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An excerpt from the dastan “Rustamxon”

Lessons 2 · 1 lessons · B. To‘xliyev, B. Karimov, K. Usmonova. Literature: textbook-collection for Grade 10 of secondary schools and for students of secondary specialised and vocational institutions, Parts 1–2. 1st edition. “O‘zbekiston milliy ensiklopediyasi” State Scientific Publishing House, Tashkent, 2017
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“Rustamxon” (excerpt from the dastan)

Textbook: Part 1, pp. 8–23
GoalKnow the content, characters and order of events of the excerpt from the dastan “Rustamxon”.
New words
bard, folk singer of dastans · baxshico-wife (another wife of the same husband) · kundoshdragon · ajdahorwandering dervish · qalandar
Explanation

“Rustamxon” is a folk dastan; the excerpt in the textbook was written down in 1937 by Hodi Zarif from the bard Fozil Yo‘ldosh o‘g‘li. The events begin in the Oqtosh region: the ageing King Sultonxon, afraid that the joy of the birth news would be too much for him, sets off for the land of Qurudum and hands the throne to his pregnant wife Huroyim. Huroyim bears a son and names him Rustam. Her two co-wives join forces with an old maston woman called Momogul and have a false complaint about Huroyim written; an order to punish Huroyim follows, but Rustam rescues his mother and leaves with her for Hukumu mountain. There Rustam sees a girl, Oftoboy, tied up at a tent, frees her from a dragon’s tyranny, and the land of Bujul makes him king for three days. At the end the repentant Sultonxon finds his son in the guise of a qalandar, Huroyim stops Rustam from striking him, father and son are reconciled, the wicked co-wives are punished, and Rustam refuses the crown.

Worked examples
Example: before leaving, Sultonxon tells Huroyim what name to give the child – Rustamxon if it is a boy. In the excerpt the naming follows the father’s wish.
Example: Rustam tells Oftoboy not to fear the dragon, asks the way and goes to the fight himself; as a sign of victory he brings a strip of the dragon’s skin.
Class activity

Split the class into 4 groups: each retells one stage (departure, plot, dragon, reconciliation) orally in a minute while the rest check the order.

Practice
1
Who wrote down the excerpt, and when?
2
To whom does Sultonxon hand the throne when leaving?
3
Whom does Rustam save on Hukumu mountain, and from whom?
4
Why does Rustam refuse the crown? Explain from the text.