Eulogy in the qasida of the Zâtî

The qasida, one of the most important verse forms of Classical Turkish literature, is written for a specific purpose, and this purpose is usually the reward or the maqam and position that the poet expects. The fact that the reward is at the centre of the qasida transforms it into an instrument of direct praise. Poets praise the statesmen to whom they offer qasida in certain patterns and present the qasida to the statesmen within a certain set of rules. Although this pattern and form of praise are common to all poets in general, it may also vary depending on the poet's artistic power. This study focuses on the praise patterns of Zâtî, one of the important poets of the 16th century, in his eulogies. These patterns are classified according to their qualities and the meaning they add to the poem is tried to be revealed. For this purpose, the poet’s 92 eulogy qasidas are analysed. All these concepts mentioned in these qasidas are classified, and their contribution to eulogy is tried to be explained. While the study's introduction is devoted to the definition, structural characteristics and historical development of the qasida, the first chapter is devoted to praising Zâtî's eulogy and qasidas. The second chapter comes up with the praise patterns, the third chapter focuses on the praise in the qasida to the three Sultâns of the period, and the fourth chapter focuses on the praise to the statesmen in the qasida and the dimensions of praise.