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1. Sample Essay 4
'Fairy Tale About Humankind' is one of Xuân Quỳnh's remarkable poems that left me with deep insights.
The poem opens with an exploration of the origins of the Earth and all the elements that inhabit it:
'First, the sky was created
It was all just children
The Earth was barren
No trees, no plants
The sun had not yet appeared
Only endless darkness
The air was all black
No other colors to be seen.'
It's fascinating to read these first lines. Xuân Quỳnh’s interpretation is unique. Children were created first, and to fulfill their needs, the world slowly took shape. Children’s eyes are bright but unable to see. Thus, the sun emerged for them to see. The green of trees and the red of flowers helped them identify colors. The trees, grass, and leaves enabled them to sense size. The songs of birds and the wind’s whispers let them experience sound. Rivers gave them water to bathe in. The sea emerged to spark their thoughts. Roads formed so that children could learn to walk.
Following this, the poem continues with the arrival of family members, starting with the sacred bond of motherhood:
'But what children truly need
Is love and lullabies
Therefore, mothers were born
To cradle and care for them
She brought songs with her
From the soil, the flowers
From white wings
From bitter ginger
From stains still fresh
From the first drops of rain
From the quiet riverbanks...'
The mother is the first to appear. She brings lullabies to the child. These lullabies carry the sounds, scents, colors, and forms of nature, allowing the child to experience the world. Just like a mother’s love, her lullabies come in many tones, as natural as the earth itself.
As the child grows, the grandmother arrives to tell them countless wonderful stories:
'Knowing children crave
Stories from the past and the future
Not sure where they come from
But the grandmother comes
To tell tales from long ago
About frogs, fairies, kind girls
The virtuous Tấm
And the wicked Lý Thông…
Her hair is silver
Her eyes are full of joy
She tells stories for a lifetime
And they never end.'
Next, the father appears, offering wisdom through 'father’s words' and teaching the child to 'be well-behaved' and 'think critically.' As children grow and need more knowledge, schools open, and teachers provide the education needed to shape them into capable individuals. Classrooms, desks, chalkboards, and books all symbolize the gradual transformation of human life on Earth into something more civilized. Xuân Quỳnh tells a fascinating tale about the growth of humanity.
Xuân Quỳnh's poem offers a unique interpretation of human origins, helping readers understand her deep love for children and her connection to the world around them.
2. Reference Example 5
Xuân Quỳnh is a poet known for her writings about the simple, sincere emotions that come from family life and daily experiences. One of her most iconic works is the poem “The Fairy Tale of Humankind.”
Explaining the origins of humankind to children might be challenging, but Xuân Quỳnh does so with a clever and humorous approach. In the first stanza, she delves into the birth of humanity:
“First, the sky created
Nothing but children
The earth was barren
No trees or grass to be found
The sun didn’t even exist
Only darkness filled the sky
The air was black
No other colors existed”
At this point, the earth was still bare, devoid of trees or even grass. The sun, which would warm all living things, had yet to appear. The world was entirely dark, with no colors at all. Everything in the world was created for the benefit of children. A child's eyes are bright, yet they can't see. Hence, the sun was born to provide light. The green of trees, the red of flowers, the presence of trees and leaves helped children perceive sizes, while birds' songs and the wind enabled them to hear sounds. Rivers were formed so children could bathe. The sea emerged for children to reflect and explore. And when children took their first steps, roads were created for them to walk on.
Yet, children still needed love, so the mother appeared:
"But still, children need
Love and lullabies
So the mother was born
To cradle and care for them
She brought with her a song
From the beggar's rattle
From the fragrant flower
From the white stork's wing
From the bitter taste of ginger
From the unhealed stain
From the beginning of the rain
From the quiet riverbank…"
This verse begins with the presence of the mother in the world. The reason for her existence is simple yet profound. Children need the gentle care and lullabies of their mother. That's why the mother came into being, to offer endless love. The repetition of the word “from” emphasizes the humble origins of the lullaby. The lullaby is born from simple, familiar things: a beggar's rattle, a fragrant flower, bitter ginger, the unhealed stains, the beginning of rain, and the empty riverbank. These things are close to children, familiar and comforting. The lullaby carries the sounds, smells, and colors of nature to help children experience the world. Just like a mother's love, the lullaby has various tones and depths, as natural and vast as the earth itself. A mother’s love is as boundless as the universe and is embedded in the lullaby she sings.
Next, Xuân Quỳnh explains the appearance of the grandmother. The grandmother is the one who brings:
"Knowing that children long for
Stories from the past, present, and future
Not sure where it comes from
But the grandmother came to tell
Countless fairy tales
Like the frog prince, the fairy maiden
The good-hearted Tam, the wicked Ly Thong…
Her hair is white
Her eyes sparkle with joy
She will tell stories all her life
And never run out of tales"
Everyone’s childhood is often marked by the warm image of the grandmother, telling fairy tales like the frog prince, the fairy maiden, the good-hearted Tam, or the wicked Ly Thong. Through these stories, the grandmother imparts the nation's roots and culture, promoting a virtuous and kind way of life.
With a mother offering love, a grandmother teaching morals, children still need a father. The father imparts knowledge about humanity. Through “father's advice” and “father's teachings,” children learn to be kind and thoughtful. As humanity’s knowledge expands, people begin to explore the world around them:
“The sea is vast
The road stretches far
The mountains are green and distant
The earth is round”
As society progresses, education becomes essential. Schools open to teach children, and teachers provide the knowledge needed to help them grow. Desks, classrooms, blackboards, chalk, and the teacher—these are symbols of the wondrous changes in human life, a reflection of how humanity advances towards civilization. Under the sunlight, humankind lives in the light of science, education, and civilization:
"The written word came first
Then came desks and chairs
Then schools and classrooms
And the teacher was born"
Thus, the poem “The Fairy Tale of Humankind” offers a unique explanation for the origin of humanity. Through it, Xuân Quỳnh expresses her deep love and affection for children.
3. Reference Example 6
"The Fairy Tale of Mankind" is one of Xuân Quỳnh's finest poems. In this piece, she presents a unique and captivating explanation of the origin of humanity.
"At first, the sky created
Only children were there
The earth was barren and bare
No trees or grass anywhere
The sun had not appeared
It was only endless night
The air was pitch black
No colors were in sight"
At this early stage, the Earth was devoid of vegetation, and the sun had not yet emerged, leaving only darkness. The poet introduces the idea that children were the first creations, a concept that, while not scientifically accurate, reflects a deep love and affection for children.
Everything in the world exists for children. Their bright eyes, though unable to see, were the reason for the sun's arrival, enabling them to perceive the world. The colors of plants and flowers emerged to help children recognize colors. Birds were created with songs for children to hear, and rivers, oceans, clouds, and roads came into being to serve their lives. Nature itself existed because of children.
Next, Xuân Quỳnh explains the origin of the family, beginning with the appearance of the mother:
"But for children to thrive
Love and lullabies were required
So mother was born
To hold and care for them
She brought with her songs
From the rice fields
From the fragrant flowers
From the pure white storks
From the bitter taste of ginger
From the marks of the past
From the first rainstorm
From the lonely riverbanks...
"This stanza highlights the essential role of the mother in the world. The mother's presence brings tenderness, care, and unconditional love. The repetition of "from" in these verses emphasizes the humble and familiar origins of a lullaby. These simple elements of nature, like the sound of birds, the scent of flowers, and the taste of ginger, are deeply familiar to children. These elements, woven into the lullaby, carry the natural world’s essence, inviting the child to feel the world’s beauty in every sense. The mother's love, like her lullaby, is vast and profound, as natural as the world itself.
Following the mother, the grandmother also emerges to help children connect with their cultural heritage:
"Children long for stories
Of days gone by, and those to come
Not knowing where they begin
But the grandmother is there
To tell them old tales
About frogs and fairies
About the kind-hearted girl Tấm
And the wicked Lý Thông…
Her hair was silver
Her eyes full of joy
She would tell these stories forever
And still, there would be more"
Every person’s childhood is deeply marked by the image of a loving grandmother, telling well-known folk tales like those of the frog and the fairy, the good-hearted Tấm, and the evil Lý Thông. Through these stories, the grandmother conveys the culture and values of the nation, promoting kindness and moral integrity.
However, children also need wisdom, and thus, the father is introduced:
"To help children understand the world
The father was born
He taught them to be wise
He showed them to think deep
The sea is vast
The roads are long
The mountains are green and far
The Earth is round"
Through the father's guidance, children learn to be thoughtful and wise, expanding their understanding of the world. As society evolves, schools emerge as symbols of human progress. Classrooms, desks, chalkboards, and teachers represent the great advancements that have led humanity to a more civilized state.
With "The Fairy Tale of Mankind," Xuân Quỳnh expresses her deep love for children while delivering the message that we must care for and cherish them.
4. Reference Article 7
Xuan Quynh is a renowned poet, particularly well-known for her poems for children. One of her most iconic works for the younger audience is "The Fairy Tale of Humankind".
The poem begins with the poet imagining the world when humankind first appeared, a time when "only children" existed. The Earth was still in its primitive state, "bare and barren", without any green or trees, "no shapes of plants or grass":
“The sky created first
Only children were there
On the bare, barren Earth
No plants or grass in sight
The sun had not appeared
Only darkness was there
The air was all black
No colors existed yet”
At this point, Earth was still devoid of trees or grass, and the sunlight hadn’t yet appeared, leaving only darkness. The first beings to emerge were children - this serves as a poetic explanation that contrasts with reality. The poet continues by illustrating how everything in the world came into existence through children. Children’s eyes were bright but could not see anything, so the sun appeared to allow them to see. To help children perceive colors, trees were given their green hue and flowers their red colors. Not only colors, but sounds were also introduced when birds began to sing. Rivers, oceans, clouds, and roads were all created for the children. Through this explanation, we understand the poet’s deep love for children.
The poet then goes on to explain the arrival of the mother, who is closely linked with the child:
"But children also need
Love and lullabies
So the mother was born
To cradle and care for them
She brought the songs…"
Motherhood is perhaps the most sacred bond in life. A mother gives children care from the moment they are born, taking care of them from their food to their sleep with lullabies and songs. These lullabies introduce children to the world around them. Through the poet’s words, we get a deep sense of the profound importance of a mother in a child’s life.
It’s not only the mother but also the grandmother who appears in the world of humankind, offering children:
"Children long for tales
Of the past and the future
Not knowing from where it comes
But the grandmother appeared
And told many old stories…"
Children need more understanding, and so the father appeared, guiding them to be thoughtful and well-behaved. Thanks to their father’s teachings, children become more mature. The father also helps them discover new aspects of life: what the sea is like, what the roads are, what mountains are, and what the Earth is like… With language, writing, and education, humanity advanced, opening schools to teach children, creating teachers to guide them. Thus, the life of humankind has grown more civilized.
In conclusion, "The Fairy Tale of Humankind" is an intriguing explanation of the origin of mankind. The simple and vivid imagery, humorous tone, and childlike language contribute significantly to the success of the poem.
5. Reference Article 8
The Fairy Tale of Humankind is one of Xuan Quynh's most famous poems for children. It showcases the poet's distinctive style and her deep love for young readers.
The poem begins with a unique explanation of the origin of humankind:
“The sky created first
Only children were there
On the barren Earth
No trees or grass in sight
The sun had not appeared
Only darkness reigned
The air was black
No other colors existed”
This description paints Earth as lifeless, enveloped in darkness. The first beings to appear were children. Their bright eyes, however, could not yet see. So, the sun emerged to illuminate their world. The green of trees, the red of flowers helped children distinguish colors. Trees and grass allowed them to sense size, while the songs of birds and the whispers of the wind introduced them to sound. Rivers were created for children to bathe in, the sea to make them ponder, and roads for them to practice walking. Every element in nature was born to meet the needs of children.
Even family members appeared in response to the children's need for love and understanding:
"But children also need
Love and lullabies
So the mother was born
To cradle and care for them
She brought songs with her
From the river’s banks
From the fragrant flowers
From the white stork's wings
From the bitter taste of ginger
From the wet stains not yet dry
From the first drops of rain
From the empty riverbank…"
The mother’s arrival signifies the gift of love and care for children. Maternal love is undeniable – it is the most sacred of all. The mother brings lullabies filled with sounds, smells, colors, and shapes of nature, allowing children to feel the world around them. Her love and her lullabies are full of different tones, as natural as the world itself. As children grow, they develop an interest in fairy tales. Grandmothers appear to tell them stories:
"Children long for tales
Of the past and the future
Not knowing where they come from
But the grandmother came
And told countless stories
Of frogs and fairies
Of kind-hearted Cinderella
Of the wicked Ly Thong…
Her hair turned gray
Her eyes sparkled with joy
She could tell stories forever
And never run out of tales"
But children need to learn more, so the father emerges. Thanks to "father’s guidance" and "father’s teachings", children begin to "be wise" and "think deeply". People expand their knowledge and begin to explore the world around them:
“The vastness of the ocean
The length of the road
The mountains, green and distant
The round shape of the Earth”
As children grow, they need even more knowledge. Thus, schools open to teach them, and teachers provide the wisdom necessary for them to become good individuals. Classrooms, desks, chalkboards, pencils, writing, and teachers are all symbols of the profound changes that reflect how human civilization has advanced.
With her innocent and cheerful tone, Xuan Quynh has offered a captivating interpretation of the origins of humankind, infused with a deep love for children.
6. Reference Article 1
Xuan Quynh’s "The Fairy Tale of Humankind" offers readers an intriguing interpretation of humanity’s origins.
The opening stanza paints a picture of Earth when humanity first emerged, a place “full of children.” The Earth was still untouched, “bare,” with no greenery, “no trees or grass”:
“The sky created first
Only children were there
On the barren Earth
No trees or grass in sight
The sun had not appeared
Only darkness reigned
The air was black
No other colors existed”
As the poem progresses, human life evolves, and civilization begins to flourish. The sun appears, shedding light across the Earth, bringing life to all beings.
Children require love and care from their mothers, so mothers enter the world:
“So the mother was born
To cradle and care for them
She brought songs with her
From the river’s edge
From the fragrant flowers
From the white stork’s wings
From the bitter taste of ginger
From the wet stains yet to dry
From the first raindrops
From the empty riverbanks…”
Next, grandmothers enter to help children understand the beauty of the land, culture, and heritage:
“Children long for tales
Of the past and the future
Not knowing where they come from
But the grandmother came
And told countless stories
Of frogs and fairies
Of kind-hearted Cinderella
Of wicked Ly Thong…
Her hair turned gray
Her eyes sparkled with joy
She could tell stories forever
And never run out of tales”
As children’s intellect grows, they need further guidance. Thus, fathers enter to nurture their curiosity. Thanks to “father’s guidance,” children learn to “be wise” and “think.” People begin to expand their understanding, exploring the world around them:
“The vastness of the sea
The length of the road
The mountains, green and far away
The round shape of the Earth”
The poet then continues by explaining the emergence of language, writing, and education. Humans learn and evolve, and life becomes increasingly civilized: schools are built to educate children, teachers are born to impart knowledge:
“Writing came first
Then came desks and chairs
Then came classes and schools
And teachers were born”
Classrooms, desks, chairs, blackboards, chalk, writing, and teachers are symbols of the miraculous transformation of human life on Earth, as civilization progresses. Under the sunlight, humanity thrives in the light of science, education, and civilization.
Readers can feel the author’s deep love for children expressed beautifully in this poem, "The Fairy Tale of Humankind."
7. Reference Article 2
In "The Fairy Tale of Humankind," Xuân Quỳnh provides a unique and captivating explanation of the origins of humanity:
“The sky created first
Only children were there
On the barren Earth
No trees or grass in sight
The sun had not appeared
Only darkness reigned
The air was black
No other colors existed”
The poem begins with the birth of humanity, a time when the Earth was bare, devoid of plants or life. The sun had yet to rise, and darkness dominated. The first creation was children, a concept that contrasts with conventional understanding.
The poet then explains the creation of all things, starting with children. The eyes of children are bright but unable to see, so the sun appears for them to see clearly. To help children recognize colors, trees turn green and flowers bloom red. Not only colors, but also sounds are introduced as birds sing. Rivers, seas, clouds, and roads emerge to serve the needs of children. Through these explanations, we can feel the poet’s deep affection for children.
Beyond nature, children also need the love of their family. The next step is the birth of mothers:
"But children also need
Love and lullabies
So the mother was born
To cradle and care for them”
The mother brings love and care to children, providing a gentle touch and soothing lullabies. The use of “from” in the verses emphasizes the origin of the lullabies, symbolizing the sacred bond of motherhood.
Not just mothers, grandmothers also come into the world to help children understand their homeland’s culture and history:
"Children crave stories
From the past and the future
Not knowing where they come from
But the grandmother arrived
To tell many ancient tales…”
Through these stories, the grandmother conveys the nation’s roots and culture, teaching children the value of kindness and virtue.
As time passes, children grow, and their intellect expands. Thus, fathers emerge to impart wisdom and knowledge for life:
“To make children understand
That’s why fathers were born
Fathers teach them to behave
Fathers teach them to think
The sea is vast
The road stretches far
The mountains are green and distant
The Earth is round…”
Thanks to “father’s guidance,” children learn to “be well-behaved” and “think wisely.” Humanity expands its knowledge, constantly discovering and exploring the world around them. As society progresses, schools are established, symbolizing a civilized society. Classrooms, desks, chairs, blackboards, chalk, writing, and teachers all represent the miraculous transformation of human life as civilization advances.
Thus, Xuân Quỳnh’s poem offers deep reflections on the care and love for children. Through this, we receive a message to nurture and cherish the younger generation.
8. Reference Article 3
Xuân Quỳnh is a prominent female poet, and 'The Fairy Tale of Humanity' is one of her most notable works.
This poem offers a unique explanation for the origin of humanity. The poet imagines a time when the Earth was newly formed, and the world was 'only filled with children'. At that moment, the Earth was barren, devoid of trees or plants, the sun had not yet appeared, and darkness covered everything.
'In the beginning, Heaven created
Only children were born
The Earth was still bare
No trees or grass could be found
The sun was not yet there
Only darkness all around
The sky was black, no other color in sight'
The poet then explains how everything came into being to cater to the needs of children. First, children's eyes were bright but they could not see, so the sun was created for them to see. To help children recognize colors, trees turned green and flowers bloomed red. Not just colors, but sounds also became part of their world, with birds singing and rivers, seas, clouds, and roads coming into existence to serve them. Through this explanation, the deep affection of the poet for children is clearly felt.
The sacred bond of motherhood is mentioned as the origin of mothers. Children need care, so mothers came into being. From the moment children were born, mothers provided the nurturing care they needed. Mothers cradle their children in their hands, tending to them from feeding to sleep with lullabies and songs. These songs opened children's eyes to the world around them, introducing them to the sights, colors, and smells of nature. These verses are deeply moving, evoking a sense of pride in motherhood. Not only mothers, but grandmothers also appeared in the world to share with children:
'I know children yearn
For stories of the past and future
Not knowing where they come from
But grandmothers came to tell them
Old tales of long ago…'
Next, the poet beautifully explains the birth of fathers. Through their teaching, children mature. Fathers also introduced children to the world, teaching them about the sea, the road, the mountains, and the Earth itself. With speech, writing, and education came the opportunity for human development and civilization. People created schools for children to learn, trained teachers, and developed the educational system for future generations.
Thus, 'The Fairy Tale of Humanity' provides a fascinating and heartfelt explanation of humanity's origins. The poem is captivating, creative, and filled with love.
