A literary comparison between Müfdî Zekeriyyâ and Mehmet Akif Ersoy

Although comparative literature is newer than other literary fields, its importance in literature has increased. With the increase in the interest in this field, researchers have examined various authors by way of comparison. Carried out in the context of comparative literature, this study comparatively examines the images in the poems of Müfdî Zekeriyyâ, a poet in the Algerian literature writing on the independence struggle, and Mehmet Akif Ersoy, a poet in the Turkish literature writing on the War of Independence. In the periods when Algeria and Turkey were occupied, both poets represented the peoples' defence of their homeland against the colonialists and their reaction against the invaders in the form of different images. It was also seen that both poets played a role in their people's struggle for independence. This study first presents some information on comparative literature and the lives and works of Müfdî Zekeriyyâ and Mehmet Akif Ersoy. It also discusses the subjects in the poems of these poets. In this context, the images found in the poems of the poets were determined under the titles of colonialism, homeland, independence struggle, martyrdom, freedom, intertextuality, symbol personalities and symbols, and poetic dictionary. Both poets were compared in a literary manner and it was seen that the poets had similar aspects regarding the subjects such as colonialism, homeland, independence, and freedom. Both poets benefited from religious sources while writing their poems. However, the poets are separated from each other in terms of some images they have chosen. In the conclusion part, common and different points between the poets which have been identified in this study are presented.