The Vamık u Azra Mesnevi of Camii from Manisa

III ABSTRACT Ph.D. THESIS THE VAMTK U AZRA MESNEVİ OF CAMÖ FROM MANİSA Selami ECE Supervisor: Doç. Dr. Metin AKKUŞ 2002 - PAGE: 874 Jury Doç. Dr. Metin AKKUŞ Doç. Dr. Turgut KARABEY Doç. Dr. Mehmet ATALAY Camiî, is a poet who lived in the 16 th. century. He is recorded to be born in Saruhan, Manisa. The poet, whose date of birth and death hasn't been identified, dedicated this extensive mesnevi, Vamık u Azra, to Kanuni Sultan Süleyman (Süleyman the Magnificent). The only known copy of the mesnevi is registered in Süleymaniye Library. It is not known by whom or when it was written but being one of the works of Sultan Mahmut's Library, it is noteworthy for the reliability of the copy. Varmk u Azra is a mesnevi written about human love. The theme is originated from Greek literature, but the original names of Vamik and Azra in Greek Mythology has not been identified yet. It entered our literature through Persian literature; and with the strong interpretation of Camii, it completely became as an original native work. Like other classical mesnevis the love between two people from upper class was reinforced by virtues such as patience, struggle and confidence and the story ended in marriage of the two lovers. İn this thesis study; consisting of three chapters, biographical problems of the poet have been dealt with, the mesnevi of Vamik u Azra has been appreciated from the literary history point of view, and examined by a new method of criticism, called narration. The transcribed original text is tried to be made a useful one by being simplified.