ECHOES OF TRADITION: FALCON IMAGERY IN KARAKALPAK AND UZBEK VERSIONS OF ALPAMYS

Abstract

Both in the Karakalpak Ögiz jıraw version of the epic «Alpamys» and in Fazyl Yuldash’s Uzbek version, lines that recur in other epics – traditional formulas and richly imagistic descriptions – appear frequently. In both versions the jıraws (bards) rely on traditional formulas while performing, singing with their own creative skill. For example, in the Ögiz jıraw variant, when Gülparşın and her mother Baysyn are leaving for Taishyhan’s land and are saying farewell to their neighbors and childhood friends, they lament with lines such as: