The legends of Kastamonu

This study aimed to contribute to Turkish Folk literature by compiling and analyzing the legends told orally in Kastamonu, a district of paramount importance for Turkish cultural inheritance, and to pass them to the next generations. Firstly, the study determined the legends in Kastamanu district, classified them in terms of their subjects and functions, and then analyzed their motive structures. It used literature review and field investigation as the research method. During the field investigation, the interview technique was used. The study classified Kastamonu legends under eight main titles. Under these titles were the legends assorted and numbered. The study concluded that the legends in Kastamonu district survived by adapting to the social environment. It also concluded that some of these legends differed in the ways they were told, but they had the same or similar motives.Key Words: Kastamonu, Folk Culture, Legend, Motive