Diyarbakir tales in the light of epic laws

In this study, 29 folktales from the Diyarbakır region, taken from Muhsine Helimoğlu Yavuz's book Masallar ve Eğitimsel İşlevleri (Folktales and Their Educational Functions), are evaluated within the framework of Axel Olric's epic laws. The aim of the study is to reveal the structural and thematic characteristics of Diyarbakır folktales, to determine their place within the folk narrative tradition, and to identify the extent to which the narratives examined correspond to the epic laws. In this context, the theoretical background of folktales, which constitute an important genre of the oral tradition, is first discussed. In addition, text centered theoretical approaches are outlined in general terms, and a theoretical framework is established based on one of these approaches, namely the theory of epic laws. In the analysis sections, which form a significant part of the study, the folktales are subjected to a theoretical reading. The narratives, listed in alphabetical order, are evaluated within the context of Axel Olric's epic laws in order to reach a conclusion. After briefly presenting the bibliographic information of each folktale examined, the sequence of events is outlined and the relationship of the narrative to the epic laws is assessed. As a result of the analysis, an attempt is made to determine the extent to which these laws, formulated by a European folklorist and applied to many different genres, correspond with Diyarbakır folktales, which hold an important place within Anatolian folktales. Furthermore, the extent to which the historical and cultural texture of the region is reflected in the formation and transmission of the folktales is discussed. The study demonstrates that Diyarbakır folktales are not merely examples of local folk narratives, but are also products of a rich cultural heritage integrated with the epic narrative tradition of Turkish folk literature.