Structure and Theme in Gafur Gulam’s Story Hasan Keyfî

Abstract

One of the most important figures in Uzbek literature, particularly in poetry, is Ghafoor Ghulam. Born in Tashkent in 1903, he produced works not only in poetry but also in short stories, fables, essays, articles, anecdotes, and literary criticism. Many of his short stories were published in the three-volume Collection of Excellent Works (1928–1929–1930). Awarded the title of High People’s Poet of Uzbekistan, Ghafoor Ghulam received numerous medals and honors for his literary contributions and services to his country. He wrote many articles, translated various works, and had his own works translated into several languages. He also served as a member of parliament for a period. A prominent figure in Uzbek culture and art, Ghafoor Ghulam, passed away on July 10, 1966. This article examines Hasan Keyfi, a short story, in terms of its structural elements and thematic composition as a literary text. The study aims to analyze the story’s structure and thematic framework in order to reveal Gafur Gulam’s narrative technique and the issues he addresses. In analyzing the thematic composition, Ramazan Korkmaz’s “KORA Schema” method will be employed. This method seeks to uncover the fundamental layers of meaning in a text’s deep structure—its themes, character transformations, and plot—by contrasting them on a valuebased level. Through this analysis, the study aims to demonstrate that Gafur Gulam, widely recognized for his poetry, is also a significant figure in Uzbek prose.