Similarities between “The Secret History of the Mongols” and Turkish Epic (“Moğolların Gizli Tarihi” destanı ile türk destanı arasındaki benzerlikler)

Abstract

Many similarities existing in the epics of the Mongols and the Turkish allow to research common literary-cultural features in these works. The Book of Dede Gorgud and “The Secret History of the Mongols” as remarkable examples of nation’s heroic works both have similar and common ideas.  The purpose of the research work consists of comparatively analyzing social-cultural life, abundant historical past, folk and ethnography of nations. The epics are linked to each other in terms of people’s views, condition of emergence, similar motives, features of characters, religious beliefs, and they allow us to compare those similarities. Main method of research work is comparative analysis. Common subject of the epics is heroism, protection of motherland and struggle against enemies. Motives regarding courage and bravery against attacks of other tribes are fully demonstrated in the tales. Heroism, capture, revenge are common themes used in the epics. And these themes are reflected in the stories of important characters and they stress loyalty and courage of those men.  Main character of Mongol epic is Temujin who is later named Genghis khan, conquerer  of the world. Genghis khan governed his state thanks to his intelligence and wit, enlarged defence units of the country. In the example of  Salur Gazan, Bamsi Beyrek, Ganturali from the stories  of “The Book of Dede Gorgud” motives of heroism, devotion and loyalty are emphasized. Men of Oguz gained names for their deeds, courage, bravery.  Mongolian and Turkish epics are closely related to the events happened in the history and portray traces of ancient history of these nations.  National-moral values and abundance of lifestyle of the Mongols and Oguz people are very evident in the mentioned epics