Turkish literature

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/turkish-literature

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the earliest extant written turkic records?Orhon inscriptions, 7th century
2. What is the major oral epic traditions?Book of Dede Korkut (Oghuz Turks), Epic of Manas (Kyrgyz)
3. What is Turkish literature and how old is it?Turkish literature has been shared for more than a thousand years. It began with the 7th‑century Orhon inscriptions and many oral stories that have been passed down through generations.
4. What is the Book of Dede Korkut?The Book of Dede Korkut is a famous oral epic that tells the adventures of the Oghuz Turks. It is a foundational story for the people who later became modern Turks.

Orhon inscriptions: Ancient Turkic inscriptions found in Mongolia, representing the earliest known written records.
Oral epics: Long, narrative poems transmitted orally, forming a significant part of early Turkic literary heritage.
Ottoman Turkish: The form of Turkish used during the Ottoman Empire, heavily influenced by Persian and Arabic, written in an Arabic-derived script.
Aşıklar: Folk poets and minstrels in Turkish tradition who performed oral poetry, often accompanied by music.