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Working with a text and dictionaries
Textbook: p. 53
GoalNavoiy’s verse extract: the notions “surat” (form) and “ma’no” (meaning); finding the main idea and working with a dictionary.
New words
outer form · suratmeaning, content · ma’noinner nature · siyratconnoisseurs of meaning · ahli maoniy
Explanation
In the extract Alisher Navoiy says that the main thing in poetry is meaning. Whatever the surat — outer look, metre and rhyme — a poem without content is not good in the eyes of the wise. The best poem has a beautiful form and a content that attracts the heart. At the end the poet wishes his poetry to light up people’s hearts. The text has old words: durur — dir, anga — unga, erur — dir, dog‘i — yana. Find them in the dictionary and put them in modern form. The saying “Look at the nature, not the looks” means the same: the inner world matters, not the outer look.
Worked examples
Updating old forms: “ma’ni anga marg‘ub emas” → “it likes no meaning-less thing”.
Main idea in three sentences: 1) the core of a poem is meaning; 2) beautiful form alone is not enough; 3) when both form and meaning are beautiful it is the best.
Class activity
A mini-debate “form and meaning”: one group defends form, the other content, then a joint conclusion is drawn.
Practice
1
What does Navoiy consider most important in a poem?
Meaning; if the form is beautiful too, even better.
2
Give the modern forms of durur, anga, erur.
Durur — is, anga — to him/it, erur — is.
3
Find a synonym and antonym of siyrat.
Synonym: character, inner world; antonym: surat (outer look).
4
Which title fits better: “Surat va ma’no” or “Bahor fasli”? Why?
“Surat va ma’no”, because the extract is about form and content in poetry.