Abstract
This article explores the image of the river in Oralhan Bokei’s novella “Atau kere” from the perspective of the life concept. The aim of the study is to analyze the symbolic meaning of the river within the framework of national worldview and to propose effective teaching methods. In the literary work, the river is not merely a natural element but a conceptual image reflecting human life, destiny, and spiritual existence. The traditional Kazakh concept of “Zher-Su” reveals the sacred significance of nature and its artistic representation. The study examines philosophical, psychological, and cognitive dimensions of the river image. Methods such as cognitive analysis, textual interpretation, and comparative analysis were applied. The findings demonstrate that the “river as life” concept enhances students’ worldview and deepens literary comprehension. The proposed teaching strategies contribute to the development of critical thinking and the assimilation of national values through literature.