THE USE OF ANECDOTES AND JOKES IN UZBEK CLASSICAL AND MODERN LITERATURE

Аннотация

This article delves into the significant role of humor, anecdotes, and jokes within the landscape of Uzbek classical and modern literature. Uzbek literary tradition is deeply enriched with comedic expressions that serve not only as a means of entertainment but also as powerful vehicles for moral instruction, cultural reflection, and subtle social critique. From the sharp wit of classical figures such as Alisher Navoi to the clever social observations in contemporary prose, humor has consistently held a central position in narrating human experience. This paper explores the evolution of humor in literature through various historical periods and examines how anecdotes and jokes adapt to societal shifts while retaining their instructive nature. By highlighting examples from literary texts and considering the sociocultural context in which humor was created and received, the study illustrates how laughter can reveal profound truthsabout identity, values, and thecomplexities of thehumancondition. Keywords: Anecdote, humor, satire, Uzbek literature, classical texts, modern narratives, cultural identity, wit.