24
About the dastan “Ravshan”
Textbook: pp. 162–164
GoalKnow the dastan genre and the artistic features of “Ravshan”.
New words
love-adventure dastan · ishqiy-sarguzasht dostonrhymed prose · sajthe “Go‘ro‘g‘li” cycle · «Go‘ro‘g‘li» turkumikhalfa, Khorezm dastan singer · xalfa
Explanation
“Doston” means a large oral or written work. Uzbek bakhshis who perform dastans sing them with the dombra, while in Khorezm singers accompanied by the tor are called khalfa. In love-adventure dastans the hero often falls in love with a beauty seen in a dream or in a picture on a ring or mirror, sets out on a dangerous road to find her and overcomes hardships. “Ravshan” belongs to the “Go‘ro‘g‘li” cycle, which has over a hundred dastans among Uzbeks. The work mixes saj (rhymed prose) and verse: the verse parts are in barmoq metre of seven, eight and eleven syllables, and the eight-syllable metre suits fighting.
Worked examples
Example: the hero falling in love from a picture on a ring is a typical start of a love-adventure plot.
Example: when the horse gallops fast the bakhshi moves to short seven-syllable lines – rhythm mirrors the movement.
Class activity
Place Ravshan’s plot onto the love-adventure scheme (dream/picture – road – obstacles – victory).
Practice
1
With what does a bakhshi perform a dastan?
With the dombra.
2
How do love-adventure dastans typically begin?
The hero falls in love with a beauty seen in a dream or picture.
3
What is saj?
Rhymed prose.
4
Why does the eight-syllable metre suit battle scenes?
This metre gives a strong, vigorous rhythm close to a fighting mood.