A comparative study on the Afganistan Uzbeks folk tales and Anatolian Turkish folktales (Analysis-text)

ABSTRACT Fairy tales, while containing universal narrative forms, are also oral folk literature products interwoven with distinctive cultural indicators that reflect each nation's historical heritage, social structure, value systems, and aesthetic understanding. In this respect, fairy tales are not merely entertaining stories, but significant sources that mirror the collective memory and cultural identity of societies. The comparative study of fairy tales belonging to different cultures not only contributes new perspectives to folklore research but also renders the historical and cultural interaction between nations visible on a scientific basis. In this context, the present study aims to comparatively examine the fairy tales of Afghan Uzbeks and Anatolian Turks, with the objective of revealing structural, thematic, and functional similarities and differences within the oral narrative traditions of both cultures. The concept of the fairy tale is examined within the cultural frameworks of the two communities; and elements such as episodic structures, character typologies, narrative settings, objects and tools, food and drink items, and formal narrative components are analyzed through a comparative approach. The study also provides a functional folkloristic analysis of the tales, focusing on their educational, cultural, and socio-psychological roles. These functions are discussed within the framework of functional folklore theory. In the application section of the study, the full texts of 50 Afghan Uzbek and 50 Anatolian Turkish fairy tales included in the analysis are presented. These texts are organized in a way that enables direct observation of the shared narrative codes and divergent aspects of the two cultures. Ultimately, this study seeks to explore the cultural connections shaped through historical processes between Afghan Uzbeks and Anatolian Turks by examining their fairy tale traditions. It also aims to offer methodological contributions to the field of folklore studies, particularly in the area of comparative research. Keywords: Afghan Uzbeks, Anatolian Turks, fairy tale, oral culture, folk literature, comparative analysis.