Lessons 1–2 · 2 lessons · B. To‘xliyev, B. Karimov, K. Usmonova. Literature: textbook-collection for Grade 11 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, 2018
2
“The Birth of Go‘ro‘g‘li” (excerpt from the dastan)
Textbook: Part 1, pp. 8–46
GoalRetell the main events of the excerpt from “The Birth of Go‘ro‘g‘li” in order.
New words
dastan, a long folk lyrico-epic narrative · dostonbard, performer of dastans · baxshiexpert in horses, their breed and character · sinchithe “forty bodies,” guardian spirits of folk belief · chiltanlar
Explanation
The textbook gives Po‘lkan shoir’s variant in abridged form. The excerpt opens with the background of Odilxon of Yovmit and Qovishtixon of Mari: Qovishtixon’s son To‘liboy sinchi grows up at court, marries Odilxon’s daughter Bibi Oysha, and their son Ravshanbek is born. Shohdorxon, king of Zargar, ignores his vizier Holmon’s advice to send an envoy first and invades Yovmit, but Odilxon defeats him. Ravshan and Bibi Hilol, taken as captives in that clash, meet in Zargar; Gajdumbek buys Ravshan at the slave market and marries him to his sister. After Ravshan and Gajdumbek leave, Bibi Hilol stays in Zargar, and after her death her son Go‘ro‘g‘li is born in the grave; Xizr and the chiltanlar look after him, a mare nurses him, and Rustambek finds the boy and takes him home. In the second part Go‘ro‘g‘li goes to Shirvon, meets Xoljuvon, whom Rayhon arab had carried off, brings Rayhon’s daughter Zaydinoy to Yovmit on G‘irko‘k, and Ahmadbek marries her.
Worked examples
Example: The vizier Holmon says it is not right to send an army without first sending an envoy, but Shohdorxon does not listen. This shows the king deciding without thinking.
Example: To find out whether the child from the grave is a boy or a girl, Rustambek lays out a saddle, knucklebones, dolls and scarves and watches what the child chooses. The child plays riding the saddle, and Rustambek concludes it is a boy.
Class activity
Chain retelling: students take turns giving one event each (war – captivity – marriage – birth of Go‘ro‘g‘li – the Shirvon journey), and each continues the previous one with a sentence.
Practice
1
Why did Shohdorxon march on Yovmit, and what advice did his vizier give?
He wanted to subdue Odilxon’s land and take booty; the vizier Holmon advised sending an envoy first.
2
Who keeps Go‘ro‘g‘li alive, and how?
Xizr and the chiltanlar protect him, a mare nurses him, and then his uncle Rustambek finds him and takes him home.
3
What function does the dream motif have in the excerpt? Explain with Shohdorxon’s dream.
The fortune-teller Yusuf reads the dream as saying that a child of the two “wolves” from Yovmit will become ruler of Zargar; in this way the dream foreshadows later events, namely the birth of Go‘ro‘g‘li.
4
Why does Bibi Hilol refuse to return to Yovmit with Rustambek?
She fears that arriving with a stranger would bring shame on her brother and husband Ravshan, so she prefers to stay.