Who is Ömer Seyfettin?

(1884–1920)

Writer and teacher, one of the pioneers of Turkish short story literature

Life

Ömer Seyfettin was born on 11 March 1884 in the Gönen district of Balıkesir. He had a quiet, introverted childhood marked by strong observational skills. Many of his stories draw on Gönen and the surrounding villages where he spent his early years. In his own words, these lands remained places he remembered with longing.

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Education

He began his primary education at a neighborhood school in Gönen but moved frequently with his family due to his father’s military postings. He attended a special class established for children of military officers, where he studied alongside Mehmet Akif Ersoy.

Ömer Seyfettin continued his education at the Kuleli Military High School in Istanbul and later transferred to the Edirne Military High School. It was in Edirne that he met Enis Avni, who would become one of his closest friends, and wrote his first poem at the age of sixteen. Although he received a military education, his true passions were writing and teaching. After serving as an officer, he voluntarily left the military career and settled in Thessaloniki. There, alongside literary colleagues Ali Canip Yöntem and Ziya Gökalp, he co-founded the journal Genç Kalemler. His 1911 article titled “Yeni Lisan” played a pivotal role in initiating the Millî Edebiyat period in Turkish literature.

He later moved to Istanbul and became a literature teacher at Kabataş High School, a position he held until his death. In 1915, he married Cahide Hanım, with whom he had a daughter named Fahire Üner. Their marriage ended in 1918.

Withdrawn by the social devastation of the First World War and personal hardships, Ömer Seyfettin turned inward and focused on his writing, undertaking several journeys across Anatolia. Despite his solitude, he remained highly productive and authored significant works that laid the foundations of modern Turkish short story literature. He died in Istanbul on 6 March 1920 at the age of 36.

Literary Personality and Works

Ömer Seyfettin is one of the foremost pioneers of Turkish short story writing. He consistently employed a simple, accessible language that resonated with the general public. This approach, aligned with the “Yeni Lisan” movement, became a leading force for change in the literary landscape of his time.

His works frequently reflect childhood memories, national sentiments, historical events, and personal observations. His stories are noted for their plain, concise, and compelling narrative style. During his years as a teacher, he also made great efforts to inspire young people with a love for literature.

The stories he wrote continue to be read with interest by children and young readers today, not only of his own era but of the present day. He published around ten books and wrote nearly 150 short stories. Some of his most well-known stories include:

• Kaşağı
• Diyet
• Falaka
• Bomba
• Başını Vermeyen Şehit
• Forsa
• Pembe İncili Kaftan

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Place in Turkish Literature

Ömer Seyfettin is among the pioneering writers who enabled the modern development of Turkish short story literature. His short stories not only supported the Millî Edebiyat movement but also opened the door to a simple and effective narrative style aimed at children.

Through his plain language, powerful storytelling, and didactic themes, his stories have remained in school textbooks for decades. In this way, he left a lasting impact on younger generations both as a literature teacher and as a short story writer.

References:

• Karatay, Hasan. Ömer Seyfettin’in Hikâyeciliği. Istanbul: Dergâh Yayınları, 2012.
• Ministry of Culture and Tourism. “Ömer Seyfettin.” Kültür Portalı. https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/genel/kimkimdir/omerseyfettin
• Turkish Writers Union. “Ömer Seyfettin.” tyb.org.tr. https://www.tyb.org.tr/omer-seyfettin-3140h.htm
• Turkish Language Association. “Ömer Seyfettin.” tdk.gov.tr. https://www.tdk.gov.tr/icerik/yazarlar/omer-seyfettin
• Seyfettin, Ömer. Seçme Hikâyeler. Istanbul: Bilgi Yayınevi, 1996.