Research Article / Araştırma Makalesi Cite as/ Atıf: Ekici, M.F. (2025). Fenomenolojik açıdan Bamsı Beyrek’in serüveni. Turkish Studies - Language, 20(2), 1075-1090. https://dx.doi.org/10.7827/TurkishStudies.80680 Received/Geliş: 10 February/Şubat 2025 Checked by plagiarism software Accepted/Kabul: 26 June/Haziran 2025 Published/Yayın: 30 June/Haziran 2025 Fenomenolojik Açıdan Bamsı Beyrek’in Serüveni The Adventure of Bamsı Beyrek from a Phenomenological Perspective Muhammet Faruk Ekici * Abstract: The story of Bamsı Beyrek, one of the most important narratives of Turkish literature in the Book of Dede Korkut, draws attention with its narration of the individual’s existential journey and inner transformations. This article aims to analyze the experiences of the protagonist in his consciousness by analyzing the story of Bamsi Beyrek in a phenomenological context. Phenomenology is a philosophical approach that examines how an individual experiences events and how these experiences are structured in his/her consciousness. The story of Bamsi Beyrek is a rich text in terms of understanding the way the protagonist perceives himself and the world. The story is analyzed under six main headings: heroism and existential experience, love and devotion, death and existential anxiety, social structure and identity, time and waiting, fate and will. In the section on heroism and existential experience, every moment Bamsi Beyrek encounters difficulties is analyzed as an experience that increases his existential awareness. In the section on love and loyalty, it is emphasized that love and loyalty play an important role in the process of making sense of oneself and the world. Beyrek’s love for Banu Cicek contributed to the completion of his existential integrity. In the section on death and existential anxiety, the experiences of the individual questioning his/her life and the meaning of life are discussed. In the section on social structure and identity, the protagonist’s process of gaining identity within the framework of his social relations and responsibilities is analyzed. In the section on time and waiting, the period of captivity and the individual’s experience of time during this period are analyzed. Finally, in the section on fate and will, how Beyrek’s choices shape the outcomes of his life is discussed. This study examines how Bamsı Beyrek forms his individual and social identity through the themes of love, heroism and death in a phenomenological framework. Structured Abstract: The Book of Dede Korkut is a pivotal text in Turkish oral literature, reflecting the Oghuz Turks’ social, cultural, and moral values. Within this text, the narrative of Bamsı Beyrek emerges as a distinctive story that intertwines themes of identity, heroism, love, captivity, and existential struggle. While many studies have analyzed Bamsı Beyrek from literary, historical, and folkloric perspectives, this study approaches the narrative through a phenomenological lens, exploring how the protagonist experiences and constructs his reality. The study examines how Bamsı Beyrek’s consciousness interacts with his existential journey, with a focus on how time, suffering, and societal norms shape his identity. The primary objective of this study is to examine the Bamsı Beyrek narrative through phenomenological analysis, focusing on key research questions: How does Bamsı Beyrek’s captivity influence his existential awareness? In what ways do concepts of time, waiting, and loss affect his self-conception and * Öğr. Gör. Dr., Munzur Üniversitesi, Rektörlük Lecturer, Dr. Munzur University, Directorate 0000-0001-6320-2679 mfarukekici@munzur.edu.tr