The Genesis and Evolution of Literary Criticism in Turkish Literature: From Oral Traditions to Modern Discourse

This article traces the historical development of literary criticism within Turkish literature, analyzing its transformation from pre-Islamic oral traditions and classical Ottoman Divan literature to the emergence of modern Western-style criticism during the Tanzimat (Reform) era. The study explores how criticism, initially embedded in oral culture through genres like satire (hiciv) and poetic assessment, evolved through various intermediary forms such as tezkire (biographical anthologies), şerh (commentaries), dibâce (prefaces), and belâgat (rhetoric) books. It argues that the concept of literary criticism in the Turkish-Islamic tradition was fundamentally different from its Western counterpart, functioning more as a tool for identifying flaws and praising excellence within a highly stylized and tradition-bound poetic framework. The turning point occurred in the 19th century with the Tanzimat reforms, when Western literary genres, including formal criticism, began to be adopted. This led to a paradigm shift, as pioneers like Namık Kemal and Şinasi introduced new critical concepts and methods, initiating a debate about the nature of art, language, and national identity that would shape modern Turkish literary thought.