Abstract
AN EVALUATION ON THE ROLES OF MALE HEROES IN TURKISH TALES
Fairy tales are important oral cultural products that reflect the cultural values of the society in which they exist. They play a significant role in preserving tradition and passing it down from generation to generation. The male and female protagonists in fairy tales fulfill the roles expected of them by the society they live in. The emphasis on traits specific to male and female protagonists reveals that societal role expectations are reflected in fairy tales. Male characters often embody the qualities deemed appropriate for them by the patriarchal structure of society. In our study, the focus is on the different roles undertaken by male hero types in fairy tales. The aim of this study is to identify the characteristics through which male heroes stand out in fairy tales and to determine the roles they assume. In this context, the fairy tales in Turkish Fairy Tales I-II by Naki Tezel and We Went Far, We Went Wide by Pertev Naili Boratav were examined, and the roles undertaken by male heroes in these tales, as well as the functions of these roles, were analyzed.
Keywords
Fairy tale, Fairy tale hero, Male hero, Role, Attribute.