National Literary Tradition In Uzbek Novel Writing (On The Example Of Abdulla Qodiriy’s Novel “O‘Tkan Kunlar” / “Days Gone By”)

Abstract

This article is dedicated to studying the innovative literary contributions of Abdulla Qodiriy, who laid the foundation for Uzbek national novel-writing, through an exploration of folk oral traditions and the epic conventions of Alisher Navoi's Khamsa. The depiction of characters in Qodiriy’s works reflects the achievements of 20th-century Uzbek literature, which, in essence, stem from the rich artistic experience embedded in folk oral creativity. The novel genre in Uzbek literature emerged by creatively adapting and utilizing these epic descriptive traditions. Qodiriy’s novels also originated in this way. The reality portrayed in O‘tkan kunlar (Days Gone By) reflects a significant period in Uzbek history—namely, the collapse and crisis of the khanates. Hence, the creation of this novel was supported by the artistic tools of both oral and written literary traditions. The article clarifies the significance of Qodiriy’s literary experiments in establishing national artistic thought within Uzbek novel-writing.