Objective Factors That Created the Appearance of the Epic

It depends on whether the poet is male or female, but on their practical capital, writing ability, emotions and talent. We can mention Fire in the Drying Shirt season by Le Thi May, Mother of Quang Nam by Tran Thi Thang , Mother of Pham Thi Bao ... But it can be seen that Fire in the Drying Shirt season gets more attention from readers.

- In the book Literary Criticism and Commentary - Literature Publishing House (1998) selected and introduced by Vu Tien Quynh, there are also a number of articles about the authors and analysis of some typical epic poems whose value has been affirmed, such as:

+ Nguyen Viet Lam has " The Song of the Cho Rao Bird", a beautiful epic poem , written about Thu Bon and its works, published in TCVH No. 5/1965 [78, pp.196-209].

+ Hoai Thanh with the article " The heart of a young man on the great front line", written about poet Le Anh Xuan, printed in TCVH issue 10/1968 [78, p.93].

Maybe you are interested!

+ Pham Van Sy with the article " Anti-American Poetry to Save the Country in the South 1954"

- 1970 [78, p.34] had comments about Huong Trieu, Giang Nam, Le Anh Xuan, Thu Bon...

- Ma Giang Lan has an article " Anh Ngoc, love and the soldier " printed in the collection

The process of modern Vietnamese poetry , [47, pp.558-564] Education Publishing House - 2000.

- Nguyen Huu Quy has an article " Fairy tales about revival " about epic poems composed from the campaign to write about Uncle Ho of the Literature and Arts newspaper (TC VNQĐ No. 617/2004). Tran Dinh Su has an article "Random thoughts about epic poems" on the online newspaper (April 2010).

The above research works, criticisms, and articles have created an important foundation and premise for us to carry out this work. In addition, it is also necessary to mention a number of other works, although not directly related to modern epics, but also suggest to us a deeper understanding of the nature of modern heroic epics. These are:

+ Article " Some opinions on heroic epic - Dam San song " by Le Van Khoa (TCVH No. 6/1982).

+ Doctoral thesis: " Heroic epic genre of ethnic groups in the Central Highlands " by Vo Quang Nhon, excerpted in Literature and Arts Magazine (4) 1987.

+ Master's thesis: " Heroic epic poetics of the Ede people " by Huynh Thong Nhat (2002).

On the basis of selectively absorbing and respecting the above mentioned research works, in this thesis, we conduct research on epic poems about the anti-American period in modern Vietnamese literature , specifically on the following contents: "factors creating the appearance of epic poems about the anti-American period; main content, artistic characteristics of epic poems".

5.3. Scope of research

Long poems about the anti-American period appeared from 1960 to 1980 quite a lot and most of them were valuable. After 1980, long poems continued to develop. Besides the theme of war, poets were also interested in themes about daily life, personal life and affairs. But in reality, those long poems did not create the same impressions and values as the long poems about the anti-American period from 1960 to 1980. Therefore, the scope of this thesis cannot survey all long poems, but only stops at typical long poems with value written about the anti-American period by Thu Bon, To Huu, Le Anh Xuan, Giang Nam, Huong Trieu, Nguyen Khoa Diem, Huu Thinh, Nguyen Duc Mau, Thanh Thao, Anh Ngoc, Nguyen Quang Thieu, Le Thi May, Van Le, Van Cong Hung... and a few other authors as limited in the bibliography.

6. RESEARCH METHODS

During the thesis, we applied the following methods:

after:

6.1. Analysis and synthesis method

Applying analytical and synthetic methods to study factors

Objective and subjective factors create the appearance of the epic poem about the anti-American period; analyze and decode the connection between the emotions of the times and the nation, the harmony between the individual and the community. Analyze the value of reflecting reality; the characteristics of the complexity and diversity of poetic forms; the nature of polyphony and voice

Epic tone, epic space, connections, folk materials of the epic poem about the anti-American period. The synthesis method will facilitate us to systematize the issues and arguments that have been studied and draw general conclusions.

6.2. Historical-social method

The epic poems of the anti-American period reflect rich real life. The artistic thoughts of the poets originate from the historical reality and the era in which they lived. Therefore, we always apply the historical-social method in the process of approaching and researching the value of epic poems and the poet's ego according to the historical time axis system (from 1960 to 1980, from 1980 to present). Systematize comments on the genre; comments on the author and the work according to the historical-social perspective appropriate to the time of appearance.

6.3. Comparison and statistical methods

In addition to the two methods above, we also use comparative and statistical methods to the extent necessary when analyzing the work, comparing the differences in personal roles, epic nature, tone, structure... of modern epics compared to classical epics, comparing the styles of the authors. When necessary, use statistical methods to have a comprehensive view of the frequency of appearance of poetic forms, tones, and lyrical subjects in epics.

7. STRUCTURE OF THESIS

In addition to the introduction and conclusion , the thesis is presented in three chapters:

Chapter I. Factors that created the appearance of the epic poem about the anti-American period.

Chapter II. Main content of the epic poem about the anti-American period.

Chapter III. Artistic characteristics of the epic poem about the anti-American period.

Finally, appendices, references and the author's published works related to the thesis topic.

Chapter 1

FACTORS THAT CREATED THE EMERGENCE OF THE LONG POEM ABOUT THE FIGHT AGAINST THE AMERICAN Revolutionary War

1.1 Objective factors that created the appearance of the epic poem

1.1.1 The connection from tradition to modernity

Modern literature in general, and Vietnamese poetry during the anti-American period in particular, has been combined by a team of poets with traditional features and modern innovations to create a unique voice. The connection from tradition to modernity in terms of content and form of genre development has created a new shade for poetry. This is also a factor contributing to the emergence of epic poems during the anti-American period.

Epic, an art form that emerged relatively early in the spiritual life of mankind. First was the appearance of ancient epics such as: Iliad-Odice of Greece, Mahabharata and Ramayana of India... In Laos there is Phra Lac Phra Lam , in Khmer there is Riemke . Vietnam has Khan - an ancient epic that focuses on singing, told in a melodious voice that can be combined with dance. Typical examples include: epic Dam San , epic Xinh Nha , epic Dam Di, H'mon Dam Noi, MLan, Xing Choniep of the Central Highlands ethnic groups (belonging to heroic epics, mainly praising typical heroic characters of the tribe); of the Muong ethnic group such as: mythological epic De dat, de nuoc . Originating from the purpose of reflecting the social life in which it exists, epic poetry is always subject to the regulations of the society in which it was produced.

From the original meaning of “ca is to sing”, ancient Vietnamese epic works convey the soul to people’s hearts through melodies and sounds, through “synthetic” storytelling. Usually, in communal houses with warm village fires, epic songs were sung and narrated. This is probably one of the favorable conditions for the development of classical epics, because singing will help

listeners can easily remember, memorize and pass on. However, in modern literature, the epic genre today does not have the element of “singing”.

Many researchers believe that the famous epic poems in the national literature treasure are epic poems, because the elements of "poetry" and "song" are closely linked, with the elements of "long" and "story" mixed together, epic poems have the same form as narrative poems [80]. The poems with large volumes today do not have the element of "song". The author believes that modern epic poems must have an epic atmosphere, echo the struggles against foreign invaders, and contain great content. Compared with classical epic poems, the big difference is that classical epic poems have no place for personal creativity , cannot put their own perspective into the work, but can only tell and recount events mainly. All thanks to the collective memory of the people remembering the heroic past of the nation. Modern epic poems are derived from classical epic poems in terms of structure, length, and heroic epic quality; But each era has its own epic poems with unique characteristics in form and content suitable for each era .

Vu Van Sy, in his essay “ Epic in the system of modern Vietnamese poetry genres” published in The Source of Century Poetry [85], affirmed that in 1980, 1981, and 1982, many seminars on epics took place enthusiastically. The Army Literature Magazine (1981) opened an additional section “Exchange on epics”. TCVH No. 6/1982 in particular republished many elaborate discussions by literary researchers on “classical epics and modern epics”. According to him, the discussions can be grouped into four groups of opinions:

+ Firstly, contemporary long works should be called narrative poems (because the concept of epic poem is only borrowed from Europe).

+ Second, the epic poem, in its fullest aesthetic sense, is called the modern epic poem, and takes narrative as its main theme.

+ Third, the epic poem can be an epic poem that continues in a new stage of literary history (mainly: revolutionary lyricism combined with narrative).

+ Fourthly, epic is a phenomenon of intersection between narrative and lyric of genres. The special feature is that the poet's ego actively participates in the structure of the work in the form of central character and action character . And this explains why this is the golden age of modern epic.

The synthesis of the opinions exchanged about the epic poem of Vu Van Si is quite reasonable. In the thesis " Characteristics of epic poems written about the war theme during the anti-American period" , we affirmed the issue: long poems with tight structure, great historical content, epic nature... are called epic poems. Written about the anti-American period, many long poems without any plot but tend to express emotions such as: Road to the city - Huu Thinh , Mat duong khat vong - Nguyen Khoa Diem , Nguoi di den bien - Thanh Thao... are still classified as modern epic poems. And that arrangement is reasonable because:

+ Modern epic poems often have a rather large capacity with intense inspiration; grandiose content; heroic tone; have the ability to synthesize both content and genre form ; are both rich in lyricism ; and rich in thoughts and philosophy... Therefore, it can be said that: modern epic poems are essentially different from traditional narrative poems, different from classical epic poems but close to lyric poetry.

+ Modern epic poems are a literary genre within the system of modern Vietnamese poetry, " born and developed in a social context with important and great historical events" [10, p.110]. However, in reality, in peacetime, there are still a series of epic poems born in response to creative movements on the theme of war, reflecting on a past resistance period and most of them are written using the "reminiscence" technique.

Discussing this issue, French poet Victor Hugo, one of the greatest romantic poets of the West in the 19th century and the great poet Maiakovki of the (former) Soviet Union in the first half of the 20th century both believed that the epic genre will live forever .

Of course, the form of the epic poem must be suitable to the times. The times determine the poetics of the epic poem, and the epic poem bears the mark of the times.

The journey from traditional epic to modern epic is indeed a long one. In the world, famous epic poems such as: Iliad -Odyssey of ancient Greece, Mahabharata, Raymayana of India, Roland's Song , Mayakovki's Epic ... have been honored, carrying unique cultural values of all mankind. In Vietnam, the same is true, from De dat de nuoc, Dam San-Xing Nha... to modern epic poems is a long period of valuable filtering and creation.

During the anti-French period, epic poems were very rare. Some examples include:

+ The epic poem The Sound of the Flute on the O River by Pham Huy Thong (appearing from the New Poetry movement 1932 - 1945) is an epic about the sound of Truong Luong's flute that stirs the hearts of heroic guests.

+ The epic poem From the nineteenth night, also known as Quang Nam - Da Nang heroic poem (1951) by Khuong Huu Dung, is " the only epic poem written about the outbreak of the national resistance war, an outbreak full of national consciousness, the time of the explosion of civic consciousness" [91, p.41].

Vietnamese poetry - mainly epic poems - that appeared in this period were somewhat influenced by the epic poem of the West. Even music had immortal long songs about the resistance war in the Red River Delta such as: Epic poem of Hanoians (Nguyen Dinh Thi), Guerrilla of Thao River (Do Nhuan), Epic poem of Lo River (Van Cao) ... which were mainly created to serve political tasks. However, there are also signs that modern epic poems continue the origin of the classical heroic epics of the Vietnamese ethnic groups such as the khans ( Dam San, Xing Nha... ), Muong epics (De dat de nuoc), the narrative poems of the Tay - Nung - Thai ( Song chu chon sao, Chang Lu nang Ua)...

We also see that many poets who matured during the anti-American period still had inspiration to write about the war theme during the anti-French period, such as Tran Dang.

Khoa with The Hero's Song (1974) wrote about the female guerrilla Mac Thi Buoi. Nguyen Ba with the epic Hon Khoai (2000) wrote about the hero Phan Ngoc Hien. Duong Tam Kha with the epic Hero Lo Van Gia (2003). Poet Vo Van Truc with The Festival of Dawn (1978) wrote about the atmosphere of the Nghe Tinh Soviet uprising; the epic The Hero of Hoan Chau (1976) reflected the peasant uprising and the hero Mai Hac De. Giang Nam with The Dinh River in the Crescent Moon (2003) wrote about the martyr Nguyen Thi Tru during the anti-French period, but also had chapters and passages inspired by the anti-American period.

In the early period of the anti-American war, the number of epic poems that appeared was not much. But later on, the number gradually increased due to the need to reflect and express emotions before the reality of war happening every day in the homeland and country. Some long poems and epic poems that are often mentioned are: Thirty years of our life with the Party (1960), Following Uncle Ho's footsteps (1970), The thousand-mile country (1973) by To Huu; The photographer (1963), The doctor (1968) by Huy Can; The song of the Chơrao bird (1963), The cliff of Ho Chi Minh (1970), The homeland of the golden sun (1975) by Thu Bon, the epic poem Nguyen Van Troi (1967) by Le Anh Xuan; The swallow (1967) by Pham Huy Thong, The hero of Dong Thap (1968) by Giang Nam; Revolution, first chapter (1970), Poems to fight the enemy (1972), Great day (1975), Additional poems (1975) by Che Lan Vien; Homeland story (1973) by Te Hanh; Telling the story of eating green rice in the yard (1974) by Nguyen Khac Phuc; Long poem in Phuoc Hau village by Tran Vu Mai; Like in a dream (1975) by Hoang Trung Thong, Road of aspiration (1974) by Nguyen Khoa Diem... Some other long poems were also written about the theme of war but were not highly appreciated such as Fire in the forest by Thai Giang, Mountains and forests open wings - Lien Nam , Reportage 4/30/75 - Nguyen Duy , Nam Rom waves - Vuong Trung... After 1975; literature and poetry, especially long poems, flourished and continued their mission.

continue the history of the past and reflect the reality of life. The inspiration of the times and the rich life experiences that poets accumulated in the past