Vietnam: What are the sample argumentative essays on analysis and assessment of a poem in the 10th-grade Literature curriculum? How many subjects are taught in vocational education and training institutions at the upper secondary level?

The poem “Rằm tháng giêng” was written by Bac Ho during the early years of the resistance against the French colonialists. The poem not only describes the natural scenery of the Viet Bac resistance zone on a moonlit night but also reflects President Ho Chi Minh's love for nature, sensitive soul, and profound patriotism.

The poem begins with the image of the moonlight at the Viet Bac resistance zone:

“Kim dạ nguyên tiêu nguyệt chính viên”

(Tonight, the full moon of January, the moon is at its roundest)

The image of moonlight on the night of the full moon in January is described by the poet as "nguyệt chính viên" (moon at its roundest). At this time, the moonlight seems to cover the entire Viet Bac mountains and forests, making the scenery warmer. In the next verse, the natural image becomes even more beautiful:

“Xuân giang, xuân thủy, tiếp xuân thiên”

(Spring river, spring water, meets spring sky)

The three consecutive "xuân" words depict the vitality and colors of spring spreading throughout all space. The word “tiếp” evokes in the reader a sense that the sky and earth seem to harmonize and meet through the brilliant spring color. Thus, the two opening lines of the poem portray a vibrant natural picture of the full moon night in January.

In the following two lines, human imagery appears with a noble task:

“Yên ba thâm sứ đàm quân sự”

(In the deep place, amidst misty waves, discussing military affairs)

In the circumstances at that time, all revolutionary activities had to be carried out quietly and discreetly. Therefore, Bac Ho and the soldiers chose the late night to discuss military affairs, which were important tasks concerning the nation’s destiny. Finally, the poem concludes with a verse:

“Dạ bán quy lai nguyệt mãn thuyền”

(Returning at midnight, the moon fills the boat)

Perhaps, being too engrossed in discussing military and national affairs, when returning, the night had become late? At this moment, the moonlight is also brighter than ever. The image of “nguyệt mãn thuyền” intends to portray the strong radiance of the moonlight on the full moon night of January. Through this, Bac Ho wishes to express the aspiration for success in the nation’s liberation cause. With the latter two lines, readers perceive a relaxed and optimistic demeanor, and Ho's unwavering belief in the ultimate triumph of the national liberation endeavor.

“Rằm tháng giêng” is a poem written in the classical seven-word quatrain form. The nature in the poem is depicted with familiar natural images in ancient poetry like the moon, rivers, sky, and boat. Together with using the rhetorical device of anaphora, the poet has vividly described the moonlit night scene at the Viet Bac resistance zone.

Through the above poem, one not only perceives a sensitive and multi-emotional poet, but also a resilient and loyal revolutionary individual in President Ho Chi Minh.

Autumn, the season that stirs the heart and evokes nostalgia, holds within it the high blue skies, the bright golden sun, and the chill of night. Because autumn is so beautiful, it has become the poetic material for many writers and poets, including Luu Trong Lu’s "Tiếng thu".

Autumn through Luu Trong Lu's perception is quite unique. He does not use his eyes to observe the exquisite beauty of autumn, but he listens to each breath, each sound of autumn.

Autumn seems to evoke many lingering emotions in the poetry of poets. For Luu Trong Lu, autumn also stirred many feelings. The author chose a unique perspective to admire autumn, to marvel at it, then became restless when emotions surged and thus wrote those marvelous autumnal lines.

Don’t you hear autumn

Whispering under the dim moon

Don’t you feel the stirring

These lines open to us a whole sky of love and longing. The entire poem is a dialogue between the man on the battlefield and the woman waiting desperately for news at home. How poignant it is when one person is restless and fervent, while the other seems to hear nothing. Or perhaps she hears, but he pretends that she does not, and asks anyway. Who is the "em" the author calls? Could it be a person anxiously waiting for news, an imaginary person in the poet’s mind, or is it the poet speaking to his own heart? Here, a question arises that is difficult to answer. But who it is doesn't matter; what matters is what that person is thinking, what they are feeling about life passing by. Autumn's dim moon, could it be that the moon is an image poets love to use when discussing autumn or when the moon gazer is carrying many feelings? With many unspeakable thoughts while standing alone gazing at the moon, it seems as if the radiant moonlight understands the poet’s heart. Thus, the autumn theme was first expressed by the poet through words. Throughout the poem appears the word “nghe” showing up three times in the first sentence of the poem. We hear the personified emotions of autumn, the fervent heartbeats in the woman's solitary march, the sound of autumn leaves falling. Moreover, the sound of autumn is captured through the phrase "em không nghe". The next verses unveil more clearly the poem's lyrical character.

“Image of the chinh phu

In the mind of the co phu”

The image of soldiers departing for the battlefield is unforgettable in the minds of those seeing their husbands off to war. That image fades away, fades away then disappears into the fit of the soldier. That is the dominant feeling among the waiting women of this period.

The final stanza closes the poem but leaves a lingering musical note that doesn’t cease to evoke emotions.

“don't you hear the autumn forest

The rustling autumn leaves falling

The golden deer perplexed

Treading on the dry golden leaves?”

The linked rhyme combined with melodic words at the end of sentences creates a rhythmic flow in the final stanza. When the image of the golden deer appears, we have heard something when the image of the golden deer emerges. Perhaps we have heard the sound of dry golden leaves crushing under the naive deer’s foot. The true poetry in Luu Trong Lu's work is like that; we don't hear autumn in the auditory sense but feel autumn through imagination resonating within the soul. Luu Trong Lu's autumn melody is essentially a silent sound. This is the silent breaking the sound. Some say, “In reality, Vietnam doesn’t have golden forests.” Those are forests in Europe. Vietnam’s forest is mottled. Vietnamese autumn accurately resembles Nguyen Du’s description in Kieu: "The autumn forest is increasingly green covered with pink". Moreover, Vietnamese deer are quite nimble and cunning, they aren’t naive!

The work left the reader with many reflections. It is Luu Trong Lu's distinct perspective on life and poetry, making us see the endless dream-like autumn of the poet while also revealing the sentiments of a woman whose heart pines for her husband on the battlefield.