The Use of Certain Symbols in World Literature and Uzbek Literature

Abstract

The symbolic representation of natural elements has long played a pivotal role in world and Uzbek literature, particularly in poetry, where such imagery conveys the emotional and psychological states of the lyrical subject. In global literary traditions, elements like wind, rain, and snow are imbued with allegorical significance and analyzed for their poetic and aesthetic functions. Russian literary studies have explored these natural images deeply, linking them to socio-cultural realities and lyrical expression. However, in Uzbek literary criticism, these symbols have not been systematically studied within the poetic context, often appearing only within selective author analyses or folklore interpretations. This study aims to comparatively analyze the function and symbolic depth of natural elements such as wind, cloud, rain, and snow in world and Uzbek poetry, identifying their emotional, philosophical, and cultural meanings. The analysis reveals that while world literature, especially Russian and Chinese poetry, uses natural symbols to reflect socio-political and existential themes, Uzbek literature and folklore root these symbols in mythological and ceremonial contexts, associating them with life, fertility, and love. The study highlights the unique evolution and contextualization of natural symbols in Uzbek classical and folk poetry, linking them to spiritual and cultural values distinct from Western traditions.