Lessons 14–15 · 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)
15
Rhyme (qofiya)
Textbook: Part 1, pp. 91–92
GoalExplain what rhyme is, the idea of raviy, and how the order of rhyme changes with the genre.
New words
rhyme · qofiyaraviy (the repeated base sound of a rhyme) · raviythe science of rhyme · ilmi qofiyamasnaviy (a form with rhyming couplets) · masnaviy
Explanation
“Qofiya” is an Arabic word meaning to follow, to go after. In literature it is the consistent repetition of matching-sounding words in set places of the lines. The main repeated sound of a rhyme is called “raviy”: for example in the pair “gul – bulbul” the raviy is “l”, in “vafo – jafo” it is “o”. The rhyme order depends on the genre. In the masnaviy only the two lines inside one couplet rhyme, so each couplet has its own rhyme. In the ghazal the two lines of the first couplet rhyme, and in later couplets only the second line repeats that rhyme. The qit‘a has no such paired first couplet. In the ruboiy and tuyuq the rhyme comes either in all four lines or in the first, second and fourth. The field that studies the rules of rhyme was called “ilmi qofiya”, and scholars regarded it as the alphabet of poet and reader.
Worked examples
Example: in the pair “yor – bahor” the raviy is “r”, because that is the main repeated sound. In “ko‘ngil – gul” the raviy is “l”.
Example: written in letters the ghazal rhyme is aa, ba, ca, da...: the first couplet rhymes in both lines, later couplets only in the second line.
Class activity
Find five rhyming pairs (for example “yor – bahor”), identify the raviy of each and place them in a four-line poem.
Practice
1
What does the word “qofiya” mean in Arabic?
To follow, to go after.
2
What is the raviy in the pair “vafo – jafo”?
The sound “o”.
3
How does rhyme in the masnaviy differ from the ghazal?
In the masnaviy each couplet has its own rhyme, while in the ghazal one rhyme repeats through all couplets.
4
Why did scholars regard rhyme as the alphabet of poet and reader?
Because classical poetry has no verse without rhyme and its rules are not broken; without knowing it one cannot read the poem.