LITERARY AND ARTISTIC CHALLENGES IN TRANSLATING OMAR KHAYYAM’S QUATRAINS

• Diyora Allovidinovna Ishankulova

  Author

This article examines the literary and artistic challenges of translating Omar Khayyam’s quatrains. It analyzes the unique meaning and content of Khayyam’s rubaiyat, focusing on human life, destiny, joy, sorrow, and philosophical concepts of existence. The symbol of wine (“may”) is central, representing not only physical intoxication but also spiritual freedom, detachment from worldly worries, and the pursuit of momentary happiness. The article discusses how translators, such as Edward FitzGerald and A.G. Potter, preserve the metaphorical, aesthetic, and philosophical essence of Khayyam’s quatrains in English. Wine and other motifs (flowers, gardens, beloveds) carry multilayered meanings, reflecting both the literal and symbolic richness of the original texts. The study situates Khayyam’s imagery within historical, cultural, and Sufi contexts, highlighting the poet’s call for human enjoyment, wisdom, and critique of narrow-minded orthodoxy.

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