The Artistic Functions of Simile and Metaphor in Classical Uzbek Ghazal Poetry

This article examines the artistic, semantic, and aesthetic functions of simile (tashbeh) and metaphor (isti'ora) in classical Uzbek ghazal poetry. Particular attention is devoted to the poetic traditions associated with Alisher Navoi, Lutfiy, Babur, and other representatives of classical Turkic literature. The research investigates how figurative comparisons and metaphorical expressions contribute to emotional intensity, symbolic interpretation, philosophical reflection, and the representation of spiritual experiences. The methodological framework combines descriptive literary analysis, comparative poetics, semantic interpretation, and historical-contextual approaches. The findings indicate that simile and metaphor constitute fundamental mechanisms of artistic expression in the ghazal tradition. Similes establish recognizable relationships between human emotions and natural phenomena, while metaphors transform conventional poetic images into complex representations of love, beauty, suffering, and mystical aspiration. The article also discusses the relationship between classical rhetorical conventions and individual poetic creativity. It concludes that the artistic functions of these devices extend beyond ornamentation and contribute significantly to the conceptual organization, emotional coherence, and aesthetic identity of classical Uzbek ghazal poetry.