52
Working with a classical text and dictionaries
Textbook: pp. 81–82
GoalThe tale “Haqiqat va majoz” from Kalila va Dimna: figurative meaning and work with hol.
New words
figurative meaning · majozsymbol · ramzignorance · jaholatinevitable · muqarrar
Explanation
Kalila va Dimna is an ancient collection of Indian tales widespread in Eastern literature. In the tale a man fleeing a raging camel hangs from a branch bent over a ravine. A dragon waits below, four snakes put out their heads under his feet, and above, a white and a black mouse gnaw the branch. In this state he sees honey, tastes it and forgets the danger. The tale is figurative: day and night gnaw life away, death waits like the dragon, the honey stands for worldly pleasures; ignorance makes a person careless of danger. Try replacing hols in the tale (tinimsiz, ko‘p o‘tmay, tezda) with synonyms.
Worked examples
Figurative meaning: white and black mouse — day and night; dragon — death; honey — worldly pleasure.
Replacing hol: “ko‘p o‘tmay” → “tez orada”; “tinimsiz” → “to‘xtovsiz”.
Class activity
Symbol map: pupils sketch the tale’s images and write the figurative meaning of each.
Practice
1
What does the dragon symbolize in the tale?
Death.
2
Why did the man forget the danger?
The sweetness of the honey made him heedless.
3
Explain in simple words “the veil of ignorance blocks the light of reason”.
Lack of knowledge prevents a person from thinking rightly.
4
What conclusion do you draw from the tale?
One should not forget that time passes and give oneself to a passing pleasure.