Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The literary personality of the renowned Turkish poet and public figure Mehmet Akif Ersoy has always attracted the attention of researchers. His works have been the subject of numerous studies covering various academic perspectives, including poetic and thematic aspects, stylistic features, and ethnolinguistic considerations. In addition, significant research has been conducted on his literary contributions and civic stance. These studies have formed the core of many academic works and have served as the foundation for dozens of doctoral dissertations and monographs. The aim of this article is to review these studies and introduce Kazakh-speaking readers to Ersoy's literary works and poetic style by analyzing relevant materials. Given that the poet lived in an era when Turkey faced significant social upheavals, including the struggle for independence (the War of Independence) and internal political crises, the main themes and literary style of his works reflect the historical context, distinguishing him from other Turkish poets and writers. This is particularly evident in Safahat, one of Ersoy's major works, which consists of seven books. Although the earliest poems in this collection were written during the final years of the Ottoman Empire, the majority of his works were published during the years of the Independence Movement. The core ideas of his poetry revolve around calling the Turkish people to unity and solidarity, boosting the morale of Turkish soldiers on the battlefield, and urging local leaders and the wealthy elite to take the forefront in defending territorial integrity. Turkish researchers describe Ersoy's authorial style as a "popular language" or "works written in simple language," while some scholars refer to him as a "realist poet" or "naturalist." This article also examines the lexical features of Turkish literature in the transition from Ottoman Turkish to modern Turkish, based on studies of Ersoy's poem Asım. It analyzes and classifies the representation and etymology of individual words in lexicographic works and provides thematic interpretations from a didactic perspective. Additionally, the article reviews publications that have conducted comparative studies of Ersoy's works and those of Kazakh poets and writers.
Source: Ķazaķstan šyġystanuy.
Author: Ergali Esbosynov
Institution: Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University
Language: English
Subfield: Literature and Literary Theory
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4410450323