Abstract
TWO STORIES ON “WOMAN” FROM AGAHAN DURDIYEV OF TURKMEN LITERATURE, AS EXAMPLES OF CANONIC LITERATURE IN SOVIET ERA
Canon is an extensively used concept in social sciences, particularly in the field of literature, in recent years. We come across notions such as “Turkish literary canon”, “literary canon” and “inqilab canon”.
In addition to the ones in Turkish literature in Turkey, there are various literal works in Turkish literature outside of Turkey, which could be addressed within “literature – canon” relation.
Works of Turkmenistan Turkish writer Agahan Durdiyev are full of examples that could be approached within “classical Soviet canon” frame. Political realities of his time are represented in Durdiyev’s stories.
In Agahan Durdiyev’s story named as “Camal”, the protagonist is a young bride waiting with her old mother-in-law for her husband, who fights in the fronts in World War Two. Story idealizes the woman typology that the Soviet regime wanted. In writer’s story named “Her Mother Objected Akça”, we see “Akça” as a young female, who is torn between “tradition” and “future”. Both Camal and Akça are bold, fighter women who are committed to the regime.
The story “Camal” idealizes a young woman who supports her husband from the outside of the battlefield, with her endeavors and courage. The second story brings Akça forward as a female role model with her struggle against the stereotyped ideas in Soviet regime.
Agahan Durdiyev’s “Her Mother Objected Akça” and “Camal” are two stories as examples of literary canon which idealize the woman typology that Soviet Regime desired.
Keywords
Turkmen literature, Agahan Durdiyev, canon, literary canon.