Lessons 7 · 1 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
7
“Alpomish”: the horse race, archery and wrestling
Textbook: pp. 34–45
GoalExplain the course of the race, archery and wrestling trials and contrast the Kalmyks’ dishonesty with the honour of Alpomish and Qorajon.
In the race, 499 of the 500 horses are the Kalmyks’ and the five-hundredth is Boychibor; Alpomish’s friend Qorajon rides him in his place. On the way Ko‘kaldosh and the Kalmyks act dishonestly: they tie Qorajon up on Mount Boboxon and drive nails into Boychibor’s hooves. Alpomish’s protector, the pir Rajabxo‘ja, frees them; Boychibor leaves four hundred and sixty horses behind and, hearing Barchin’s “qur-hayt” call, passes even Ko‘kaldosh’s Ko‘kdo‘nan to arrive first. In archery the Kalmyks’ arrows fall short and Ko‘kaldosh’s bow breaks, while Alpomish’s arrow flies straight to the target; in the test of hitting a coin at a thousand paces he is again the only winner. In wrestling Qorajon defeats all the Kalmyk alps except Ko‘kaldosh, and next day Alpomish and Ko‘kaldosh enter the field; Barchin’s bitter words rouse Alpomish and he hurls Ko‘kaldosh into the sky, killing him. After the forty-day wedding rites the people prepare to return home, and Boysari is left alone.
Worked examples
Example: in describing the race the bard uses short, quick lines to convey the horses’ speed. The fight between Ko‘kaldosh and Alpomish is told with exaggeration: the opponent flies into the sky.
Example: though the Kalmyks are not weak, they use tricks – nails and ropes – so their advantage is not an honest one. Alpomish and Qorajon enter every trial openly on the field.
Class activity
Put the four trials into an “honest – dishonest” table: who acted how in each? Discuss the result in class.
Practice
1
Who rode Boychibor in the race, and why?
Qorajon, as Alpomish’s friend, in Alpomish’s place.
2
What dishonest acts did the Kalmyks commit in the race?
They tied Qorajon up on Boboxon and drove nails into Boychibor’s hooves.
3
Who won the archery and target shooting?
Alpomish – he hit the coin at a thousand paces, while Ko‘kaldosh’s bow broke.
4
Why did Barchin’s bitter words affect Alpomish so strongly?
Because the words touched his honour and showed that his beloved did not want to see him weak; his sense of honour fired him up.