The Relationship Between the Proverbs in Mevlana’s Mesnevi and Short Stories

Abstract

Although short short story with its condensed and brief quality has its own place in our literature as a result of the needs of modern people, the first traces of this genre in Turkish culture was observed centuries ago. In this context, it is significant that Mevlana's Mesnevi goes considerably parallel with the definition of short short story.

Short short stories, telling more with less words, using brief, effective and stunning remarks, get close to the proverbs in Mevlana's Mesnevi. With its philosophical discourse and open ended structure approaching to Mevlana's Mesnevi, this kind of story has no direct claim to give messages and to educate people. Therefore it can be distinguished from the proverbs in Mevlana's Mesnevi. However, the proverbs in Mevlana's Mesnevi and short short stories generally share such common points as setting the plot, having implication, consciously and extensively using covert narration method and preferring to make use of original symbols and images.

In conclusion, it is considered that today's short short stories are built on the tragedy of modern people as the proverbs in Mevlana's Mesnevi focuse on the humanity and deal with its global problems; and strengthen the thought that the proverbs with their rich and cultural background set a good and an orijinal example for short short stories.