ANALYSIS OF ARBOREAL IMAGERY IN THE WORK OF MATNAZAR ABDULHAKIM BASED ON AN ECOPOETIC AND ECOCRITICAL APPROACH

Abstract

This article examines the arboreal imagery in the works of Matnazar Abdulhakim through an ecopoetic and ecocritical lens. As one of the leading figures of modern Karakalpak and Uzbek poetry, Abdulhakim constructs a rich symbolic ecosystem in which trees function not only as natural elements but also as carriers of cultural memory, ethical values, and human–nature interconnectedness. The study identifies recurrent dendritic motifs such as the sacred tree, the suffering tree, and the tree as a witness to historical and ecological lossThe findings reveal that Abdulhakim’s poetry embodies an eco-centered worldview where nature is treated as a living subject, thus contributing significantly to Central Asian ecopoetics.