Top 6 Best Study Guides for Humorous Folk Poetry (Literature 10)

Lesson Content

- Through clever and witty satire, the humorous folk poetry brings forth laughter that is entertaining, self-deprecating, and critical.

- It reflects the optimistic and life-loving spirit, along with a healthy worldview of the everyday working people.

Study Guide Instructions

Question 1 (page 91, Literature 10, Volume 1):

- The poem depicts a playful exchange between a young man and a woman, humorously discussing the serious matters of marriage and dowry.

+ The groom's side offers a "fat mouse" as a dowry, as long as it has four legs.

+ The bride's side demands a "house of sweet potatoes" as a dowry.

+ Both the young man and woman humorously highlight the modesty of their families.

+ The self-deprecating laughter is bittersweet but full of joy and wit, representing the optimistic outlook of the working class.

- The poem employs exaggeration and contrast to create meaningful laughter.

+ Exaggerated statements: offering elephants, buffaloes, or cows as dowries.

+ Gradual reduction: Elephant → buffalo → cow

+ Oppositional statements: contrasting dreams with reality: offering an elephant, buffalo, or cow versus offering a cow.

Question 2 (page 91, Literature 10, Volume 1):

- Compared to the laughter in Poem 1, the laughter in Poems 2, 3, and 4 serves as social critique and satire.

- The folk authors focus on the vices of certain individuals in society.

- The unique charm of each folk poem.

+ Poem 1: self-deprecating laughter at one’s own expense.

+ Poem 2: Targets the fragile masculinity of weak men.

• The artistic technique used is a combination of contrast and metaphor.

• The contrast between "being a man" and "strength of a man" is juxtaposed with "Bending over to carry two sesame seeds".

• The metaphorical exaggeration highlights the comical weakness: the imagery of "bending over to carry sesame seeds" speaks for itself.

- Poem 3: Criticizes lazy, useless husbands with no ambition.

• The contrast between "another man's husband" and "my husband".

• The exaggeration of the lazy husband, who only knows how to "sit by the stove" and "scratch the cat's tail".

• The folk authors captured the essence of such a character with one striking, insightful detail, which serves as a universal depiction of idle, dependent men.

- Poem 4: Criticizes fickle, unattractive women.

• The artistic techniques of exaggeration and rich associations come into play here.

• Behind the humorous laughter, the folk author subtly critiques these women.

Question 3 (page 91, Literature 10, Volume 1):

- Common artistic techniques in humorous folk poetry:

- Exaggeration and contrast.

- Depiction of characters with universal traits that hold significant symbolic value.

- Use of everyday language with deep and profound meanings.

- Incorporation of creative, unexpected, and intriguing associations.

EXERCISES

1. The bride’s dowry request of "a house of sweet potatoes" demonstrates her clever and intelligent response.

- The self-deprecating humor of the working class is endearing and admirable in that it reflects optimism, as well as the wit, sharpness, and humor of the people.

- It also offers a shared sense of solidarity with the hardships of working people.

2. Folk poems collected:

- “The fortune-teller reads the numbers for me, The master’s fate is left to the flies.”

- “If the dirt could speak, The fortune-teller would have no teeth left.”

- “After eating, lying down, leaning back, Anyone who wants me must carry me inside.”

- “As a man, I wash dishes and sweep the house, When my wife calls, I say: Yes, my lady, I’m here!”

- “The stork wades through the pond, Hey, my dear, will you marry my uncle? He likes alcohol and fish, He loves strong tea and afternoon naps. By day, he wishes for rainy days, By night, he wishes for extra hours in the night watch.”

Question 1 (page 91, Literature Textbook 10, Volume 1)

Read Song 1 and answer the following questions:

- How is the marriage proposal and dowry request presented unusually? What makes the way the young man and woman speak stand out? From there, share your thoughts on the laughter of working people in their poverty.

- What artistic elements contribute to the humorous, witty, and charming tone of the folk song?

Detailed Answer:

- The song is framed as a dialogue between the young man and the young woman. Both speak jokingly and playfully, but their words carry deep meaning about human life. In traditional marriage customs, families typically agree on the dowry and proposal. In this song, both the proposal and dowry request are unconventional.

- The groom’s family offers “a fat rat” as long as it’s a four-legged animal; the bride’s family challenges with “a house of sweet potatoes.”

- Both the young man and woman focus on humorously mocking their own poverty. The self-deprecating laughter is somewhat bitter but joyful, humorous, and clever, reflecting the optimistic spirit of working-class people.

- The song uses exaggeration and contrast to create meaningful laughter.

+ Exaggerated language: proposals of elephants, buffaloes, and cows.

+ Gradual reduction in the language used:

● Elephant → buffalo → cow

● Large tuber → small tuber → broken tuber → shriveled tuber

=> Fully exploiting the context of poverty

=> Humor in poverty

+ Contrasting language: a contrast between dreams and reality: the grand animals versus a cow.

Question 2 (page 91, Literature Textbook 10, Volume 1)

Read Songs 2, 3, and 4. How does the laughter in these differ from that in Song 1? What people in society does the folk poet target, and for what purpose, and with what attitude? Despite the common theme, each song has its own unique artistic flair. Analyze the distinctive qualities of each folk song.

Detailed Answer:

- Compared to the laughter in Song 1, the laughter in Songs 2, 3, and 4 is more critical, satirical, and social-commentary focused. It targets the flaws and vices of certain groups within society.

Song 1 features self-deprecating laughter (laughing at oneself), whereas in the following songs, the targets of the humor are others.

Song 2:

- The target of satire is the weak and effeminate men who are not manly enough.

Artistic techniques in this song combine contrast and hyperbole.

+ Contrast, also known as juxtaposition: “to be a man” and “strength of man” versus “stooping, bending, and carrying two grains of sesame.”

+ Hyperbole exaggerates the satirical actions, such as the exaggerated “stooping and bending” which everyone can recognize.

Song 3:

- The target here is the lazy and useless husband, who lacks ambition.

- Through the use of contrast (between “my husband” and “other men’s husbands”) and hyperbole (a husband so weak that he only knows how to “sit by the stove” and “pet the cat’s tail”), the folk poet accurately encapsulates the essence of a lazy, dependent man. This character represents the stereotype of an idle, unproductive man.

Song 4:

- This song mocks the capricious and graceless women. The humor is mainly based on exaggeration and the folk poet’s creative comparisons. Behind the cheerful, amusing tone, the poet subtly criticizes women who are vain and ungraceful, highlighting a social issue still present in society.

Question 3 (page 91, Literature Textbook 10, Volume 1)

What artistic techniques are commonly used in humorous folk songs?

Detailed Answer:

The techniques frequently used in humorous folk songs include:

- Exaggeration, contrast, and opposition.

- Depiction of characters with universal traits that are widely understood.

- Use of everyday language, yet with depth and meaning.

- Unique, surprising, and engaging comparisons.

Practice

Question 1 (page 91, Literature Textbook 10, Volume 1)

What are your thoughts on the bride’s dowry request: “My house requests a house of sweet potatoes”? How does the self-deprecating laughter of the working-class people in poverty evoke admiration and affection?

Answer:

- A dowry request is a demand made by the bride’s family for the groom’s family regarding the dowry and gifts. The bride’s request, “My house requests a house of sweet potatoes,” might evoke a smile that is both sympathetic and humorous, bittersweet yet endearing, as it highlights the bride’s family’s poverty but also the wit and cleverness of her expression.

- The self-deprecating laughter of the working-class people is lovely and admirable because it reflects optimism, as well as intelligence, sharpness, and humor in their outlook on life.

- This laughter also feels like a shared experience of the difficult lives that these people face, with underlying criticism of the burdensome traditional dowry expectations.

Question 2 (page 91, Literature Textbook 10, Volume 1)

Collect some humorous folk songs that criticize laziness, unhealthy habits like snacking, alcohol addiction, and early marriages...

Answer:

“The stork is the stork indeed
Eat at aunt’s house, drink at cousin’s place
By night, it croaks loudly
Even before going to the market, it’s already thinking of snacks”

“Fortune-telling a prediction for the household
The pig has four legs, the chicken has two”

Question 1 (Page 90, Literature 10 Textbook, Vol. 1)

The unusual proposal and dowry request:

- The young man’s words: To marry her, he had big plans for a grand wedding, but due to various constraints, he couldn't follow through:

+ Wanted to bring an elephant ⟶ afraid of the national ban

+ Wanted to bring a buffalo ⟶ afraid of the clan’s negative response

+ Wanted to bring a cow ⟶ afraid the bride’s family would be too harsh

=> It wasn’t that the young man didn’t want to impress the bride’s family with a luxurious gift, but rather he was concerned for their well-being.

- In the end, he decided: “As long as it’s a four-legged animal, I’ll bring a fat mouse to invite everyone.”

=> The young man’s reasoning is clever, witty, and endearing.

- In reality, the detail about bringing a mouse is a fabrication (no matter how poor, no one would marry with a mouse!). It showcases optimism, love for life, and the young man’s self-mocking laughter in the face of his circumstances.

- The girl’s words are carefree, witty, and cheerful. She doesn’t feel ashamed of their poverty; on the contrary, she’s incredibly optimistic.

- The humorous and charming tone of the folk song comes from artistic elements:

+ The song uses exaggeration: bringing an elephant, buffalo, or cow.

+ The diminishing sequence:

Elephant ⟶ buffalo ⟶ cow ⟶ mouse ⟶ (young man)

Large root ⟶ small root ⟶ broken root ⟶ dry root, old root (girl)

+ Corresponding statements: Bring an elephant / afraid of the national ban. Bring a buffalo / afraid of their family’s disapproval...

Question 1 (Page 91, Vietnamese Literature 10, Volume 1)

The poem portrays a playful exchange between a young man and a woman, both joking about the important matters of marriage and the dowry.

- The expression is rich in imagery, with the dowry challenge reflecting the humor and self-deprecation regarding the poverty of the working class.

- The man's words express grand plans:

+ He plans to bring elephants, buffaloes, and cattle.

+ He dreams of an extravagant wedding.

- The woman counters with a dowry request: "a house full of sweet potatoes".

→ The humorous exchange about the dowry and wedding reveals the couple’s playful attitude toward their modest means, while fostering a sense of joy and optimism in their lives.

The poem utilizes hyperbole and contrast to create a humorous effect:

+ The exaggerated boast: elephants, buffaloes, cattle—versus a house full of sweet potatoes.

+ The contrast between reality and dream: poor yet desiring an extravagant wedding.

+ The playful denial: the man’s plans thwarted by imaginary restrictions.

Question 2 (Page 91, Vietnamese Literature 10, Volume 1)

The humor in poems 2, 3, and 4 targets social flaws and misdeeds, using satire to mock them.

Poem 2: critiques weak men who lack strength:

- The use of contrast and metaphor:

+ Contrast: strength vs. bending down to carry sesame seeds.

+ Metaphor: the man's bending merely to carry two insignificant items.

Poem 3: mocks lazy men with no ambition:

- The use of hyperbole and contrast:

+ Contrast: one man's productivity vs. the other’s laziness.

+ The image of a man idly petting a cat in the kitchen represents a lazy, dependent individual.

Poem 4: ridicules unattractive, clumsy women:

- The poem exaggerates and evokes vivid imagery:

+ "Eighteen loads of fur in the nostrils".

+ Snoring loudly at night.

+ Constantly munching on snacks while shopping.

+ Trash and straw on her head.

- The humor subtly mocks societal perceptions of unattractive women, highlighting their awkwardness and lack of charm.

Question 3 (Page 91, Vietnamese Literature 10, Volume 1)

Common literary devices used in humorous folk poems:

+ Exaggeration, hyperbole, and contrast.

+ Characters are drawn using exaggerated features that carry significant universal meanings.

+ The use of everyday, sarcastic language to deliver criticism and humor.

+ Creating striking, unique associations and images.

Practice

Exercise 1 (Page 92, Vietnamese Literature 10, Volume 1)

The woman’s dowry request of "a house full of sweet potatoes" is a clever, witty response.

- She does not feel ashamed of her modest circumstances but instead embraces them with humor and enjoyment in her dowry proposal.

- This humorous offer is a self-deprecating reflection of the working class’s optimistic outlook on life.

Exercise 2 (Page 92, Vietnamese Literature 10, Volume 1)

Here are some humorous folk poems:

- Marrying to avoid the heat and rain,

But my husband naps through the day.

- A girl whose husband is a constant source of trouble,

Yet still goes out shopping for snacks and treats.

- The river may have boundless water,

But no matter how many wives a man has, he is never content.

- The priest beside the altar, murmuring prayers,

While his hands are busy with a plate of sticky rice.

I. Guide for Writing the Essay

Question 1 (page 91, Literature 10, Volume 1):

- The act of proposing and challenging a marriage in this context is an ironic reflection on the poverty of the working class.

+ The young man proposes a grand wedding with elephants, buffaloes, and cows, but offers excuses for each one.

+ The girl challenges him with 'a house full of sweet potatoes'.

=> The proposal and challenge are humorous and show their optimistic outlook on life.

=> They convey a life philosophy that values relationships over wealth.

- The tone of the folk song is witty, humorous, and endearing because of the following artistic elements:

+ Exaggerated, joyful expressions: leading elephants, buffaloes, cows, sweet potatoes...

+ Contradictory and negating expressions: leading elephants/suspecting the law, leading buffaloes/fearing the family bloodline, leading cows/fearing the in-laws' wrath, leading pigs/chickens/sweet potatoes.

Question 2 (page 91, Literature 10, Volume 1):

- The laughter in songs 2, 3, and 4 is critical, satirical, and socially condemning.

- The laughter in the first song is self-mocking.

Song 2: - A man... strength >< bending down... carrying two sesame seeds

(Strength) (Weakness)

-> The art of exaggeration combined with contrast is used to criticize weak men who are not fit to be men.

Song 3: The husband goes back and forth >< my husband just sits at the kitchen and touches the cat's tail

Question 1 (page 91, Literature 10, Volume 1): Song 1:

- The proposal and challenge in this song are unique:

+ The proposal: The young man has grand plans for a lavish wedding but is faced with several obstacles that prevent him from achieving them: leading elephants, buffaloes, and cows is not possible because of various fears (legal issues, family concerns, in-laws' wrath), so he decides to lead a fat mouse instead. This reasoning is clever and witty.

+ The challenge: The girl challenges him with 'a house full of sweet potatoes,' which seems simple but cleverly acknowledges the young man's inability to fulfill the extravagant proposal.

- Through this proposal and challenge, the peasants laugh at their own poverty. They are not ashamed but rather accept it with a sense of humor, which makes their character and life philosophy even more admirable.

- The folk song's witty and humorous tone is enhanced by the following artistic techniques:

+ Exaggerated expressions: leading elephants, buffaloes, cows...

+ Gradual reduction in expressions:

• Elephants -> buffaloes -> cows -> mice (young man)

• Big potatoes -> small potatoes -> cracked potatoes -> dried potatoes (girl)

+ Contrasting expressions:

• Leading elephants/fearing the law

• Leading buffaloes/fearing family bloodlines

• Leading cows/fearing in-laws

• Pigs, chickens/sweet potatoes

Question 2 (page 91, Literature 10, Volume 1): Songs 2, 3, 4

Unlike the first folk song, songs 2, 3, and 4 feature laughter that mocks and critiques society, calling attention to flaws in people’s behavior, attitudes, and morals.

- Song 2: The folk artist uses exaggeration and contrast to mock weak men who are unworthy of being men. They are so weak that they can only carry 'two sesame seeds'.

- Song 3: The folk artist highlights and criticizes the laziness of a husband through the wife's complaints, portraying him as useless and only good for 'sitting at the kitchen and touching the cat's tail'.

- Song 4: With clever exaggeration, the folk artist delivers a gentle satire of women who are vain and unattractive. It also critiques blind love that doesn’t address each other's flaws, exemplified by the line 'the husband loves, the husband speaks...'

Question 3 (page 91, Literature 10, Volume 1): Common artistic techniques in humorous folk songs:

- Constructing situations creatively and depicting characters with vivid, generalized traits

- Exaggeration, amplification, and contrast

- Using everyday language with profound underlying meaning.

Practice

Question 1 (page 92, Literature 10, Volume 1):

The girl's marriage challenge is a clever and intelligent way of handling the situation. Her challenge not only shows no shame about the poverty of the young man’s family, but also reflects her acceptance and happiness with their circumstances. Though this challenge is fictional in the folk song, it demonstrates the beauty of pure love that overcomes material concerns, revealing the deep emotional bond between the two.

Question 2 (page 92, Literature 10, Volume 1): Folk songs criticizing flaws:

- “Astrologer, tell my fortune

But your own fortune is a mess”

- “If a stone could speak

The fortune teller would lose his teeth”

- “I eat, then I lie down and roll around

Whoever marries me will have to carry me inside”

- “Being a man means washing dishes, sweeping the house

And when my wife calls, I’ll say: Yes, my lady!”

- “The stork dives by the pond

Does the girl in the yellow scarf want to marry me?

My uncle loves to drink and nap

He enjoys strong tea and afternoon naps”