Lessons 9 · 1 lessons · S. Olim, S. Ahmedov, R. Qo‘chqorov. Literature, Grade 8: textbook-collection, Parts 1 and 2. G‘afur G‘ulom publishing-printing creative house, Tashkent, 2014 (revised third edition)
9
The idea of didactic literature
Textbook: Part 1, pp. 71–73
GoalKnow what didactic literature is, its three kinds and famous examples.
New words
didactic literature · didaktik adabiyotcounsel and advice · pand-nasihatin prose · nasriyin mixed prose and verse · nasriy-she‘riy
Explanation
“Didactics” is a Greek-derived word meaning instructive; didactic literature means works in the spirit of advice, counsel and example. The spirit of counsel is stronger in Eastern literature, which sets it apart from Western; yet it is wrong to think Eastern literature consists only of advice. By form, didactic works fall into three kinds. The prose kind includes the “Panchatantra” (“Kalila and Dimna”), Kaykovus’s “Qobusnoma” and Khoja’s “Gulzor” and “Miftoh ul-adl”; the mixed prose-and-verse kind includes Saadi’s “Guliston”, Navoiy’s “Mahbub ul-qulub” and Gulkhaniy’s “Zarbulmasal”. The verse kind includes “Qutadg‘u bilig”, Haydar Khorazmiy’s “Gulshan ul-asror” and Navoiy’s “Hayrat ul-abror”. Giving an idea through events and characters makes the author’s idea clear and strengthens its effect.
Worked examples
Example: if a classmate says “be honest”, it is a bare remark; if a wise vizier proves his idea through life’s trials and question-and-answer, as in “Qutadg‘u bilig”, the reader is moved. A didactic work gives an idea in an artistic way.
Example: “Guliston” is written in prose and verse mixed, so it belongs to the mixed kind; “Qobusnoma” is wholly in prose and “Hayrat ul-abror” wholly in verse.
Class activity
Sort these works into the three groups: “Gulzor”, “Mahbub ul-qulub”, “Gulshan ul-asror”, “Qobusnoma”, “Zarbulmasal”, “Hayrat ul-abror”.
Practice
1
What does the word “didactic” mean?
Instructive, in the spirit of counsel and advice.
2
Into which three kinds do didactic works divide by form?