Lessons 8 · 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
8
About the dastan “Alpomish”
Textbook: pp. 45–46
GoalKnow the features, kinds and verse form of the folk dastan, using “Alpomish” as the example.
“Doston” is a Persian word meaning tale, story or adventure. A folk dastan is a large epic work of unknown authorship in which the hard trials of heroes with extraordinary qualities are told in mixed verse and prose. Scholars have identified about a hundred and fifty dastans sung by Uzbek bards, and with variants nearly four hundred have been written down; the “Go‘ro‘g‘li” cycle has over a hundred, and “Alpomish” alone exists in more than forty versions. Folk dastans divide into heroic, war-chronicle, romantic, historical and book-based kinds. The verse in a dastan is mostly in syllabic (barmoq) metre with eleven syllables; fast action such as galloping horses and battles is given in short seven- or eight-syllable lines. The dastan reflects the life and customs of the herding Uzbeks, and its language mostly shows features of the Kipchak dialect.
Worked examples
Example: “Alpomish” is a heroic dastan – its main idea is the defence of the honour of people and beloved. Barchin’s conditions and trials like the race and wrestling are typical devices of folk epic.
Example: Alpomish does not say Oybarchin’s name in front of strangers – a custom of protecting a girl’s honour. The wedding scene recalls old rites such as “kampir o‘ldi”, “it irillar” and “choch siypatar”, showing the historical layer of folk life.
Class activity
Split the class into two teams. One team names a feature of the dastan (for example, the mix of prose and verse), the other gives an example from the dastan. Take turns.
Practice
1
What is a folk dastan? Define it in your own words.
A large epic work of unknown authorship, in mixed verse and prose, depicting the heroes’ hard trials.
2
Into which kinds are folk dastans divided?
Heroic, war-chronicle, romantic, historical and book-based dastans.
3
What does it mean that “Alpomish” has more than forty versions?
Because the dastan was created orally and sung by different bards in their own way, many variants arose.
4
Why are galloping and battles given in seven- or eight-syllable lines?
Short lines give a fast, forceful rhythm that conveys speed of action; eleven-syllable lines suit calmer thought and dialogue.