The problem of freedom in the poems of Sezai Karakoç and Ece Ayhan

The problem of freedom is analyzed in terms of existentialism in the poems of Sezai Karakoç and Ece Ayhan, the poets of The Second New which is the prominent poetry movement of 1950s in Turkish literature and the reflection of process of individuation on poetry is assessed. Poems of The Second New are found not to be indifferent to the acts of individuals but criticized for not being an open poetry. While the effect of the existentialist thought on the Turkish poetry is addressed the way how this thought is dealt in the poems of Sezai Karakoç and Ece Ayhan is discussed. Although there are different styles and themes images of existence are found. It is found that due to the concerns about existence, freedom becomes a problem and the essence of individual pursuit causes feeling of siege in the context of freedom and nihility. In this study images of existence is listed in two main parts, the emergence of the problem of freedom is exemplified with different themes and the process of individualization is explained. Key Words: Sezai Karakoç, Ece Ayhan, Existentialism, The Second New, Freedom, individual.