The typology of the Bashkir sagas

The thesis discusses typological characteristics of Bashkir sagas using the method of typology. The thesis consists of four sections excluding introduction. In the section of ?Introduction?, the history of Bashkir Turks and the saga tradition are examined. In the first section, after the definition of type concept is made under the title ?The Type Concept in Literary Works and the Characteristics of Type?, the elements which constitute the type are explained. In this section which is divided into two sub-sections the domestic and foreign works on this subject are evaluated. The sub-section ?Type Concept in Turkish Verbal Literature and the Characteristics of Types? of first section evaluates formation and development stages of the types which are seen in the narratives such as fairy tales, jokes, folk-stories and traditional folk-theater. The second section consists of two sub-sections. In the first subsection, the title ?The Saga as the Example of Verbal Literature and the Characteristics of Characters in the Saga? is discussed in three stages: formation of saga, formation and development of the characters in the saga, and the characteristics of characters in the Turkish sagas. The general characteristics of an ordinary protagonist in Turkish sagas are discussed depending to twenty-four features under the title ?The Pattern of Turkish Legendary Protagonist.? The central characters of five sagas which have been selected from the Bashkir sagas are examined in the third section of the thesis according to the pattern which was formed in the second section. The resulting evaluations are interpreted in a table under the title ?The evaluation of Central Characters (Protagonists) of Bashkir sagas.? The sub-characters in the Bashkir sagas are discussed in the fourth section which also tries to explain the typical characteristics of women, horses and foes in these sagas. The subject which was studied in scope of thesis is explained by generally. Key Words: 1. Saga 2. Bashkirs 3. Type 4. Typology 5. Hero