Top 6 Best Lesson Plans for 'The Spirit of Physical Education' by Nguyễn Công Hoan for 12th Grade

Guidelines for Writing the Lesson Plan

Question 1: The structure and narrative style in Nguyễn Công Hoan's satirical short story have unique features.

* Structure: divided into 3 sections:

Section 1: from the beginning to 'Nay sức, Lê Thăng': Introduction of the village order from the local official.
Section 2: from 'Vâng': The villagers pleading with Mr. Lí (the village chief) to be excused from watching the football match.
Section 3: the remainder: A chaotic scene of people being rounded up for the match.
* Nguyễn Công Hoan's narrative style in this satirical short story: After the introduction of the official's notice, the story unfolds with five more scenes. The subsequent scenes are interlinked to showcase the theme, satirizing the spirit of physical education before the revolution.

Scene 1: The official’s notice with a rigid, pompous tone sets the tone for all following scenes.
Scenes 2 to 4: The villagers’ different attempts to evade the harsh order of the official.
Final scenes: The intense chase to apprehend people for the football match, akin to capturing prisoners.
These seemingly disconnected scenes are intricately tied together through a cause-and-effect relationship, helping to highlight the theme and message of the work.

Question 2:

* The primary satirical contradiction in the story: watching football, a sports activity, becomes a disaster for the villagers.

* Specific satirical contradictions in each scene:

Scene 1: The order for the villagers to watch the match is delivered with authority.
Scene 2: Mịch pleads with Mr. Lí to be excused, citing debt repayment, but his earnest pleas fail to move the official.
Scene 3: Mrs. Phô tries to excuse her sick husband, even offering a betel branch as a bribe, but Mr. Lí insists, 'If everyone uses illness as an excuse, will we have the match for dogs to watch?'
Scene 4: Mrs. Phó Bính, wealthier and more resourceful, bribes Mr. Lí with three cents. The official’s tone softens, yet he still criticizes the situation mildly after pocketing the money.
Scene 5: The pleas, bribery, and evasion create chaos, with village officials struggling to round up people for the match. The most tragic scene is when Cò hides with his child in a haystack, but still cannot escape.
Scene 6: The departure for the football match is far from cheerful. Those who couldn't escape are forced to line up like prisoners heading to the game.
These scenes create a satirical, bitterly humorous portrayal of the oppressive social conditions under the colonial regime. Nguyễn Công Hoan aims to deliver a sharp critique of the corrupt colonial administration through laughter.

Question 3:

Meaning of the critique in 'The Spirit of Physical Education':

The story criticizes the hypocritical and deceptive policies of the colonial authorities.
While the common people endure immense suffering, the colonial regime diverts their attention to lavish and meaningless sporting events.

Through this biting satire, the author highlights the collective suffering of the people, not just his personal pain but the national anguish of living under colonial rule, symbolizing the broader loss of independence.

Overview of the Work

Author:

Nguyễn Công Hoan (1903 – 1977)
Background: From a fallen aristocratic family.
Hometown: Xuân Cầu village, Văn Giang district, Bắc Ninh province.
He wrote over 20 novels and more than 200 short stories.
Nguyễn Công Hoan is regarded as a pioneer of modern Vietnamese prose, particularly known for his satirical short stories.
His works offer a vivid, encyclopedic look into Vietnamese society during the French colonial period.
Notable works include:
Novels: Ông chủ (1935), Lá ngọc cành vàng (1935)...
Short stories: Hai thằng khốn nạn (1937), Đào kép mới (1937)...

Work:

Published in the magazine Tiểu thuyết thứ bảy, issue 251, on March 25, 1939.
'The Spirit of Physical Education' sharply exposes the fraudulent nature of the sports campaign promoted by the French colonists to distract the people.

Question 1: What is unique about the structure and narrative style of Nguyễn Công Hoan's satirical short story?

Answer:

a. The short story can be divided into three sections:

Section 1 (from the beginning to 'Nay sức, Lê Thăng'): Introduction of the village's order from the authorities.
Section 2 (from 'Vâng'): The villagers' pleas to Mr. Lí (the village chief) to be excused from watching the football match.
Section 3 (the remainder): The chaotic scene of rounding up people for the football match.
b. Nguyễn Công Hoan's use of dark humor reveals the contradictions between the reality and appearance of the sports campaign initiated by the colonial government. The pressures from local authorities and the suffering of the people, all to appease the French colonizers, expose a society in turmoil and corruption, with a tragicomic quality that evokes both laughter and sympathy.

Question 2: What is the central satirical contradiction in the story? How do individual scenes illustrate this contradiction?

Answer:

The central satirical contradiction is the conflict between the colonial authorities and the poor villagers. The story contrasts the grandiose display of colonial power with the villagers' desperate attempts to avoid being forced to participate in the football match. While the authorities demand participation, the villagers try every trick to stay home, from pleading to bribery to outright escape.

Each scene introduces its own humor: Mịch’s desperate pleas are met with indifference from Mr. Lí; Phô's offer of a betel branch as a bribe is rejected; Phó’s three-cent bribe is accepted with disdain. Meanwhile, those without money try to escape, with Cò hiding in a haystack, only to be caught. These details create a satirical atmosphere that mocks the absurdity of the colonial regime and the exploitation of the people.

Question 3: What is the critical message in 'The Spirit of Physical Education'?

Answer:

The story critiques the fraudulent nature of the colonial sports campaign. The forced participation in a 'patriotic' event reveals the government's attempts to divert attention from real political struggles, using distractions like sports to weaken the resolve of the youth in their fight for independence.

I. FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE

Nguyễn Công Hoan was born on March 6, 1903, in Xuân Cầu village, Văn Giang district, Bắc Ninh (now part of Hưng Yên). He came from a once-prominent family of scholars, now fallen from grace. He gained particular fame for his satirical short stories. His works mainly criticize the vices and flaws of the old society, focusing especially on the rich, officials, and the bourgeoisie. Nguyễn Công Hoan made significant contributions to the development of modern Vietnamese prose.

Notable works include: Lá ngọc cành vàng (novel, 1935), Cô giáo Minh (novel, 1935), Bước đường cùng (novel, 1938)... Kép Tư Bền (short story, 1935), Hai thằng khốn nạn (short story, 1937), Đào kép mới (short story, 1937)... Đời viết văn của tôi (autobiography, 1971) and several collections of short stories...

'The Spirit of Physical Education' is a satirical short story by Nguyễn Công Hoan. The work critiques the hypocrisy and deceptive policies of the colonial government, specifically the French and their local feudal collaborators. The story revolves around an order from the authorities demanding that the people of Ngũ Vọng village gather to watch a football match. The villagers are reluctant, with some trying to escape, others bribing, and some pleading to avoid attending. Despite the pressure, the authorities struggle to round up enough people.

The event of gathering people to watch the football match is depicted as a form of forced labor. The story is divided into six sections, each focusing on a different aspect of the situation. Together, these sections form a coherent plot that logically develops the narrative of the forced attendance at the football match.

This work is emblematic of Nguyễn Công Hoan's short story style during the 1936-1939 period, reflecting both his ideological and artistic approaches.

II. SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Question 1: The short story is divided into six sections, each presenting a different theme.

Question 2: Section 1 can be called 'The Official Order.' This order is quite unique and different from typical governmental decrees. Usually, such orders involve conscription, tax collection, or criminal arrests, but here, it is an order to force people to watch a football match. The author refrains from using narrative language and instead presents the official order verbatim. The order is official, complete with all the formalities of an important administrative document, specifying the number of attendees and their required duties, demonstrating the authorities' seriousness about this 'physical education' initiative.

Section 2: Pleas. Mịch begs Mr. Lí to excuse him from attending the match, claiming he needs to work off his debt to Mr. Nghị. However, his desperate pleas do not sway Mr. Lí.

Section 3: Begging. Phô, a woman from the village, pleads with Mr. Lí to excuse her husband due to illness. She even offers a betel branch as a gift to Mr. Lí. Despite her sincere pleas, Mr. Lí remains firm: 'Even if he's near death, he must go. The order is clear. If everyone uses illness as an excuse, who will watch the match for the French?'

Section 4: Bribery. Phó Bính, more shrewd and wealthier, offers three cents as a bribe to Mr. Lí. With money, she can also hire someone to attend in her husband's place. Mr. Lí reacts more politely, not threatening her but expressing frustration: 'Dealing with people like you will be the death of me,' after pocketing the three cents.

Section 5: The Hunt. As villagers beg, plead, bribe, or flee, the local officials are exhausted trying to round up enough attendees for the football match. The search is more like a military operation than a civic duty. The atmosphere in the village resembles a raid: beatings, shouting, and insults fill the air. The most heartbreaking scene is at Cò's house, where he tries to hide with his child in a pile of hay, but they are still captured. The scene ends with the chilling image of 'The child, eyes shut tight, clinging to his father, too terrified to cry. Cò had no time to answer before he was dragged away.'

Section 6: Departure. The mood at the departure for the match is anything but festive. Those who could not escape are herded into lines and taken to the stadium like prisoners of war.

Question 3: The progression from one section to the next intensifies the severity of the forced attendance at the football match. The author skillfully creates a distinctive satirical contradiction. Watching football is supposed to be a fun activity, but in this story, it becomes a disaster for the villagers.

Each section represents a different contradiction that emphasizes the overall satirical conflict of the story.

Section 1: The official order demands that the villagers attend the match, turning a simple sports activity into an authoritarian decree.

Section 2: The use of force to ensure attendance, like conscripting laborers, with Mịch pleading to avoid the match.

Section 3: Phô's desperate attempt to secure an exemption for her husband.

Question 4: To highlight the satirical nature of the work, the author uses sarcasm, exaggeration, and a humorous narrative tone. The author exaggerates the villagers' reactions to the football match, showing that they would not go to such lengths just for a football game.

The natural, humorous storytelling tone contributes to the satirical value of the work.

Question 5: 'The Spirit of Physical Education' critiques the hypocrisy and deceptive policies of the colonial government. While the lives of the people are miserable, the puppet authorities under the colonial regime focus on promoting extravagant sports events.

I. Author
1. Biography
- Nguyễn Công Hoan (1903 – 1977). He was born into a family of Confucian scholars who fell from grace in Hưng Yên.
- In 1926, he graduated from the Teacher's College and worked as a teacher in various places like Hải Dương, Lào Cai, Nam Định, etc.
- After the August Revolution, he served as the Director of Press Censorship in Northern Vietnam.
- Later, he joined the Viet Minh army and became the editor of the military newspaper.
- In 1948, he became a member of the Vietnam Workers' Party.
- In 1951, he worked in the education sector and contributed articles to the People's Education Newspaper.
- In 1954, he returned to writing and became the president of the Vietnam Writers' Association.

2. Literary Career
a. Literary Legacy
- He left behind more than 20 novels and about 200 short stories.
+ Short Stories: Kép Tư Bền (1935), Hai Thằng Khốn Nạn (1937), Người Vợ Lẽ Bạn Tôi (1937), ...
+ Novels: Lá Ngọc Cành Vàng (1935), Ông Chủ (1935), Bước Đường Cùng (1938)...
b. Artistic Style
- Nguyễn Công Hoan was a master of realistic fiction.
- A prominent satirist, he used humor to attack the brutal colonial rule of the French and their collaborators.

II. The Work
1. Summary
“The Spirit of Physical Education” critiques the deceitful policies and the colonial deception imposed on the people. The local authorities issue a directive, forcing the people of Ngũ Vọng village to gather at the stadium to watch a football match. However, no one in the village wants to go. Some try to flee, others try to bribe, and some beg not to attend. The village head has to threaten, arrest, and search the villagers, but in the end, he still cannot meet the required number of people for the event. The whole affair resembles a forced labor draft. The story is divided into three sections, each presenting a different theme, and these sections form a coherent narrative developed logically, illustrating the process of coercing people to attend a football match.

2. General Understanding
a. Origin and Context
The work was written in 1939 when the French colonialists were actively promoting the “sports movement” to distract the youth from their fight for independence and sovereignty.

b. Structure
- Part 1 (from the beginning.. Lê Thăng): The directive from the colonial authorities arrives in the village
- Part 2 (continued… “yes”): The people who are forced to attend beg the village head
- Part 3 (the rest): The search and arrest of those who refuse to attend the sporting event

c. The Satirical Meaning of the Story
- The story highlights the humorous and satirical critique of the colonial government and its puppet collaborators.
- It unveils the true nature of the French colonizers' intentions behind the so-called “sports movement” and “national fitness,” which was essentially designed to divert the youth from their nationalistic struggle.

d. Content Value
The work critiques the deception and false promises of the colonial rulers. While the common people are suffering terribly, the puppet government promotes extravagant sporting events.

e. Artistic Value
- The author uses various techniques of satire, exaggeration, and natural, humorous storytelling to illustrate the people's reactions to being forced to watch the football match.
- The narrative tone is casual and humorous, contributing to the satirical impact of the story.

Question 1 (page 177, Literature textbook, grade 11, part 1):

- The structure of the text is distinctive:

+ Part 1 (from the beginning.. Lê Thăng): the directive from the authorities arrives in the village

+ Part 2 (continued… “yes”): Those forced to attend beg the village head

+ Part 3 (the rest): The search and arrest of those who refuse to attend the event

- The development of the situation and the plot demonstrates the irony and the satirical contradiction between the content and the form of the “sports movement” introduced by the French.

+ The pressure, arrests, and mistreatment of the people to please the colonial authorities

+ The football match is not voluntary; it is forced upon the villagers as if they were prisoners

+ The local officials take advantage of the situation, exploiting the people for money

+ The “sports movement” unfolds in the chaotic, absurd society filled with numerous tragedies

→ The author wants the readers to recognize the tragic and absurd reality of the people living in such a corrupt society.

Question 2 (page 177, Literature textbook, grade 11, part 1):

Satirical Contradictions:

+ The contradiction between the government and the impoverished people

+ The exaggeration of the colonial officials’ authority versus the humble desires of the people to work at home

+ The relentless pursuit by the colonizers versus the extreme humiliation of the villagers trying to escape

→ The contradictions create humor, exposing the deceptive and brutal nature of the colonial system.

Contradictions in the Scenes:

- Anh Mịch desperately pleads with the village head to excuse him, so he can work off his debt to Mr. Nghị, but his plea is rejected.

In response, the village head threatens him indifferently.

- The strict, absurd orders from the authorities cause immense suffering for the villagers. The supposed “spirit of physical education” becomes a source of misery for many.

- Bác Phô’s wife begs the village head to let her sick husband stay home, but the village head coldly replies, “Even if he’s on his deathbed, he must go... If everyone uses illness as an excuse, should we let dogs watch football?”

- The old lady Phó Bính bribes the village head with three hào, allowing him to exploit the situation and take advantage of the people.

- Thằng Cò, hiding in the haystack, is dragged out in a pathetic scene. If he misses a day's work, his family will starve.

→ All these tragic and absurd situations create sarcastic laughter, mocking the colonial authorities and their collaborators. The writer sympathizes with the poor villagers, victims of the absurd colonial “sports movement.”

Question 3 (page 177, Literature textbook, grade 11, part 1):

Critical Significance:

The satire, which arises from the contrast between the forced attendance at the fake “spirit of physical education” and the people's strong resistance, highlights the ridiculousness, deception, and cruelty of the colonial government.

The story exposes the true nature and ulterior motives of the colonizers, who used the “sports movement” and “national health” as a tool to divert the youth's spirit of resistance and independence.

Question 1: What is distinctive about Nguyễn Công Hoan's structure and narrative technique in this satirical short story?

Answer:

a. Structure: 3 parts

Part 1 (from the beginning to... "Nay sức, Lê Thăng"): Introduction of the decree sent from higher authorities to the village.
Part 2 (from there to... “Vâng”): Villagers, forced to attend the football match, beg the village chief.
Part 3 (the rest): The search for people who have been dragged to watch the match.
b. The blend of humor and tragedy in the story's structure highlights the contradiction between the true intent and the appearance of the sports movement introduced by the French government, exposing the tragic fates of people in that era.

Question 2: What is the central satirical conflict in the story? How do the specific conflicts in each scene contribute to it? Analyze the story to clarify both the main conflict and the individual conflicts in each scene.

Answer:

The main satirical conflict in the story is the contrast between the French colonial authorities and the impoverished villagers.

Each individual scene presents its own brand of humor.

Anh Mịch: Pleading desperately, yet the village chief responds with threats, showing his unwillingness and helplessness.
Bác Phô gái: Offering a bribe to avoid the task, but the village chief rejects it. Not even the sick are spared. It’s a tragicomic scenario.
Bà cụ Phó: Bribing with three hao and hiring a replacement—this becomes an opportunity for the corrupt officials to exploit the situation.
Thằng Cò: Hiding with his child in a pile of straw, only to be dragged out at the end.
=> These absurd moments create a satirical commentary on the reality of society: while exercise and sports can be beneficial, the colonial authorities’ approach to them is absurd and leads to suffering.

Question 3: What is the critical message conveyed by the story Tinh thần thể dục?

Answer:

The story mocks the colonial government and its lackeys, exposing the hidden agenda behind the so-called “sports movement” and “national health initiatives.” In truth, these efforts were designed to distract the youth from their revolutionary duties and undermine their commitment to the national struggle for independence.