Mythological Quests In Turkish Literature

Turkish literature undergoes a radical change with the Tanzimat, or Reformation. The mythological structure also changes direction in this process. Turkish literature, which enters into interaction with the Western literature, thus gets into contact with the Greek mythology indirectly. Translations are the initial data where the Greek mythology is reflected. Mythological images also begin to appear in the books written. This tendency does not constitute a conscious and strong channel at the beginning. However, mythological elements that are involved in Şemseddin Sami and Nabizâde Nâzım’s work titled Esâtir, or mythology, Abdülhak Hâmit’s poems and plays and Ahmet Mithat Efendi’s novels open Greek mythology to Turkish literature. A cautious approach is observed towards mythology in the works written in this initial period. The issue begins to gain a place in the literary environment through a debate on classics. The New-Grecism approach led by Yahya Kemal and Yakup Kadri lays the groundwork for detailed investigation of mythology. Yahya Kemal considers the Greek mythology to be a consequence of the civilization of the Mediterranean basin. New-Grecism is involves an informed approach to gain access to mythology, transcending the simple eclecticism of The Reformation Era, and a search for a solid ground on which Yahya Kemal would establish his poetry. However, his efforts remain at the level of searches only. Yakup Kadri, on the other hand, maintains his adherence to old Greece as a stylistic feature of his novels. Salih Zeki Aktay’s mythological poems constitute a different channel in Turkish literature. The direction of the Turkish literature, which is headed for the Greek mythology, is further reinforced by Turkist authors who argue that Turkish writers should take as examples the Greek classics, which are the sources for Greek mythology. Turkish mythology is also raised as an issue of the agenda by Ziya Gökalp and its essentials are laid down. The 1940s in the Turkish literature represent the years when humanism and its artistic equivalent mythology start to rise. Greek classics become available and readable by everyone thanks to the intensive translation efforts initiated by Hasan Âli Yücel’s orders as a state policy. The magazines İnsan and Yücel become the driving forces behind the humanistic thought. Enlightened authors such as Hilmi Ziya Ülken, Sabahattin Eyuboğlu, Orhan Burian, Selahattin Batu, Füruzan and Hüsrev Tökin, who gather around these magazines, establish the theory of Turkish humanism. Mavi Anadoluculuk, or Blue Anatolianism, which argues that humanist thought, which led to the Renaissance in Europe, is of Anatolian origin, not of Greek origin, develops in this line. Halikarnas Balıkçısı, leader of this movement, assumes a significant role in the introduction of ancient culture into Turkish culture. Azra Erhat, Sabahattin Eyuboğlu and İsmet Zeki Eyuboğlu are other prominent figures of this movement.