Fictions of masculinites in Ottoman literature (17th, 18th, 19th centuries)

Abstract

The primary purpose of this dissertation is to understad the changing fictions of masculinites in Ottoman literature, especially poems of 17th , 18th, 19th centuries. In this way, 7 literary works which reflects the social alternations were chosen. The critical elements and altering factors related to masculinities were evaluated. In these elements, there are desire, love, power, rulership, acknowledgment of sex, physical beauty, concern of aesthetics, obscenity, fatherhood, being a husband and social roles. Homoerotic love had an important place in this study while the fictions of masculinites were searching. In the first chapter of this theses the masculinity studies were elucidated. In the second chapter, the masnavis written before 17th century were investigated. Thereby a path was formed for changing fictions of masculinites. Third chapter was composed of texts analysis. In the last part of the study the existence of women poets in Ottoman poetry and their masculinization process in literary tradition was debated.