Analysis of Usûlî Dîvân

ABSTRACT The 16th Century was a fruitful period within Ottoman history during which politics, art, and literature had reached their peaks, and whereby both Classical Turkish literature in its very essence was shaped as well many a masterful poet had penned many a marvelous work. One of the most important of these bardic figures is the Balkan-reared poets Usûlî. The aim of this dissertation is to illustrate Usûlî's literary voice as well as world view through the analysis of his only known work: Usûlî Dîvânı (The Collected Poems of Usûlî). This study—akin to the poetry collection itself—has been divided into five sections: Religion, Mysticism, Society, Man, and Nature, and summons the lyrical realm of the poet by examining each of these five themes at length. Keywords: Usûlî, Collected Poems, Commentary, Analysis, Religion, Mysticism, Society, Man, Nature