MUSICALITY IN THE POETRY OF SELECTED ENGAGED POETS IN SOUTH VIETNAM (1954–1975)

Abstract

This article focuses on the issue of rhythmic devices in the poetry of several socially engaged poets in Southern Vietnam during the period 1954–1975. The study aims to identify and analyze rhythmic patterns, repetition, and rhyme coordination in order to clarify the musical characteristics of their poetic texts. The study employs a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, analyzing poetic texts from a linguistic perspective while also measuring elements such as rhythm, rhyme, pitch, duration, and resonance to identify musical effects. The article uses a corpus of poems by socially engaged poets such as Ngo Kha, Tran Quang Long, Nguyen Quoc Thai, and Le Van Ngan. The findings indicate that the poetry of these authors demonstrates flexibility and effectiveness in rhythmic expression, which not only contributes to emotional articulation but also reflects their spirit of social engagement. As a result, the study contributes an additional linguistic perspective to the study of Southern Vietnamese engaged poetry in the period 1954–1975.