The Character of Bamsı Beyrek in “İç Oğuza Taş Oğuz Asi Olup Beyrek Öldüğü Boy” and the Functional Model of Thematic Structure

Bamsı Beyrek, a character described in the narrative concerning İç Oğuza Taş Oğuz Asi Olup Beyrek Öldüğü Boyu (“When Outer Oghuz mutinied against Inner Oghuz and Beyrek Died”) is of interest because his primary function in the epic, The Book of Dede Korkut, is mediation. This study is based on the t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ruşen Alizade
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Istanbul University Press 2021-06-01
Series:İstanbul Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Türk Dili ve Edebiyatı Dergisi
Subjects:
Online Access:https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/B96EB9B50F6A4DD690E13D2CC17AF781
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Bamsı Beyrek, a character described in the narrative concerning İç Oğuza Taş Oğuz Asi Olup Beyrek Öldüğü Boyu (“When Outer Oghuz mutinied against Inner Oghuz and Beyrek Died”) is of interest because his primary function in the epic, The Book of Dede Korkut, is mediation. This study is based on the two-layered thematic structure of the last boy (narrative) of the text. It applies the structural semantic methodology to the examination of the configuration and positioning of Beyrek’s character through a general analysis of the contrasts, contexts, rituals, and characters. The study determines that Beyrek’s actions are aligned to his mission, and that the status of some characters (Aruz and Kazan) alters after Beyrek is murdered. Thus, the ritual context of the position-altering function of this character is clearly defined. Beyrek’s positioning as shaman and wolf are also examined, and it is ascertained that he occupies the same semantic level as Korkut Ata. The study identifies the cult-based framework of the oppositions reflected in the thematic structure, restores the transformative elements of the topical construction, and discovers the functional model of the status changing ritual.
ISSN:2602-2648