1. Key Points to Include in the Analysis?
In Xuân Quỳnh's poem "The Noon Chicken Calls", the image of the grandmother appears with deep affection and a profound connection to the author's childhood. The grandmother is not just a specific character but a symbol of traditional values, family love, and the tireless efforts of Vietnamese women.
- The hardworking and loving grandmother: The grandmother in the poem is portrayed through everyday details that convey warmth and care. She is concerned with taking care of the chickens, carefully saving each egg, hoping to sell them at the end of the year to buy new clothes for her grandchild. The image of "her hands gently holding the eggs" illustrates her meticulousness and the love she gives to her grandchild. She worries about the cold winter winds, fearing the chickens might die, a reflection of her deep care and longing for the best for her grandchild.
- Strict yet affectionate: The grandmother is also depicted with a stern but tender side, as seen when she scolds her grandchild with a caring tone: "The chicken lays eggs, and you just look on / You’ll grow up to be an indifferent person!" This gentle reprimand is not only a lesson but a cherished memory that her grandchild will always remember as an expression of her love.
- A symbol of love for homeland and family: In the poem, the grandmother also represents the homeland and the traditional values carried by soldiers during their battles. She is a source of encouragement, offering emotional strength that helps her grandchild overcome hardships. The sound of the chickens clucking and the image of the grandmother next to the nest of eggs act as a bridge connecting the past and the present, offering the soldier a sense of stability as they fight for their country.
- Silent sacrifice: The grandmother in the poem not only cares for her grandchild but also embodies silent sacrifice. She faces difficulties without complaint, always worrying about her grandchild’s future. The line "the grandmother fears for the chickens’ lives / Praying for no frost or snow" shows her dedication and boundless love. Her actions, though small, are driven by a deep and selfless affection for her grandchild's well-being and happiness.
Conclusion
- The image of the grandmother in "The Noon Chicken Calls" is a symbol of love, hard work, sacrifice, and the cherished traditional values of Vietnamese families. Through this portrayal, Xuân Quỳnh has sensitively and emotionally captured the sacred bond between generations, while conveying a message of love for the homeland and gratitude for those who have sacrificed for future generations.
2. Reference Essay Number 3
The poem "The Noon Chicken Calls" by Xuân Quỳnh is a remarkable work that has affirmed its value and timelessness over the years. The poem is deeply moving, with the emotional flow and the sound of the chicken's call resonating, anchoring itself in the reader's heart. The sound of the noon chicken calls is a central symbol that dominates the entire poem.
The poem begins with the chicken’s cluck... cluck... which stirs the soul of the soldier marching towards the battlefield:
Whose chicken has jumped to the nest?
Cluck... cluck... cluck cluck
It stirs the midday sun
It eases the weary footsteps
It calls me back to my childhood.
In just one fleeting moment of hearing the noon chicken's cluck, a flood of emotions rushes in. Surely, that sound has etched itself deeply into the poet's soul. The repetition of the word "hear" three times vividly expresses the overwhelming emotion, drawing the sound of the chicken into the depths of the spirit, where it resonates, bringing back memories of a warm, peaceful childhood. The poet’s childhood was filled with hardship: missing mother, absent father, and raised by the grandmother. The one constant in the soldier’s life was his grandmother, an old, weathered figure from a poor rural village. In the absence of his mother’s love, the soldier’s emotional needs were nourished by the love of his grandmother. Her care conveyed both a mother's nurturing love and a father's sternness. Her frail body enveloped the soldier with all the love life did not grant him. She had to fulfill the roles of duty and affection, compensating for the emotional gaps in the young soldier’s heart. The soldier, in turn, recognized the immense sacrifice and weariness that weighed on his grandmother’s fragile shoulders. Despite this, she showered him with boundless love and concern, hoping he would grow into a person of value.
Hearing the noon chicken's call, the poet envisions his grandmother bending over, carefully tending to the eggs:
She saves each egg meticulously
For the hen to hatch.
The poet also senses the worry of his grandmother as winter approaches:
She fears the chickens might die
Praying for no frost or snow
So that at the end of the year she can sell the chickens
And buy new clothes for her grandchild.
In the memory of his childhood, the poet recalls the sound of his grandmother's scolding as a form of loving care, meticulously guiding him. These scoldings are not harsh, but gentle reminders of her concern. They are the tender expressions of a grandmother's love. Through the sound of the chicken, the poet paints a vivid picture of the grandmother's life—hardworking, devoted, and filled with sacrifices. The memories of childhood and the love between grandmother and grandchild are inseparably linked with the sound of the chicken's call.
The imagery of golden hens, their nests full of rosy eggs, and the soft sunlight glimmering on their feathers remains etched in the poet’s heart. The poet’s childhood also involved mischievous moments, such as spying on the hens laying eggs, and the yearning for new clothes from the money made by selling the chickens. The exclamation “Oh!” carries a deep, heartfelt nostalgia for those difficult yet unforgettable years. The simple, familiar, and rural sound of the chicken’s call becomes sacred and profound in the poet’s soul, intertwined with the love between the grandmother and grandchild, and with the feeling of home and country.
But this is just the surface of the iceberg, the genuine emotions of everyday life in the family. The visible theme of the poem is the deep, unspoken love between the grandmother and grandchild. Beneath this, the sound of the chicken symbolizes a peaceful, fulfilling life, representing abundance and growth in the quiet, harmonious village. This is also the eternal hope of humanity. The poem was written in the early years of the Vietnam War, when the enemy was destroying the peaceful life of the nation. As soldiers fought, the chicken's call became a symbol of hope—a desire for peace amidst the violence of war. In moments when the sound of gunfire and bombs filled the air, the quiet cluck of a chicken was a longed-for symbol of tranquility. This sound unites all people, resonating deeply within the collective spirit of the fight for justice and independence. The poem serves as a call to action, to fight for the homeland, for the peace of every household, and for the eternal echo of the chicken's call.
The poem is written in the five-word form, a poetic structure originating from folk songs in the Nghệ-Tĩnh region and folk verses. Xuân Quỳnh has adapted and creatively modified this structure, making it feel natural and sincere, yet emotionally powerful. The poem repeats the phrase “The Noon Chicken Calls” four times, with each repetition resonating with the natural flow of emotions and connecting images and events logically. The emotional journey of the poet’s feelings begins with the soldier hearing the chicken’s call, which stirs his soul. From this, the sound leads him into a flood of memories, and as he recalls his childhood and his grandmother, the sound deepens into reflections on the greater meaning of the war. The sound of the chicken calls becomes a symbol of longing and a call to action for the homeland. The poet’s reflection is a beautiful blend of personal memories and national ideals.
Thus, the sound of the noon chicken continues to resonate, growing deeper into the hidden, sacred part of the soul. It moves from an emotional response to a thoughtful reflection, prompting the individual to act, to protect the nation, and to preserve the quiet beauty of life. The simple, everyday sound of the chicken has been transformed by Xuân Quỳnh into a poignant, poetic symbol of life and love that remains timeless in the hearts of readers.






5. Reference Paper No. 6
Xuan Quynh is a distinguished poet from the younger generation that emerged during the Vietnam War. Her poem "The Midday Rooster's Call" was written in the early days of the war, symbolizing the call of home, family, and village—memories that deeply resonate within the heart of a soldier as they march to the front lines:
"On the long road to battle
I pause beside a small village
The rooster calls from its nest:
'Cluck... cluck cluck!'"
The sound stirs the midday silence
And eases the weariness of my feet
It brings back memories of my childhood."
The soldier, on his exhausting journey, stops to rest in a village. Upon hearing the rooster's call, he is transported back to his childhood, evoking images of days spent with his grandmother. The poet cleverly employs repetition with the word "hear" and uses metaphors such as "shaking the midday sun" and "lightening the weary feet" to highlight the soldier's emotional response to the sound of the rooster.
Memories of childhood with his grandmother surface one by one in the soldier's mind:
"The midday rooster
Its nest full of rosy eggs
Look at the hen with white-speckled feathers
And the golden hen, shining like the sun"
These images of the hens are deeply connected to the rural life of Vietnam, evoking a sense of warmth and familiarity.
A particularly memorable moment is when the child, curious about the hens laying eggs, is scolded by his grandmother:
"The hen lays eggs while you watch
Don't stare, or you'll grow up foolish."
The grandmother’s scolding fills the child with innocent concern, reflecting the natural worries of childhood. The image of the hardworking grandmother is also portrayed in the poem:
"The midday rooster
Grandmother’s hands gently cradle the eggs
She carefully saves each one
For the hen to hatch"
The grandmother’s hands, tenderly holding the eggs, symbolize her sacrifices for her family. Her entire life is dedicated to caring for her children and grandchildren, without a thought for her own well-being. As winter approaches, she worries about the fate of the hens, fearing they will die and leave nothing to sell for the grandchild's new clothes:
"Every year, every year
When the winter winds blow
Grandmother fears the hens will die
Wishing the frost would stay away
So at the year’s end, she can sell them
And buy new clothes for me."
The final stanza expresses the deep love the child has for his grandmother. The rooster’s call preserves the joy and dreams of his youth. Now, as an adult soldier, he fights for his homeland:
"Today I fight
For my love of the nation
For my beloved village
Grandmother, I fight for you too
For the rooster’s call
And the nest of childhood dreams."
The repeated use of the word "for" emphasizes the soldier’s motivations—first for the love of his country, then for his village, and lastly, for his grandmother’s peace. These are noble, sacred reasons for fighting. The sound of the rooster’s call reverberates throughout the poem, evoking not only fond memories of childhood but also the profound love the soldier holds for his grandmother and homeland.


6. Reference Paper No. 7
One of Xuan Quynh's most iconic works is her poem "The Midday Rooster's Call," which portrays the image of a grandmother through the memories of a grandchild.
The figure of the grandmother also appears in the poetry of Bang Viet, highlighting her sacrifices and tireless efforts:
"A kitchen fire flickers in the morning mist
A kitchen fire, warm and nurturing
How much I love you, grandmother, through the storms and sunshine!"
(The Kitchen Fire)
In Xuan Quynh's poem, the grandmother’s image also appears, as the grandchild, marching to the front, stops in a village to rest. Upon hearing the rooster’s call, the grandchild is reminded of the childhood memories spent with the grandmother. The grandchild fondly remembers a time when, curious about the hens laying eggs, they were scolded by the grandmother. Innocently, the child believed the grandmother’s words and, worried about being scolded again, ran to get a mirror to check their face:
"The midday rooster
And the sound of grandmother’s scolding
You watch the hens lay eggs
And you’ll grow up foolish
The child runs to check their face in the mirror
Worry fills their innocent heart."
The grandmother’s scolding reflects her deep care and concern for the naive child. The image of the grandmother is vivid and authentic. She was always attentive, self-sacrificing, and worked hard to ensure she could sell hens at the end of the year to buy clothes for her grandchild. Her whole life was filled with worry for her children and grandchildren:
"Oh, the wide, worn-out trousers
Dragging on the ground
The simple dress with frayed edges
Making a soft rustling sound as she walks."
The grandchild remembers the simple, humble image of the grandmother, with her "worn trousers" and "frayed dress." She embodies the traditional virtues of Vietnamese women—hardworking, resilient, and selfless. Her entire life was devoted to the well-being of her family.
Though the grandchild’s childhood alongside her was difficult, it was full of happiness, and that joy can never be forgotten:
"The midday rooster
Carrying so much happiness
At night, I dream of it
In a rosy sleep, like eggs in a nest."
The rooster's call is more than just a simple sound—it haunts the grandchild’s heart, filled with memories of the grandmother. Thus, in Xuan Quynh's poem "The Midday Rooster's Call," the image of the grandmother is painted with the beauty of the Vietnamese woman, full of sacrifice and enduring love.


7. Reference Paper No. 1
The poem "The Midday Rooster's Call" evokes emotions that are hard to put into words. Written in five-line stanzas, the poem’s rhyming flow feels natural and unforced. Despite its simplicity, Xuan Quynh beautifully and emotionally paints vivid and familiar images through her sharp and sincere writing.
The opening lines of the poem:
"On the long road marching...
Who’s the rooster hopping on its perch...
Calling me back to my childhood."
The first stanza captures the peaceful, quiet afternoon in the countryside, where suddenly the sound of a rooster can be heard. The rooster’s call stirs up memories of childhood, evoking the cherished times spent with the beloved grandmother of the soldier.
"Look, here’s the brown hen
Her body speckled with white spots
And there’s the golden hen
With feathers gleaming like the sun."
The image of the brown and golden hens in the second stanza is wonderfully described. These hens have become beautiful memories for the soldier. To me, these are ordinary sights of daily life, but through the poet's words, I find myself cherishing them, just as the soldier treasures these familiar images as unforgettable memories.
The phrase "midday rooster's call" brings back memories that deeply move the soldier: the time when, as a child, he secretly watched hens laying eggs and was scolded by his grandmother. The soldier, believing her words, rushed to grab a mirror to check his face, filled with worry and fear. Oh, how innocent and endearing those memories are!
"Grandmother’s scolding echoes:
Don’t look at the hens laying eggs...
And the naive child is filled with worry."
In everyday life, we accumulate joyful memories, but for this soldier, beyond the simple ones, he can never forget the love and care of his grandmother. The weathered hands that carefully checked each egg, and most touching of all, her hope for the hens to stay healthy, so she could sell them at the end of the year to buy new clothes for her grandchild, ensuring a happy New Year. Thinking back, the soldier feels an overwhelming sense of love for her:
"Each egg was carefully nurtured
...
And my grandchild would have new clothes."
Filled with love for his grandmother, the soldier fought bravely to defend his homeland, his village, and the cherished rooster’s call that reminded him of home:
"I fight today
...
For you, grandmother."
These brief lines carry a profound and sacred feeling of "grandmother’s love." The memories of his childhood spent with her, of her love, served as a great motivation for the soldier’s deep love for his country. Through this, Xuan Quynh masterfully conveys patriotism, weaving simple yet meaningful images from everyday life that hold profound significance.


8. Reference Text 2
The poem 'The Noon Chicken's Call' by Xuân Quỳnh is a unique creation that offers profound insights into life and the duty of soldiers. But the poem goes beyond that, capturing the beautiful memories of childhood, especially the image of a hardworking grandmother who cared deeply for her grandchild.
The chicken’s call in the afternoon shatters the quiet, disturbing the peaceful light, yet soothing the weariness of a long journey. But more miraculously, the chicken’s call awakens cherished childhood memories. Even after many years, memories of the chickens remain clear: the brown hen and the golden hen. These memories are beautiful and worth treasuring.
The call of the chicken also brings to mind a sacred bond: the love between a grandmother and her grandchild. In just four verses, the poet captures the yearning for the time spent with her grandmother under the warmth of their home. To the grandchild, the grandmother embodies simplicity, kindness, and many noble qualities.
First, the grandmother is portrayed as hardworking and frugal. Despite living in poverty, she always tried to save and give the best to her grandchild. The simple, sincere actions like 'Grandmother's hands gently hold the eggs' or 'She worries about the chickens, praying the weather stays clear' reflect her devotion to ensuring the child’s happiness, like buying new clothes during Tết. Throughout her life, the grandmother worked tirelessly, sacrificing for her family without ever thinking of herself. The image of this grandmother is a reflection of many Vietnamese grandmothers who devote their love and care to their grandchildren.
Grandmother is always there for her grandchild, offering guidance and sometimes scolding with affection:
'You can still hear grandmother scolding
“The hen’s laid eggs, why aren’t you watching?”
“And when you grow up, don’t be careless.”
The afternoon chicken’s call stirs memories of difficult, yet joyful and loving times. Through the poet’s sincere words, we see the image of a grandmother who worked tirelessly, loving and caring for her grandchild. The grandmother’s nurturing hands, which carefully hold each egg, are not just about cherishing the fruit of her labor, but also about holding dear the dreams and simple joys of her grandchild. The hen’s cluck and the grandmother’s love became the motivation that inspired the grandchild to fight for the country, for the nation.
The poem is written in five-line verses with a flexible rhythm. Its tone is gentle, serene, and heartfelt. The simple, expressive language emphasizes the emotions when hearing the chicken’s call and recalling the beautiful childhood memories with the grandmother.
Through simple yet poignant words, the poem brings back the pure and tender memories of childhood, while also highlighting the hardworking grandmother, whose ordinary, yet heartfelt actions stir deep emotions. The love for the grandmother and the homeland became the grandchild’s driving force to fight for independence and freedom.


9. What is Xuân Quỳnh's poetic style?
The artistic style of poet Xuân Quỳnh is distinguished by the following characteristics:
- Lyrical quality and rich emotion:
- Xuân Quỳnh is one of the leading figures in modern Vietnamese poetry, known for her deeply emotional, lyrical style. Her poems often convey sincere, simple feelings, yet they resonate deeply.
- Her emotions are often tied to personal experiences and a rich emotional life, reflecting the subtle stirrings of a woman's heart through the ups and downs of life.
- Example: 'My heart remembers you / Even in my dreams, I’m awake.'
- Analysis: This line vividly expresses the sincere, passionate, and deep feelings of a woman in love. Xuân Quỳnh conveys the aching longing, which exists not only in reality but also in dreams.
- Pure, intense love mixed with anxiety:
- Love is a central theme in Xuân Quỳnh’s poetry, explored through various emotional shades. Her depiction of love is often pure, sincere, intense, but also full of worry and contemplation.
- She portrays love not just as a personal desire, but as a humanistic force that transcends the mundane, symbolizing life and happiness.
- Example: 'The waves start from the wind / Where does the wind come from? / I don’t know either / When did we fall in love?'
- Analysis: Here, love is compared to a natural phenomenon—impossible to explain but powerful and profound. The lines express the confusion, worry, and yet the magical, mysterious nature of love.
- The connection between humans and nature:
- Xuân Quỳnh’s poems frequently feature elements of nature, with images like waves, wind, the sea, and flowers. These natural symbols reflect the emotions and inner states of the characters.
- She often uses nature to express hidden feelings, creating a harmony between nature and humanity, between the infinite universe and the fleeting human life.
- Example: 'Oh, the waves long for the shore / They can’t sleep day or night.'
- Analysis: The image of waves longing for the shore is a beautiful metaphor for longing in love. Xuân Quỳnh uses nature to express deep, hidden emotions, forging a connection between humans and the natural world.
- A gentle, sincere feminine voice:
- Xuân Quỳnh’s poetic voice exudes femininity, gentleness, and sincerity. It reflects a woman’s profound experiences of love, family, and life.
- Her poetry is often self-reflective, sounding like intimate confessions or personal conversations that touch the hearts of readers due to their honesty and warmth.
- Example: 'Even if I go north / Or head south / Wherever I go, I still think / Of you – my one true direction.'
- Analysis: The gentle, sincere tone in these lines conveys steadfastness and loyalty in love. It is a confession from a woman, expressed in a sweet, heartfelt voice.
- Subtle philosophy:
- Although Xuân Quỳnh’s poetry is primarily emotional, it also contains profound reflections on life, love, and human existence. Her philosophical thoughts are expressed in a light, delicate manner.
- She often contemplates the brevity of time, the fragility of happiness, and the desire for eternal love.
- Example: 'Life may be long / Yet time still passes / Like the vast sea, no matter how wide / The clouds still drift away.'
- Analysis: These lines convey a philosophical reflection on the fleeting nature of time and life, and the boundless flow of nature. Whether life is long or short, time moves on, and we face inevitable changes.
- Diversity in poetic forms and expression:
- Xuân Quỳnh uses a variety of poetic forms, from traditional to free verse, yet maintains a soft, flexible approach to expression.
- Her poetic imagery is rich, creative, and emotionally expressive, effectively conveying the author's deep feelings and thoughts.
- Example: 'How can I dissolve / Into a thousand small waves / In the vast sea of love / So that for a thousand years, they still crash.'
- Analysis: This poem uses five-character lines with short, memorable phrases that are musical and full of imagery. The direct expression carries deep meaning, portraying a longing for eternal love.
In conclusion, Xuân Quỳnh’s artistic style blends lyrical emotion, feminine gentleness, and profound philosophy on life. Her poetry offers a world of sincere, pure feelings, full of love but also marked by the anxieties and struggles of life.
