Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey Model to The Story of Kerem and Aslı

Abstract

Folk tales, one of the narrative genres of Turkish
folk literature, take their source from the events
that have left their mark on the social memory.
The story of Kerem and Aslı, which is one of them,
has been told with love both in Anatolia and
among other Turkish tribes, and has found a place
for itself in oral and written culture over time.
Many variants of the story from oral, manuscript
and printed sources have survived to the present
day. The story of Kerem and Aslı, which has a
mixed verse-prose structure and contains most of
the traditional motifs, has been in the minds as it
symbolizes the sacrifices endured for the sake of
love. Today, this story preserves its value as a
historical and cultural material.
In this study, the story of Kerem and Aslı, which
has an important place among Turkish folk tales,
was examined according to the data presented in
Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey. The first
two of the main titles “A point of departure”, “Rite
of passage” and “Return” found a great deal in the
story, although not all sub-titles. The title of
“Return” could not be realized because the main
heroes were burned to death.