Use of space and geographical elements in Cemşîd u Hurşîd mesnevis and the relationship between space and character

This study aims to examine the functionality of space, the role of geographical elements in the narrative, and the meaningful relationships between space and character in the mesnevis of Cemşîd ü Hurşîd, which are important examples of classical Turkish literature. Based primarily on four separate mesnevis of Cemşîd ü Hurşîd by Ahmedî, Cem Sultan, Ayşe Hubbî and Abdî, this study reveals that space is not merely the physical setting where events take place, but rather a multi-layered narrative element that shapes the character's spiritual journey, inner transformation, and semantic depth. Within the theoretical framework of the study, the historical development, formal characteristics, and content-related tendencies of the mesnevi genre in classical Turkish literature were first evaluated. Subsequently, the concepts of 'space' and 'character' were addressed in a literary context. In this context, space was evaluated not merely as the backdrop of the narrative, but also as an active element that accompanies the individual development processes of the characters, reinforces the thematic structure of the story, and carries the potential to generate meaning. In the application section, physical and symbolic spaces such as the palace, city, desert, mountain, square and dungeon, which appear in all three mesnevis, are examined in detail. The relationship between these elements and Cemşîd's journey of love and the inner transformation of other characters is revealed. In particular, desolate deserts, IV mountains, and palaces are analysed as symbolic spaces reflecting the character's spiritual tides and the testing nature of love. Furthermore, geographical place names frequently encountered in the texts, such as China, Rum, India, Damascus, Baghdad, Egypt, Abyssinia, Badakhshan, Bukhara, Khorasan, and Isfahan, have been evaluated within their historical and cultural contexts. The meaning these places add to the text, the atmosphere they create, the poet's idealised worldview, and the sense of universal reality have been emphasised. These geographical elements are directly linked to the trials Cemşîd encounters and the transformations he undergoes during his journey from China to Rum, supporting the narrative's symbolic journey structure. The findings obtained at the end of this study reveal that space in the mesnevis of Cemşîd ü Hurşîd is not merely a descriptive or aesthetic element; rather, it is a defining building block that shapes the narrative's meaning structure, structures the character's development, and deepens the tradition of love-themed mesnevis. Thus, it contributes to analyses of space and the relationship between space and character in classical Turkish mesnevis, emphasising how functional and necessary space-centred readings are in narrative analysis.