Lessons 10–11 · 2 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)
11
Lutfiy’s ghazals
Textbook: Part 1, pp. 76–82
GoalAnalyse Lutfiy’s three ghazals by theme, radif, meter and artistic devices.
New words
opening couplet of a ghazal · matla‘closing couplet with the pen name · maqta‘antithesis (opposites in contrast) · tazodallusion to a known story or person · talmih
Explanation
A matla‘ is the first couplet of a ghazal, in which both lines rhyme, and a maqta‘ is the last couplet in which the poet’s pen name appears. The ghazal with the radif “xoh inon, xoh inonma” has seven couplets, is about love and is in a more complex hazaj form of the aruz; the radif has four words, and “inon” against “inonma” gives an antithesis (tazod). The fifth couplet uses allusion (talmih): the lyric hero recalls the prophet Yaqub, who went blind from weeping for Yusuf, to say that he too lost his eyesight weeping without his beloved. The ghazal “Bu ko‘nguldur, bu ko‘ngul” also has seven couplets and is in the ramal meter; it blames the heart for all the lover’s sorrow – the heart makes him mad, brings him disgrace and insists on going to the door. “Ayoqingg‘a tushar har lahza gisu...” has five couplets, each ending its second line with a proverb, in the hazaj meter.
Worked examples
Example: in the ghazal “Xoh inon, xoh inonma” the word “siymbarim” (silver-bodied) matches “Oyyuzung” (moon-faced) in the sixth couplet: moon and silver are both white. In the maqta‘ the yellowed face is said to be paler than gold, that is, more yellow.
Example: in the ghazal “Bu ko‘nguldur” the rhymes are words such as “shaydo – rasvo – tamanno – taqozo”, while the radif is built wholly of Turkic words. The poet loads all blame on the “heart”.
Class activity
Fill a table for each of the three ghazals: number of couplets – meter – radif – main idea.
Practice
1
What are the matla‘ and maqta‘?
The matla‘ is the first couplet of a ghazal with both lines rhymed; the maqta‘ is the final couplet containing the pen name.
2
Explain the tazod in the radif “xoh inon, xoh inonma”.
“Inon” (believe) and “inonma” (do not believe) are opposites; this strengthens the tone.
3
What does the allusion to Yaqub add to the ghazal?
Losing sight from weeping shows that the lyric hero’s grief at parting is as heavy as Yaqub’s.
4
What is the idea of “Bu ko‘nguldur” and why?
The heart is the cause of all pain and disgrace; because in classical poetry love is understood as an affair of the heart.