What are regulations on preparing the lesson Thương vợ for grade 11 students in Vietnam? What are the literary contents of grade 11 Literature in Vietnam?

Preparation Guide for "Thương vợ" for grade 11 students

I. Author and Work

Poet Tú Xương’s real name is Trần Tế Xương, born in 1870 and passed away in 1907, originally from Vi Xuyen village, My Loc district, Nam Dinh province.

The poem "Thương vợ" is one of the most touching and beautiful poems by Tú Xương, written about Bà Tú. The poem is structured into 2 parts:

- Part 1 (First 4 lines): The image of Bà Tú, diligently enduring hardships, emerges through the poet's sympathy for his wife.

- Part 2 (Remaining lines): The author's feelings and attitude towards his wife.

II. Preparation for "Thương vợ"

Question 1: Impressions of the image of Bà Tú through the first four lines

The first two lines describe the business and burden that Bà Tú must bear, evoking the image of her struggling to make a living in a precarious, difficult environment:

- "Quanh năm": Represents continuous and relentless time, year after year.

- "Mom sông": The risky, unstable business location.

The next two lines depict Bà Tú’s arduous work, highlighting her struggles and difficulties:

- Inversion “lặn lội” (struggling) at the beginning of the line, using "thân cò" (the body of the stork) instead of "con cò" (the stork) emphasizes Bà Tú’s hardships.

- "Quãng vắng", "đò sông": Desolate, quiet space filled with worries and danger.

- Antithesis: "khi quãng vắng" (desolate space) >< "buổi đò đông" (crowded ferry time).

- "Eo sèo": Evokes a crowded, bustling scene on the river of small traders.

In summary, the first four lines describe Bà Tú's work and fate, while showing Tú Xương's compassion.

Question 2: Analyze the lines that highlight Bà Tú’s noble qualities

Her industriousness, diligence, and dedication to her husband and children are shown in the line "Nuôi đủ năm con với một chồng" (Supporting five children and a husband). This line portrays Bà Tú as the one bearing the family’s burden. Ông Tú compares himself to "người con" of Bà Tú, a husband "ăn lương vợ".

Her sacrifice is depicted in the line "Năm nắng mười mưa dám quản công" (Five sunny days, ten rainy days she never hesitated). Tú Xương uses the idiom “năm nắng mười mưa” to highlight Bà Tú’s hardworking nature and her total devotion to her family.

Question 3: Who is cursing in the last two lines, and what do they mean?

In the concluding lines, Tú Xương curses himself for being the cause of his wife's suffering. Additionally, the lines reflect Tú Xương’s disdain for the deceitful, ungrateful society that forces his wife into hardship and makes him a useless husband. However, behind this curse lies his deep, genuine love and compassion for his wife.

Question 4: How is the poet’s sentiment for his wife expressed?

- The title "Thương vợ" (Compassion for my Wife): directly expresses his feelings for his wife.

- The curse: The author both blames himself and expresses his deep, sincere love and compassion for his wife.

- The poem paints two portraits: The realistic portrait of Bà Tú and the spiritual portrait of Tú Xương. Though Ông Tú doesn’t appear directly in the poem, his sentiments are evident in every line. This showcases his deep love and gratitude towards his wife. In a male-dominated society, a scholar like Tú Xương not only recognizes his own uselessness but also candidly blames himself.