On the Theoretical Construction of Revolutionary Innovations in the Vietnamese Literary Forum at the Beginning of the 20th Century

At the dawn of the 20th century, amidst social upheaval, Vietnamese literature underwent theoretical constructions marked by revolutions in poetry and fiction, signifying a profound collision and fusion of tradition and modernity. In the realm of poetry, literary figures like Phan Ke Binh and Pham Quynh delved into the aesthetics, functions, and forms of poetry, drawing from national traditions. By embracing French literature and Baudelaire’s theories, they facilitated the modern transformation of Vietnamese poetry, highlighting its diverse aesthetic values and realistic sensitivity. This laid the groundwork for the evolution of new poetry from 1932 to 1945. In the literary sphere, modern Vietnamese novels, as a nascent genre, incorporated traits from Western novels. Represented by Nguyen Trong Quan, these writers championed a creative approach centered on everyday language and genuine emotions, underscoring the social function of novels and their depiction of real life. Through critiquing traditional novels and studying modern Western novels, these innovations broke new ground in narrative style, character development, and language usage, gradually shaping the modern prototype of Vietnamese national language novels. Overall, theoretical innovations in both poetry and fiction circles propelled the transition of literature from tradition to modernity, effecting multi-level innovations in both content and form. This not only perpetuated Vietnam’s traditional literary legacy but also integrated and expanded global literature. The new literary endeavors of this era provided theoretical buttressing and practical momentum for the modernization of Vietnamese literature, establishing crucial foundations for the subsequent development of realism, revolutionary literature, and new poetry schools.