This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
Turkish literature saw the emergence of the Five Syllabists, who adopted the syllable meter and were shaped by the influence of the National Literary Movement. In the early 20th century, they gave poetry a new direction. This community, named for their use of the syllabic meter and their identity as five poets who embraced this approach, developed a simple and fluent style in contrast to the heavy, artistically ornate language of Servet-i Fünun and Fecr-i Ati, which was based on an elitist artistic sensibility. The Five Syllabists—Faruk Nafiz Çamlıbel, Enis Behiç Koryürek, Halit Fahri Ozansoy, Orhan Seyfi Orhon, and Yusuf Ziya Ortaç—treated themes such as homeland love, heroism, individual emotions, and nature in their poems, adapting the syllabic meter to poetry inspired by people poetry. In these respects, they became one of the foundational pillars of Republican-era Turkish poetry.
The Five Syllabists emerged as a literary group in the early 20th century, shaped particularly by the impact of the First World War and the National Struggle. During this period, the decline of the Ottoman State and the Turkish nation’s fight for independence fostered a nationalist orientation in literature. The National Literature Movement, which began in 1911 with the journal Young Pens, argued that art must employ a language accessible to the people and carry a national character, thus forming the foundational idea that nourished the Five Syllabists. Although the poets initially wrote in aruz meter, they turned toward the syllabic meter from 1917 onward, following Ziya Gökalp’s advocacy of folk literature and the syllabic form. In this process, they embraced a simple language and a poetic sensibility understandable to the public, in opposition to the heavy and artistically elaborate style of Servet-i Fünun and Fecr-i Ati. Moreover, Mehmet Emin Yurdakul’s “Türkçe Şiirler” and Ziya Gökalp’s poems written in syllabic meter played a significant role in shaping the development of the Five Syllabists in this direction. These poets developed a poetic approach that emphasized both individual and national sentiments by drawing on the metrical forms of folk poetry and the rich cultural elements of Anatolia. During the War of Independence especially, the Five Syllabists produced works that strengthened feelings of national identity and solidarity, and after the war, they continued their literary influence by turning toward individual themes.
The key characteristics of the Five Syllabists include elements that reflect the literary sensibility of their time and their deep commitment to folk literature. First, the Five Syllabists introduced the syllabic meter into Turkish poetry at a crucial turning point. The syllabic meter is the traditional meter of Turkish folk poetry and had long been used as a standard form in folk verse. The Five Syllabists adopted this meter as an alternative to aruz meter and aimed to use a simpler language in their poems. This also necessitated the use of a language accessible to the general public. Their adoption of the syllabic meter enabled them to establish a connection between literature and the people, allowing their poetry to reach a broader audience.
A simple and comprehensible language is one of the most distinctive features of the Five Syllabists’ poetry. In contrast to the literary language of Servet-i Fünun and Fecr-i Ati, these poets employed a natural and straightforward language that the public could easily understand. This approach also reflects their embrace of a national literary sensibility. They viewed literature not as an art for art’s sake but as a tool for educating the people and promoting national unity. Therefore, in their poems, they used a direct style that spoke to the hearts of the people, avoiding ornate and obscure language.
The most prominent themes in the poetry of the Five Syllabists are national and individual emotions. Under the influence of the years of national struggle, themes such as patriotism, heroism, and independence formed the central axis of their poems. These themes not only served the social structure of the time but also contributed to the development of a national consciousness among the people. At the same time, individual emotions also held significant importance in their poetry. Poems dealing with fundamental human feelings such as Love, loneliness, and melancholy, drawn from the themes of folk poetry, were explored within a broader literary spectrum.
A focus on folk poetry and the cultural richness of Anatolia is another key characteristic of the Five Syllabists. These poets did not merely adopt the formal features and narrative style of folk poetry; they also reflected the daily life, traditions, and natural elements of Anatolia in their poems. They embraced a poetic sensibility deeply intertwined with the people, nature, village life, and the landscape of Anatolia. These elements gave rise to a pastoral theme in their poetry. Nature was not used merely as a backdrop but as an integral part of the poem, and the poets integrated these elements with both individual and social themes to develop a powerful mode of expression.
The Five Syllabists enriched and layered their poetry by drawing on lyric, epic, and pastoral elements. Lyrical elements are prominently present in poems that express the poets’ individual emotions, inner worlds, and emotional intensity. These lyrical poems are among the most striking features of the Five Syllabists’ art. Epic elements were employed especially in poems centered on patriotism and heroism. Heroic epics and war themes served as instruments to reinforce the nationalist outlook in their poetry. Finally, pastoral elements manifest in sections that describe love of nature, village life, and the simple existence of the people. These elements represent both their adherence to the traditions of folk literature and a form of resistance to the social structure of the time.
The Five Syllabists constitute a group of important poets in Turkish literature, each leaving unique marks on their literary careers and reflecting the syllabic meter, elements of folk poetry, national sentiments, and individual themes in their works. Each representative of the Five Syllabists not only embodied the general characteristics of the group but also made significant contributions to Turkish literature through their own distinct poetic sensibilities.
Faruk Nafiz Çamlıbel is one of the most renowned and widely read poets among the Five Syllabists. His poetry prominently features pastoral and epic elements. His work Han Duvarları is one of his most famous pieces and this work portrays Anatolian village life, the people’s resilient spirit, and their love of nature. Faruk Nafiz also successfully incorporated traces of folk poetry and epic tradition into his poems when addressing themes of heroism. His poetry establishes a deep connection with the cultural values and heritage of the Turkish nation.
Enis Behiç Koryürek is another significant figure among the Five Syllabists, whose poems generally contain heroic and mystical elements. His poetry exhibits social sensitivity and historical awareness. Enis Behiç is also known for his interest in folk culture and folk literature. In his heroic poems, he frequently references the military history of the Turkish nation and its heroic epics. A mystical atmosphere occasionally pervades his poems, reflecting his literary quest to explore the inner spiritual journey and moral values of human beings.
Halit Fahri Ozansoy is best known for his emotional and individualistic poetry. His poems delve into personal feelings, the questioning of individual existence, and the depths of the human soul. While addressing themes of personal sorrow and loneliness, his poetry also explores the relationship between humans and nature. In Halit Fahri’s poems, the inner world of the individual and psychological analysis hold significant importance. Moreover, his poetry generally contains emotional intensity and melancholy.
Orhan Seyfi Orhon is one of the Five Syllabists with the most humorous and satirical style. His poetry frequently highlights humorous elements and social criticism. Orhan Seyfi, in particular, uses a subtle sense of humor to express the contradictions of society and the dilemmas faced by individuals. His poems combine social critique with irony and a cheerful tone. He skillfully integrates satirical elements into his poetry, offering sharp observations on people’s individual and social lives.
Yusuf Ziya Ortaç is another important representative of the Five Syllabists, whose poetry often highlights national themes and humorous elements. While addressing national sentiments, his poems explore the values of the people, heroic tales, and the historical struggles of the Turkish nation. At the same time, he employed humorous elements to offer social criticism and reflect his observations on societal life. Yusuf Ziya also succeeded in amusing the public while prompting reflection, through his playful and witty language.
The Emergence of the Five Syllabists
Key Characteristics of the Five Syllabists
Representatives of the Five Syllabists