The Thematic Context of Neriman Cahit’s Poetry

Abstract

Neriman Cahit, one of the female poets of the 1974 generation, is known for her poetry written in a social-realist approach as well as her literary research. Beyond poetry, Cahit has also produced works in various genres such as research, articles, biographies, and interviews. Her literary journey began with the publication of her poetry collection Sıkıntıya Vurulan Düğüm in 1978. Demonstrating sustained literary productivity over the years, she published her second poetry collection, Ayseferi, in 1995, followed by Anasu in 2000, contributing two more significant works to the literary world. Cahit constructs the thematic framework of her poetry with a deep and multifaceted perspective, categorizing her work under six thematic headings: “historical-cultural structure,” “gender inequality,” “collective struggle and reconciliation,” “childhood,” “individual identity quest,” and “Mediterranean identity.” While her early poetry predominantly focuses on themes of nature and romanticism, characterized by intense lyricism, she later shifts her focus towards social issues. Adopting a critical stance against inequalities in society, Cahit incorporates the social problems of Cyprus into her poetry, reflecting the socio- cultural dynamics of her geographical context. Transitioning from personal emotions to shared societal issues, the poet explicitly articulates her criticisms of the social structure, traditional norms, and injustices imposed on women. This study aims to conduct a detailed thematic analysis of Neriman Cahit’s poetry collections, examining their thematic framework in depth.