Gift giving in Altai epicsaccording to the functional folklore theory

There are examples of gifts and giving in epic texts which have a significant place among Turkish folk narratives and reflect the national identities and social thoughts of civilizations. Giving gifts reflects the memory and spirit of cultures. In this thesis, the examples of gifts and giving presents in the Altai epics were examined. It is seen that the examples of gifts and presents are very various in the Altai epics. The "Functional Folklore Theory" created by William Bascom is applied not only to folk literature products but also to traditions and customs that undertake cultural transmission. In the context of "Functional Folklore Theory", the examples of gift and gift giving in the Altai epics were clarified. Gift giving examples in Altai epics are important in terms of the epic's contribution to the plot and the traces of Turkish social life. According to the functional folklore theory, the examples of gift giving in the Altai epics mainly serve to support values, social institutions and customs. Also, there are examples of gifts and presents that will serve as an example for the functions of having a good time, entertaining and amusing, transferring education and culture to future generations, and getting rid of social and personal pressures. With this study, the function of gift and gift giving, which is one of the prominent traditions in Turkish social life, in the Altai epics has been revealed. Keywords: Functional Folklore Theory, Altaic Epics, Gift, Gifting, Epic