Guidelines on analyzing the poem Qua đèo Ngang for students in Vietnam in 2024

I. Author

Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, whose real name is Nguyen Thi Hinh, lived in the 19th century with unknown birth and death years. Her hometown was in Nghi Tam village, now part of Tay Ho district, Hanoi. Her husband was the district chief of Thanh Quan (Thai Ninh), Thai Binh province, hence the name Ba Huyen Thanh Quan.

Some notable works by Ba Huyen Thanh Quan include Thang Long thanh hoai co, Qua chua Tran Bac, Qua Deo Ngang, Chieu hom nho nha, Tuc canh chieu thu, Canh den Tran Vo, Canh Huong son.

II. Analysis of the poem "Qua đèo Ngang"

1. Genre

The poem is written in the Thất ngôn bát cú Đường luật form, consisting of 8 lines, each with 7 characters. The total number of characters in a poem written in the Thất ngôn bát cú Đường luật form is 56 characters.

2. Origin and Creation Context

- The poem was written when Ba Huyen Thanh Quan went to Phu Xuan - Hue to assume her official position.

- This poem was written around the 19th century, when the author first visited Deo Ngang.

3. Structure of the Poem "Qua Deo Ngang"

The poem consists of 4 parts (Introduction, Elaboration, Discussion, Conclusion)

- Two introductory lines

Bước tới đèo Ngang bóng xế tà

Cỏ cây chen đá lá chen hoa

- Two elaboration lines

Lom khom dưới núi tiều vài chú

Lác đác bên sông chợ mấy nhà

- Two discussion lines

Nhớ nước đau lòng con cuốc cuốc

Thương nhà mỏi miệng cái gia gia

- Two concluding lines

Dừng chân đứng lại trời ,non ,nước

Một mảnh tình riêng ta với ta

4. Content Value

The poem vividly describes the pristine and poetic scenery of Deo Ngang, expressing the author's nostalgia and love for her country through the lens of a female poet's soul.

5. Artistic Value

The poem skillfully employs the Thất ngôn bát cú Đường luật form. The art of describing the scenery subtly conveys the emotions, making the painting of Deo Ngang both wild and poetic. Additionally, the poem uses expressive and evocative onomatopoeic words, and the techniques of opposition and inversion.

III. Detailed Analysis of the Poem "Qua đèo Ngang"

1. The First Two Lines Recreate the Time and Space Scene

Bước tới đèo Ngang bóng xế tà

Cỏ cây chen đá lá chen hoa

- Time: “Bóng Xế Tà” refers to the end of the day, when people return to their families, highlighting the author's sadness and homesickness.

- Scene: The plants and stones intermix; leaves intertwining with flowers evoke a wild, dense appearance, creating a sense of desolate space but full of energy.

2. The Next Two Lines: Depicting Human Life at Deo Ngang

Lom khom dưới núi tiều vài chú

Lác đác bên sông chợ mấy nhà

- The author uses the juxtaposition of "Lom khom" and "lác đác" to animate the space, painting a charming landscape.

- Sentence structure inversion: "Lom khom - tiều vài chú"; "Lác đác - chợ mấy nhà" aims to emphasize the small, pitiful appearance of humans and the sparse, desolate scenery.

- In summary, these two lines describe the scant, sparse, and wild life. The author's gentle but profound sadness.

3. The Next Two Lines: Expressing the Author's Mood

Nhớ Nước Đau Lòng Con Quốc Quốc

Thương Nhà Mỏi Miệng Của Gia Gia

- The author uses verbs to express her mood "Nhớ" (Miss), "Thương" (Love).

- The image of "Con Quốc Quốc" as a metaphor, through which the author evokes her nostalgia for the country, her love for her family.

4. The Last Two Lines: Reflecting the Author's Sadness and Loneliness before Nature

Dừng chân đứng lại trời ,non ,nước

Một mảnh tình riêng ta với ta

- These two lines affirm the author's immense loneliness before the vast nature.