Determination of folklore elements in the novels of Samim Kocagöz

Samim Kocagöz who was born to a wealty, art interwined and well-known Söke family, penned 12 novels and literary works in the genres of story, research, article, memoir and play over his fifty year career in the arts. In this study, Kocagöz's novels were examined in terms of folklore elements. Kocagöz aimed to illustrate society and the people not only in his novels but in all his work and reflect his ideology and social concern and keep it as the center of his art. He conveyed his knowledge, world of thoughts, and most importantly a realistic depiction of the period he lived in, the people of the region where he was born and grew up, their lives and their folk culture. This study comprises Samim Kocagöz's life, novels, and the examination and evaluation of his novels in terms of folklore elements. Key Words: Samim Kocagöz, novels, folk culture, folk literature, folklore.