Lessons 3 · 1 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
3
About the dastan “The Birth of Go‘ro‘g‘li”
Textbook: Part 1, pp. 47–51
GoalDistinguish cycle, motif, character and name interpretations in the analysis of a dastan.
New words
cycle, a group of related dastans · turkummotif, a recurring story element · motivpatron, protector · homiyinterpretation · talqin
Explanation
According to the textbook, the “Go‘ro‘g‘li” cycle contains more than sixty dastans, and “The Birth of Go‘ro‘g‘li” is counted as its first one. The authors remind us that the excerpt keeps traces of ancient beliefs, so some motifs differ sharply from our present views. In the dastan, Xizr and the chiltanlar act as patrons of the hero, raising him and teaching him to serve the people; his supernatural birth is read as a sign that he will grow into a person of extraordinary strength and mind. Odilxon and Shohdorxon are set against each other: one stands out for his human qualities, the other for deciding without thought and starting the war. The book also stresses that the name is explained through the roots “go‘r” (grave), “ko‘r” (blind) and “kur” (hero, brave), and that G‘irot, like Boychibor in “Alpomish,” is the image of a war horse.
Worked examples
Example: Go‘ro‘g‘li is born in the grave; his lifeless mother cannot bring him up, so Xizr and the chiltanlar appear and take the infant under their protection. The textbook explains this as a pointer to the hero’s extraordinary destiny.
Example: Just as Alpomish has the horse Boychibor, Go‘ro‘g‘li has G‘irot, shown as an inseparable war-horse companion of the hero.
Class activity
Make a table with two columns, “Odilxon” and “Shohdorxon,” and group their traits according to their actions in the excerpt.
Practice
1
What does the textbook say about the “Go‘ro‘g‘li” cycle?
The cycle has more than sixty dastans; “The Birth of Go‘ro‘g‘li” is its first one.
2
What is the role of Xizr and the chiltanlar in the dastan? Give one example.
They protect the hero; for example, they swaddle the child born in the grave and help raise him.
3
How is Rayhon arab portrayed and what place does he hold in the events?
He is the king of Shirvon, a strong and brave warrior; his abduction of Xoljuvon leads Go‘ro‘g‘li to take revenge and bring Zaydinoy.
4
Why does the textbook say some motifs in the excerpt differ sharply from present-day views?
Because the dastan preserves very ancient artistic and aesthetic views and contains traces of old myths and beliefs.