Oral folk literature as a source of Nizami’s creative work

Abstract

Nizami Ganjavi`s “Khamsa” consisting of 5 poems attracts attention with its breadth and diversity. One of the main points that enriches this works is the sources used by the poets. Nizami made extensive use of both oral and written sources in his work. His simple lifestyle to create a basis for the use of folklore in his works. A number of legends, myths motifs served as a source for Nizami`s poems. There is an example of folklor in “Treasure of Secrets”, “Seven Beauties” and “Leyli and Majnun”. Sheykh Nizami also preferred to choose his heroes from historical figures close to folklore. İskandar, Khosrov Parviz, Sultan Sanjar, Bahram Gur are given as the main heroes of folk legends. This proves once again that oral folk literature was one of the main sources of Nizami Gancavi`s works.