THE HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN TURKISH CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

Abstract

Modern Turkish children's literature began to take shape against the backdrop of the enlightenment processes that occurred from the late 19th century onwards, particularly during the Tanzimat period. In subsequent stages-during the Second Constitutional period and the Republican era, it developed systematically and became established as an independent literary field. This developmental process was closely linked to the reassessment of the concept of the child within society and the renewal of the education and upbringing systems. During the Tanzimat period, the translation activities carried out by Ibrahim Sinasi and Ahmed Lutfi (especially adaptations from Western literature) laid the initial foundations of children's literature. In the Second Constitutional Period, Tevfik Fikret’s work “Sermin” marked a new stage in children's literature in terms of aesthetics and content. During the Republican period, authors such as Rifat Ilgaz, Aziz Nesin, and Eflatun Cem Guney introduced a realistic and satirical approach to social themes (family, education, society, democratic values), thereby expanding the thematic boundaries of this field. In the contemporary stage, alongside the theoretical approaches of researchers such as Ismat Kür and Mustafa Ruhi Shirin, the literary works of authors like Behic Ak, Sevim Ak, and Gulten Dayioglu have led to a qualitative enrichment in terms of both content and form. During this period, genre diversity (short stories, poetry, illustrated texts, etc.) expanded, and works began to more prominently reflect themes related to the child's daily life, social relationships, world of imagination, and environment. The principle of child-orientation serves as one of the main methodological directions of modern Turkish children's literature, necessitating the consideration of the child's psychological characteristics, level of perception, and worldview. In this context, literary texts fulfill not only an aesthetic function but also pedagogical and psychological functions. Consequently, modern Turkish children's literature is characterized as a multifaceted and dynamic literary system that supports the intellectual, emotional, and social development of children, while also serving the formation of their cultural identity.