13
A craftsman beats a thousand
Textbook: Part 1, pp. 64–68
GoalUnderstand the lesson of a parable (hikoyat); explain a proverb by linking it to events.
New words
parable, instructive tale · hikoyatlesson, example · ibratskilled · mohirprosperous · farovon
Explanation
The textbook has the parable “Hunarli mingni yengar” (A craftsman beats a thousand) from Obiddin Mahmudov’s book “Farzandnoma”, in which a teacher explains to a pupil the value of a trade by an instructive story. We do not retell it; we read our own text. A hikoyat is a short story that gives a lesson. To explain a proverb we first give its literal meaning, then find the figurative, main meaning. “Hunarli mingni yengar” means that a person with a trade finds a way even in hard times.
Worked examples
“Two brothers”. A merchant had two sons. The elder trusted his father’s wealth and learned nothing. The younger worked every day beside a master carpenter and learned a trade. One year trade went badly and the family fell into hard times. The elder did not know what to do, while the younger made tables and chairs and fed the family. Then the father said: “A trade is wealth that never runs out.”
Proverb explained: literally – a craftsman defeats a thousand; main meaning – a trade saves you in hard times.
Class activity
“Proverb scene”: groups act out a one-minute scene matching the proverb “Hunarli mingni yengar”.
Practice
1
How many sons did the merchant have?
2
2
What trade did the younger son learn?
Carpentry
3
Who fed the family in hard times?
The younger son
4
What did the father say?
A trade is wealth that never runs out.
5
State the main meaning of the proverb “Hunarli mingni yengar”.
A person with a trade finds a way in hardship.