What is the sample analysis essay on the excerpt "Trao duyên"? What are the eligibility requirements for grade advancement for continuing education students at the upper secondary level in Vietnam?

"Cậy em, em có chịu lời

Ngồi lên cho chị lạy rồi sẽ thưa"

Nguyen Du is a master in using language, which is evident when the weight of the verse falls on the four words “cay,” “chiu,” “lay,” and “thua.” Both “cay” and “nho” mean to ask for help from someone, but instead of using “nho,” Nguyen Du cleverly chose “cay,” because “cay” means to ask with hope, trust, and expectation. Similarly, instead of using “nhan,” the author chose “chiu,” because unlike “nhan” which indicates voluntariness, “chiu” implies coercion, obligation, and inability to refuse. It also conveys Kiều’s understanding of her sister’s difficult position and the sacrifice involved in helping her.

The precise word choice reflects the importance of this matter to Kieu, as she hopes Thuy Van will consent, and her plea contains a slight pressure. Furthermore, the sanctified act of “lay” before “thua” confirms the extraordinary circumstances of this love transfer. The roles of the two sisters, Thuy Kieu and Thuy Van, have shifted, altered. Though they still address each other as sisters, in reality, the relationship is that of a benefactor to a grateful person. The sister becomes the petitioner, while the younger sister becomes the one who confers a favor. Through this gesture, we can see Thuy Kieu's deep, sincere love for Kim Trong. To repay her debt of gratitude to Kim, Kieu humbles herself to this extent! But in this pitiful gesture, we see her purity, intelligence, and subtlety. Afterwards, Thuy Kieu begins to explain the reasons for her previous actions.

"Giữa đường đứt gánh tương tư

Keo loan chắp mối tơ thừa mặc em"

“Ganh tuong tu” refers to the ancient perception of romantic love. It is not merely about love but also about sentimental attachments and predestined fates. Thus, “Dut ganh tuong tu” implies the unfulfilled, broken love between Thuy Kieu and Kim Trong. Their nascent love could not blossom due to overwhelming adversity. Kieu is heartbroken over this tragic love but has no choice but to transfer this love to her sister. She uses the allusion “keo loan” to express her desire for Thuy Van to replace her in her relationship with Kim Trong. “Moi to thua” is Thuy Kieu's humble way of acknowledging her guilt and regret for placing Van in a passive position, compelling her to accept. Although she has transferred the love to her sister, the love bond seems to weigh heavy on Thuy Kieu’s heart. Sweet memories rush back to her as she confides in her sister:

“Kể từ khi gặp chàng Kim

Khi ngày quạt ước, khi đêm chén thề

Sự đâu sóng gió bất kì

Hiếu tình khôn lẽ hai bề vẹn hai"

The verse lists the memories of Thuy Kieu and Kim Trong—the memories of sharing a fan to pledge loyalty, exchanging wine in solemn vows—creating an incredibly romantic, passionate scene. The succinct yet condensed lines illustrate the pure, beautiful, unwavering love that seems just like yesterday. But due to unforeseen circumstances, her father and sister were wrongly captured. Kieu had to sell herself to save them, while her lover, devoted to her, remained true to his promises. Her heart was bleeding with pain, regret, and agony. Observing her father and sister being tortured, as a filial daughter, she sacrificed her love to fulfill her duty, repaying her parents' upbringing. She explains her pain to her sister, hoping she understands and accepts to bond with Kim. Kieu strives to use every reason to persuade her sister:

"Ngày xuân em hãy còn dài,

Xót tình máu mủ thay lời nước non.

Chị dù thịt nát xương mòn

Ngậm cười chín suối hãy còn thơm lây."

Kieu comforts Van with the reason that Van is still young, with a long future ahead, and appeals to her sister's familial ties, making Van feel compelled to accept. She even brings up her own death to express her contentment if Van agrees to repay Kim Trong on her behalf. Kieu’s plea is sincere, persuasive, earnest, and binding, placing Van in a position where acceptance becomes inevitable. Nguyen Du’s Kieu is shown to be astute and smart, even amid her greatest anguish.

Yet, Kieu in the excerpt "Trao duyên", as throughout "Truyện Kiều", is not merely a person acting for a specific purpose. Nguyen Du’s Kieu always lives with her deeply hidden feelings and emotions. Nguyen Du penetrated the character’s inner world, portraying Kieu with all her rich and complex emotional states like a real-life person. While earnestly asking her sister to repay Kim Trong, Kieu does not hide her endless pain (Giua duong dut ganh tuong tu), nor her deep affection for Kim (Ke tu khi gap chang Kim. Khi ngay quat uoc khi dem chen the). She even speaks of her own death to illustrate her peace if Van accepts to bond with Kim. Additionally, the lục bát verse form helped Nguyen Du easily depict Kieu’s torment, her agony in sacrificing love to fulfill filial duty.

“Trao duyên” not only reveals a life full of tragedy, a wrenching fate of Kieu, but also portrays her sharpness, wisdom, self-sacrifice, and her constant concern for others over herself. Thanks to his experience, deep insight, and expert use of words, Nguyen Du thoroughly fleshed out the character's inner world, exposing Kieu's pain and soul through each word, leaving the reader with lasting empathy.