THE BOOK OF DEDE KORKUT AS A MONUMENT OF THE LITERARY EPIC

Abstract

Kitab-i dedem Korkut (The Book of Dede Korkut in the language of the tribe of the Oghuz) is the only monument of medieval epics of the Turkic peoples that has come down to us in written form. This monument reflects both the events of early Turkic semi-legendary history (not only historical facts, but also a set of mythological beliefs) and later events connected with the spread of their power in the territory of Asia Minor and with their contacts with Byzantium. The stories that comprise the Book of Dede Korkut display a clear connection with both the common Turkic literary and folk tradition, and with more recent strata.