The earthly beloveds in the ghazals of the sixteenth century

This dissertation aims to reveal the characteristics of the earthly beloveds in the ghazals of the divans composed in the 16th century. What is meant by the earthly beloveds are real people in flesh and blood taking part in the poet's social life. The reason why 16th century is chosen as a scope is because during this century the Ottoman literature went through one of its most prosperous times when lots of big names appeared and the beloved's characteristics took shape to the fullest extent. The scope of the dissertation is narrowed down to the ghazals because they are being one of the most efficient poetic forms in the sense that the beloveds are depicted, but in some cases other poetic forms in the divans are also used in order to elucidate further. 76 poets' divans are analyzed, the divans of the mystic poets are not included in the scope of this dissertation. In the light of the data obtained, the beloveds are classified in six main chapters. The introductory first chapter explains the reasons why male beloveds are preferred to female beloveds and introduces the characteristics of the male beloveds. The second chapter uncovers the beloveds with a name and sexual attributions. The third chapter investigates the beloveds having a specific social identity, profession and belonging to a specific social milieu. In the fourth chapter, the beloveds engage into a verbal and sexual intercourse with the poet. In the fifth chapter, the beloveds have an appetite for money and materiality. In the sixth chapter, the beloveds are not the one and only but one of the many people to whom the poet emotionally attaches. In the seventh chapter, the beloveds are open to emotional and physical influence and the hierarchy between the poet and the beloveds is reversed.