Murathan Mungan's The Poet's Novel within the Context of the Künstlerroman

Abstract

Murathan Mungan, who is widely known for his dual identity as a poet and novelist, published The Poets' Novel (& Scedil;airin Roman & imath;) in 2011, a work that centres on the art of poetry. Although the novel incorporates elements of detective fiction and utopian narrative, its primary focus lies in exploring the intricacies of poetic craft and the process of becoming a skilled poet. Furthermore, the emphasis placed on certain characters' journeys toward mastering poetry enables the novel to be examined within the framework of the k & uuml;nstlerroman, a subgenre of the bildungsroman. The k & uuml;nstlerroman generally concentrates on an artist's development within a particular artistic field, positioning both art and the artist at its core. The artist's maturation-overcoming inexperience and attaining mastery-constitutes one of the fundamental characteristics of this genre. In a k & uuml;nstlerroman, the artist may develop under the guidance of a master or through self-discovery during a journey. In The Poets' Novel, I analyse the story of Bendag, who embarks on a journey to discover his own existence and to reach the highest level in the art of poetry, within the framework of the k & uuml;nstlerroman. After leaving Anakara, where the events initially take place, Bendag travels across the seas for many years before returning to his homeland. By participating in poetry festivals, he symbolically demonstrates that he has reached the pinnacle of poetic art. By faithfully applying the teachings of his masters, Bendag patiently transforms himself into a great poet. In this study, I trace Murathan Mungan's poetic poetics through a reading centred on Bendag, who functions as a shadow figure of the author. Accordingly, I examine this k & uuml;nstlerroman using the content analysis method. I emphasize that as Bendag progresses in the art of poetry, he gains a deeper understanding of both poetry and his own existence, directing himself toward self-discovery and establishing a meaningful connection between poetry and life. Furthermore, I reveal the place of concepts such as poetry, poets, and nature in Mungan's art. Ultimately, I conclude that Mungan presents poetry as a form of existence and a means of expression through the characters in his novel.