An eco-critical approach to the Epic of Manas

The Manas Epic is considered the world's longest and still unfinished epic. While the epic is narrowly considered a Kyrgyz Turkic tradition, it is a shared treasure of Turkic communities from a holistic perspective, possessing a rich content encompassing Turkish history and culture in a broader sense. This study examines the Manas Epic through the lens of ecocriticism, a newly emerging and evolving form of classical literary criticism, and its results are objectively assessed. The research is based on the work of Naciye YILDIZ titled "Manas Epic (W. Radloff) and Determinations and Analysis on Kyrgyz Culture" and Tuncer GÜLENSOY's work titled "Manas Epic" and consists of examining the geography, elements, weather events, plants, animals, the concept of the world and supernatural thought areas in the epic within the scope of deep ecology, social ecology, eco-philosophy and environmentalism approaches from ecocriticism. The epic's geography, representing the ancient ancestral lands of rural and nomadic Kyrgyz culture, also holds its own sacred significance. Plants are an ecological element not often emphasized in the epic. The subject of plants is mostly conveyed through trees and fruits. While trees are generally considered sacred and protective, a nature-centered approach is evident, fruit is likened to concepts related to the animal body, and zoocentrism comes to the fore. The value given to animals, and especially horses, in the sections on animals, departs from a utilitarian approach in various verses of the epic. The perfectionist depictions of Ak Kula, the horse of Manas, the hero of the epic, and the fact that Ak Kula suffers like a human after Manas's death, along with the attribution of human value, all demonstrate that the epic exhibits a generally zoocentric approach in these aspects. The epic explores supernatural elements, natural settings, and animals. This study aims to contribute to the field of ecocriticism in Turkish literature, a significant reflection of Turkish history and culture.