An ecocritial study on Cemil Kavukçu's stories

This study aims to examine seventeen short story collections by Cemil Kavukçu, one of the prominent representatives of modern Turkish short fiction, within the framework of ecocriticism. The primary objective of the research is to reveal how the relationships between nature, space, and human beings are constructed in Kavukçu's works, to determine the function of nature in the texts, and to evaluate this function with in the framework of ecological awareness. The study employs qualitative research methods, specifically document analysis and thematic analysis techniques, and interprets the author's works in line with the fundamental criteria of ecocriticism. The analysis demonstrates that nature in Kavukçu's stories is not merely a descriptive element; rather, it is constructed as an entity that reflects the individual's loneliness, alienation, and psychological state, carries symbolic values, and functions as a subject. Themes such as the temporary restorative role of nature, critiques of environmental destruction, and the urban–rural dichotomy emerge as prominent aspects. The findings indicate that the author continues Sait Faik Abasıyanık's sensitivity toward nature in a modern vein and addresses issues such as urbanization, alienation, and indifference toward nature through a literary lens. The research reveals that Cemil Kavukçu is among the strong representatives of environmental sensitivity in contemporary Turkish short fiction and that his works offer original and valuable examples through an ecocritical approach. In this respect, the study contributes both to academic research on Kavukçu and to the development of ecocriticism in Turkish literature. Moreover, by drawing attention to the potential of literary texts centered on the human–nature relationship to foster ecological awareness, it holds significance as a source for future interdisciplinary studies.