1. Lesson Plan for "Quan Am Thi Kinh" - Version 4
A. KEY CONCEPTS
1. Cheo Theatre
Cheo is a traditional form of folk theatre combining singing, dancing, and storytelling, performed on stage. Historically, it was performed at village courtyards, hence called 'cheo sân đình'. Originating in Northern Vietnam, it became widely popular. The plots often derive from folk tales and Nôm stories, highlighting virtues, human talent, and empathy for the tragic characters, while critiquing social injustices in the feudal system. Traditional characters include the scholarly gentleman, the virtuous heroine, the scheming woman, the cruel villain, and the comedic characters. When a character enters the stage, they must first introduce themselves before performing. The stylized nature of Cheo is expressed through elaborate costumes, singing, and dancing.
2. The Cheo Play 'Quan Am Thi Kinh'
The play is based on the folk tale of Quan Am Thi Kinh. The plot can be divided into three parts:
Part 1: The Murder Accusation - Thiện Sĩ, son of Sùng, marries Thị Kính, daughter of a poor farmer. One day, while she is sewing and he is reading, Thị Kính notices a stray hair growing out of his chin. She attempts to trim it, causing him to wake in surprise and cry out. His parents accuse Thị Kính of attempting to kill him and send her back to her father's house.
Part 2: The False Pregnancy Accusation - Wronged and without a means to seek justice, Thị Kính disguises herself as a man and enters the Vân Tự monastery under the name Kính Tâm. Thị Mầu, a wealthy merchant's daughter, becomes infatuated with Kính Tâm. Unable to win his affection, Thị Mầu resorts to an affair with a servant, resulting in pregnancy. Facing repercussions, she falsely accuses Kính Tâm. Kính Tâm is unjustly cast out from the monastery, and Thị Mầu abandons her child with her.
Part 3: The Resolution - After three years, Kính Tâm cares for the child, and eventually, she transforms into the Buddhist goddess Quan Âm. Before her transformation, she leaves a letter for the child. The truth about her identity is revealed, and her compassion and endurance are acknowledged.
The excerpt 'The Murder Accusation' is the first part of the play.
B. EXERCISES AND SOLUTIONS
Question 1: Page 120 of Grade 7 Literature Book, Semester 2
Read the summary of the play 'Quan Am Thi Kinh' carefully.
Answer: The play can be divided into three parts as described above.
Question 2: Page 120 of Grade 7 Literature Book, Semester 2
Read the excerpt 'The Murder Accusation' and its annotations to understand the text and unfamiliar words.
Answer: Refer to the textbook.
Question 3: Page 120 of Grade 7 Literature Book, Semester 2
How many characters are there in the excerpt 'The Murder Accusation'? Who are the main characters reflecting the dramatic conflict? What roles do they play in Cheo, and what do they represent?
Answer: The excerpt features five characters: Thị Kính, Thiện Sĩ, Sùng ông, Sùng bà, and Mãng ông. The main conflict is between Sùng bà and Thị Kính, where one accuses, and the other defends. The characters belong to different roles in Cheo: Sùng bà is the cruel villain, representing the ruling class and feudal oppression; Thị Kính is the virtuous heroine, representing the oppressed, particularly women who suffer in feudal society.
Question 4: Page 120 of Grade 7 Literature Book, Semester 2
What is the setting at the beginning of the excerpt? Based on Thị Kính's words and actions, what can you infer about her character?
Answer: The setting is a quiet night with Thiện Sĩ reading and resting while Thị Kính is sewing and taking care of him. Her words and actions indicate she is a devoted and loving wife, showing care and tenderness in a harmonious family atmosphere. Her unintentional act of attempting to trim her husband's beard leads to the wrongful accusation against her.
Question 5: Page 120 of Grade 7 Literature Book, Semester 2
Discuss in class: List and analyze the actions and language of Sùng bà towards Thị Kính.
Answer: Sùng bà uses harsh language and violent actions to accuse and humiliate Thị Kính. She calls her derogatory names and insults her character, making unfounded accusations and forcing her to leave.
Question 6: Page 120 of Grade 7 Literature Book, Semester 2
How many times does Thị Kính cry out for justice? To whom does she appeal? When does her cry for justice receive sympathy?
Answer: Thị Kính cries out for justice five times: three times to Sùng bà, once to Thiện Sĩ (her husband), and once to Mãng ông (her father). Her pleas are ignored until she calls out to her father, who finally shows understanding and compassion.
Question 7: Page 120 of Grade 7 Literature Book, Semester 2
Before sending Thị Kính away, what cruel actions did Sùng ông and Sùng bà take? Where is the highest point of dramatic conflict in the excerpt? Why?
Answer: Before sending her away, Sùng ông and Sùng bà humiliate Thị Kính and her father with mockery and accusations. The dramatic conflict peaks when Thị Kính and her father embrace, lamenting their fate, which highlights the oppression of the poor under feudal authority.
Question 8: Page 120 of Grade 7 Literature Book, Semester 2
Analyze Thị Kính's emotions before leaving Sùng bà's house. What is the significance of her decision to 'disguise as a man and become a monk'? Does this path help her escape the suffering in the old society?
Answer: Thị Kính’s actions reflect sadness and frustration, holding tightly to a piece of her past. Her decision to become a monk symbolizes her rejection of worldly suffering and an attempt to find solace. However, even in the monastery, she faces injustice, showing that religious refuge cannot fully escape societal oppression.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Page 121 of Grade 7 Literature Book, Semester 2
Summarize the excerpt 'The Murder Accusation'.
Answer: Thiện Sĩ, exhausted from studying, falls asleep. Thị Kính attempts to trim his beard, causing him to wake and cry out. Sùng bà accuses Thị Kính of attempting to murder her husband and forces her to return to her father's house.
Exercise 2: Page 121 of Grade 7 Literature Book, Semester 2
Class discussion: What is the theme of the excerpt 'The Murder Accusation'? What does the saying 'Oan Thị Kính' mean?
Answer: The theme centers on the fate of women in feudal society, where they were oppressed and had no voice. The phrase 'Oan Thị Kính' refers to an injustice that cannot be corrected, leading to a dead-end situation.

2. Lesson plan for "Quan Am Thi Kinh" - Version 5

3. "Quan Âm Thị Kính" Lesson Plan No. 6
I. Author and Work
1. On the Genre
The text 'Quan Âm Thị Kính' belongs to the genre of Cheo, a traditional Vietnamese form of musical theater. Cheo combines singing, dancing, and storytelling in a theatrical form, typically performed at local festivals or village courts, thus earning the name 'Cheo sân đình' (village court Cheo). It originated and became widely popular in Northern Vietnam.
2. Origin
'Quan Âm Thị Kính' is the script of a Cheo play. Although it is merely a script, both the text and the excerpt 'Nỗi oan hại chồng' convey artistic values, helping us understand the key features of Cheo, particularly its ideological content. These include issues raised by the play, social conflicts in the old society, and the suffering of women in the past.
II. Guide to Studying the Text
Question 1:
Carefully read the summary of the Cheo play 'Quan Âm Thị Kính.'
Question 2:
Carefully read the excerpt 'Nỗi oan hại chồng' and the footnotes to understand the text and its difficult terms.
Question 3:
* The excerpt 'Nỗi oan hại chồng' features five characters: Thị Kính, Thiện Sĩ, Sùng ông, Sùng bà, and Mãng ông. All five play a role in creating the dramatic conflict, with Thị Kính and Sùng bà being the main characters, representing the central conflict of the play.
* Types of roles of the characters:
Thị Kính is the female protagonist, symbolizing ordinary people, particularly the plight of women who suffer many injustices and misfortunes in the old society.
Sùng bà is a villainous character, embodying the ruling class and the land-owning aristocracy in feudal Vietnam.
Question 4:
* The setting at the beginning of the excerpt portrays a warm family scene, which, though not as commonplace as the image of 'the husband plowing and the wife sowing,' still reflects the people's ideal of familial happiness.
* Through the words and actions of Thị Kính, we can see that she is a gentle woman, deeply loving towards her husband. She lovingly arranges his clothes when he sleeps, fans him, and when she notices a reversed beard under his chin, she becomes concerned about the ominous omen.
=> Thị Kính’s thoughts and actions appear natural, reflecting the genuine and passionate feelings of a woman deeply in love with her husband.
Question 5:
* Sùng bà's actions towards Thị Kính are cruel and violent: 'forcing Thị Kính’s head down,' 'ordering her to look up,' 'not allowing Thị Kính to explain,' 'shoving her to the ground,' 'insisting on sending Thị Kính back to her family.'
* Sùng bà's language is filled with harsh insults and curses. What’s important is that the way she scolds Thị Kính is not like how a mother-in-law would scold a daughter-in-law. It seems as though she wants to expel Thị Kính for reasons beyond the accusation of murder.
'The house here resembles a phoenix or a peacock – a troupe of cats and chickens.
The house here is crooked and high – you come from a family of crabs and snails.
The dragon’s egg hatches into a dragon – the 'liu diu' hatches into a 'liu diu' family.'
=> Sùng bà is a cruel, heartless person, using degrading words to emphasize the social hierarchy and the contrast between her wealthy family and Thị Kính’s. The content of these insults transcends family relations and points to deeply ingrained class distinctions in feudal marriages.
Question 6:
* In the excerpt, Thị Kính calls out her innocence five times. Four of these are directed at her husband and mother-in-law:
'Oh heaven! Mother, my injustice is great, mother!
My injustice is great, mother!
My injustice is great, husband!
Mother, consider my situation, my injustice is great, mother!'
These four cries of innocence are futile because her husband is weak, and her mother-in-law is cruel. The more she calls out, the greater her suffering.
Only in her fifth cry, when Thị Kính calls out to Mãng ông (her father), does she receive sympathy. However, this sympathy is filled with sorrow and helplessness. In the end, her grievance remains unresolved, and Thị Kính is driven from her husband’s house.
Question 7:
* Before expelling Thị Kính, Sùng bà and Sùng ông deceive Mãng ông under the pretense of inviting him to a feast, but in reality, they humiliate him and force him to bring Thị Kính back to her family. Their treatment of him is brutish and degrading.
* The dramatic conflict in this excerpt peaks when Sùng ông shoves Mãng ông to the ground, Thị Kính rushes to help her father, and father and daughter embrace, crying together. Thị Kính reaches the height of her despair: unjustly accused, her family torn apart, and her father humiliated and abused.
Question 8:
* From her gestures and words, we can sense Thị Kính’s emotional turmoil before she leaves Sùng bà’s house:
She feels sorrowful and heartbroken at having to leave her husband, bearing the weight of her unjust fate.
She is filled with regret, pitying her unfortunate, wretched life.
* Thị Kính’s decision to 'disguise as a man and become a monk' to escape her pain carries two almost opposing meanings:
She must continue living in this world to prove her upright character => a positive interpretation.
Believing that her fate is cruel, she seeks refuge in Buddhism to clear her name and remove her misfortunes => a negative interpretation, implying submission and resignation to the unfairness of her situation, especially for women in feudal society.
* This path is not one that allows her to escape her suffering in the old society. Thị Kính lacks the strength to overcome her circumstances, and her only recourse is to endure through patient suffering. Though she struggles, her fight is limited to lamenting her fate and hoping for the 'bright moon and sun' to shine down on her.
EXERCISES
Question 1. Summarize briefly the excerpt 'Nỗi oan hại chồng'.
Answer:
One evening, Thiện Sĩ reads a book and falls into a light sleep while Thị Kính sits by, sewing and fanning him. During this moment, she notices a reversed beard under his chin, which she believes is an ominous sign. She attempts to trim it with a knife, but Thiện Sĩ wakes up, and his reaction causes Sùng ông and Sùng bà, who already dislike Thị Kính, to accuse her of attempting to kill him. Despite Thị Kính’s pleas of innocence, they call Mãng ông (her father) to humiliate him. In despair, Thị Kính bows to her parents and chooses to disguise herself as a man, becoming a monk to escape her misery.
Question 2. Class discussion: Discuss the theme of the excerpt 'Nỗi oan hại chồng.' What do you understand by the idiom 'Oan Thị Kính'?
Answer:
The excerpt 'Nỗi oan hại chồng' portrays the noble qualities and tragic injustice of a woman caught in the class struggle:
- The excerpt begins with a cozy family setting, and Thị Kính’s actions highlight the image of a devoted woman.
- Thị Kính leaves Sùng bà’s house in deep sorrow and powerlessness, her happiness shattered.
- She disguises herself as a man and becomes a monk, both to clear her name and escape her worldly troubles.
The idiom 'Oan Thị Kính' refers to an unjust accusation that cannot be cleared or explained away.

4. Preparation for "Quan Am Thi Kinh" Version 1

5. "Quan Am Thi Kinh" Lesson Plan Number 2
I. ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND THE WORK
1. Genre
Cheo is a form of traditional folk theater that combines singing, dancing, and storytelling, performed on stage. It originated and became widely popular in the northern regions of Vietnam.
2. The Work
The text of "Quan Am Thi Kinh" is the script for a Cheo play—a type of folk art that integrates singing, dancing, storytelling, and acting, typically performed on stage (also known as a "Chèo screen").
Although it is only a stage script, "Quan Am Thi Kinh" (and the excerpt "The Wrongful Grief of the Husband") showcases certain artistic values, offering insights into the fundamental characteristics of Cheo theater, especially the ideological themes: the societal issues raised in the play, the conflicts and struggles in the old society, and the suffering of women...
II. ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM THE TEXTBOOK
Answer to Question 1 (page 120, Literature 7, Volume 2):
Carefully read the summary of the "Quan Am Thi Kinh" play.
Answer:
Summary:
Thi Kinh is a kind and beautiful girl from the Mang Ong family, married to Thien Si, a scholar. One night, while repairing her clothes, Thi Kinh notices her husband's beard growing in reverse. Concerned, she attempts to cut it off with a knife, but Thien Si wakes up and cries out. Her mother-in-law, hearing the commotion, falsely accuses Thi Kinh of attempting to kill her husband. She scolds Thi Kinh and sends her back to her parents' home. Disguised as a man, Thi Kinh enters a monastery, where she is named Kinh Tam.
Meanwhile, in the village, a woman named Thi Mau, notorious for her promiscuity, attempts to seduce Kinh Tam. Failing that, she has an affair with a farmhand. When she becomes pregnant, the villagers punish her, and she falsely accuses Kinh Tam of the wrongdoing. Thi Mau brings her child to the monastery, falsely accusing Kinh Tam, and for three years, Thi Kinh tirelessly begs for milk to nurse the child. Eventually, weakened and exhausted, she writes a letter to her parents before dying. Only then do people realize Kinh Tam is a woman, and they perform a ritual to clear her name. She is transformed into the Goddess of Mercy, Quan Am Thi Kinh.
Answer to Question 2 (page 120, Literature 7, Volume 2):
Carefully read the excerpt from "The Wrongful Grief of the Husband" and the footnotes to understand the text and difficult vocabulary.
Answer to Question 3 (page 120, Literature 7, Volume 2):
How many characters appear in the excerpt from "The Wrongful Grief of the Husband"? Which characters are the main ones involved in the dramatic conflict? What type of roles do they represent in Cheo theater?
Detailed answer:
- The excerpt features five characters: Thien Si, Thi Kinh, Sung Ong, Sung Ba, and Mang Ong.
- The main characters who express the dramatic conflict are Sung Ba and Thi Kinh. Sung Ba represents the villainous character type in Cheo, symbolizing the feudal landowning class, while Thi Kinh is the main female protagonist, symbolizing working-class women and ordinary people.
Answer to Question 4 (page 120, Literature 7, Volume 2):
What is the setting at the beginning of the excerpt? What do you think of Thi Kinh's character based on her words and actions in this scene?
Detailed answer:
- The scene at the start of the excerpt is set in a warm family environment. While it is not as familiar and common as the “husband plows, wife sows” scene, it still represents the common people's ideal of family happiness.
- From Thi Kinh's words and actions, we see that she is very caring and gentle toward her husband: when he sleeps, she tidies up and fans him, and when she notices his beard growing unevenly, she is worried about it being a bad omen.
⟶ Thi Kinh is a loving wife. Her affection for her husband is sincere and natural.
Answer to Question 5 (page 120, Literature 7, Volume 2):
Class discussion: List and comment on Sung Ba's actions and language toward Thi Kinh.
Detailed answer:
- Sung Ba’s actions are cruel and harsh: “forcefully pushes Thi Kinh down,” “orders Thi Kinh to look up,” “does not let Thi Kinh explain,” and “forces Thi Kinh to kneel.”
- Her language is filled with insults, curses, and harsh words. It seems that with every word she speaks, Thi Kinh is blamed more. Sung Ba accuses Thi Kinh without considering the facts and wants to expel her for reasons beyond just the accusation of attempting to murder her husband. Specifically:
+ “This house is like a phoenix and a peacock - an act of deceit and scorn.”
+ “Your house is low-born - You are from a humble family.”
+ “Dragon eggs give birth to dragons - Deceit produces deceit.”
⟶ Sung Ba's words are full of contempt for the lower classes, illustrating the social inequality between her class and others. This scene is more about class struggle than a typical mother-in-law vs. daughter-in-law conflict, showing the class oppression in feudal society through the language and actions in Cheo theater.
Answer to Question 6 (page 120, Literature 7, Volume 2):
How many times does Thi Kinh cry out for justice in the excerpt? Who does she cry out to? When is her cry finally heard? What do you think of this empathy?
Detailed answer:
Thi Kinh cries out for justice five times. Four of these cries are directed at her mother-in-law and husband:
- “Oh, mother, I am so wronged!”
- “I am wronged, mother!”
- “I am wronged, my dear husband!”
- “Mother, please consider my case, I am so wronged!”
These pleas are all in vain. Her husband is weak, and her mother-in-law is harsh, so the more she cries, the more her unjust suffering deepens.
The fifth time, she cries out to Mang Ong (her father), and only then does she receive some sympathy. However, this sympathy is filled with pain and helplessness. In the end, Thi Kinh's grievance remains unresolved, and she is cast out of her husband's house.
Answer to Question 7 (page 120, Literature 7, Volume 2):
Class discussion: Before expelling Thi Kinh from the house, what other cruel actions do Sung Ba and Sung Ong commit? Where is the highest point of dramatic conflict in this excerpt? Why?
Detailed answer:
- Before expelling Thi Kinh, Sung Ong and Sung Ba commit another cruel act: they orchestrate a plot to deceive Mang Ong into visiting under the pretense of congratulating his son, only to make him accept the child as his own, causing humiliation for father and son. They further demonstrate their brutal nature through physical abuse of Mang Ong's family.
- The highest point of the dramatic conflict occurs when only Mang Ong and his son are left on stage. Thi Kinh is pushed to the extreme of her suffering: her husband's family falsely accuses her, her happiness shatters, and her father is tortured and humiliated. The poignant scene where father and son cry together symbolizes the injustice and helplessness of the situation. The dramatic structure intensifies these emotions, underscoring the deep meaning of the play.
Answer to Question 8 (page 120, Literature 7, Volume 2):
Through the gestures and language of the characters, analyze Thi Kinh's emotions before leaving Sung Ba's house. What is the significance of her decision to disguise herself as a man and take up religious life? Is this the way for her to escape the suffering of old society?
Detailed answer:
Through Thi Kinh's gestures and words, we see her deep emotional pain before leaving Sung Ba's house. Her actions reflect the sorrow of a woman who, despite her loyalty, is now seen as unfaithful. Thi Kinh is uncertain of her future and feels lost in life.
Her decision to disguise herself as a man and seek refuge in a monastery signifies her desire for escape. It is a dual-edged path:
- Positively: She seeks spiritual liberation to prove her inner purity.
- Negatively: She believes that her suffering is due to fate, so she turns to Buddhism to seek peace of mind.
This is not a true escape from the suffering of the old society because Thi Kinh lacks the strength to rise above her circumstances. She resigns herself to enduring hardship and only struggles through words of blame towards fate and her wish for a better life.
EXERCISE
Answer to Question 1 (page 121, Literature 7, Volume 2):
Summarize the excerpt from "The Wrongful Grief of the Husband".
Answer:
One evening, Thien Si reads a book and falls into a light sleep. Thi Kinh, sitting beside him and sewing, notices his reversed beard. Fearing a bad omen, she tries to cut it off with a knife. Before she can do so, Thien Si wakes and cries out. Sung Ong and Sung Ba, who already dislike Thi Kinh, accuse her of trying to murder her husband. Despite her pleas of innocence, Sung Ong and Sung Ba call Mang Ong to humiliate him and force him to accept the child. Overcome with despair, Thi Kinh prays for her parents, then disguises herself as a man and seeks refuge in the monastery.
Answer to Question 2 (page 121, Literature 7, Volume 2):
Class discussion: What is the theme of the excerpt from "The Wrongful Grief of the Husband"? What is your understanding of the idiom "Oan Thi Kinh"?
The theme of the excerpt is the portrayal of Thi Kinh's virtues and the deep suffering caused by the injustices she faces. It also reflects the social class struggles within feudal marriages. The idiom "Oan Thi Kinh" has become a common expression used to describe extreme, unresolved grievances in society.
Main Content
Through the excerpt from "The Wrongful Grief of the Husband", students gain insight into the profound realism and humanism of the work: supporting the good qualities of women and empathizing with their misfortunes, while fiercely criticizing the feudal society that has forced women into tragic and unjust situations.

6. Lesson Preparation for "Quan Am Thi Kinh" No. 3

