Language and Identity Perception in Nazım Hikmet's Poetry during Exile Years
Language and Identity Perception in Nazım Hikmet's Poetry during Exile Years

Author(s): Hülya Bayrak Akyildiz
Subject(s): Studies of Literature, Turkish Literature, Post-War period (1950 - 1989), Migration Studies, Identity of Collectives, Turkic languages
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: Turkey; migration; Turkish literature; Nazım Hikmet; poetry; exile years; language; identity;
Summary/Abstract: In this paper, Nazım Hikmet’s poetry in exile years, from 1951 to his death in 1963, is examined in terms of identity projection and the role of language in this. Nazım Hikmet is one of the greatest poets of our age. His greatness lies in his ability to meet universality and the search of novelty with the contemporary and universal interpretations of the conventional. His poetry, meeting futuristic effects with socialist realistic, Marxist art and then with the voice of folk poems, gets the final touch by the poet’s distinctive sensitivity. This is why “earth”, “land” and “Turkish” are the key concepts in Nazım Hikmet. Before examining his language and identity perception, let’s take a global look on the relation between language and identity/culture.

• Details
• Contents