ROMEO & JULIET – WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

I- Background information about the author and the work (Thảo)

- Romeo and Juliet: One of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies
Being famous for its writing (poetical language)
Love and passion between two young people 
The fate of two "star-crossed lovers" 
The entire play takes place in less than a week
The destructive consequences of hatred and the inability to overcome societal divisions.
II. Plot of the whole work and of the extract (Quân)

Overall:

Act1:
The play begins with a fight between the servants of the Capulet and Montague families.
Prince Escalus warns them that further disturbances will be punishable by death. Romeo
is pining over Rosaline when he and his friends crash a party at the Capulet house. There
he meets and falls in love with Juliet.

The plot: An ancient feud between the Montague and Capulet families is established.
Romeo meets Juliet and falls in love at first sight, though they are from enemy houses.

Act2:
Juliet also falls in love with Romeo. Friar Lawrence secretly marries the young couple,
hoping it will unite the families. 

Act3:
Tybalt kills Romeo's friend Mercutio, so Romeo kills Tybalt. As punishment, Romeo is
banished from Verona. Juliet's parents arrange for her to marry Paris but she pleads with
them and Friar Lawrence for help.

The feud escalates as Romeo kills Tybalt, and he is banished. Juliet refuses to marry Paris
and seeks help from Friar Lawrence.

Act4:
Friar Lawrence devises a plan for Juliet to secretly reunite with Romeo. He gives her a
potion that will make her appear dead for 42 hours.

Act5:
Romeo does not receive the friar's message and, upon finding Juliet apparently dead,
poisons himself and dies next to her. When Juliet awakes to find Romeo dead, she stabs
herself with his dagger and dies. The families are finally united in their grief over the
deaths of their children. Prince Escalus ends the feud of the two families.
Plot of the extract: 

• It is nighttime in Verona. Romeo sneaks into the Capulet orchard under Juliet's balcony.
He sees Juliet come out onto the balcony, thinking she is alone.

• Juliet expresses her deep love for Romeo, unaware that he is hiding below and
overhearing her. She wishes that he were not a Montague, so that they could be together
without their families feuding.

 • Romeo reveals himself, startling Juliet. At first, she is worried that he might be an
intruder, but she is overjoyed when she recognizes his voice and realizes it is Romeo.

• Romeo starts proclaiming his love for Juliet. He compliments her beauty and says that
her radiance outshines the stars and even the moon. Juliet is worried that Romeo may not
be serious, so Romeo swears his love and intentions are honorable.

III. Main characters (Thảo)

ROMEO
- Meaning: lover
- a love of purity and passion
- a great reader of love poetry (loves by the book)
- Rosaline: cliched puppy love
- Juliet: love at first sight
- Juliet's level-headed observation
- lack the capacity for moderation
- Dominating behavior: 
 Love 
 Anger
 Despair
- Personality: intelligent, quick-witted, fond of verbal jousting, loyal, unafraid of danger
JULIET
- on the border between immaturity - maturity
- Beginning: obedient, sheltered, naive, determination, strength, sober-mindedness
-> Ending: self-assured, loyal, capable
- Paris: a possible husband (try to love)
- Romeo: loyalty and love
IV. Literary devices (Quỳnh) 
Intro: The scene contains some of the more recognizable and memorable passages
in all of Shakespeare. Here, in the famous balcony scene, Romeo and Juliet reveal their
love to each other. 
But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? 
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon
 Shakespeare uses light and dark imagery in this scene to show Juliet's beauty
and her dazzling influence on Romeo.. And another thing that we might notice here is the
abundance of celestial imagery, which emphasizes the role of fate in the lovers’ doomed
relationship. And the audience would get another sense that what is about to happen
between them is inevitably going to end in a tragic disaster, which is where the dramatic
irony is created. 
We also have an extended metaphor established here where Juliet is compared to
the sun. 
Normally, the sun has many associations with being benevolent, life-giving and
positive but we get an interesting juxtaposition here because Romeo presents the sun as
violent, murderous and destructive (kill the moon). By using the personification, the
moon is given human qualities that it can feel envy. Romeo also suggests that Juliet is
fairer than the moon since he used to compare Rosaline, his first love, with it and now
his love for Juliet outshines it. 
Next, Romeo continues the metaphor of comparing Juliet’s eyes to two fairest
stars, and saying if they hung in heaven the birds would still sing through the night
mistaking her bright gaze for daylight. 
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes 
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head? 
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, 
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven 
Would through the airy region stream so bright 
That birds would sing and think it were not night
Next, we have the hy`perbole (exaggeration) when Romeo describes the
brightness of Juliet’s cheek that would shame the stars just like the way the daylight doth
a lamp. So, we can understand that Romeo is apparently blinded by the bright light of
love. 
In the next part of Romeo’s soliloquy, it is obvious that he keeps comparing Juliet
to things that are constantly above him: stars, sun, angel,... since physically and
metaphorically she is above him throughout the scene. 
O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art 
As glorious to this night, being o’er my head, 
As a winged messenger of heaven
Using both metaphor and simile, Romeo says that Juliet is a bright angel who is
as glorious to the night as a winged messenger of heaven in order to admire her beauty.
In his eyes, Juliet seems like a saint, a goddess, who is too gorgeous to belong to this
world.
Move to Juliet’s soliloquy, there is a contradiction (contrast) between their
thoughts. While Romeo is away in the clouds thinking about Juliet’s ethereal beauty,
Juliet is much more down to earth. She is immediately concerned about a practical
dilemma, which is the fact that their family are enemies.
=>  In summary, with these literary devices, the audience are able to understand the
thoughts of the main characters and a part of their personalities throughout the scene.
About Romeo, Greek this word actually means a worshiper, a pilgrim who journeys to
holy Rome but our Romeo seems not to be a worshiper of Christ. He even says that he
will be new baptiz’d, which means he is willing to throw away his previous religion of
Christianity to worship Juliet as a goddess since he idolizes her ethereal beauty.
Moreover, the audience might see that Romeo is extremely naive or at least he’s willing
to say anything to get what he wants. With the love’s light wings, he says, nothing could
stand in his way to stop him from being here with the love of his life, even the high
orchard wall and their families’ conflicts. 

About Juliet, she seems to desperately want to be with Romeo but she is aware of their
difficulty. She argues that Romeo’s name and her name are not important and she can just
throw them away but in fact, names are hugely significant causing the central conflict of
the play. And as an audience, each of us know that characters’ names are intimately tied
to their destinies, so by ignoring their names, both Romeo and Juliet doom themselves
and seal their tragic fates.  (seal: niêm phong; cannot get in or out)

V. Themes (Toàn)
1. Love as a cause of violence
- Romeo comes out of hiding just as a light in a nearby window flicks on and
Juliet exits onto her balcony. “It is the east,” Romeo says, regarding Juliet, “and
Juliet is the sun.” He urges the sun to rise and “kill the envious moon.” He urges
Juliet to take her “vestal livery” and “cast it off.” He continues observing Juliet as
she looks up at the stars, waxing poetic about her beauty and wishing he could
hold and touch her.
=> Romeo’s speech about Juliet is poetic- but there is also a deeper sexual
connotation, as “envious moon” is a reference to Diana, the Roman goddess of the
moon and protectress of virgins. He wishes aloud for Juliet to surrender her
virginity to him and “kill the envious moon”, or erase her connection to the
goddess of purity and virginity.

2. The Inevitability of Fate

- Juliet speaks, saying “Ah me!” and Romeo, hearing her, remains hidden, but
quietly says he wishes she would speak again. Juliet sighs again, wondering aloud
why Romeo has to be who he is. She says he wishes he would “refuse [his] name.”
If he won’t change his name, though, she says she would change hers if it meant
they could be together. Romeo wonders aloud if he should speak up and let Juliet
know he’s below her window, or whether he should listen some more. Juliet
continues speaking, meditating on the nature of names and how they define the
 things they describe. She wishes that Romeo could be called something else—he
would be the same person he is if he were, just as “a rose by any other word would
smell as sweet.”
=> Juliet’s love for Romeo is making her existential. She wants to be with him
desperately - and if he simply had another name , there would be no barrier to their
courtship. Juliet is wondering why fate, family, and duty seem to be against her,
and wishes that Romeo would abandon his name, loyalty, and his identity in order
to be with her. 

3. The Individual Versus Society

- Romeo speaks up and says he’ll take Juliet’s advice and allow her to “baptize”
him anew—if she wants, he says, he’ll cease being Romeo. Juliet asks who is
hiding in the darkness, and Romeo replies that he’s loath to use his own name,
which is now “hateful” to him “because it is an enemy to [her.]” Juliet asks if it is
Romeo hiding in the garden, and he says that if she dislikes his name, he’ll be
anything she wants. Juliet warns Romeo that if any of her kinsmen find him,
they’ll kill him, but Romeo says that the things “love can do” make him invincible
to harm. Juliet again warns Romeo of the danger he’s put himself in, but he says
he'd rather have his life ended abruptly by her kinsmen’s hatred than go through
life without her. 
=> Though Romeo and Juliet have only just met, they are already making grand
promises and demands of each other. Juliet wishes Romeo would break his loyalty
to his own family, and he happily complies- even adding that he’d rather disappear
than face another day without her love. This further portrays love as a chaotic state
of being that is deeply twisted with self- destruction and violence.

*Juliet's soliloquy examines another of the play's themes — the importance of

words and names. Juliet compares Romeo to a rose and reasons that if a rose were given
another name, it would still be a rose in its essence. If Romeo abandoned his family
name, he would still be Romeo. Juliet calls into the night for Romeo to "refuse thy name"
and in return, she will "no longer be a Capulet." Therein lies one of the great conflicts of
the play — the protagonists' family names operate against their love. While their love
blossoms in oblivion to any barriers, the people who affect their lives use their familial
battles to impose separation upon the two young lovers.

THE DAFFODILS – WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

I- Background information about the work and the author

1. Author
a, What deeply affected and inspired Wordsworth’s imagination and love of nature?
 He was born in Cockermouth, Cumberland, in the Lake District:  One of the most
diverse and picturesque landscapes in England

=> Therefore the magnificent landscape of the rugged and lovely land of steam,
hills, cataracts, and precipitous mountains deeply affected Wordsworth’s
imagination and gave him a love of nature.
b. What is his attitude towards the French Revolution
 Wordsworth had great hopes for the Revolution, and he believed that once a
republic was firmly in power in France people would have a  better life (“should
see the people having a strong hand/ In framing their own laws; whence betters
day; To all mankind” - Wordsworth, Book IX ). On the other hand,he was loyal
with England, because he was not prepared to see the Monarchy overthrown.
c. What is his conception of Poetry
 "Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" it takes its origin from
"emotion recollected in a state of tranquility"
=> +) poetry is a matter of mood and inspiration
+) Powerful feelings and emotions are fundamental, without them great poetry
cannot be written.
d. What is his conception of Nature
 The poet presents Nature in divergent ways in his poetry.
 He views Nature as a source of love, perpetual joy, soothing and healing power,
knowledge and spirituality. Nature and God become one for him.
 He believes that Nature is the Universal Spirit guiding anyone who  likes to be
guided by her.
 William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was born in the Lake District
 An English literature in the Roman period
 He launched the Romantic era, opening the gates for later writers
→ In conclusion, Wordsworth’s life was  an unfortunate life/destiny/fate and It
had strong effects on his works. That was a key factor which led him to become a
great romantic poet.
Almost works described the poet's love of nature and revolved around themes of
death, endurance, separation and grief.
 What is his attitude towards the French Revolution
Wordswoth’s philosophic sympathies lay with the revolutionaries, but his loyalties
lay with England
 What deep born and raised the mountains of Cumberland alongside the
 River Derwent, he spent a great deal of his time playing outdoors, in what he
would later remember as a pure communion with nature. → the magnificent
landscape of the rugged and lovely land of stream, hills, cataracts, and
precipitous mountains deeply affected his imagination and gave him a love of
nature
 What is his conception of Poetry
 He argued that poetry should be written in the natural language of common
speech, rather than in the lofty and elaborate dictionary that were then
considered “poetic”
 the 1st principle of poetry should be pleasure - “the naked and native
dignity of man”
 What is his conception of Nature
 His real genius lies in showing what happens when the innate power
of nature meets the power of perception of the human mind.
→ It is as if the individual’s perception of nature, its awe, power and
capacity to teach, is what matters rather than nature itself.
→ It is the interaction of nature and human
→ Nature is a store of truths about human nature, the world and
God. but that truth lies inert until a human being conjoins with
nature and draws that truth out.
 Daffodils
 The poem “Daffodils” was also known with the title  “I Wandered Lonely as a
Cloud”. It was a lyrical poem written by William Wordsworth in 1804. It was first
published in 1807 in Poems in Two Volumes, then it was released in 1815 in
“Collected Poems”  with four stanzas. “Daffodils” is considered as one of the
most popular poems of the Romantic Age.
 The poem was written in 1804, inspired by an event on 15 April 1802, in which
Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy came across a “long belt” of daffodils while
traveling in the Lake District of England. It was first published in 1807 in
“Poems in Two Volumes” and a revised version was published in 1815.
 The poem is a sonnet, 24 lines, including four six – line stanzas.   Each stanza is
formed by a quatrain, then a couplet, to form a set and an ABABCC rhyme
scheme. For example the rhyming scheme of the first stanza is ABAB ( A –
cloud and crowd; B – hills and daffodils) and ending with a rhyming couplet CC
( C – trees and breeze). By the way, the poem can convert into a continuous flow
of expressions without a pause.
“I wandered lonely as a cloud
 That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd”
2. Plot of the whole work and of the extract
In Short
The poet was wandering lonely over the valleys and the hills when suddenly he
came across a lot of daffodil flowers beside a lake.
The poet was overjoyed at the lovely sight of the flowers which seemed to be
“tossing their heads” and “dancing” in the mild breeze. Charmed by the daffodils,
he gazed at them for long.
Later in his life, when in a vacant or pensive mood, the poet felt pleasure with the
memory of those flowers flashing upon his “inward eye”.
As for the theme, the poem is all about the beauty of nature. Wordsworth is often
termed a nature-lover. And the Romantic Movement that he started with Samuel
Tailor Coleridge is mainly characterized by the love and celebration of nature and
beauty. This poem is a representative of Romanticism in English literature.
Just reading the first verses, we can feel the time and space William wrote The
Daffodils. The inspiration for this poem may have been drawn from a walk he
took with his sister Dorothy around Lake Ullswater.
3. Literary devices
To talk about the structure of the poem, it is really very simple in form and
language. Four stanzas of six lines each makes the entire poem 24 lines long. The
rhyme scheme for each stanza is ABABCC, where the first (A)  and the second
(B) lines rhyme with the third (A) and the fourth (B) respectively. These are
followed by a rhyming couplet (CC). The poem is also rich in its use of figures of
speech.
 The context of poem:
The poet was traveling aimlessly just like a cloud over the hills and valleys of the
mountainous Lake District in England. At that time, suddenly he came across a
large number of golden daffodils beside the lake and under the trees. The flowers
were “fluttering and dancing” in the breeze.
1. Stanza 1:
I wandered lonely as a cloud —
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
  In the first four line,
I wandered lonely as a cloud —
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
 The poet uses Simile: “as a cloud”.
 Definition of Simile: is a figure of  speech where two things are compared
using “as” or “like”.
 The effect of using this literary device:
 Clouds frequently follow groups, but in the first line, poet compares
himself as a cloud, which shows the poet’s free spirit.
 The poet comes across a bunch of daffodils fluttering in the air,
and he is surprised by the beauty of those “golden
daffodils”. The daffodils are termed as “a host” and “a crowd”
since he saw a large area covered with a whole lot of daffodils.
(,which)They are a source of immense beauty for the poet hailing
from the Romantic Era.
 In the last two lines,
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
 The poet use Personification “Fluttering and dancing in the breeze”
 The definition of Personification:  the attribution of a personal nature or
human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an
abstract quality in human form.
 The effect of using this literary device:
 The poet personifies the flowers by saying that they were fluttering
(like birds and butterflies) and dancing (like human beings), which
make the daffodils more vivid.
 Why is the poet sensitive to the beauty of daffodils?
The poet raise in Lake District - a region rich in scenic locations and
he also has a love for nature.
in this stanza 1, the poet uses two literary devices: simile and personification
2. Stanza 2:
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,ssing their heads in sprightly dance.
 In the first three lines,
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretched in never-ending line
 The poet uses Simile: “continuous as the stars that shine”
 The poet’s aim:
 The daffodils stretched in a continuous line like the stars in a galaxy
 The daffodils were shining (as they were golden in colour) and twinkling
(as they were fluttering in the breeze) as the stars
 In the next two lines,
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
 The poet uses Hyperbole to exaggerate the number of flowers by saying “ ten
thousand saw I at a glance”
 The poet’s aim:
 The poet has never seen so many daffodils at once, so he is just overjoyed.
 The daffodils seem to have given the poet a positive energy and an intense
sense of joy.
 In the last line,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
 The poet uses Personification “ Tossing their heads in sprightlly dance”
 The poet’s aim:
 The poet also say that the daffodils like human beings were tossing their
heads as if they were dancing in happiness.
 This literary device show the poet’s happy mood when he sees the daffodils
fluttering in the wind.
3. Stanza 3
The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee
A Poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought
 Assonance
 1st + 2nd line: personification: the waves beside them danced
 → The waves in the bay were dancing and looking gleeful at the
atmosphere. But the flowers outshone the lively waves in their happiness
 In the next 2 lines: Having such cheerful companions like the daffodils, a
poet like Wordsworth cannot help being happy.
 So he was gazing constantly at the flowers and enjoying their beauty.
Repetition of the word ‘gazed’ is used twice to indicate how moved or
charmed the poet was. So he gazed at them for a long time, forgetting his
surroundings.
 The last line: At that time, he did not think much about the ‘wealth’ that the
flowers had brought to him. This ‘wealth’ is the happiness and the pleasant
memory that he enjoyed for a long time since the day.
4. Stanza 4
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
Many years later, the daffodil’s beauty still haunted Wordsworth. Whether he
stayed in empty or thoughtful mood, the images of daffodils came to mind and
flashed upon his eyes:
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
In the last stanza, it is revealed that this scene is only a memory of  the pensive
speaker. This is marked by a change from a narrative past tense to the present
tense as a conclusion to a sense of  movement within the poem: passive to active
motion, from sadness to blissfulness.  The memory of daffodils was etched in the
author’s mind and soul forever. When the poet was feeling lonely, dull or
depressed, he thought of  daffodils and cheered up. He desired  to dance with the
daffodils:
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
The above two lines weren’t composed by Wordsworth but by his wife, Mary.
Wordsworth considered them the best lines of the whole poem. They showed love
of daffodils. To him, daffodils are close friends who come to console and
 encourage him. And images of  daffodils would never seem to fade in
Wordsworth’s mind.
This shows the poet’s intense feelings. The poet has been able to depict the
landscape and express his mind so vividly in so simple language and form, that
really draws one’s attention. And that is why this poem has been one of the most
read and mentioned subjective poems in the history of English literature.
5. Messages/ Themes (Ánh)
As for the theme, the poem is all about the beauty of nature. Wordsworth is often
termed a nature-lover. And the Romantic Movement that he started with Samuel
Tailor Coleridge is mainly characterized by the love and celebration of nature and
beauty.
This poem was one of Wordsworth's  greatest works of  Romanticism. The poem
showed us  natural beauty and the potential of  nature towards people. He would
like to call us to come back to nature and enjoy it. The soul of nature and the soul
of man were  united into a single harmony and being one with nature is one of the
way to explore and heal our own soul.
Let our soul unite with the natural into a single harmony.
Bài thơ giúp ta nhận ra tình yêu và lòng ngưỡng mộ mà William dành cho thiên
nhiên phong phú và sâu đậm biết dường nào. Nhà thơ kêu gọi ta hãy trở về và tận
hưởng thiên nhiên. Hơn nữa, ở một mức độ nào đấy, William giúp ta nhận thấy
rằng những gì chúng ta cảm nhận về vẻ đẹp của những bông hoa thuỷ tiên vàng
chính là cách những bông hoa nói chuyện với chúng ta, bằng chính tâm hồn mình.
6. Personal comments/ Analysis (Ánh)
 Need to enjoy the beauty of nature and life as much as you can
→ Living in the time when technology and economy is blooming all around the world,
humans can hardly enjoy the beauty of nature as they used to. Skyscrapers replace the
fields, forests turn into concrete jungles and people are snowed under work and
deadlines, perhaps we have forgotten that we should slow down our living pace to catch a
breath and immerse ourselves in nature to heal our soul.
Living in the era of technology, we have forgotten the beauty of nature.
 Life is short, treasure each second you exist on this Earth
→ As I mentioned about the condition that a lot of people living in this century are
experiencing, I think that sometimes they all forget to enjoy their life and nature. The
poem somehow taught me that people spend more time relaxing by escaping from the
bustling life in the city, one of the best ways is to be one with nature. Since our human’s
time is limited, as Xuan Dieu had mentioned in “Hurry up”:
My soul is vast but heaven's grace is narrow
 And it does not allow human youth to last any longer.
Please don't say that Spring will return
If the Youth never shines twice.
Lòng tôi rộng, nhưng lượng trời cứ chật,
Không cho dài thời trẻ của nhân gian;
Nói làm chi rằng xuân vẫn tuần hoàn,
Nếu tuổi trẻ chẳng hai lần thắm lại
  I know that we won’t live forever and the fantastic views of nature will not exist
eternally, we have to go and see those wonderful views, learn and experience more when
we can still walk and enjoy this life. As for me, I was inspired and given an urge to
explore nature more  by Wordsworth after reading this poem.
We have to make every second that we live worthy.
→ It can be unrelated to the poet’s major message and theme, I am fully aware of that.
However, this is the similarity I myself recognize while reading those poems. “Nature”
here can also represent “ the life”. I myself believe in some means, when the authors call
us to enjoy nature's beauty, they also want us to enjoy the beauty of all the life that was
given to us as a present. Be positive, enthusiastic and respect our life and our youth.
 The beauty of nature needs to be preserved and respected.
→ As we learnt from the poem, nature’s beauty was described vividly and romantically.
Wordsworth didn’t only show us the beauty of nature, he also taught us that this treasure
is fragile and needs to be protected. There would be no longer such stunning scenery if
people keep treating the environment as they’ve done for all the time. How surprising
that a poem from the 19th century has rung the alarm in my head about the significant
imperative need of protecting the environment.
In summary, through the analysis of poems in the aspects such as language, a lot
of literary devices, narrator, rhyming scheme, images, symbols ... we can
recognize its beauty as well as profound human values. Reading “Daffodils”, I
love our nature and life more and more. This poem will be long lasting in spite of
the world’s up and down.                  

THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE ROSE – OSCAR WILDE

I- Background information about the author and the work
1. The author: Oscar Wilde
- Wilde’s youth coincided with the increasing crisis of bourgeois culture and the
heyday of Aestheticism.
 - The movement of the day-Aestheticism - The vulgarity of bourgeois life, the
money-making fever, and its hypocritical approach to moral standards.
- The spokesman of Aestheticism - Art for art’s sake.
b. Writing style
 The world outlook reflected in Wilde’s works was contradictory.
 His tales were deeper in their approach to the problem of Good and Evil.
 Wilde laid stress on the good qualities of the poor, and the vices of those
who have power and money.
 Endings were usually tragic - Good cannot triumph in a world of Evil.
c. Language
 Ability to express contradictions in accurate paradoxes (affirming things
seem absurd at first sight)
 His outstanding knowledge of language and gift for dialogue made his
works sparkle with wit.
 Brilliant form in thoughts gave peculiar charms.

-> This has placed him as one of the great writers of his country.
2. The story
 1888 collection The Happy Prince and Other Tales.
 A romantic nightingale comes to the aid of a lovesick student who has
a single day to find a red rose to win his lover’s heart.
 An allegorical tale of love, sacrifice, and selfishness.
II- Setting and plot
1. Setting of the story
 A young student thinks that he is madly in love with the professor’s
daughter. She said she would dance with him in the ball given by the Prince the
next day if he brought her a red rose. 

 At the start of the story, the Student is crying in the garden of fantasy since
he hasn’t had any red roses in the garden to bring to his love.
2. Plot of the story
- Exposition: the student is sad because he does not have a red rose for the girl he loves
- Rising Action: the nightingale notices this and searches for a red rose. The Red Rose
tree tells her that in order to produce a rose, it needs the lifeblood of a living thing.
- Climax: The nightingale dies on a thorn of the Red Rose Tree in exchange of a red rose.
- Falling Action: The student finds the red rose and brings it to the girl. However, she is
already agreed to dance with Chamberlain's nephew who had given her precious jewelry.
- Resolution: The student throws the rose into a gutter. He believes that all love is a lie
and returns to his studies.
III- Main characters
1. The nightingale
• The protagonist of the story
• A small singing bird that is often associated with love, innocence and
romance
• A symbol of goodness and virtue
Nightingale is romantic by nature
• She appreciates the true love
“Love is better than life”
“All that I ask you I’m return is that you will be a true lover”
“Here at last is a true lover”
“Surely love is a wonderful thing. It is more precious than emeralds, and dearer than
fine opals… It may not be purchased of the merchants, nor can it be weighed out in the
balance for gold."
=> Love has no price or quantity to be purchased nor weighed
=> The writer encourages the readers to behold nature to find true love which is ignored
by the materialistic values in the contemporary world.
• She represents an artist among cynics
        “Death is a great price to pay for a red rose,” cried the Nightingale…Yet Love is
better than Life, and what is the heart of a bird compared to the heart of a man?”
=> The Nightingale sacrifices her life for the sake of love
+ Comparison: her heart as less valuable to a human heart.
+ At the end: the bird has a purer and more valuable heart than the human
representatives in the story.
=> Her selfless sacrifice shows that true love does exist but at the end no one appreciates
it.
 She is caring by nature
"So the Nightingale sang to the Oak-tree, and her voice was like water bubbling from a
silver jar."
 + she sings her last song to the oak tree in her enchanting tune.
+ simile: her beauty of her voice inspired by her loving heart inside
=> Her concern and gratitude towards others
 She is determined and wholehearted.
" The thorn touched her heart, and a fierce pang of pain shot through her. Bitter bitter was
the pain, and wilder and wilder grew her song… “Look, look!” cried the Tree, “the rose
is finished now;” but the Nightingale made no answer, for she was lying dead in the long
grass, with the thorn in her heart."
+ the use of intensified and repeated adjectives => the severe pain
=> the power of her determination and commitment on behalf of the policy she lived on
2. The young student
• A student: studies Philosophy and Metaphysics "I shall go back to
Philosophy and study Metaphysics.”
• A good-looking boy , with hair “dark as the hyacinth blossom”, “red lips’,
and “beautiful eyes"
• A lower social class person: “He went into his room, and lay down on his
little pallet-bed”
a, He appears as a true lover
• He laments in his garden for the love of his life
• He highly worries about:
“No red roses in all my garden, Ah on what little things does happiness depends..”
b, He is an unpractical young boy
“She said that she would dance with me if I bring her a red rose, but all in my garden
there is no red rose”
+ not make a practical action
+ lack emotional capacity
““No red rose in all my garden!” he cried”
“Ah, on what little things does happiness depend! I have read all that the wise men have
written and all the philosophy are mine, yet for a want of red rose is my life made
wretched”
+ He is full of head bookish knowledge but  foolish to understand that everything is not
written in books.
+ He has already lost the battle of winning the heart of his beloved.
=>  How the student laments as there is no use of book knowledge.
c, He disregards nature and art.
• “The Student looked up from the grass, and listened, but he could not
understand what the Nightingale was saying to him, for he only knew the
things that are written down in books.”
+ what the student couldn't understand is the language of true love. 
=> his insensitivity and mechanical thinking
• “She has form… but has she got feeling? I am afraid not… She is like most
artists; she is all style without any sincerity. She would not sacrifice herself
for others.”
+He criticizes the nature and arts as a ‘style without any sincerity’.
+ Judgements are all wrong about the Nightingale
• “He threw the rose into the street, where it fell into the gutter, and a cart-
wheel went over it.”
+ he throws the symbol of true love 
=> be easily-giving up and ill-judged love.
• "What a silly thing Love is,’ said the Student as he walked away. ‘It is not
half as useful as Logic, for it does not prove anything… In fact, it is quite
unpractical, and, as in this age to be practical is everything,”
+ he does not understand that spiritual things like: true love cannot be measured
=> his materialistic nature 
=> his immature nature about human emotions which easily undergo changes
3. Personal comments about characters
a, The nightingale
+ It is the most remarkable & heart touching character in the plot
+ The nightingale is presented  with all human attributes and even feelings and emotions.
+ The whole story revolves around her sacrifice and selfless nature which is not
appreciated throughout the story.
b, The young student
+ He represents the common civilians of the Victorian society
+ He has no ability to appreciate aesthetics and nature but  knows just to appreciate the
knowledge received from books.
IV- Literary devices
1. Fairy tale elements
Good character and evil characters.
Royalty vs poverty.
Magic and enchantments.
Frequent use of personification.
Vivid and simple narration.
Use of symbols and motifs.
Use of the magical number three.
2. Symbols
The Nightingale - goodness and virtue and sacrifice
The Rose - true love and true art
The oak tree – wisdom
The girl - materialism and hypocrisy
The Student - cynicism
Lizard – cynic, a person who sees little or no good in anything
Butterfly – curiosity
Daisy – purity
Cart-wheel – materialism
3. Personification
“the tree shook its head.”
"the little Lizard, who was something of a cynic, laughed outright.
“The white moon heard it,”
"But the Oak-tree understood, and felt sad"

➜ Brings about a fairytale-like aspect to the story

4. Comparison
"Love is wiser than Philosophy, though she is wise, and mightier than Power, though he
is mighty"  
“It is more precious than emeralds, and dearer than fine opals.” 

➜ The beauty of love

“My roses are white...whiter than the snow upon the mountain.”
“My roses are yellow...yellower than the daffodil that blooms in the meadow"
“My roses are r...and redder than the great fans of coral .... "

➜ The vividness of the roses’ colors

5. Simile
 “...as white as the foam of the sea...”
“...as yellow as the hair of the mermaiden..."
“...as red as the feet of the dove... "

➜ The vividness of the roses’ colors

“His hair is dark as the hyacinth-blossom, and his lips are red as the rose of his desire; but
passion has made his face like pale ivory..."

➜ The beauty of the student >< His sorrow

6. Alliteration
"She swept over the garden like a shadow"
like a shadow she sailed across the garden
“she”, “shadow”: /ʃ/
“swept”, “sailed”: /s/

➜ The swiftness of nightingale's movement

7. Hyperbole
“She will dance so lightly that her feet will not touch the floor”
“Here is the reddest rose in all the world.”

➜ Exaggerate the feeling the student has for the girl and the rose

8. Inversion
She passed through the grove like a shadow and like a shadow she sailed across the
garden.”

➜ Emphasize the serenity of the nightingale

9. Repetition
“here at last is a true lover”

➜ The nightingale suggests she is sure the student is a true lover

“here indeed is the true lover”

➜ The nightingale has settled its mind

“If I bring her a red rose she will dance with me till dawn. If I bring her a red rose, I shall
hold her in my arms, and she will lean her head upon my shoulder, and her hand will be
clasped in mine.”

➜ Ideal state of student’s love, which genuinely moves the nightingale to sacrifice her
life and produce the red rose for him
10. Irony
“...what is the heart of a bird compared to the heart of a man?”
                     The bird had sacrificed itself to a rose for a student
             >< The student simply gave up on what he thought was love

➜ The heart of the bird is much wiser than the heart of the student.
"The Student looked up from the grass and listened, but he could not understand what the
Nightingale was saying to him, for he only knew the things that are written down in
books.”
          How the Nightingale had proposed to sacrifice itself for one red rose when the
Student didn’t understand

➜ The nightingale is the true lover, not the student.

11. Imagery
“ and he threw the rose into the street, where it fell into the gutter, and a cart-wheel went
over it”
the rose: the true meaning of love
the sacrifice for love

➜ The waste of the sacrifice of the nightingale made for the student

12. Allusion
- The Nightingale’s sacrifice and impalement on the rose’s thorn: recalls the
biblical sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who wore a crown of thorns and allowed himself
to be pierced with nails to the cross for the sake of humanity.
- Her song of “the Love that is perfected by Death […] [and] that dies not in the
tomb”: recalls Jesus’s sacrifice, undying love for humanity.
* Comment:
- A lot of literary devices are used to emphasize the personality and beauty of the
characters. 
- The text is loaded with figurative language enriching Oscar Wilde's motto: ‘art for art’s
sake’.
V- Themes
1. Love and sacrifice
• Two ways of love: true love and a sham. 
=> Reflecting the cruelty of the world by showing the two faces of love
• Wilde suggests that true love is possible, but that much of what people
commonly call love is shallow and self-interested.
 • The Student: A prime example of this self-absorption; when the girl rejects
his rose
• He is quick to label her "ungrateful," and love in general "silly."
• The Nightingale is undeniably selfless to sacrifice her life; death is the ultimate
expression of selflessness. 
• Wilde suggests that "perfect" love can exist only in death.
• By dying, the Nightingale herself proves the existence of true love, which the
story suggests will outlive her: as she dies, the Nightingale sings about "Love that
dies not in the tomb."
2. Art and idealism
"In contrast to those who argued that the arts should address social issues or impart moral
lessons, the Aesthetics contended that art's sole purpose was to be beautiful".
• This question about the nature and role of art forms the backdrop to "The
Nightingale and the Rose," with the Nightingale and the Student
embodying opposite sides of the debate.
• The Nightingale's defining characteristic is her beautiful voice.
• The Nightingale's songs are "about" anything, they are about ideals rather than
reality.
=> This idealism further underscores the link between the Nightingale's art and
Aestheticism, since her songs have no obvious real-world application.
3. Materialism, Intellectualism, and Emotion
• Wilde develops his own critique of materialism and intellectualism, as these traits
are embodied by the Student and the girl
• The Student's intellectualism has distorted his ability to see the world clearly. He
"only knows the things that are written down in books," the Student is incapable of
understanding anyone whose guiding light is not reason - most notably the
Nightingale.
• The most obviously selfish and greedy character in the story - the girl - is the
daughter of a professor.
• => Rationality inevitably produces materialism if it is not tempered with emotion. 
 THE MOON AND SIXPENCE – WILLIAM SOMERSET MAUGHAM

1.2. The Moon and Sixpence

- Written in the aftermath of World War I, a time of great social and cultural change in
Europe.
(Name the artists: Gauguin, Picasso, and Matisse)
- First published in 1919
- It is a story of the conflict between the artist and the conventional society based on the life of
a French painter, Paul Gauguin.
- Genre: Novel/ Fictionalized Biography
- Setting: "The Moon and Sixpence" is set primarily in Paris and Tahiti in the late 19th and
early 20th centuries. (in the aftermath of the Impressionist movement.)
- Author’s tone: generally objective
- Point of view: The novel is narrated by an unnamed first-person narrator (provides an
outsider's view of Strickland's actions and motivations, and allows the reader to see the story
through the eyes of an observer who is both sympathetic and critical of Strickland's choices.)
- The Moon and Sixpence reflects the cultural and social context of its time, and continues
to be a celebrated work of literature that explores timeless themes of individuality,
creativity, and the pursuit of meaning and purpose in life.
- The title: Derived from Maugham's previous novel: Of Human Bondage. 
- Symbolism:  
+ The moon - artistic vision
+ The sixpence - the mundane reality 
+ The figure of Paul Gauguin - the rebellious artist who rejects social norms
+ The Tahitian landscape and culture - freedom and liberation
+ The painting that Strickland creates at the end of the novel - the transformative power of art.

2. Plot of the whole work and of the extract

2.1. The whole work
- "The Moon and Sixpence" is a novel inspired by the life of the French artist Paul
Gauguin. 
- The story follows Charles Strickland, a middle-aged Englishman and also a prosperous
stockbroker
- He abandons his conventional life and family to pursue his passion for art
- Strickland leaves his wife and children in London and moves to Paris, immersing himself in
painting. Despite facing poverty and social rejection, he remains steadfast in his artistic
pursuit. 
- Leaving France for Tahiti, Strickland is in search of a world of his own. In Tahiti, he marries
a native girl and he has about three years of happiness. He has two children. 
- Strickland contracts leprosy and later becomes blind
- Knowing that he is going to die, he makes his wife promise to burn down his masterpiece
after his death in fear that it will be contaminated by the commercial world of money.  
- Through the work “The Moon and Sixpence”, W.S.Maugham exposes contemporary
society with its vices such as snobbishness, money worship, pretence, self-interest,
complacency, and above all, hypocrisy in the people’s way of life.  

2.2. The extract

 Strickland, an honest stockbroker, a good husband, and a good father of two
wonderful children disappeared unexpectedly. 
 A friend of the family was sent to Paris where he had been thought to run away with
some woman, to find him and if possible, persuade him to come back. 
 To his surprise, the friend found out the real purpose of the escape: Strickland has
run away to learn to paint. 
=> Through the conversation between the two men, the character of Strickland was clearly
described, and the bourgeois concepts of happiness, responsibility, art, and talent were all
well-revealed by the author 

3. Main characters (Những cái mở ngoặc ko cho vào slide)

3.1. Strickland
a. Strickland as an ordinary man 
- Being honest: expresses a consistent attitude to all arguments and says exactly what’s in
mind.
- Being rude and in bad manner: brutal sarcasm, cuss
 “Damn it all”
 “You blasted fool”
- Not minding social criticisms: with an empty soul, one day just leaves, no more emotion
 “Everyone will think you are a perfect swine - Let them ”
 “You don’t care if people... their bread? -  Not a damn”
→ He does not concern about all the worst things people can think about him. 
- Selfish: put personal concerns “painting” first regardless of others.
- Heartless, irresponsible with a cold attitude: (abandons his family and pays no more care
about his family although they are suddenly left. His children are thrown into a chaotic
society without any regret even though they are dependent on them.)
+ Strickland is irresponsible and inconsiderate toward his wife  
 “Has she deserved that you should treat her like that? 
No
Then, isn’t it monstrous to leave her in this fashion after seventeen years of
married life withouta fault to find with her 
Monstrous”
 “Don’t you care for her anymore? - Not a bit”
 “I’ve supported her for seventeen years. Why shouldn’t she support herself for a
change?”
+ Strickland is irresponsible selfish father 
 “ … law has some protection to offer them”
 “ … I haven’t got any particular feelings for them”…
+ Strickland is ungrateful to his friend: with Dirk Strove
- Attitude toward women: no love, just to satisfy his sexual appetite.
→ For Strickland’s family, he is a bad father and husband. 
→ In terms of the normal concepts in the society, Strickland is considered to be a selfish
person who can abandon all important things to pursue his own passion.

b. Strickland as an artist 
b.1. Strickland is a brave and passionate painter.  
- Abandons everything behind (family, friends, money, career, social status, fame, moral
values,...) to pursue art, not care about the future
+ He compares his passion to paint as the desire to breathe. 
+ He gets divorced with his wife without any reason and lets his children alone to devote to
art. 
+ He sacrifices for real art: “I’ve got to paint” is repeated three times, and “I want to paint”
→ The desire to paint is full of in his head all the time, painting is the air of life, an interest. 
- Accepts poor life.
- Ignores the worst things people can think about him.
- Begins to paint at an old age (40) until his last breaths.
b.2. Strickland understands the rotten society.
- Other’s viewpoint: In bourgeois society, while money is appreciated, art and artists are
disrespected.
- Strickland’s viewpoint: painting is a true passion, not for money.
b.3. Being a real talent: create wonderful pictures (great content + perfect beauty)
b.4. Respecting pure art: makes his wife promise to burn down his masterpiece in fear that it
will be spoilt by the commercial world of money. 
→ Strickland is a great and real artist in bourgeois society. 

3.2. The narrator

- The writer and acquaintance of Charles Strickland
- Throughout the book, the narrator struggles with his fascination with Strickland.  
+ He finds Strickland to be a morally disgusting individual. 
However, he cannot help being amused by a sarcastic remark he makes and finds himself
transfixed by Strickland's incredible talent and singular personality. In a later part of the book,
the narrator remarks that it is likely Strickland's uniquely cruel nature that makes him a
compelling subject, as authors are often attracted to evil characters. To drive this point home,
he refers to Shakespeare and the character Iago, the villain of the play Othello.

4. Literary devices
4.1. The title: the image of “the moon” and “sixpence”. 
- Similarity: They are in the same shape
- Difference: 
+ The moon = art and beauty but far away in the bourgeois society
+ Sixpence = real life with all its worries, calculations, and fightings. 
→ Express the subject matter of the novel: internal conflict between art, his dream and
his real life, his responsibilities, social ties in contemporary society.
4.2. Descriptive writing: Strickland's appearance with all features of a typical image of
an artist devoting the whole attention to art.  Narration is interlaced with descriptive
passages  → full sketch of the characters.
4.3. Allusion: The mention of Honore de Balzac, a renowned French novelist, is an
allusion to his literary works and the characters he created.
4.4. Repetition: “I’ve got to paint + I want to paint”- 4 times
Express his determination and commitment to pursue his desire. He thinks that it is time
for his family to support themselves, and it is time for him to forget all about the material
ties and follow his dream of art. 
4.5. Metaphor: “When a man falls into the water it doesn’t matter how he swims, well or
badly: he’s got to get out or else he’ll drown.” 
4.6. Rhetorical question: The conversation is full of from the narrator and
Strickland
+ "You don't care if people think you an utter blackguard? You don't care if she
and your children have to beg their bread?" serves as a rhetorical device, emphasizing
the narrator's disbelief and, attempting to provoke an emotional response trom Strickland.
+ "Can the law get blood out of a stone?" (This is a rhetorical question because
Strickland does not expect an answer, but rather uses the question to emphasize the
difficulty of the situation. The phrase "getting blood out of a stone" is an idiom that
means to extract something that is impossible or extremely difficult to obtain. In this
case, Strickland is suggesting that it is impossible for the law to extract money from him
since he doesn't have any.)
4.7. Imagery: 
- The author uses vivid descriptions to create imagery, such as "The Avenue de Clichy
was crowded at that hour," "streets of the poorer quarters of Paris" and "His face, with the
red stubble of the unshaved chin, the little eyes, and the large, aggressive nose, was
uncouth”
and coarse."
4.8. Short & neat answers: cold attitude, not interested, blunt and rude
4.9. Irony: 
- In the contrast between the lively atmosphere of the crowded streets
- The serious conversation taking place between the narrator and Strickland, particularly
in their contrasting perspectives on marriage, family, and societal expectations (the
narrator's attempts are met with indifference and even scorn)

5. Message/ Themes (những cái in đậm và các lời thoại trong ngoặc kép cho vào slide
nhé)
The Moon and Sixpence is a story of the conflict between the artist and the conventional
society based on the life of a painter. 
5.1. The revolt of an individual against the well-established conventions of bourgeois
society
In many of his stories, Maugham reveals to us the unhappy life and the revolt against the set
social order. The revolt of an individual against the well-established conventions of
bourgeois society was shown in the following two aspects:
a. Money worship society
- The bourgeois society with its vices such as: snobbishness, money worship, pretense, self-
interest (ảnh)…made their profit from the frailties (weakness and poor health) of
mankind. 
To them, money was a useful tool: 
 to dominate both economics and politics. 
  to help the bourgeois maintain their regal life (life kingdom)
 connect the members in the family, on the other hand, the husband had obligated to
support his wife and children for his whole life. 
Therefore, the last generations of the bourgeois forced the young generation to continue their
domination. It was mentioned in the conversation between Strickland and his friend.
“I wanted to be a painter when I was a boy, but my father made me go into business
because he said there was no money in art”.
- In this society, art was non-profitable. In their point of view, art was nothing more than
just a job to earn money. They did not see the beautiful things that art brings. When
Strickland decided to follow in his father's footsteps, his dream were hidden at the bottom of
his heart. After working hard for ages, he became a prosperous stockbroker. He is probably a
worthy member of society.
“I want to paint.”
“I’ve got to paint.”
=> The brief answer expressed his willingness to get out of ideological ties which were
imposed by his father. And his hand and mind would express his big dream by painting
masterpieces.
“I couldn’t get what I wanted in London. Perhaps I can here.”
“I tell you I’ve got to paint.” 

 b. Family and social responsibilities

- Painting is not only a ‘dreamy moon’ of Strickland but also of many progressive people
in bourgeois society. According to bourgeois concepts, all the men have to be responsible
for his family and children. He’s forced to have a strong connection with what is considered
to belong to him. Strickland’s life is tied tightly down to family’s contract. However, all that
sort of thing means nothing at all to him. He doesn’t let those reasons impact his way of
chasing his passion any longer. It can be obviously proved through the conversation between
two men, Strickland and the author, in chapter II of the novel.
‘Hang it all, one can’t leave a woman without a bob.’
‘Why not?’
‘How is she going to live?’
‘I’ve supported her for seventeen years. Why shouldn’t she support herself for a change?’
‘Let her try.’
‘Don’t you care for her anymore?’
‘Not a bit’
- When Strickland talks about his children, his attitude is revealed to be heartlessly scornful.
‘They’ve had a good many years of comfort. It’s much more than the majority of children
have. Besides, somebody will look after them. When it comes to the point, Mac Andrews
will pay for their schooling.’
‘I liked them all right when they were kids, but now that they've grown up I haven’t got any
particular feeling for them.’
He totally gives up on his own family, children and thinks that they could live by themselves
without his care. Even if they can’t make arrangements for their life, his relatives might come
to help. Strickland also doesn’t mind what people loathe and despise him.
‘Everyone will think you a perfect swine.’
‘Let them.’
‘Won’t it mean anything to you that people loathe and despise you?’
‘No’
‘You don’t care if people think you an utter black-guard?’
‘Not a damn.’
-> He really doesn’t care any longer.
‘You won’t go back to your wife?’
‘Never’
‘You don’t care if she and your children have to beg for their bread?’
‘Not a damn’
=> He does everything: abandoned wife and children; left his successful career behind just
because he totally hates that gloomy society and its old customs.
Only by a short conversation between two men, 
=> the author already describes the strongly reactive mind of Strickland, a man who
dares to stand up and fight over the old customs of that boring society and bourgeois. 
Regarding Strickland's point of view, his escape is the only decision; it’s also the solution
to release his imprisoning mind. He doesn’t regret or be ashamed of what he’s done. He
accepts the eyes of society because he doesn’t care. Actually, it’s never ever meant anything
to him. The only thing that he really cares about is his mind right now freely to follow
and do everything he ever dreams of in his own ‘dreamy moon’.

5.2. No rooms for trivial and ordinary pleasures of life in Great Art
a. Sacrifice everything to be an artist.
- Great art doesn't depend on age as long as you have real passion. Even though at the age
of forty “the chances are a million to one”, Strickland still wants to be a painter. “I can
learn quicker than I could when I was eighteen”, said he.
He desired to paint. He repeated his speech many times when answering his friend.
“I want to paint.”
“I’ve got to paint”
“I tell you I have to paint”.
On his way chasing the dream of being a painter, he had to sacrifice everything. 
+ He passed by the material and the sensual to fulfill spiritual needs. 
+ He got rid of a happy family with a comfortable life to go to Paris and lived a destitute
life there.
Although he knew that his family needed him and they had to suffer difficulties in life without
him, he didn’t intend to change his mind and he accepted to be considered as a selfish man.
Strickland accepted to live in a bad condition, without money, job, food and at last he found a
Shelter at a hotel.
During the first days staying in Paris, he only found a cheap hotel to live in. He appeared with
such a miserable, untidy image. “He sat there in his old Norfolk jacket and his unnourished
bowler, his trousers were baggy, his hands were not clean; and his face, with the red
stubble of the unshaved chin, the little eyes, and the large, aggressive nose, was uncouth
and coarse. His mouth was large; his lips were heavy and sensual.”

b. Strickland protects Beauty and Art.

- Art is very pure. It can not be measured by the value of money or sexual relations. 
- Strickland struggled to abandon his appetite for art.

=> He assumed that as an artist he shouldn’t have trivial fun such as the desire of women.
  For Strickland, woman is like an invisible rope tightening his life. It is very hard to escape
from them. Therefore, he tried to avoid it. He was willing to give her up as well as his
unsatisfactory painting. He did everything to be a true artist even though it made him become
a cruel man.
Finally, he achieved what he wanted. 
+ He created a masterpiece. It was worth what he’d spent. 
+ He devoted all his life to pursue art. 
+ As an artist, he didn’t care about fame or wealth. He painted pictures only to satisfy his
love of art. He never sold his pictures to get money. He did not accept his masterpiece to be
contaminated by the commercial world of money. 
+ His dream was very beautiful.

6. Personal comments/ analysis 

- Maugham once said that “If you look on the ground in search of a sixpence, you don't
look up, and so miss the moon” 
 "The moon" symbolizes lofty ideals that are difficult for anyone to reach.
  "Sixpence" - the lowest-value coin in England at that time, represents worldly
desires. 
     => The moon symbolizes dreams, while sixpence represents reality. 

- Whether you're good or bad doesn't affect the pursuit of your dreams.
 Strickland said: “I’ve got to paint. I can’t help myself. When a man falls into the water.
It doesn’t matter how he swims, well or badly: he’s got to get out or else he’ll drown”. 

- Strickland dared to face his soul

 Carl Jung once said: “People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid
facing their own souls. One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light,
but by making the darkness conscious.”

- Your choice is neither true nor false 

  Individual’s perception is different. the priority order of decisions in a person's life
will also be different. 
  There is no definite measure 

=>Through this work, Maugham portrays the inner turmoil faced by Strickland as he follows
passion for painting, disregarding the norms and values of the society around him. - This
internal struggle raises questions about the sacrifices one must make to achieve personal
fulfillment.

I.  Background information about the author and the work

William Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) is a famous English writer, novelist, and playwright

B.   His writing style

-    In his writings, he kept to the principles of Realism, but his writing was also influenced by
Naturalism, Neo-romanticism and Modernism. 

-   His rich experience of life and his acute insight into human nature provide ground for his
analytical and critical quality of his works.

-   Although he does not always give obvious assessment to his characters, readers can acquire their
judgement and conclusion about them.

-    Maugham is said to be influenced by Maupassant (a French writer)

 -    In total, W.S.Maugham wrote 24 plays, 19 novels and a large number of short stories, which are
characterized by narrative facility, simple style and a disillusioned, ironic point of view.

C. The story “The Escape”

The Escape is a social-psychological short story, written by William Somerset Maugham in 1925 in
the anthology "Cosmopolitans: Very Short Stories". In this story, he wants to depict and satirize
existing social vices through feelings and relationships of his two main characters: Roger Charing
and Ruth Barlow

The title “The Escape”: Sometimes people want to avoid the situations when they can hurt
somebody, so they lie and think up different reasons to change the situation, to escape such things.

To stress the fact, the exact time and place of action are not indicated in the story, which gives it the
impression that the story can happen in real life at any time in any place. 

II. The plot of the whole work

The text can be divided into two following main content:

-   Roger is in love with Ruth

- Roger changes his mind and carries a plan of escape.

In detail, we can follow the structure of the story quite clearly and easily through these components
of the plot structure:

THE EXPOSITION=> THE RISING ACTION=> THE CLIMAX=>q THE FALLING ACTION=>
THE RESOLUTION 

2.1. the exposition: INTRODUCE CHARACTER AND SETTING 

 introduce the readers with the problem of marriage as a dangerous thing: 

 for man: the hazard,  trap
 for woman: the aim of life
 introduce the main characters: 
 the protagonist: roger charing: tall, handsome,rich, experienced middle-aged man 
 the antagonist: ruth barlow: quite good-looking woman with eyes full of sadness that renders
most men defenseless 

2.2. the rising action: THE EVENTS OR CONFLICTS LEAD UP TO THE CLIMAX 
  The tension is growing by the character development and a plot twist of  Roger “on a sudden, fell
out of love”.
 But Roger was afraid of being said to jilt Ruth, moreover, he thinks that she was able to require
for the break-up fees at a really high cost, therefore he decides to make her lose her interest
herself. 

2.3. the climax: THE HIGHEST POINT OF TENSION OR CONFLICTS 

 From here the real climax is growing tense when Roger comes with a repeated house-hunting
process for more than 2 years. 
 Ruth finally loses her temper and takes an interest in whether Roger wants to marry her or does
he not, but Roger keeps standing on his position. 

=> from here we can see the conflict between 2 main character actually happens

2.4. the falling action: THE TENSION AND CONFLICTS STARTED TO BE SOLVED,
LEADS THE STORY TO THE RESOLUTION 

 Ruth gets fed up with Roger’s behavior, loses her patience and a week later she accepts another
man’s proposal. 

 2.5. the resolution: THE FINAL PART OF THE STORY WHERE THE MAIN CONFLICTS
ARE RESOLVED, BRINGS THE STORY TO AN ENDING 

 The letters are the resolution for the end of their relationship and also the story with the victory
belonging to Roger 

III. Main characters

The Escape includes a narrator & 2 main characters: Roger Charing & Ruth Barlow. 

            Roger Charing Ruth Barlow

 He’s the protagonist of the story (= one of  Meanwhile, Ruth Barlow’s
the main characters) antagonist (= a person who
 Near the beginning of the Escape, the narrator is strongly opposed to
described that Roger was no longer young someone)
when he fell in love with Ruth, and he also  She’s twice a widow (= a
have sufficient experience to make himself person whose husband or
careful  wife has died and he/she
 He’s also a strong, hefty (= large in amount, has not married again)
size) fellow with plenty of money.  with a pretty good-looking
-> From this, we can infer that Roger was very appearance. 
wealthy and generous.   The narrator focused on
Of course, with all these advantages, there must describing her eyes very
be a lot of women who want to marry him carefully: They’re splendid
(=beautiful & impressive)
When it comes to characteristics: although dark eyes & are the most
Roger’s a smart and experienced man,  at first, moving he ever saw.
he was a bit blinded to Ruth’s beauty and Besides that, they seemed to
pa’theticness (= a feeling of sadness, sympathy, be ever the point of filling
sometimes lack of respect, especially because a with tears. 
person or an animal is suffering)
“It was this that dispo’ssessed (=take property
or something away from someone) his common Characteristic: As for Ruth’s
sense, his prudence (=behaviour that is careful personality
 At first glance, her pitiful
& avoids risks) and his worldly wisdom in front
of Barlow.”  (=the ability to use your appearance, especially her
knowledge & experience to make good eyes, made her look
decisions & judgements)  unfortunate and feeble
 However, after that, he was lucid
(=weak & vulnerable) (It
enough to realize Ruth’s true seemed that Mrs. Barlow
personality, and he suddenly fell really needed to be
out of love with her. Maybe at this protected by a strong man
time, he was in possession of his like Roger)
 However,  according to the
senses to see with clearness the sort
of woman he had to deal with narrator’s opinion, she had
never had any conversation
  → forơ  this detail, we could
 After realizing that he no longer predict inside her is  boring
 had feelings for Ruth, he devised a
very specific plan to force Ruth to
leave him automatically without
him being known as a bad guy.
According to the narrator, “It is
always awkward for a man to jilt (=
to finish a romantic relationship
with someone suddenly &
unkindly) a woman. People are apt
(= likely)to think he has behaved
badly”)
 Moreover, Roger also made up a
promise that he would marry
Ruth as soon as they found a
suitable home. But in reality, that
house was not real, because he
always intentionally disparaged
(=criticize somebody or something
in a disrespectful way) at least
some point of the house they came
to see.
→  It can be seen that Roger was
also very clever and cunning  show opposition to
when choosing this way (=
cunning person is the one who is
good at planning something so
that they can get what they want
by tricking others), because it
both helped him save face and
achieve his goal of making Ruth
actively leave him.
 Besides that, Roger was
really good at
and shallow (= not showing
serious or careful thoughts). 
 In addition, Ruth’s also
stupid and scheming (=
make clever, secret plans,
often to deceive others). 
 Besides, we see that  she’s
quite patient at first in order
to marry a rich man like
Roger.
The narrator said that,
“Mrs. Barlow had the
patience of an angel” when
she agreed to go with Roger
to see the houses for up to 2
years.
 However, “Ruth grew silent
& scornful” (=express
feelings or actions showing
disrespect to others)
  And “at last, she
revolted” (= stand up and
someone after being
oppressed by them for a
while)
→ These details show that
Ruth became irritable (=
become annoyed) very
easily) and lost her temper
when her endurance reached
its limit.
 psychologically
manipulating women (=
use actions and
information that distort
the truth to make others
believe them blindly), this
was expressed through the
detail “He gave neither by
word nor gesture an
indication that his feelings
toward Ruth Barlow had
changed”
→ We see that Roger made Ruth
think he really wanted to marry
her, it's just that they hadn't found a
suitable home so the wedding
hadn't happened yet.
 And Roger also said that
“Your news shatters (=
make someone hurt) me”
until finally receiving Ruth's
letter 
→ He absolutely did an excellent job with his
role full of lies
 Even though Roger still
pretended to love her dearly,
in the end Ruth couldn't take
it anymore, & she wrote
Roger a letter announcing that
she would marry another man
on the same day.
→  this showed that Mrs. Barlow
was willing to give up on Roger
when she failed to achieve her own
goals. 
→ To summarize: she’s a
beautiful, mushy (=too emotional) 
and weak woman but fake and
greedy for money

→ In short, we can deduce that Roger is a very

experienced, clever, honorable, calculating and
contrived (= artificial & difficult to believe)
man. Besides, we can't deny Roger’s patience to
the end in his escape plan. 

→ In general, both of these two main characters are fake people, not sincere in life and
especially in love. Not only that, they are also willing to spend a lot of time and effort to achieve
their evil purposes. 

IV. Literary devices

1. In the exposition
 when the writer introduces the readers with the problem of marriage as a dangerous thing:

“I've always been convinced that if a woman once made up of her mind to marry a man, nothing but
instant flight could save him”

-> the author uses the metaphor “nothing but instant flight could save him” to achieve the ironic
effect.

=> The narrator compares marriage to a trap or a danger that a man has to escape from by flying
away.

-> shows the narrator’s cynical attitude towards whether Roger could escape from Ruth later in the
story.
“Not always that; for once a friend of mine, seeing the inevitable loom menacingly before him…”
-> compare marriage to a looming disaster.

 when the author describes the nature of the main characters: 

 To describe Ruth Barlow: 

“Ruth Barlow had a gift (or should I call it a quality) that renders most men defenseless… This was
a gift of pathos.”

-> METAPHOR: compares Ruth’s ability to evoke sympathy from others to a special talent or
skill. It implies that Ruth uses her sad eyes and tragic stories to manipulate Roger and others
into doing what she wants.

“ Mrs. Barlow for she was twice a widow, had splendid dark eyes and they were the most moving I
ever saw, they seemed to be ever the point of filling with tears……”

-> To describe the female character Ruth Barlow, author used the adjective and phrases called
epithet (adjective or phrase that is used to express a characteristic of a person) like:  “splendid
dark eyes”, “the most moving I ever saw”,   to show that she is a quite good-looking.

“ I must stand between the hazards of life and this helpless little thing, oh, how wonderful it would
be to take the sadness out of these big and lovely eyes.” 

“She was apparently one of those unfortunate persons with whom nothing by any chance goes
right…”

"She's had a rotten time, poor dear, I feel so dreadfully sorry for her.”
"If she married a husband he beat her; if she employed a broker he cheated her; if she engaged a
cook he drank. She never had a little lamb but it was sure to die.” 

-> Then through the epithet usage again: “helpless little thing”, “rotten time”, “unfortunate”,
“poor dear” combine with the parallel construction ( when phrases in a sentence have similar or
the same grammatical structure,  to give phrases a pattern and rhythm) “If she…..he….” the
author describes a miserable and  unlucky woman directly. 

   “I couldn't say less.  I knew she was stupid and I thought she was scheming.  My own belief was
that she was as hard as nails.” 

->Through this device, the author gives us an honest and true understanding of his attitude to that
woman in an ironic mood using the epithet : she is familiar with using her outlook to cause pity on
her that made men love her then created plans to marry her through the adjectives: “stupid”,
“scheming”. 

-> Another literary device used is simile (is a literary term where you use “like” or “as” to
compare two unrelated things and show a common quality between them),  “as hard as nails” ((of
a person) very tough or callous.)  to give us full comprehension of her image to make a conclusion
that Ruth is a woman of poor intellect, but she is capable of scheming and uses her position to arouse
pity in people. 

 To describe Roger Charing: “ He was no longer young when he fell in love with Ruth Barlow
and he had his sufficient experience to make himself careful .”

“...it was this that possessed Roger of his common sense, his prudence and his worldly wisdom. “

 -> To describe the male character Roger Charing, the author used epithet devices in the phrases:
“sufficient experience”, "careful”, “his prudence and his worldly wisdom” to illustrate that he is
rich, generous, and glad to care for Ruth.

 “He went down like a row of ninepins.”

 -> Through the simile “like a row of ninepins” means He fell passionately in love, author wants to
express that due to the fact that Ruth was twice a widow, Roger may become the next victim of her. 

" He gave her lovely jewels. He took her here, there, and everywhere. He was committing a good
action and at the same time doing something he had very much a mind to. "
-> While Roger is very happy that he loves her, the writer applies parallel construction to depict his
feelings. So we get it that for the first time his feelings were sincere.

2. In the rising action 

 To describe Roger's attitude has changed:

“ Then, on a sudden, he fell out of love… Perhaps it was merely that this pathetic look of hers
ceased to wring his heart-strings. His eyes were popened and he was one more the shrewd man of
the world he had been. He became acutely conscious that Ruth Barlow had made up her mind to
marry him and he swore a solemn oath that nothing would induce him to marry Ruth Barlow” 

-> The epithets “acutely conscious” => Roger becomes conscious that Ruth marries him because of
money. It is obvious Ruth was a narrow-minded woman and she didn’t really love Roger; “a solemn
oath”  => stress the importance, significance of his decision not to didn’tget married with Ruth, but
he  want people to say that he jilted a woman.

3. in the climax 
 Roger remains attentive to all her wishes. It is decided that they would be married as soon as they
find a suitable house. But it occurs that it's very hard to find the suitable one. There is no question
why. 

“  They went over them thoroughly examining them from the cellars in the basement to the attics
under the roof. Sometimes they were too large and sometimes they were too small, sometimes they
were too expensive and sometimes they wanted too many repairs; sometimes they were too stuffy
and sometimes they were too airy; sometimes they were too dark and sometimes  they were too
bleak”

-> From here he became dishonest, his behavior wasn’t fair. He makes a plan on how to get rid of
Ruth instead of saying straight to her face, that there is no love anymore. Parallelism “Sometimes
they were too” emphasizes Roger’s scheming plan, then the reader can know exactly that the
repetition of house-hunting in 2 years was taken on purpose.  

     “They visited house after house. They went over them thoroughly, 1examining them from the
cellars in the basement to the attics under the roof. Sometimes they were too large and sometimes
they were too small, sometimes they were too far from the center of things and sometimes they
were too close; sometimes they were too expensive and sometimes they wanted too many repairs;
sometimes they were too stuffy and sometimes they were too airy; sometimes they w7ere too dark
and sometimes they were too bleak.”
-> The houses that Roger and Ruth visit are symbolic of their relationship and their future marriage. 
 -> suggesting that their love is not enough to sustain a marriage. Roger pretends to be eager to find a
perfect house for them, but he secretly rejects. The house symbolizes his dishonesty and cowardice,
as well as his desire for freedom. Ruth, on the other hand, is very keen on finding a house and
settling down with Roger, but she wants to marry him for his money and status. She is a selfish and
scheming woman. She does not care about his feelings or preferences, only about her own comfort
and security. The house symbolizes her greed and manipulation, as well as her lack of dignity.
    implying that their marriage would be too burdensome and overwhelming. 
    “ …..House-hunting is a tiring and tiresome business and presently Ruth began to grow peevish;
Roger begged her to have patience….”
-> compares the relationship between Roger and Ruth to a hunt. He introduces this image with the
wordplay on "husband hunting" and "househunting", suggesting that Ruth is pursuing Roger as a
prey and that Roger is trying to find a way out of the trap. 
      “Mrs. Barlow had the patience of an angel, but at last she revolted.”
-> It contradicts the true character of Mrs9 Barlow, who is actually a selfish and manipulative
woman who only pretends to be patient in order to get what she wants from Roger. The irony creates
a contrast between appearance and reality, and shows how Mrs Barlow deceives Roger and others
with her false charm.

V.  Message & themes

a. Themes:
 The conflict between love and marriage

(The story explores how Roger and Ruth have different views and expectations of marriage, and how
they end up their relationshipp. Roger initially loves Ruth out of pity, but he soon realizes that she is
not the woman he wants to spend his life with. Ruth, on the other hand, sees marriage as a way to
secure her financial and social status, and she does not actually love Roger but his weallth weallth
and appearance. The story shows how marriage can be a trap for both men and women and how
difficult it is to escape from it without hurting oneself or others)

 The irony of human nature

(The story uses irony to reveal the contradictions and flaws of the characters, especially Ruth. Ruth
pretends to be a helpless and innocent victim, but she is actually a cunning and selfish woman who
manipulates others with her pathos. She claims to love Roger, but she does not hesitate to leave him
for another man when she gets a chance. She acts as if she is hurt by Roger’s rejection, but she is
actually relieved to be free from him. He ends up being more trapped than ever because it is 2 years
until Ruth finally breaks up with him)

b. Messages:
 Showed us the nature of a part of people in society, who are willing to live fake lives and
deceive others for personal gain.

(The story shows that both Roger and Barlow are not honest with each other, they are not even true
to themselves. Even in love, there is deception and calculation, so the society the author lived in was
a society of deception and pretense? 

From that, the author called us to live…

 Called us to live honestly without self-interest, especially in love, and to love with all our
hearts. 

(There’s a saying that if we lie to one person, others will lie to us too! In fact, we need to be patient
to find the perfect home of happiness; because we all know that understanding a person doesn't
happen overnight, and inner beauty is always more important than the outer. Don't let yourself have
to run away because of a wrong decision like Roger in the story.)

V. Personal comment

1. *FIRST-PERSON NARRATOR*
- The story is told by a friend of Roger Charing, the main character. The narrator comments on the
characters and events, sometimes in a humorous or sarcastic tone. 
-> The narrator's biased perspective creates a situational irony about the true nature and motives of
the characters. The irony of the first person narrator is that he is not a reliable or objective source of
information. He is biased against Ruth and sympathetic to Roger. He portrays Ruth as a manipulative
and selfish woman who only wants Roger’s money and status, and Roger as a generous and noble
man who is trapped by Ruth’s pity. He also exaggerates Ruth’s flaws and Roger’s virtues, and omits
any details that might complicate his view of them. 

2. Language
 The language in "The Escape" by Somerset Maugham is simple and direct,
conveying the story's themes with clarity. Maugham's use of wit, irony, and
sarcasm adds depth and prompts reflection on human behavior and societal norms.
The language engages readers in a thought-provoking exploration of relationships
and expectations.
 Example of simple and direct language: "The language in 'The Escape' is
straightforward and accessible, allowing readers to easily follow the story without
unnecessary complexity."
  Example of wit and irony: "Maugham's clever use of wit and irony is evident in
lines such as 'I have always been convinced that if a woman once made up her
mind to marry a man nothing but instant flight could save him.' This humorous
statement playfully highlights the power dynamics in relationships."
 Example of reflection on human behavior: "Through phrases like 'she had never
had a little lamb but it was sure to die,' Maugham prompts readers to reflect on the
unfortunate circumstances that seem to follow Mrs. Barlow. This portrayal invites
contemplation on the role of fate and personal agency in one's life."
 Example of societal norms: "Maugham's language exposes societal norms and
expectations surrounding marriage and commitment. Lines like 'I must stand
between the hazards of life and this helpless little thing' reveal the pressure placed
on individuals to protect and rescue others, even at the expense of their own
happiness."
Example of thought-provoking exploration: "Maugham's language invites readers to
delve into the complexities of relationships and societal influences. Through phrases such
as 'the short story's critique of society and its impact on personal relationships,' readers
are prompted to consider how external factors shape our perceptions and choices in
love."Content and Narrative:
- The plot of the short story was engaging and kept readers hooked until the end.
The clever twists and turns added excitement and surprise.
- The short story cleverly employs irony throughout its narrative, challenging
conventional notions of commitment, defying expectations with contrasting character
traits, and urging us to reconsider our obsession with perfection. The story's humorous
tone adds an entertaining layer to its profound messages.
3. Social Commentary:
- The short story's critique of society and its impact on personal relationships was
thought-provoking. It shed light on how external influences can shape people’s
perceptions and decisions in love.
- The story touched on the theme of manipulation in relationships. It served as a
reminder to be aware of others' intentions and to prioritize honesty and authenticity.
4. Character Portrayal:
- The characters felt relatable and well-drawn, each with their own strengths and
flaws. Their development throughout the story made them more three-dimensional and
interesting.
- The story can make the readers find themself in Roger and Ruth's story. The
contrasting traits and interactions between the characters added depth and realism.
 HOPE – EMILY DICKINSON ( BỔ SUNG PHẦN PHÂN TÍCH DẤU DASHES )

“Hope” is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;

And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm

I’ve heard it in the chilliest land

And on the strangest sea, 
Yet never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
I. Author “Emily Dickinson”
1. Literary movement (Phương)
Romanticism was a literary, artistic, and philosophical movement that first began in
Europe late in the 18th century. American Romanticism developed toward the end of the
Romantic movement in Europe. It spanned from about 1830 to the end of the Civil War
when another movement, the age of Realism, developed. Emily Dickinson is one of the
most outstanding poets of American Romanticism. Her poems, together with those of
Walt Whitman, were pioneering works that pointed the way to a new and refreshing era
of poetry in the English-speaking world.
American Romanticism celebrated individualism, the exploration of emotions, the
imagination  and subjective approach as a spiritual connection. Subjectivity approach
here  means something that’s based on a person’s opinions, individual experiences, and
biased influences instead of facts.Like most writers, Emily Dickinson wrote about what
she knew and about what intrigued her. A keen observer, she used images from nature,
religion, law, music, commerce, medicine, fashion, and domestic activities to probe
universal themes: the wonders of nature, the identity of the self, death and immortality,
and love.American Romanticism was the first real literary movement in the new nation
and served to help define a society.
Until about 1870 romanticism influenced the major forms of American prose:
Transcendentalist writings, historical, and sentimental fiction.Transcendentalism:
Transcendentalism is a subgenre of American Romanticism that celebrated the power of
the human imagination t commune with the universe and transcend the limitations of the
material world  and also  focuses on nature. The historical fiction was an expression in its
probings thăm dò of human nature and emotions and its romanticizing of the American
past and the American frontier . The sentimental fiction was a literary genre focused
mainly on emotions and feelings rather than logic and reason.
3. Writing style (Tâm)
 Dickinson’s terse, frequently imagistic,  simple,  wisdom and wit style is
even more modern and innovative  ˈɪnəveɪtɪv than Whitman’s.
 She was the first person in American poetry to use para-rhyme raɪm
 The extensive use of dashes and unconventional capitalization ˌkæpɪtəlaɪ
ˈzeɪʃn
 The regular form that she most often employs is the ballad ˈbæləd stanza,
with ABCB rhyme schemes.skiːm
 She also makes frequent use of slant rhymes.
4. Themes (Tâm)
 Dickinson left no formal statement of her aesthetic  iːsˈθetɪk  intentions and,
because of the variety of her themes, her work does not fit conveniently
into any one genre.
 Flowers and gardens: Dickinson's "poems and letters almost wholly
concern flowers" and that allusions əˈluːʒn to gardens often refer to
an "imaginative realm ... wherein flowers [are] often emblems for
actions and emotions"
 The Master poems: Dickinson left a large number of poems
addressed to "Signor"'si:njɔ:] , "Sir" and "Master", who is
characterized as Dickinson's "lover for all eternity".ɪˈtɜːnəti
 Morbidity: Dickinson's poems reflect her "early and lifelong
fascination" with illness, dying and death.[
 Gospel ˈɡɒspl  poems: Throughout her life, Dickinson wrote poems
reflecting a preoccupation with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
dʒi:zəskraist

II. Poem “HOPE”

1. Summary (Phương)

     “Hope is the thing with feathers” Summary

The speaker defines "Hope" as a feathered creature that dwells inside the human spirit.
This feathery thing sings a wordless tune, not stopping under any circumstances.

Stanza One: In the first stanza of the poem the speaker states that hope is a creature with
feathers that lives in the soul. The animal sings an unending, wordless song.

Stanza Two: The speaker in the second stanza of the poem discusses the conditions she
hears the birdsong in. She states that the song can be heard even during storms and that
the song keeps people warm.
Stanza Three: In the final stanza, the speaker states that she has heard the bird sing
in especially cold places and very strange seas. The poem ends with the speaker
stating that even in the most extreme conditions, the creature has never asked for
anything in return.

Content Analysis (Trang)

STANZA 1+2 
1. Stanza 1: The exploration of hope’s incredible strength 
In the first stanza,the speaker attempts to describe hope. The use of speech marks around
the word (“HOPE”) stresses how difficult this is to conceptualize. The word “thing”
stresses how difficult hope is to define .Employing metaphor and personification the
speaker likens “hope” to a bird although the subsequent lines follow a similar pattern
of not quite saying the word "bird" but implying it with attributes. It has feathers,
perches on the soul and sings a tune without words (feathers suggests hope is warm and
comforting and like winged feathers hope can be strong and uplifting )
“perched in the human soul” suggests hope never leaves us and is lodged in the deepest
part of who we are 
“a tune without words” suggests hope is a special song we engage with emotionally
rather than rationally. 
and its tune "never stops - at all” is a melody of endurance, it is endless, a constant
companion through life. It is a image that lends itself well to the poem's main idea: the
exploration of hope's incredible strength

2. Stanza 2: A difficult journey through a harsh natural backdrop 

Dickinson places the bird's song in a new context: nature, that is a terrible windstorm
("And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -"). The word "sweetest"  implies that adversity
only makes the intensity of hope stronger. In the following lines, the bird is shown as
surviving this violent weather, never stopping, even as it struggles: "And sore must be the
storm - / That could abash the little Bird." The final line ("That kept so many warm")
refers back to the bird, taking note of Hope keeps people warm during the worst
situations and through the chaos of life .This dramatic encounter is essentially the poem's
climax ( cao trào). The bird is seen being pushed to the upper limit of its endurance but
still remaining unwavering in its voice. The heightening of this strong quality
demonstrates how it has been able to offer such widespread "warmth" to individuals. If
the first stanza is the introduction of hope , then this second stanza is its quest, a difficult
journey through a harsh natural backdrop. 
3. Stanza 3: The experience’s speaker with hope 
In the third stanza, the poet introduces the first person voice with the pronoun i, making
this a highly personal poem and it is reasonable to assume that the poet is also the speaker
in the poem. The speaker continues to stress how hope is there in the worst of situations
she has heard :”And on the strangest sea, Yet never, in extremity,”affixed with the
same sort of frightening intensity as the gale-strength winds of the previous stanzas.
These moments demonstrate the range of situations in which the bird ("hope") has been
able to provide solace to the speaker. This is an expansion upon the earlier image of it
withstanding powerful winds.The closing lines of the stanza ("Yet - never - in
Extremity, / It asked a crumb - of me.") shows that hope is selfless, hope comforts people
and never asks anything in return. This adds another dimension to the bird's generosity.
Not only is the bird's song durable and strong (always unceasing, even in the face of
hardship) but it is given without any request.
This poem is about the nature of perseverance. By giving hope a physical
embodiment, the speaker is able to explore the extent to which it is able to provide
comfort in challenging circumstances. The durability of this idea is explored as the
poem progresses and presents increasingly dangerous scenes. The "bird" of hope is
shown as traveling far and wide, surviving bitter cold and brutal winds.

2. Form (Định dạng) (Trà)

"Hope is the thing with feathers" is one of a number by Dickinson which can perhaps be
called her "definition poems." These are poems that start with an abstract concept
("hope"), followed by an "is," which is in turn followed by the main body of the poem
that explains and justifies the comparison. This isn't done to show off the poet's skill of
comparison and imagery, but to cast fresh light on the concept itself. Here, of course,
hope is redefined as a bird, specifically one that dwells within the human soul. There are
even two other poems that work in a similar way— also define "hope:" "Hope is a strange
invention" and "Hope is a subtle glutton."
Put broadly, the poem is one long extended metaphor, written in three quatrain stanzas.
The first stanza introduces the metaphor and the bird's song; the second demonstrates the
bird's resilience; and the third brings the poem into the more personal experience of the
speaker.

3. Meter (nhịp thơ) (Trà)

A ballad refers to a form of poetry that was popular mainly because it was easy to
remember. That meant that, in the days before universal literacy, folks could remember
and pass along stories in this handy form.
When having read "'Hope' is the thing with feathers," you've read the ballad.
You see, this poem essentially follows the regular ballad rhythm, which means that, for
every stanza, the first and third lines are written in a pattern called "iambic
tetrameter,"(there are four iambs in the odd lines) while the second and fourth lines are
written in "iambic trimeter."(three iambs in the even lines)
 (An iamb is a metrical foot comprising one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed, as
in the word ‘because’: ‘be-CAUSE’.) This pattern then repeats in the second half of each
stanza too, making the entire poem conform to this alternating pattern. In fact, all lines
follow this scheme except for the first. To take the second quatrain as an example, the
pattern is as follows:
And sweet- | est - in | the Gale - | is heard - |
And sore | must be | the storm - |
That could | a-bash | the litt-| le Bird |
That kept | so man-| y warm - |

The regularity of the meter makes the poem sound musical, like a song. This makes
sense, as much of it is about the "Hope" bird's singing. 
"Hope" is | the thing | with fea-| thers -

The first line notably stands out in this otherwise metrically stable poem, and has two
variations in the meter. The first foot opens with a trochee (stressed-unstressed), which
places strong emphasis on the word "hope"—which is, after all, the poem's main subject.
The other difference is that the final foot is catalectic, which means that it is missing a
syllable. In this case, there would be a final stressed syllable after "feathers"—but the fact
that there isn't makes the line sound much more gentle and, indeed, feather-like:
 4. Rhyming scheme (Ý đồ gieo vần)  (Trà)
"Hope is the thing with feathers" has a fairly regular rhyme scheme. The first two stanzas
are rhymed:
ABAB
however, in the first stanza there are slant rhymes (words that rhyme imperfectly
together). 
The final stanza is a little different:
ABBB
The rhymes combine with other poetic elements to create a musical-sounding poem,
which is in keeping with the discussion of birdsong.
The first stanza also uses slant rhymes, which is characteristic of Dickinson's poetry:
feathers/words, soul/all. Perhaps this is because the poem is still feeling its way into its
redefinition of "Hope"; or perhaps it evokes the preciousness of the small, feathery bird.
In the second stanza, the rhymes are more solid: heard/bird and storm/warm. Seeing as
this stanza discusses the bird singing through storms, it makes sense that the "volume" of
the rhymes here is louder. The bird has to sing louder to be heard in such strong winds—
just as hope is at its most useful in times of distress.
The triple rhyme in the poem's last three lines—Sea/Extremity/me—is suggestive of the
speaker's personal experiences. That is, the increase in rhymes hints at the "extremity" of
the times that the speaker is describing—those moments when life is at its toughest.
Dickinson changes the rhyme scheme during the poem to represent how hope can be
transformative for the human soul. The poem starts with slant rhymes. Yet as the speaker
begins to feel more hopeful, this change is seen in the poem as the rhyme scheme uses
more perfect rhymes.

5. Language (Trà)
CÔ: Language: simple but figurative ( ẩn dụ)
The language used by Emily Dickinson in the poem "Hope" is characterized by its
simplicity, yet its ability to convey profound meaning. She uses common words and
phrases to describe the concept of hope, but she presents them in a way that is both
imaginative and evocative. The poem is filled with metaphors and personifications,
that add depth and complexity to the poem's message. Overall, Dickinson's language
in "Hope" is both accessible and poetic, allowing the reader to grasp the full
significance of the concept she is describing.
Perch: To perch is to alight or come to rest on something, as a bird might do on a branch.
A perch can also be a noun, denoting the object being landed on.

Gale: A strong wind.

Sore: This is an archaic use of the word that means "severe." The suggestion of pain is
also at play, given that this relates to people's experiences rather than actual storms.

Abash: To abash someone is to make them feel embarrassed or ashamed (as suggested
by the word "bashful").

Chillest: This is nothing to do with the modern sense of "chill" meaning "relaxed." It
means "chilliest"—the most cold. It also relates to chills of fear, as in the phrase "so and
so gives me the chills."

Extremity: This relates to the speaker's personal experiences—the times in life that they
have found the most difficult (the most extreme).

Crumb: A very small bit or piece of something. As in: hope, for all the good that it does,
has never asked for a single little bit of anything in return.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;

And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm

I’ve heard it in the chilliest land

And on the strangest sea, 
Yet never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

6. Literary Devices (Trúc)

"Hope" is a poem that explores the concept of hope and its significance in human life.
Writers and poets use literary devices to make their poetry comprehensible, beautiful and
rich. Emily Dickenson has also used some literary devices to express her spiritual
thoughts.
 Metaphor: There is one extended metaphor ( MENTIONED IN JUST ONE
LINE BUT APPEAR THROUGHOUT THE POEM) in the poem.The poet
uses metaphors to depict hope. For example, in the lines "Hope is the thing with
feathers,"Dickenson has compared hope with “feathers”/ “bird” which shows how
it sings and gives courage to the spirit of a person. hope is compared to a bird,
emphasizing its lightness, delicate nature, and ability to soar. 
 Personification: (When an inanimate object is given human characteristics or
qualities, it is personified.) The poet personifies hope by attributing human
qualities to it. In lines such as "That perches in the soul" and "And never stops at
all," hope is depicted as an active, persistent force within us. In other words, she
personified hope in this poem.
 Imagery: ( Imagery is used to make the readers perceive things through the
five senses) Vivid imagery is used throughout the poem to create a sensory
experience. The image of the bird with feathers and its song conveys the idea of
hope as something beautiful and comforting. The poet has used images for the
sense of sight such as “bird”, “feathers”, “storm”, “land” and “sea.”
 Alliteration ( Lặp, điệp): (It refers to the repetition of the same consonant
sounds occurring close together to create musical effects) such as /h/ sound in
“we have heard it in the chilliest land” where this sound has created a musical
quality in the line.
 Dashes usage
 Symbol: Emily has used many symbols to show the powerful impact of hope in
our lives. “Chilliest Sea” and “storm” symbolize struggles during trying times
when hope is still there.
7. Themes (Trúc)
The poet also uses multiple themes to convey the complexities and power of hope.
 Hope: The primary theme of the poem is hope itself. The poet explores the nature
of hope, describing it as a resilient and comforting force that resides within the
 human soul. Hope is depicted as a little bird that continues to sing even in face of
trouble and pain. The poem suggests that hope is essential for resilience and
perseverance, even in the face of adversity. 
 Resilience: The poem highlights the resilience that hope provides. It portrays hope
as an unwavering companion that never falters, even during the most challenging
times. The persistence of hope enables individuals to endure hardships and find
solace. 
 Beauty: The poet presents hope as something beautiful, comparing it to a bird
with feathers. This theme suggests that hope has the power to uplift and inspire,
bringing a sense of lightness and joy to life. 
 Endurance: Another theme explored in the poem is endurance. The poet implies
that hope endures despite setbacks and hardships. Just like the bird that sings its
song in the harshest of storms, hope continues to thrive and provide solace. The
speaker appears optimistic about the human ability to hope and survive through
suffering.

 →   Overall, "Hope" celebrates the transformative power of hope and its ability to
sustain individuals through difficult times. `

THE STORY OF AN HOUR – KATHERINE CHOPIN

1. Background information

 Author : Kate Chopin

 Born in 1850 to wealthy Catholic parents in St. Louis, Missouri, Kate

Chopin (originally Kate O’Flaherty) knew hardship from an early age.

 Chopin was well-educated throughout her childhood, grew up during the

U.S. Civil War => had first-hand knowledge of violence and slavery in the
United States. 
  Her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother chose to remain widows
=> learned how important women’s independence could be, and that idea
would permeate much of her writing later on. 

 She was married at the age of twenty in 1870 to Oscar Chopin, who came
from a wealthy cotton-growing family. 

 Oscar died of swamp fever in 1882, leaving Chopin in heavy debt and with
the responsibility of managing the family’s struggling businesses. 
 She requests to return with her children to St. Louis. Chopin’s mother died
the year after. Kate began to write to support her family. 

 Chopin found immediate success as a writer. Many of her short stories and
novels.
  She was also known as a fast and prolific writer, and by the end of the
1900s she had written over 100 stories, articles, and essays. 

 Unfortunately, Chopin would pass away from a suspected cerebral

hemorrhage in 1904, at the age of 54. But Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an
Hour” and other writings have withstood the test of time. 

 Her work has lived on, and she’s now recognized as one of the most
important American writers of the 19th century. 

2. Setting and summary

+ Setting

 - The story is set entirely in the house of the couple called the Mallards. The
entire story is written for a duration of sixty minutes and we witness all the
action inside the house. 

- The house is also depicted as a prison when seen through the reactions of
Louise to her husband’s death. 
 - There is also an interesting contrast between the inside and the outside.

- In the end, it turns out that the same comforts of the house can become chains
of suffocation and limit one’s ability to think and act freely. 

+ Summary: 

- Mrs. Louise Mallard is at home when her sister, Josephine, and her husband’s
friend, Richards, come to tell her that her husband, Brently Mallard, has been
killed in a railroad accident. Upon hearing the news of her husband’s death,
Louise is grief-stricken, locks herself in her room, and weeps.

- As Louise processes the news of her husband’s death, she realizes something
wonderful and terrible at the same time: she is free. She realizes that, although
she will be sad about her husband Louise is excited for the opportunity to live
for herself. 

- She comes downstairs, the front door opens to reveal her husband, who had
not been killed by the accident at all, she dies suddenly, which the doctors later
attribute to “heart disease—of the joy that kills.

3. Characters

 Louise Mallard, the protagonist 

 Brently Mallard, her husband 
 Josephine, Mrs. Mallard’s sister 
 Richards, Mr. Mallard’s friend

Louise Mallard
- She is the protagonist in the story, and the only dynamic character that
appears in the whole plot

- She is married, has a heart condition, and is likely to react strongly to bad
news.

- Louise is a housewife, she would be part of the middle-to-upper class in the

1890s.
- Louise’s appearance as “young,” “fair, calm face,” with lines of “strength”
-> not purely physical, but also bleed into her character.

- Louise’s personality is described as different from other women. Louise

cries with “wild abandonment”—which shows how powerful her emotions are.

-> The author uses Louise to criticize the oppressive and repressive nature of
marriage, especially when Louise rejoices in her newfound freedom. 

Brently Mallard

-  Mr. Brently Mallard is the husband of the main character, Louise. 

-  Louise remarks on his “kind, tender hands” and says that Brently “never
looked safe with love” upon her.

-> Brently’s absence in the story does two things. First, it contrasts starkly with
Louise’s life of illness and confinement. 

->  Second, Brently’s absence allows Louise to imagine a life of freedom

outside of the confines of marriage

Josephine

-Josephine is  the second flat character that appears in the story and plays the
role of Louise’s sister. 

- She is the first person who tells her of her husband's presumed death.

- Josephine is the key supporting character for Louise, helping her mourn

->  From Josephine’s actions and interactions with Louise, readers can
accurately surmise that she cares for her sister (even if she’s unaware of how
miserable Louise finds her life). 

Richards

- Richards is another supporting character, though he is described as Brently’s

friend
 - Richards’ main role is to kick off the story’s plot. 

- He tell Josephine of Brently Mallard’s death, and to be the first person who
sees Brently Mallard enter the house after her wife’s outbreak

- he’s a thoughtful person in his own right. 

-> he demonstrates a high level of friendship, consideration, and care for

Louise.

4. Literary devices 
   Foreshadowing 

  “Knowing that Mrs.Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was
taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of  her husband’s death”

=> The clue hints that Mrs Mallard will eventually die at the end of the story.  
 Irony 

- Situational irony
+ In all cases, a wife will react with deep sorrow at the news that her husband died
. However, in Louise’s case, she went into her room alone and experienced her
new freedom.
+ At the end of the story, instead of being happy to know her husband was still
alive. Louise was so shocked that she died of a heart attack. 
- Verbal irony      
 Louise told her sister, “I am not making myself ill.” However, At the end of the
story, the sudden shock of not being able to experience that joy caused her heart
attack, which killed her.
          => Louise made herself mortally ill, and she died.
- Dramatic irony 
 The doctors said the cause of death was “the joy that  kills”. However, it was the
disappointment that killed her.
 Personification 

+ “Into this sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body
and seemed to reach into her soul” 
 => No control over grief.
 +  “The delicious breath of rain was in the air”
 =>  Senses are heightened.
 +  “ Except when a sob came up into her throat and shook her”
 => Not in control of emotion.      
 + “ But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the
sounds, the scents, that color that filled the air.  ” 
 =>  Overwhelmed by feeling.
           +  “There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence” 
         =>  Overpowering nature of marriage. 
 Metaphor

+ “When the storm of grief had spent itself, she went away to her room alone.” 
=> Her grief was short-lived, like a storm . 
+ “She was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window”
=> magical transformation.
 Simile 

          + “Except when a sob came up into her throat and shook her, as a child who has
cried itself to sleep continues to sob in its dream” 
          => Vulnerable image .
          + “She carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory “
          => Widowhood gives her power.

5. Theme, symbol, motifs

Themes 
1. Freedom and Repression 

 Women in the 19th century were often victims of repression. 

 It becomes apparent that Louise Mallard is the victim of social repression. 
 In their marriage Louise is repressed. 
=> Here, Chopin draws a strong contrast between what it means to be free for
men and women. 
2. Marriage 

 The Mallard’s marriage shows a reality of 1890s life that was familiar to
many people. 
=> By showing a marriage that had been built on control and society’s
expectations
Symbols 
1. The heart

 Heart disease, referred to as a “heart condition” within the text, opens and
closes the text. 

 Later, heart disease causes Louise’s death upon Brently’s safe return. In this
case, Louise’s ailing heart has symbolic value because it suggests to readers that
her life has left her heartbroken. 

=> These words suggest that, with her newfound freedom, the symptoms of her
heart disease have lifted. 

2. The house and the outdoors

  Chopin contrasts these symbolic images to help readers better understand
how marriage and repression have affected Louise

 All of the descriptions of the house reinforce the idea that it’s closed off
and inescapable. 

 The outdoors symbolize freedom in the story

 “Everything about the outside is free, beautiful, open, inviting, and pleasant.., a
stark contrast from the sadness inside the house”
=> The house and its differences from outdoors serves as one of many symbols
for Louise feels about her marriage
Motifs: Joy and Sorrow 

JOY  SORROW

feel the free, joyous hope in the mourns the death of her
future  husband

 Joy and sorrow are motifs that come at unexpected times throughout “The
Story of an Hour”. 
 Sorrow appears as Louise mourns the death of her husband
=> The paradox reveals something staggering about Louise’s married life. 
THE LAW OF LIFE – JACK LONDON
1. Background information
 Tác giả
His life: Jack London's full name was John Griffith London, and he was born in
San Francisco. London grew up working-class. London worked at various jobs to help
support his family. 
 He rode trains, pirated oysters, shoveled coal, worked on a sealing ship on the
Pacific and found employment in a cannery. In his free time he hunkered down at
libraries, soaking up novels and travel books.
In 1897 and 1898, London, like many other American and Canadian men, went north to
Alaska and the Klondike region of Canada to search for gold. This was the Alaska Gold
Rush. Although London never found any gold, his experience in the extreme environment of
this cold part of the world gave him ideas for the stories he would write when he decided to
return to California.
Upon his return to the San Francisco area, he began to write about his experiences. 
His writing style: London wrote in a Naturalistic style, in which a story's actions and
events are caused mainly by man's internal biological needs, or by the external forces of
nature and the environment. Many of his stories, including his masterpiece The Call of the
Wild (1903)
Among London's most important books were People of the Abyss (1903), written about
the poor people of London, England; The Sea Wolf (1904), a novel based on the author's
experiences as a seal hunter; John Barleycorn (1913), an autobiographical novel about his
struggle against alcoholism; and The Star Rover (1915), a collection of related stories
dealing with reincarnation.
His exciting, often violent and brutal writing style attracted readers from all over the
world and his stories and novels were translated into many different languages.

His works: Jack London was a very prolific author. He developed a special habit of
writing around 1000 words each morning. Between 1900 and 1916 he completed over fifty
books including both fiction and non-fiction, hundreds of short stories, and numerous
articles on a wide range of topics. 
 Tác phẩm:
Jack London's short story "The Law of Life was first published in McClure's
Magazine, Vol. 16, in March, 1901. "In this story," says Walker, London practically
defined naturalism." Koskoosh, the protagonist in "The Law of Life," is thought to be
London's naturalistic exemplar (ibid.). The story is about an old man who is left to die in the
woods since he is not able to follow his tribesmen on their jOurney to survive the severe
winter. The story was evidently influenced by Darwin's evolution theory (the survival of the
fittest).

2. Characters
Koskoosh: former leader of the tribe but an old man now who cannot join the others in

their journey. He is left behind. At first, he is ready to accept his fate but when the others

actually leave him alone, he is desperate to delay his impending death. At last, he has to

give up when he is surrounded by wolves.

He has a strong connection to nature and respects its ways. He sees himself as part of

nature and understands that it is time to die. Old Koskoosh faces certain death with bravery.

He calms his anxieties by connecting to nature, which is a spiritual experience for him. He
respects his ancestors and the laws of the tribe and is aggravated by his granddaughter's

disregard for them. Old Koskoosh desires a closer relationship with his granddaughter. He

has a strong bond with his son.

Koskoosh’s son: the current leader of the tribe. He has no choice but to put the tribe in

front of his filial considerations and so he leaves his father behind. However, he stays back

for a while to talk to his father and this makes Koskoosh happy.

The chief of the tribe demonstrates his ability to supervise and manage when he scolds

the women of the tribe for working too slowly to handle the luggage. The chief of the tribe

has a respected work ethic, which is further revealed when his father describes him as strong

and a good hunter. The chief's compassionate side comes out when he approaches his father

Old Koskoosh after the tribe has left. He rests his hand on Old Koskoosh's head and asks his

father if all is well. He knows that this is the last time he will see his father. He is able to say

goodbye once he knows that Old Koskoosh is well

Zing-ha

• is Kk's childhood friend, also a member of the Eskimo tribe, who accompanied Kk on

hunting trips

• later Zing-ha became the wisest hunter of the tribe, having the same strength and

intelligence and courage as his friend Kk but froze to death in one fall into the upper air pit

on the Yukon => also did not escape the laws of nature and death

Sit-cum-to-ha is Old K's daughter'. She is the  young, extravagant girl of the tribe. Like

every human being hart they want to help their elders that are not in good shape and are on

their way to fatality. But not Sit-cum-to-ha she was too busy to waste a thought upon her
broken grandfather, sitting as a stump alone there in the snow, forlorn and helpless. She did

not let Old K effect her feelings about the tribes tradition. Sit-cum-to-ha is the

granddaughter of Old Koskoosh. She is careless, impatient, and not interested in spending

time with her grandfather before she leaves. careless, impatient, self-involved

2. SETTING AND PLOT                         

SETTING: The geographical setting of the story is the Klondike, an area by the Yukon

River in northwest Canada (Ascensio; Scott). As far as the temporal setting is concerned,

the year is not specified. The story takes place in winter, probably around the time of the

Klondike Gold Rush (started in 1986), since London used it for the setting in many of his

works.

PLOT:

This story is surrounded by an old leader of a tribe named Koskoosh, so the plot is also

divided by this character.

 1) Old Koskoosh 

 Koskoosh was once the tribe’s chief but is now blind and sickly, with no more

strength.

 Koskoosh sits in the snow and listens to how the tribesmen pack up camp to seek

new hunting grounds. 

  => Koskoosh is left behind, expected to die in the harsh winter conditions so as
not to slow the others down.
(This is the cultural tradition of the tribe because whenever necessities are scarce, the
tribe migrates from one area to another for food, shelter, medicine, livable weather
conditions, move to habitats that are more hospitable,  and the elderly and disability people
are left alone so that they will not be a hindrance on the migration and the survival of the
tribe.)
 2) The conversation between Koskoosh and his son

 His son, now the new chief, leads the tribe to a more adaptable place. 

(He remains behind for a moment to say goodbye to his father, and asks whether he is

good or not. You can look at the dialogue in page 72)

 Koskoosh assures his son that he is at peace with his fate. 

(To his son feels secure, he responds: “I am a last year’s leaf, clinging lightly to the

stem. The first breath that blows, and I fall. My voice is become like an old woman’s. My

eyes no longer show me the way of my feet, and my feet are heavy, and I am tired. It is

well”)

=> From these sentences, we know that he proves himself without strength, power to get

along with the tribes. Old Koskoosh has always abided by the law that dictates that the old

and infirm should be abandoned to die as a respected member of his community.

[Nevertheless, he’s touched when his son—now the tribe’s chief]

 3) Koskoosh muses on the various laws of life that govern the world around

him.

 Koskoosh quickly moves to build the fire, and realizes that he faces death alone in

the wilderness, he struggles to accept this harsh reality.

(After the tribesman had gone, now alone Old Koskoosh knows that he is on the other

side of that equation, facing death alone in the wilderness, he struggles to accept this harsh

reality. The fire is the only thing standing between him and death.)
  He thinks of the age of the tribe, the old men, a woman, as well as the mosquitoes,

the rabbit, the squirrel, the big bald-face, everyone in the world.

=> Death is an unavoidable fact of life

=> An individual’s only real purpose in life is reproduction and sees little point in

resisting or mourning that fact.

(He thinks of the age of the tribe, the old men, a woman… However, he remains

philosophical about his circumstances; death is an unavoidable fact of life, particularly in

such a harsh environment, and Koskoosh reflects that the fate of any individual is less

important than the survival of the species. In fact, he believes that an individual’s only real

purpose in life is reproduction and sees little point in resisting or mourning that fact.)

 4) Koskoosh’s flashbacks to his youth.

 The way he had abandoned his own father.

(Left in the frozen weather where the snow and whole land is covered by an endless

blanket of snow, he recalls doing the same thing to his father decades ago, throwing him

away like a piece of trash.)

 The time of Great Famine and times of plenty.

(Koskoosh’s thoughts next turn to various memories, including the unprecedented

famine during which his mother died, and the “times of plenty” when the tribe felt secure

enough to go to war with its neighbors.)

 Koskoosh went hunting with Zing-ha and witnessed a weak moose being left by his

herb and hunted by wolves.

 =>  (The memory that looms largest, however, comes from Koskoosh’s childhood.

Koskoosh commemorates a time when he was young with a friend – Zing-ha, and witnessed

a moose fall down and fight his way back to standing ground where the moose succeeded in

stomping one of the wolves to death.)

5) Koskoosh comes back to the present.

 He wishes Sit-cum-to-ha brings him more wood for him

 He wonders whether his son turns back or not

=> His hour would have been longer

(While recalling this, Koskoosh briefly finds himself wishing that Sit-cum-to-ha had

gathered more wood for him, or even that his son would return to fetch him.)

 Wolves approach Koskoosh

=> The death is coming closely to Koskoosh

 He strives to survive 

=> His instinct for survival was to maneuver a flaming branch at the wolf to make him

back away. 

(Koskoosh feels a wolf brush against him and scrambles to grab a torch to protect

himself. As he does, he hears other wolves encircling him.)

 6) Old Koskoosh resigns himself to his fate and settles in for a death.

 He flashes back to the wounded, bloody moose.

  Koskoosh remembers the moose, remembers that death will come whether he fights

against or not.

=> Stop fighting back with nature

 (While recapping those memories of when he was younger, he feels the cold, wet nose

of the wolf on his bare, cold skin. His mind flashes back to the wounded, bloody moose

from long ago that was taken down by the same creature.)

 He drops the stick into the snow, rests his tired head on his knees, waits for death to

take him

=> He accepts death and how it’s unavoidable.

(Koskoosh finally realizes what he is doing and that he probably really doesn’t stand a

chance. He then drops the stick into the snow and rests his tired head on his knees, and waits

for death to take him. He feels at peace knowing that he has lived a full life and that his tribe

will continue on without him.

4. Literary Devices

a, Rhetorical question

Here, for instance, are two rhetorical questions Koskoosh poses while musing about his

granddaughter’s failure to provide him with more firewood: “She was ever a careless child,

and honored not her ancestors from the time the Beaver, son of the son of Zing-ha, first cast

eyes upon her. Well, what mattered it? Had he not done likewise in his own quick youth?”

(Paragraph 20). The effect is not simply to suggest that Koskoosh was similarly “careless”

as a young man, but rather to suggest that such carelessness is all but inevitable; according

to Koskoosh, the young are simply not disposed to pay attention to the elderly, or mortality

more generally. Other rhetorical questions in the story serve a similar purpose, underscoring

the immutability of the life cycle and Koskoosh’s resignation to his own impending death

by framing these things as questions with preordained answers.

 b, Irony:

- Situational irony: As an older member of the tribe, Koskoosh was supposed to be the

one cared for by his family. When Koskoosh realizes that he has become “like the old bull

moose, stiff-knees and groping”,  hunted and abandoned by those who once depended on

him. This a powerful example of irony because it shows how Koskoosh, who has spent his

entire life hunting and killing animals, has now become the hunted himself.

- Verbal irony: "It is well with you?" - "It is well. I am as a last year ' s leaf, clinging

lightly to the stem. The first breath that blows, and I fall."

- Metonymy

in the sentence  "He saw the flashing forms of gray, the gleaming eyes, the lolling

tongues, the slavered fangs.( tác giả đã sử dụng cái cụ thể để chỉ cái tổng thể)

c. Metaphor : The Law of life is rich in metaphors, which are used to highlight various

aspects of the story.

The old moose represents the natural world and human mortality. Throughout the story,

London uses vivid imagery to highlight the physical decline of the ole moose, which serves

as a metaphor for the process of aging and the inevitability of death. As the old moose

becomes weaker and more vulnerable, Koskoosh is forced to confront his own physical

decline and eventual death. For example, in the opening paragraphs of the story, London

describes the old moose as “gaunt and battle scarred, antlers splintered and times

snapped”. Later, when Koskosh sees the old moose again, he notes that it has “grown thin

and weak and can scarcely walk ''. At this time, he reflects: “He, too, has been young once -

strong-legged, deep-chested, with springly muscles and the will to use them. But that had
been long ago, in the time when he too loved the open and reckless life”, which are now

distant memories, further emphasizing the deteriorating state of both the moose and

Koskosh himself, which are now distant memories.

 The fire that Koskoosh sits beside plays a symbolic role in the story. London uses it

to symbolize life. Koskoosh remains alive as long as the fire is the lighting, but he

dies once the fire extinguishers. This reflects on the title ‘The law of life,’ where the

author teaches that people will consider one important thing when their torch is

shining bright, but the moment it starts dimming, they move to others whose torches

are still shining. That could be the reason why he was abandoned by his son and

members of his tribe because they were aware that his light would not shine for long.

 Besides, there are several metaphor used:

 - dry nature - a side of death, 

 fire - possibility of life, 

 the pack of wolves - messenger of death, 

 the heroic last fight of the moose and the last attempt of KK are indicator of the

preciousness of life

d, Personification: 

 - "His hand crept out in haste to the wood. It lonely stood between him and the

eternity that yawned in upon him." => decribe the death is near.

 - "Nature did not care. To life she set one task, gave one law." => Nature is

represented as a "Mother Earth" , human are the children of nature and follow its

laws( tác giả đã dùng những hành động của con người như care, stood, yawned dùng
 từ gọi người she để dùng cho  những đồ vật như nature, wood) khiến cho chúng trở

nên có hồn, sinh động hơn

e, Repetition and inversion:

 "Twice had he been dragged down, as the snow attested, and twice had he shaken his

assailants clear and gained footing once more." 

 => The old man ' s desperate fights. 

  "It was the way of life. (...) Such was the law. (...) Was it not the law of life?" 

 => Humans obey the law of life and will die someday

 “Did he not perform it, he died. Did he perform it, it was all the same—he died” =>

emphasize the rule that nature sets for human’s life, whatever they do, finally, they

must face to the death. 

 “ hot were they on the heels of  the chase, reading the grim tragedy..

 “ had the snow been stamped about and untossed 

f, Simile

 They did not count; they were episodes. They had passed away like clouds from a

summer sky. He also was an episode, and would pass away. 

 => unremembered + faded

 "I am as a last year ' s leaf, clinging lightly to the stem. The first breath that blows,

and I fall. My voice is become like an old woman ' s." 

 => Koskoosh is as weak as a last year ' s leaf and could die in any moment

5. Theme/Message (LINH)
 The short story features a series of battles between conflicting notions like the group

and the individual, ‘man versus self’,  man vs nature.

First of all, there’s a dichotomy between the group and the individual. The

individual has to back away when their respective interests collide. The camp must move

elsewhere in order to ensure the survival of the group. But this itself is very much against

the personal interests of Koskoosh who will undeniably die after the group left him alone.

The very first passage of the story clearly states the battle between the two agents:

 ‘Camp must be broken. The long trail waited while the short day refused to linger. Life

called her, and the duties of life, not death. And he [Koskoosh] was very close to death

now.’

Koskoosh is now a burden to the group, no matter his former glories. That the group

must leave him behind is only practical; the harshness of nature forces its inhabitants here

to take up the dictum of ‘the survival of the fittest’ if they are to survive. However,

Koskoosh is but a man and man wants to cling to life no matter what.

a) Internal

This is where another battle of conflicting ideas is seen: the acknowledgment that the

‘law of life’ is death while longing to put off the onset of death nevertheless. In other

words, this is a battle between an acceptance of the inevitability of death and the spirited

resistance against it.

Koskoosh appeared to be accepting of the fact that he is going to die. Koskoosh recalled

about those who came before him and his memory when it comes to the time he hunted with

his friend Zing-ha - symbolizing the time he was young, strong and useful. Though near
death, he is still trying to make a connection with life even if he considers that life might not

necessarily care for him. 

Koskoosh knows that ‘to perpetuate the race was the task of life; its law was death’

Indeed, Koskoosh is seen struggling between these two states for most of the story,

highlighting another major theme of the story: how man strives to live on and on even

when he knows that death is unavoidable. Naturalism paints a deterministic view of the

universe but man, by his willpower, wants to exert his free will. However, in keeping with

naturalism, the battle between man’s willpower and the laws of nature is won by the

laws of nature, of course 

b) Man vs nature

This is also a ‘man versus nature’ story but this theme takes on two different levels in

the story. 

‘Nature’ is the process of aging, a process that affects Koskoosh personally in the story,

reducing him to the status of a burden who would potentially slow down the journey of the

tribe and so, is best left behind to meet his end. 

‘Nature’ is also the natural world that Koskoosh and indeed his tribe are fighting

against in order to survive. The indifference of nature towards human beings is clearly

portrayed in the story. There is the description of a strong famine (‘not one in ten of the

tribe lived to meet the sun when it came back in the spring. That was a famine!’) as well as

the times of plenty; nature is a capricious entity with no consideration for humans. And yet,

within this, life moves on, as it must. The cycle of life carries on even when there is famine,
and it must carry on now when it is extremely cold and food is scarce. Death is the law of

life, surely, but life finds a way to march on until that fate is met.

Memory is interestingly used in the story to show the cycle of life and death, and the

rise and fall of man’s fortune. As Koskoosh thinks of his past, he realizes that nothing that

was happening to him now is new, and it will happen to many others in the future too.

Overall theme

The overarching thematic battle of the story, as it were, happens between life and

death, symbolized by a host of motifs in the story. The dry nature is a sign of death, while

the fire is the possibility of life; similarly, the pack of wolves is a messenger of death, while

the heroic last fight of the moose, and the last attempts of Koskoosh, are indicators of the

preciousness of life. Eventually, death, the law of life, wins. 

Personal comments

The story offers us an interesting perspective about the concept of death, especially how

to face it.

According to the author, no matter how well a person is equipped for life, nature

gradually takes everything from them until their end arrives. Also, survival is for the fittest,

and those who do not have those adaptations and capabilities will inevitably face their end

due to their inability to survive, regardless of how victorious someone has been in their

former life, death will emerge the winner in the long run.