Lessons 28–29 · 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
28
Bobur’s lyric poetry
Textbook: Part 1, pp. 171–177
GoalLearn the genres, themes and language features of Bobur’s lyric poetry.
New words
rubai, a four-line poem · ruboiytuyuq, a four-line form based on tajnis · tuyuqtajnis, wordplay with homonyms · tajnispoem on one’s own state or experience · hasbi hol
Explanation
In Bobur’s lyric poetry the ghazal and rubai lead; most of his ghazals have 5–6 couplets, their language is simple, fluent and close to spoken speech, and their rhymes are often formed from verbs. Many poems are written in the spirit of hasbi hol: they sing of love of homeland, separation and exile, and human virtues. The textbook stresses that despite Bobur’s hard life, zest for life and confidence in tomorrow dominate his poetry. The rubai is written in the hazaj metre and is also called dubayti and tarona; one is built on “head rhyme” (rhyme at the beginning of the line), another calls friends to value being together. The tuyuq is written in the metre ramali musaddasi maqsur and relies on tajnis, i.e. homonyms; Bobur showed seven kinds of it, for example the word “chin” comes in one tuyuq in three meanings – China, a wrinkle and truth.
Worked examples
Example: In the tuyuq the word “chin” appears as “gazelle of China,” “wrinkle on the brow” and “truth” – tajnis built on homonyms.
Example: When the rhyme in a rubai is at the beginning of the line (tuz, yuz, uz), it is head rhyme; the repeated words that follow act as refrain.
Class activity
Rhyme exercise: find your own three rhyming words like “tuz, yuz, uz” and write their other meanings.
Practice
1
What are the language features of Bobur’s ghazals?
Simple, fluent, close to spoken speech; rhymes often from verbs.
2
What is tajnis? Give an example.
Wordplay with homonyms; for example “chin” (China, wrinkle, truth).
3
In which metre is the rubai written and by what other names is it known?
In the hazaj metre; also called dubayti and tarona.
4
Why is it an important observation that zest for life dominates Bobur’s poetry?
Because the poet’s life passed amid war and hardship, yet hope and love dominate his poems.