Bilig, sa.97, ss.29-53, 2021 (SSCI)
Abstract
From the Orhun monuments to Kutadgu Bilig; from Sharia law to modern
day constitution, unwritten rules (norms), which have regulated society
over time, have been transmitted through generations in order to establish
social order. Tales are part of this transmission. Since purpose is embedded
inside the tale, and implicated to listeners without being noticed, tales
are not a form of didactic literature. Being non-didactic made it more
amicable, which helped to facilitate its transmission from generation to
generation. In this study, Fourty Four Turkish Fairy Tales, by Ignacz Kunos,
-the first person who compiled Turkish tales in history-, was examined.
The aim of the study is to identify and exemplify the subtleties of Turkish
social structure through folk tales and to emphasize the importance of
social norms transmitted through the tales. This qualitative study was
conducted by scanning documents, and the data were examined through
content analysis. In conclusion, 200 different norms were found in total.
All the characteristics of being a virtuous person are preserved in the
tales. Turkish folk tales, which present a role model of the ideal humanbeing, have a vital mission to transmit cultural values from generation to
generation.
Keywords
Social norms, Custom, Oral culture, Cultural transmission, Turkish tales