Showing off the age of youth

In contrast to the vibrant atmosphere of children's literature in recent years, the field of literary criticism has been relatively quiet. Therefore, the appearance of "Trinh Hien Tuoi Hoa" (Literature Publishing House), a comprehensive study of children's literature by researcher Trinh Dang Nguyen Huong, has become a valuable voice not only within the literary sphere but also a reference for many other fields.

Unlike literary criticism, which typically focuses on commenting on or praising a particular work, in her work "Trinh Hien Tuoi Hoa" (currently working at the Institute of Literature), Trinh Dang Nguyen Huong concentrates on researching the issues raised by the literary work itself. For example, with Nguyen Nhat Anh's novel "Wishing You a Good Day," she sees in it an awareness of environmental issues. The image of the garden in the work "suggests a green, refreshing life where everything lives together harmoniously and interconnectedly, a dream of both children and adults in modern society."

Similarly, the novel "Southern Forest Land" by writer Doan Gioi is also a representative work of ecological awareness. According to researcher Trinh Dang Nguyen Huong, the success of this work lies not only in recreating the maturation of a teenager through war but also in its portrayal of the relationship between humans and nature. "Through the conflict in human thought and emotion, the writer shows the connections between humans and nature, where the process of natural transformation is also the process of transforming human perception of its own existence as an entity belonging to nature," the author writes.

Applying comparative theory, the author also examined two works, "The Time Shop" by Lee Na Young (Korea) and "Making Friends with the Sky" by Nguyen Nhat Anh (Vietnam), to see the important roles of school and family in children's development: "Although children are significantly affected by pressure regarding academic achievement, time constraints, and family events, children are also independent individuals... with their own awareness and actions to decide their own lives and happiness," researcher Trinh Dang Nguyen Huong concluded.

Perhaps due to the demands of the research and as a way of showing admiration for the author's talent, out of the 9 articles, 6 focus on/examine the works of writer Nguyen Nhat Anh. However, in the context of the current flourishing state of children's literature in Vietnam, readers also hope that in his future works, the author will broaden his scope to "work shoulder to shoulder" with domestic works, contributing to the development of children's literature in the country.

QUYNH YEN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/trinh-hien-tuoi-hoa-post794215.html