The Artistic Function of the “Youngest Son” Image in Turkish Folk Tales

Abstract

The image of the “youngest son” in Turkish folk tales is one of the traditional artistic figures that has been formed since ancient times. In folk tales and legends, the youngest son often appears outwardly weak, simple, and sometimes even foolish; however, as the plot unfolds, he ultimately achieves victory through his intelligence, ingenuity, and courage. His character is portrayed as a symbolic figure embodying the people’s ideals of justice, goodness, and the realization of cherished aspirations. The article examines the artistic function of the youngest son from several perspectives. First, he serves as a symbol of goodness and justice within the folk worldview. Second, the image is closely connected with the social status of the youngest son as the heir and guardian of the family hearth in the traditional kinship structure. Third, from a mythopoetic perspective, he represents the archetype of the “eternally young savior-hero.” Through this figure, the people articulate the idea of the weak overcoming the strong and justice triumphing over evil. Moreover, the youngest son embodies collective aspirations, artistically demonstrating how an ordinary individual can attain great heights. In Turkish folk prose, this image also fulfills an educational function, promoting national values such as honesty, humanity, and justice. Thus, the youngest son constitutes an important archetypal figure within the prose
tradition of the Turkic peoples. The article analyzes the image of the youngest son in Turkish folk tales drawing upon examples from Kazakh folklore prose. Considering that the literature of any nation originates from oral tradition, the fairy tale occupies a distinctive place in literary development, particularly due to its significant role in child upbringing. It is widely acknowledged that Turkic peoples share a common ancient cultural heritage and a unified civilizational foundation. The study explores the position of the youngest son as the heir and keeper of the ancestral hearth — the symbolic center of the family lineage. The article examines the
status and glorification of the youngest son in Turkish folk tales. As a genre, wonder tales are not homogeneous; they include archaic narratives, heroic tales, as well as everyday life and adventurous stories. The research employs archetypal analysis, comparative-typological methods, and a cultural approach. The image of the “youngest son” in traditional Turkic culture is closely associated with his social role as the heir and guardian of the family hearth. This motif reflects the collective belief in the victory of the weak over the strong and the establishment of justice. The article demonstrates that the image of the youngest son is not merely a literary character but also a cultural and social archetype representing the spiritual identity of the people.