A structural analysis on the folktales classified by Aşik Şeref Taşliova

This study focuses on the minstrel's tales classified by Âşık Şeref Taşlıova, one of the minstrels living in the 21st century. This thesis consists of "Introduction", three chapters and "Conclusion". There is also a list of sources used in the study at the end of the study. The introduction part of the study is called "Minstrel's Tales and Storytelling". In this section, information is given about the structure, content and function characteristics of minstrel's tales and information about the tradition. Thus, in our study, a basis has been established for the definition and classification of the narratives. The first part of the study is titled "Âşık Şeref Taşlıova: His Life and Works". In this section, information about the life and works of Âşık Şeref Taşlıova is given and thus, the creative identity and literary personality of Taşlıova in the minstrel tradition are revealed. The second part of the study is devoted to the episode structures of the six minstrel's tales classified by Taşlıova. The episode structures of the six folk stories were examined comparatively and the episode structures of the stories were given. In the third part of the study, the digression and formulaic expressions used in the stories were emphasized and the motifs of the stories were determined and evaluated.