Part 2

I. About the Author and the Poem

1. The Author

Han Mac Tu (1912 – 1940), born Nguyen Trong Tri, hailed from Le Mi village in the Vo Xa commune, Phong Loc district, Dong Hoi province (now part of Quang Binh). He was born into a Catholic family.

Despite his tragic life, Han Mac Tu is considered one of the most creative poets of the New Poetry movement in Vietnam.

Notable works include: Gai Que (1936), Tho Dien (1938), Xuan Nhu Y, Thuong Thanh Khi, Cam Chau Duyen, Duyen Ki Ngo (a play – 1939), among others.

2. 'The Village of Vĩ Dạ' (originally titled 'Here, Vĩ Dạ Village') was written in 1938 and was published in the poetry collection Tho Dien (later renamed 'Painful Farewell'). Some sources suggest that this poem was inspired by Han Mac Tu’s love for a girl from Vĩ Dạ, a village near the dreamy Huong River in Hue.

Structure: 3 parts

+ Part 1 (Stanza 1): The early morning scene in Vĩ Dạ and the poet’s heartfelt emotions.

+ Part 2 (Stanza 2): The image of Vĩ Dạ with its moonlit river, reflecting the poet’s sorrow and sense of separation.

+ Part 3 (Stanza 3): The mystical beauty of Hue and the poet’s inner turmoil.

Understanding the Text

Question 1 (page 39, Literature 11, Volume 2):

The depiction of the landscape and the poet’s emotional state in the first stanza:

The poem opens with the rhetorical question, “Why don’t you come visit Vĩ Dạ?”, a gentle reproach and an earnest invitation from the girl in Vĩ Dạ to the poet.

The landscape of Vĩ Dạ:

- Sunlight on the areca palms at dawn:

+ The repetition of “sunlight” emphasizes the brilliance of the morning rays.

+ “Sunlight on the areca palms at dawn” evokes the warm and pure light of early morning.

- A garden lush as jade:

+ The indefinite “whose” creates a sense of mystery and uncertainty in the poet’s mind.

+ “Lush” suggests the garden’s vibrant vitality in Vĩ Dạ.

+ “Like jade” compares the deep green of the garden to jade, illuminated by the morning sun.

=> The early morning scene in Vĩ Dạ is fresh, dreamy, and full of life.

- The people of Vĩ Dạ: “Bamboo leaves cover the square face”:

+ “Square face” symbolizes kindness, sincerity, and integrity.

+ “Bamboo leaves cover” suggests the delicate, reserved beauty of the people from Hue.

=> The poem harmonizes nature and human beauty, portraying a modest, gentle loveliness.

The four lines together create a picturesque and dreamy scene where the people of Vĩ Dạ exude gentle charm. The poet expresses deep affection for both nature and people, accompanied by a sense of longing and wistfulness.

Question 2 (page 39, Literature 11, Volume 2):

The images of wind, clouds, river, and moon in the second stanza:

- The vast space encompasses wind, clouds, river, moon, and flowers.

- “The wind follows the path of wind, the clouds follow the way of clouds”: The rhythm of 4/3 evokes the fragmented, distant nature of wind and clouds, symbolizing the poet’s feelings of separation and yearning.

- “The river is melancholic”: By personifying the river, the poet fills it with sorrow, transferring his own sadness to it.

- “The cornflower sways”: The gentle movement of the flower conveys quiet sadness, emptiness, and solitude.

=> The landscape is internalized, reflecting the poet’s emotional pain and sense of separation.

- “Whose boat is moored at the moonlit riverbank?”:

+ “Moonlit river”: a beautiful, poetic image. The boat, initially a real object, becomes a dreamlike symbol, anchored on a “moonlit river,” as if waiting to carry the moon away.

+ The indefinite pronoun “whosoever” adds an element of uncertainty, mystery, and dreamlike fantasy.

- “Will it bring the moon back tonight?”: This rhetorical question expresses urgency, anxiety, and yearning. The word “kịp” (in time) intensifies the fleeting nature of the moment, suggesting the poet’s fear of time slipping away.

=> The second stanza creates a poetic image of the Huong River while conveying the poet’s loneliness and melancholy, evoking deep empathy in the reader.

Question 3 (page 39, Literature 11, Volume 2):

The poet’s emotional state in the final stanza:

- “Dreaming of distant guests”:

+ “Dreaming” represents a state of unconsciousness, with the poet immersed in a dreamlike world.

+ The repetition of “distant guest” emphasizes the great distance, portraying the poet as merely a guest in his own dream.

=> This emphasizes the poet’s sorrow.

- “Your dress is so white, I can’t recognize you”: The word “so” expresses overwhelming surprise. “Can’t recognize” highlights the intensity of the whiteness, which becomes almost surreal, symbolizing the poet’s mental state, lost in his memories.

- “Here, the mist blurs the image of people”: This line can be understood in two ways:

+ Literally, Hue’s frequent rain and mist create a surreal atmosphere.

+ Symbolically, the mist blurs both the figure of the person and represents the fragility of the poet’s love, something elusive and incomplete.

- “Who knows if your love is true?”: The indefinite pronoun “who” opens two layers of meaning:

+ The poet wonders whether the people of Hue truly reciprocate his love or if it is as illusory as the mist.

+ The poet questions whether the people of Hue understand his deep, sincere love for them and the land of Hue.

=> This line expresses the poet’s loneliness, emptiness, and unrequited love, a soul desperately yearning for connection but haunted by pain and unfulfilled dreams.

Question 4 (page 39, Literature 11, Volume 2):

About the poem’s theme and literary techniques:

- About the theme: The poem opens with the beautiful scenery of Vĩ Dạ village by the Huong River, evoking both real and dreamlike associations, while also expressing the poet’s emotional and reflective thoughts about the land and people of Hue.

- The literary techniques: The poem blends realism, symbolism, romanticism, and lyricism seamlessly.

Practice

Question 1 (page 40, Literature 11, Volume 2):

The poem contains three rhetorical questions:

- Stanza 1: “Why don’t you come visit Vĩ Dạ?”

- Stanza 2: “Will the moon return tonight?”

- Stanza 3: “Who knows if your love is true?”

These questions are not directed at any specific person but serve as a means for the poet to express his inner feelings and emotions.

Question 2 (page 40, Literature 11, Volume 2):

The poem was written by Han Mac Tu during a time when he was suffering from a terminal illness, haunted by the fear of death. As a result, the poem conveys the sadness and deep yearning of someone who is deeply passionate about life, nature, and humanity.

Question 3 (page 40, Literature 11, Volume 2):

The poem 'The Village of Vĩ Dạ' was inspired by Han Mac Tu’s love for a girl from Vĩ Dạ, Hoang Cuc. While the poem is primarily about love, it transcends this theme by vividly depicting the enchanting landscape and people of Hue. Through this, the poet expresses his profound love for his homeland.

By evoking such universal feelings of love, the poem not only captures the poet’s personal emotions but also resonates deeply with readers, creating a lasting emotional connection across generations.

Illustrative image (Source: Internet)

6. The Essay on "This Village Vĩ Dạ" No. 3

I. Author - Work

1. Author

- Han Mac Tu (1912 – 1940), born Nguyen Trong Tri.

- Hometown: Quang Binh.

- Han Mac Tu is one of the most prominent poets of the New Poetry movement.

- Major works: Gai Que (1936), Tho Dien (1938), Xuan Nhu Y, Thuong Thanh Khi, Cam Chau Duyen, Duyen Ki Ngo (Drama – 1939)...

2. The Work

- Written in 1938, published in the poetry collection Tho Dien.

- The poem was composed while the poet was far from Hue and suffering from a serious illness.

- It reflects a past memory of Han Mac Tu.

II. Guidelines for preparing the lesson

Question 1 (page 39, Literature 11, Volume 2):

The beauty of the landscape and the poet's emotions in the first stanza:

- First line:

+ Form: question.

+ Content: invitation, reproach –> self-reflection, expressing regret, longing.

- The scenery of the village Vĩ: vibrant, radiant, evoking a sense of vitality and warmth.

+ Imagery: Sunlight on the betel trees – Fresh sunlight.

→ Pure morning light shining on the betel trees still wet with morning dew.

→ The sunlight seems to have its own spirit. It represents the soul of Hue.

+ "Green as jade": A simile that brings forth the bright color of the garden.

⇒ The pristine natural landscape, full of light, vivid in color and shape.

- The people of Vĩ village: The bamboo leaves cross the square face:

+ "Square face": a gentle, benevolent face.

→ People here are characterized by their delicate, soft, and shy beauty.

→ The village's landscape and its people are beautiful, but are only a nostalgic memory.

Question 2 (page 39, Literature 11, Volume 2):

Images of wind, clouds, river, and moon in the second stanza:

- A vast space filled with wind, clouds, river, water, moon, and flowers.

- Wind, clouds, river, and moon are personified to express emotional states.

- The opposing movements of the wind and clouds suggest separation and parting.

→ The pain of distance, separation.

⇒ An empty space, with time seemingly frozen, and nature indifferent to humanity.

- Indeterminate poetic images: "Whose boat?", "Moon river" –> A sense of surrealism.

→ The scene is as if in a dream.

- The rhetorical question expresses both deep longing and a sense of doubt.

⇒ The vast space contains wind, clouds, rivers, moons, flowers – a beautiful but deeply lonely and desolate scene.

Question 3 (page 39, Literature 11, Volume 2):

The poet's emotions in the final stanza:

+ A deep longing for the people of Vĩ village, yet a feeling of remoteness and inaccessibility.

+ The repetition of "faraway traveler" symbolizes the emotional distance, the gap between two worlds. For Han Mac Tu, Hue and Quy Nhon represent two distinct worlds.

+ Words like "far", "too white", "misty", "faded images" intensify the sense of difficulty in reaching out.

+ The poet is left only with dreams and illusions: the misty, elusive beauty of Hue, and the fleeting image of the long dress.

+ A heart full of doubt (How can one know if "someone's love is sincere?").

→ The poet's inner world: sorrow, loneliness, emptiness, and a yearning for love and connection.

Question 4 (page 39, Literature 11, Volume 2):

- The poem's theme begins with joy, transitions into sorrow and anxiety, and ends with doubt. All of these emotional states stem from a love for life, a longing for love, and the struggles of a tragic fate.

- Writing style: Realistic, romantic, symbolic, lyrical.

Exercise

Question 1 (page 40, Literature 11, Volume 2):

The poem contains three rhetorical questions:

- Stanza 1: "Why don’t you return to play at Vĩ village?": a gentle reproach from a girl from Vĩ village.

- Stanza 2: "Will the moon return before tonight?": expresses a heartfelt connection to nature and people.

- Stanza 3: "Who knows if someone’s love is true?": this can be interpreted in two ways:

+ The poet wonders if the love of the people of Hue is as deep and lasting or as fleeting and ephemeral as mist.

+ Does the poet himself know how deep his love for the people and landscape of Hue truly is?

→ These unanswerable questions express both a deep affirmation and a yearning to share. They reveal the poet's passionate love for life and people, even though everything seems out of reach.

Question 2 (page 40, Literature 11, Volume 2):

- The poem was written by Han Mac Tu during a time when the poet was plagued by illness, haunted by thoughts of death.

- This situation evokes sympathy and admiration for the poet's fate, and adds to the appreciation of Han Mac Tu's resilience and talent.

- Thus, the poem expresses both sorrow and a longing for a life filled with love, nature, and humanity.

Question 3* (page 40, Literature 11, Volume 2):

The poem is about love and homeland. These two emotions appear in varying degrees in each stanza.

- "This Village Vĩ Dạ" was inspired by Han Mac Tu's love for a girl from Vĩ Dạ – Hoang Cuc. Thus, the poem is first and foremost about love.

- The poem also highlights the beauty of the people and landscape of Hue, showing the poet's deep love and longing for his homeland, intertwined with nostalgia, restlessness, doubt, and despair.

Illustrative image (Source: Internet)

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