Suleyman Tevfik Özzorluoğlu and folklore

The first studies on Turkish folklore were conducted in the form of compilations and text publications. The publishing of folk books became widespread after the declaration of the Second Constitutional Monarchy and is among the most important activities related to the field during the establishment of Turkish folklore. After the foundation of the Republic, the publishing of folk books became a systematic activity carried out by the state. During this period, folk books were used as a tool to enlighten the people and make them amenable to adopting the new form of government. The author Süleyman Tevfik Özzorluoğlu made the first edits on folk books. In addition to these edits, he also introduced new works in the folk and fairy tale genres to Turkish literature through translation and adaptation. As well, he made a name for himself with his works in almost every genre that can be included in the subject of folklore. Finally, Özzorluoğlu also made important contributions to the field by including folklore products in the periodicals he published. In this study, in order to determine Özzorluoğlu's contributions to Turkish folklore, the folk books he edited by using manuscript and lithographic copies and other works that can be included in the field of folklore were examined. In addition his life and works were also emphasized. Within the scope of the study, the changes and transformations of the folk narratives edited by Özzorluoğlu were determined. The manuscripts and lithographed copies showed that the author did not use a common method in the narratives he edited. Rather, he made his edits taking into account the political and literary conditions of the period, as well as the volume of the narratives and the audience they addressed, and attempted to reveal a new style, especially in terms of the use of language. In this context, it was concluded that although he acted with the aim of increasing the attractiveness of the arrangements, his edits did not disrupt the genre characteristics of the narratives.