Furqat’s musaddas, “Kashmirda” and artistic devices in the ghazal
Lessons 24–25 · 2 lessons · Q. Yo‘ldoshev, V. Qodirov, J. Yo‘ldoshbekov. Literature: textbook for Grade 9 of general secondary schools. Revised and expanded 4th edition. “O‘zbekiston” NMIU, Tashkent, 2019
24
Furqat’s musaddas and the poem “In Kashmir”
Textbook: pp. 121–124
GoalExplain the event, figures and mood in Furqat’s musaddas and the poem “Kashmirda”; understand the figure of the hunted prey and the witty exchange (mutoyiba).
A musaddas is a poem in six-line stanzas. In Furqat’s musaddas the lyrical hero addresses a hunter: release the gazelle caught in the snare – it is wretched like me, wandering without finding its mate, ill-fated, wounded by the arrow of separation, its liver burnt. Each stanza ends with the repeated line meaning “how many wounds from the arrow of separation, like mine”. The poet begs the hunter to let it go to the mountains, where for some days it may play with its mate and pray for him; if he will not pity the gazelle, let him pity its companion. The gazelle is the poet himself, wandering in exile, while the hunter can stand for fate or oppressive forces. In “Kashmirda” the poet sees a moon-faced beauty in Kashmir and is enchanted; when he says “I am captive of your hair”, she answers “drop this fancy, your life will pass in chains”. When he says the dot above the lip seems misplaced, she laughs and says the scribe of the Creator’s power made a slip in editing; asked “why did you leave your homeland?”, the poet answers that exile was in Furqat’s fate.
Worked examples
Example: the repeated line of the musaddas fixes the reader’s attention on one pain – separation and helplessness. The refrain gives the poem a song-like tone and strengthens the feeling.
Example: in “Kashmirda” the poet uses the word “Furqat” in two senses: his own pen name and “separation”. The meaning: exile was destined for him; separation lies in his name as well as in his life.
Class activity
Divide the musaddas into three parts: address, request, comparison. Give each a title. Then choose a name for the whole poem and explain why.
Practice
1
What does the lyrical hero ask the hunter in the musaddas?
To release the gazelle caught in the snare and let it return to the mountains with its mate.
2
Why does the poet liken the gazelle to himself?
Both are parted from their beloved, wandering and wounded by the arrow of separation; the poet is parted from homeland and loved ones.
3
Where is the mutoyiba in “Kashmirda” and what is it?
In the talk of the dot above the lip: the beauty laughs and says the scribe of power made an error in editing – a light joke.
4
In what meanings does the word “Furqat” appear in the closing couplet?
As the poet’s pen name and in the sense of separation and exile.