MUAMMA (ENIGMA) GENRE IN 20TH CENTURY UZBEK LITERATURE

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Abstract

The history, literary position, historical development, and literary aspects of muamma (enigma) poetry in Uzbek literature have not been adequately examined. Poets such as Atayi, Hafiz from Harezm, and Haydar Harezmî, who wrote until the time of Nevaî, were aware of the muamma genre and its characteristics. Sheikh Ahmed Terazi devoted a special section to the muamma genre in his work “Fünunü'l-belaga”. The number, meaning, literary features, and breadth of the muammas written by Ali Şir Nevaî in Turkish are sufficient to understand the importance that the poet attached to this poetry. Many poets who wrote poems in various muamma types emerged in the literary school of this period. It is known that after Nevaî, Babur (1483–1530) wrote 54 enigmas in Turkish, Ubeydî (1486–1540) wrote 8, Munis (1778–1829) wrote 68, and his brother Muhammedrıza Âgehî (1809–1894) wrote 80 muammas. Since the 20th century, some classic poetry genres have been given less importance by poets, and the muamma genre can be added to this list. In 20th century Uzbek literature, muamma poems can be found among the works of some poets, demonstrating the continuation of the muamma genre in Uzbek literature. These poems feature new elements in addition to the traditional muamma elements. However, these aspects have not been adequately studied. This article aims to uncover the genre characteristics, purpose, and literary aspects of muamma poems by examining the muammas of Uzbek poets who lived in the 20th century.