Понятие мотива в фантастических произведениях и его типологическое изучение

Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika

–

Зарубежная

лингвистика

и

лингводидактика

–

Foreign

Linguistics and Linguodidactics

Journal home page:

https://inscience.uz/index.php/foreign-linguistics

The concept of a motif in fantasy works and its typological
study

Ulugbek KUCHIMOV

1

, Shakhnoza YULDOSHOVA

2

Uzbek State World Languages University

ARTICLE INFO

ABSTRACT

Article history:

Received January 2023
Received in revised form

10 January 2023
Accepted 25 February 2023

Available online

15 March 2023

In this article, the concept of motive, and its unique and

common features in fantasy works are explored using the
example of the novels of Ray Bradbury and Isajon Sultan.

2181-3663

/©

2023 in Science LLC.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47689/2181-3701-vol1-iss2-pp72-76

This is an open-access article under the Attribution 4.0 International
(CC BY 4.0) license (

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.ru

)

Keywords:

motifs,

fantastic literature,

Ray Bradbury,

Isajon Sultan,

criticism,

plot,

novel,

interpretation.

Fantastik asarlarda motiv tushunchasi va uning tipologik
tadqiqi

ANNOTATSIYA

Kalit so

‘

zlar:

motivlar,

fantastik adabiyot,

Rey Bredberi,

Isajon Sulton,

tanqid,

syujet,

roman,

talqin.

Ushbu maqolada motiv tushunchasi va uning fantastik

asarlarda o

‘

ziga xos va mushtarak jihatlari Rey Bredberi va

Isajon Sulton romanlari misolida yoritilgan.

1

Docent, World Literature Department, Uzbek State World Languages University

2

Master degree student, Uzbek State World Languages University

Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika

–

Зарубежная лингвистика

и лингводидактика

–

Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics

Issue

–

1

№

2 (2023) / ISSN 2181-3701

73

Понятие мотива в фантастических произведениях и его
типологическое изучение

АННОТАЦИЯ

Ключевые слова:

мотивы,

фантастическая

литература,

Рэй Брэдбери,

Исаджан Султан,

критика, сюжет,

роман,

интерпретация.

В данной статье рассмотрено понятие мотива и его

особенности в фантастических произведениях на примере

романов Рэя Брэдбери и Исаджона Султана.

INTRODUCTION

It is irrefutable that literature has its significant role in human beings. Humans have

a unique ability to envision the future. While most people have imagined where they will
be in a few days, weeks, years, or even centuries, others have shared their experiences of
imagining what life will be like for all of humanity.

Motif in literature has been studied by several scholars, for instance

A.N. Veselovskiy (Historical Poetics), O. Freudenberg, V. Propp, V.I. Silantev, V. Tyupa,
G. Krasnov, I. Kuznetsov, L. Tselkova, Yu. Shatin. Literary motifs also have been widely
studied by foreign scholars

–

H.S. Daemmrich, S. Thompson, L. Dolezel, H.M. El-Shami,

W. Freedman, E. Frenzel, T. Ziolkowski [2].

Motif (French: Motif, German: Motiv, Latin: Moveo) is a musical term that has been

applied to literary studies. Motif is a literary term that represents an idea, object, or
concept that is repeated throughout the text. It is

“

the smallest independent unit of musical

form [18]. Progression is realized by the repeated repetition of the motif, as well as by
changing it, the introduction of contractual motifs. The structure of the motif represents
the logical connection in the composition of the work [1].

The word motif is very complicated. It is subject to somewhat different conceptions

even when approached within the same discipline and field of analysis, as in this
publication. In other words, motif continues to be a concept whose definition is fluid and
subject to ongoing change [7]. Technical advancements in computer technology and
conceptual innovations both contribute to these developments.

A literary motif is a recurring theme that has some symbolic significance beneath

the main theme. It could be a phrase, action, sound, imagery, character naming function, or
idea expressed in words where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The full
picture of what this recurring element means may not become clear until the work is
completed. Therefore, it seems necessary to us to provide historical, epistemological, and
methodological information on the use of the term motif in scientific research to the
linguist and the expert in literary texts [11]. The various methodologies and use them as
models for their own research or to view it from a particular angle. In exchange, non-
linguists can discover components in the linguistic approach that will help them consider
and create their own concept of motif. We believe that the concept of the motif and its
various sub-concepts can serve as a solid foundation for a conversation between
disciplines and topics that ordinarily don

’

t interact.

Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika

–

Зарубежная лингвистика

и лингводидактика

–

Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics

Issue

–

1

№

2 (2023) / ISSN 2181-3701

74

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ray Bradbury and Isajon Sulton

’

s works were taken as an example to give more

specific information and compare American and Uzbek motifs in literature.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury depicts heinous situations in a dystopian world

with

“

the destructive side of technology and dictatorship, which can deprive people of a

normal life and basic freedom

”

[6]. This novel arose in the aftermath of World War II,

alongside the American fear of Communism.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury in an attempt to predict what the future of America

might look like. He wrote about what might happen to society if certain ideas and cultures

are not stopped, and how they will begin to destroy themselves. Society is at war with

another country, and the government has complete control over people

’

s lives.

A motif is a recurring object or idea in a literary work. The repetition of this element

helps to focus the reader

’

s attention on specific points that the writer considers important

to the story. It also contributes to the development of other literary elements, such as

theme or mood. The analysis of motifs in a literary work leads to a better understanding of

the work. A motif in a literary work can be defined as an image, sound, action, or other

figures with symbolic meaning that contribute to the development of a theme. Nature,

books, and fire, for example, can be considered enlightenment motifs in the novel

Fahrenheit 451.

The Eternal Wanderer

”

by Isajon Sulton is an epic magical realist tale.

The eponymous eternal wanderer, based in part on the medieval legend of the wandering

Jew, crosses space and time in search of the meaning of his life, cursed by God for refusing

Christ

’

s request to rest on the wall of his house during his march to Mount Calva existence,

as well as his relationship with God Sulton

’

s novel weaves a story that questions the limits

of human knowledge and the benefits of technological modernity by combining Qur

’

anic

stories, Sufi thought, and Christian mythology [14]. Whirlwind and vagabondage used like

motifs in the novel.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

As it discussed above nature images are frequently used in literature to represent

innocence and enlightenment. In

“

Fahrenheit 451

”

, nature is a natural analog to the

technology that underpins society. Bradbury employs images of nature to highlight the

shifting norms with which Montag is so familiar, as well as to emphasize the destructive

power of society as he knows it. When creations like the Mechanical Hound or the Snake

with electronic eyes used to pump Mildred

’

s stomach distort nature, they become images

of darkness and death. Images of animals and nature come through the novel. Nature is

depicted as a source of innocence and truth, starting She convinces Montag to try the rain,

and the experience irrevocably changes him. His escape from the city to the countryside is

a revelation to him, showing him the enlightening power of unspoiled nature. Much of the

animal imagery in the novel is ironic. Ray Bradbury takes up the change in the motif of fire

through the symbols of the sun, the campfire, and the phoenix to portray Montag

’

s

character change from a negative view of knowledge to a positive one. After Montag burns

Beatty and escape

s, he thinks about how he and society must change. He remarks that “if

he burnt things with the firemen and the sun burnt Time, then meant that everything

burnt!”

(12). Bradbury

’

s repetition of the word

“

burning

”

emphasizes the sense of

revelation that Montag is going through. He must change his settled perception of fire and

burning, and with it, he must change his attitude toward knowledge [6].

Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika

–

Зарубежная лингвистика

и лингводидактика

–

Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics

Issue

–

1

№

2 (2023) / ISSN 2181-3701

75

Several Uzbek cultural aspects are shown through Isajon Sulton

’

s The Eternal

Wanderer. For example, father-son relations had shown by Professor Ziyo and his son

’

s

relationship. The author used religion-based moral legends from Holy Quran and Bible.
(Wonderer Jew, Miraj, Judgment Day, Doomsday and etc.) In addition to that respect for
older generation, we can realize at the novel Uzbek national traditions, like being
respectful for old generation, hospitality, sincere, lobouring, satisfying and etc.

In the both novels have several similarities with fantasy elements to define motifs

on the plot:

•

In both books main and supported characters give their selves

’

questions like; Who

am I? What I am doing in this world?

•

Writers used Biblical and Quranic stories to emphasize that some issues is God

’

s

sake and that human being must follow God

’

s instructions.

•

Writers have described addiction to technology and artificial intelligence as

providing mankind with catastrophe.

•

Both writers indicate if a nation does not know its history, traditions, and customs

that nation undergoes non-existence.

•

In both novels nature plays a very important role for the main characters. Natural

events are used for opening the main idea of the book and to give the author

’

s message.

•

Knowledge has been shown as a weapon against ignorance.

•

Used mythological symbols like Phoenix, Fire, Hurricane, City Haybar etc.

•

Mentioned other books like (used allusion) in Fahrenheit 451:

Uncle Tom

’

s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Native Son by Richard Wright,

Julius Caesar, Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Alice

’

s Adventures in Wonderland by

Lewis Carroll, Plato

’

s Republic, The Corsair by Byron, Gulliver

’

s Travels by Jonathan Swift,

Dante, The Bible,

•

Mentioned other books like (used allusion) In The Eternal Wanderer

Lison ut-tayr (The Language of Birds) by Alisher Navoiy, Fozil odamlar shahri (City

of Virtuous People) by Farobiy, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

this book mentioned in both books.

“Gazal” by Mashrab.

The parts highlighted above provided an opportunity for the writers to explain the

idea of the composition in more detailed [14].

CONCUSION

To sum up, a literary "motif" is a recurring word, phrase, situation, object, or

thought. Often the term "motif" is used to refer to a recurring situation in various literary
works, such as the motif of saying farewell to a loved one. Motif is an important semantic
(meaningful) element of the text, necessary for understanding the author

’

s concept.

Contradictions in the path of human will, freedom, and self-actualization expressed
through symbols were explained by using examples from both of these novels.

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Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika

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Зарубежная лингвистика

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–

Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics

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2 (2023) / ISSN 2181-3701

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