The poetry of the preface (debacha) of Alisher Navoi's epic “Sadd-i-Iskandari” (Alexander's Wall)

Abstract

Alisher Navoi enriched Uzbek literature with many novelties and experiences. In particular, the great poet raised the tradition of writing introduction to a high level in terms of image system, composition, style, poetry and content. In the preface of his masnawi (poetic form), Alisher Navoi skillfully combines the reader's point of view, his own experiences, the content of the work and the philosophy of tasawwuf (mysticism). It is noteworthy that he is able to depict a preface on a subject and a theme in a new literary landscape and poetic variations each time. This article discusses the preface of masnawi of Alisher Navoi's work “Sadd-i-Iskandari” (Alexander's Wall), which focuses on the poet's writing skills of preface. The poetry of the preface of “Sadd-i-Iskandari” (Alexander's Wall), the connection of the chapters in the preface with the content of the work, as well as the role of revealing the essence of the work are analyzed. In order to enlighten the writing skill of preface of Alisher Navoi, it is based on a comparative-historical method and is compared with the preface to Nizami Ganjavi's Eskandar-Nâmeh (‘The Book of Alexander’). And it is provided necessary conclusions.