Cultural And Literary Perspectives Of Selected Divan Poems During The Ottoman Empire Era

Abstract

This article examines the cultural and literary significance of selected Divan poems from the Ottoman Empire by analysing their formal structures, social functions, and mystical dimensions. Situated within the broader tradition of early Islamic literature, Ottoman Divan poetry represents a sophisticated synthesis of Arabic, Persian, and Turkish elements that emerged through centuries of cultural exchange. Using a descriptive qualitative approach grounded in close textual analysis, the study investigates three interrelated aspects: the aesthetic and technical features of the ghazal and qasida forms, including the rigorous system of ʿarūḍ metre and conventional metaphors; the representation of social hierarchy, court patronage, and political legitimisation; and the pervasive Sufi themes that articulate spiritual longing and the construction of a distinctive Ottoman Islamic identity. The analysis demonstrates that these poems cannot be reduced to mere literary entertainment. Instead, they function as complex cultural artifacts that simultaneously reflect and shape the intellectual sophistication, hierarchical social order, and mystical sensibilities of Ottoman court society. By integrating formal, sociological, and mystical perspectives, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of how poetry served as a medium for negotiating power, identity, and spirituality within the early modern Islamic world.