İsfendiyaroğlu Rüstem Bey's dîvân (Dîvân of Kâsimî): Analysis and text

The only known copy of Dîvân of Kâsımî, as of today, is registered with the number 3122 in the Berlin State Library. Kâsımî or with his real name Rüstem Bey/Çelebi, who most probably lived in the 15th century, was the son of Kâsım Bey from the Principality of İsfendiyar. This Dîvân attracts attention for classical Turkish literature on the grounds that it was not mentioned in any study; composed in an early period like 15th century; hosts a rich content with regard to daily life, customs, beliefs and cuisine culture as well as examples of proverbs and idioms; provides historical facts about the beylik period in Anatolia and has one of the first examples of ramazaniye in the classic Turkish literature. Consisting four main chapters titled "Kâsımî's Life and His Family", "The Dîvân's Analysis", "Kâsımî's Literary Personality and Wording with Reference to His Dîvân" and "Text", this thesis purposes to unveil Dîvân of Kâsımî completely. In this sense, Beylik of İsfendiyar is briefly introduced in terms of its relationship with the family of Kâsımî and scarce information available regarding his life is presented first of all. What follows is a detailed analysis of Dîvân in terms of its form and content. Nazım forms, rhythm, rhyme and redif is analysed accordingly with the help of tables. The qasida of Kâsımî having the feature of ramazaniye is also taken into consideration. All of his poems are examined in terms of aspects of social life like tradition, thoughts, daily life, clothes, toilette, shopping and cuisine culture as well as of the aspects book culture, aspects regarding writing, religious and sufistic elements, personalities and place names. Then based again on the Dîvân, literary personality and wording of the poet is introduced in addition to the assessment of his linguistic mastery of daily and literary language. What is finally presented is description of the copy and transcription of the Dîvân and translation of the original text into prose. Hopefully this work is to be a contribution for the classical Turkish literature studies.