SOME THOUGHTS ON TURKISH EPIC STUDIES AND EPIC TRADITIONS

This study examines the historical formation, development, and contemporary reflections of the Turkish epic tradition and epic narrative genres. Epics are among the oldest forms of oral literature, reflecting a society’s historical memory, national identity, and collective values. The Turkish epic tradition, shaped around themes of creation, origin, and heroism, represents a fusion of historical events and collective imagination. The first part of the study provides conceptual definitions of epic and epic tradition, exploring their role in collective memory and cultural functions within Turkish society. Subsequently, the fundamental characteristics of Turkish epic heritage and its most significant examples are analyzed. Additionally, the reflection of epic tradition in modern literature, cinema, television series, and popular culture is examined, focusing on how historical heroism narratives are reinterpreted through contemporary narrative forms. In conclusion, it is asserted that the Turkish epic tradition is not merely a historical oral narrative form but also a living cultural heritage that sustains national identity and collective memory while maintaining its functions within modern art and cultural productions.