Function of folktales in the plays: "Woyzeck" of George Buchner and "Kösem Sultan" of Turan Oflazoğlu

Abstract

Due to its easiness in quotation, the folk tale that is a type of narration in folk literature, is studied in tensively in many areas as well as literature. In this study, the folk tales "The Poor Girl" in Georg Büchner's 'Woyzeck' and "Zümrütanka" in Turan Oflazoğlu's Kösem Sultan are studied according to their functions in play. The groundwork of this study is ba sed on an existing folk tale's function in plays. While the folk tale in 'Woyzeck' helps establishing relation bet ween the scenes by becoming anti-tale, the folk tale in Kösem Sultan unites with the main story by changing through the playwright's objectives. Both of the folk tales take on a significant function in order to enlighten the main idea, connecting the scenes and being unified.