Abstract
The Fortune-telling Culture and A Sample of Floral Fortune Book in Verse Form
Curiosity of the unknown and hearing about future is
among the common characteristics of human beings. Thus,
fortune-telling considered as guesswork of the unknown
through some signs by several methods is a common
application in almost all societies dating back to old ages.
Fortune-telling is among the common traditions in
Turkish society as well; and a variety of literary works
focusing on different ways of fortune telling and known as
“Falnâme” in general have been written in Turkish Classic
Literature. In this paper, after giving general information
on the place of fortune-telling in the Turkish culture, a
sample of fortune book in verse form is shared with the
readers of scientific, cultural and literary Works. This
sample of verse fortune book takes place in a manuscript
and the two other parts of this verse are thought to have
been recorded in the first half of 18th century. It’s unclear
that by whom and when the verse is told and it has no title.
The verse is done by wishing on the names of various fruits
and flowers – like a raffle fortune. It is told within the
framework of classical poetry forms – in two couplets with
the form of “fâilatün fâilatün fâilün”. It has a fortunetelling
application schema under the rhythmic numbers 1-
2-4-8-16 with 15x5 head sections and it consists of a total
of 30 verses.
Keywords
Fortune-telling, fortune book, flora, classical literature.