What are the sample analysis essays on a short story? What are the required literary competencies for 8th-grade students in Vietnam?

What are the sample analysis essays on a short story?

The Short Story "Lặng lẽ Sa Pa" by Nguyen Thanh Long

In the modern Vietnamese literature landscape, "Lặng lẽ Sa Pa" by Nguyen Thanh Long is a work rich in lyrical quality, praising the silent yet meaningful laborers. This short story successfully portrays the image of individuals who dedicate themselves to the country day and night without needing glory or societal praise. Particularly, the young man character—a meteorological worker on the peak of Sa Pa—is a typical symbol of quiet yet noble workers.

The young man in the story is a meteorologist and geophysicist, living and working alone on Yen Son peak, at an altitude of 2,600 meters. Although his work is simple, it demands meticulousness and a high sense of responsibility. Every day, regardless of harsh weather conditions, he diligently measures wind, rain, sun, records data, and reports it to the center on time. This is a silent job, not flashy, lacking outstanding achievements, but extremely important, contributing to weather forecasting for production and combat.

The most commendable trait of the young man is his sense of responsibility, love for his job, and optimistic attitude. Despite living alone amidst the desolate nature without company, he never feels lonely or bored. Instead, he knows how to create joy for himself: reading books, planting flowers, raising chickens... He regards his work as a meaningful part of life, always being aware and dedicated to his duty. Through this character, Nguyen Thanh Long conveys a message about the beauty of laborers, that wherever they are, as long as they love their work and have a sense of dedication, their lives will always be brilliant and meaningful.

Moreover, the young man is also a person with a heart full of kindness, open and sincere. When meeting the driver, the painter, and the engineer girl, he showed hospitality, cherishing every moment of human interaction. He gave flowers, eggs to the engineer girl, spent time talking with the painter... These simple yet warm actions reveal that he knows how to live for others, always bringing joy to everyone.

Besides the young man, the work also builds images of other laborers like the vegetable garden engineer, the thunderstorm map researcher... They are passionate workers, silently devoting themselves, contributing to the country's development without needing acknowledgment or applause. These people create the beauty of life, forming a simple yet noble picture of labor.

Nguyen Thanh Long's language in the work is rich in lyrical quality, gentle yet profound. Through that, the author not only depicts the poetic nature of Sa Pa but also highlights the simple yet noble individuals, the silent laborers who have great significance for the country.

In summary, "Lặng lẽ Sa Pa" not only praises nature but also successfully portrays the image of silent yet noble laborers. The young man and the laborers in the story are symbols of responsibility, love for the job, and dedication. They are the ones who create the silent yet persistent beauty, contributing to building the nation with their simple work.

"Những ngôi sao xa xôi" by Le Minh Khue

Vietnam's resistance literature has left a mark with works praising the heroic, indomitable spirit of people in the war defending the country. The short story "Những ngôi sao xa xôi" by Le Minh Khue is a notable work, not only recreating the harsh, dangerous life on the battlefield but also honoring the spiritual beauty of young volunteers. Through the story of three young girls, the work raises issues of willpower, responsibility, and noble living ideals of the young Vietnamese generation during the anti-American resistance.

War is not only a confrontation between military forces but also a test of spirit and patriotism. The three young volunteers Phuong Dinh, Nho, and Thao are young but have ventured into the most dangerous tasks: bomb disposal, measuring the volume of soil and rocks after battles, ensuring the Ho Chi Minh trail remains open.

On the burning line of duty, they must face death every hour, every minute. But instead of fear, they consider it a part of life. Phuong Dinh, the narrator, often has to dismantle bombs in situations "standing close to death," yet remains steadfast: "I use a small shovel. The shovel blade touches the bomb. A sharp sound that gives you the chills... but I know, the bomb can explode now or later. But definitely not now." The short, fast-paced sentences create a tense feeling, also clearly showing the soldier's resilient spirit.

Thus, "Những ngôi sao xa xôi" poses the issue of the young generation's responsibility to the country. In war, the youth are not only the fighting force but also those bearing heavy responsibilities, ready to sacrifice their youth, lives for independence and freedom.

If war is harsh, then human spirit is the gentle light that soothes that harshness. The three girls in the story, though living amidst bombs, still retain innocence, dreams, and very feminine traits.

Phuong Dinh is a beautiful Hanoi girl, likes to look at herself in the mirror, sensitive and full of emotions. Despite living in the battlefield, she carries beautiful memories of childhood and gentle youth vibrations: "I like many people to notice me. The soldiers often ask about me, but I do not show haste." This is not arrogance but a very feminine soul amidst brutal war.

Thao, courageous and decisive in her duties, is afraid of bleeding and likes to sew silk shirts. Nho, petite and innocent, is also strong when facing death. The contrasts in character traits not only highlight each individual's personality but also show a truth: even in the fiercest places, people remain optimistic and love life.

The work raises a meaningful issue: War can destroy everything but cannot destroy the beauty in the human soul. This gives the short story its profound humanistic meaning.

Not only meaningful in content, "Những ngôi sao xa xôi" is also particularly successful artistically. Le Minh Khue chose the first-person perspective through Phuong Dinh, making the story realistic, emotional, and lyrical. The natural storytelling, rich in recollection, not only recreates the reality of war but also highlights the characters' inner emotions.

Moreover, the clear, gentle style, yet profound, creates a unique feature for the work. Descriptions of poetic nature amidst gunfire emphasize the beauty of life and people: "The sky is clear, the trees are green. The rice bows and rustles. We walk in a shimmering light region." Such poetic images transform the story from a mere picture of brutal war to a symphony about people and youth.

Reflecting not only the anti-American resistance reality, "Những ngôi sao xa xôi" carries profound ideological value. The work praises revolutionary heroism, affirms the responsibility and patriotism of the young Vietnamese generation. Additionally, it expresses a firm belief in human beauty, even in the harshest conditions.

The work also raises a current issue: In peace, what is the ideal for the youth? If the previous generation was ready to sacrifice for national independence, today’s youth should continue that tradition by living responsibly and contributing to society and the nation.

With language rich in imagery, lyrical prose combined with the harsh wartime reality, "Những ngôi sao xa xôi" is a distinctive short story, leaving a strong mark in the resistance literature. Through the work, readers not only appreciate the beauty of the young volunteers but also understand better the value of ideals and dedication. Those are the "distant stars" shining eternally in the history of the nation, forever illuminating the path for future generations.

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Download  Analysis of the short story "Đất rừng phương nam" by Doan Gioi

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Download Analysis of the short story "Cuộc chia tay của những con búp bê" by Khanh Hoai

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What are the sample analysis essays on a short story? What are the required literary competencies for 8th-grade students in Vietnam? (Image from Internet)

What are the required literary competencies for 8th-grade students in Vietnam?

Under Section 3 of the General Educational Program for Literature issued with Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT, the required literary competencies for 8th-grade students in Vietnam are as follows:

- Distinguish between different literary genres: stories, poems, memos, literary scripts, and specific sub-genres.

- Identify the characteristics of literary language, recognize and analyze the effects of formal elements and artistic techniques associated with each literary genre.

- Identify expressive value, cognitive value, aesthetic value.

- Analyze the figurative nature, content, and form of literary works.

- Be able to create several products with literary characteristics.

What are the required outcomes regarding the self-improvement competence of 8th-grade students in Vietnam?

According to Section 9 of the General Educational Program for Literature issued with Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT, the required outcomes regarding the self-improvement competence of 8th-grade students in Vietnam are as follows:

- Set personal learning goals to strive to achieve them.

- Know how to plan and execute study plans; select suitable learning materials; store information selectively using summaries, concept maps, tables, and keywords; note teachers’ lectures following main ideas.

- Recognize and adjust personal mistakes and limitations when given feedback from teachers, friends; proactively seek support when encountering learning difficulties.

- Know how to train and overcome personal limitations towards social values.