THE ART OF CONSTRUCTING THE STRUCTURE AND PLOT OF CLEVER CHARACTER STORY TYPES IN VIETNAMESE DAILY LIFE FOLK TALES

The childhood of each person is intertwined with the magical world of fairy tales—a spiritual nourishment that has nurtured souls across generations. Each fairy tale is a crystallization of compassion, resilience, and the harmonious blend of reality and dreams. This article draws on theories of structure and plot in literary works, focusing on everyday-life fairy tales and the archetype of the intelligent character to analyze the artistry in constructing narrative structure and plot from two perspectives: (1) The structure of the plot follows four main directions**, each possessing distinctive characteristics and meanings, contributing to highlighting the central character; (2) The art of building conflict** is expressed through techniques such as exaggeration, amplification, and the use of typical motifs, creating an intrinsic appeal and distinct aesthetic value. The symbolic value of the intelligent character archetype in these everyday-life fairy tales goes beyond mere entertainment. It instills optimism and faith in human intellect and resilience. Despite facing adversities, people in the past demonstrated intelligence, love, and respect for human dignity through these stories. This is the core element that shapes the profound cultural and spiritual values of everyday-life fairy tales.