Archetypes, which are products of the collective unconscious and emerge in similar ways in different geographies, are embodied in literary narratives through symbols and metaphors. Accordingly, when the meanings attributed to these symbols are examined through comparative literary studies on literary works of societies with historical, cultural and religious ties in different times and places, it is possible to compare how artists address the common issues of humanity. The cave metaphor, one of the important symbols in the context of Jung’s “rebirth” archetype, has been processed in various disciplines from myths to holy books, from philosophy to psychology, and has found a wide range of associations in literature. In this study, the poems of Asaf Halet Çelebi and Svetkali Nurcan were comparatively examined around the cave metaphor, and the thought, belief and cultural systems underlying the cave symbol of both poets were explained. This study will contribute to those who will conduct comparative literary studies on Turkish and Kazakhstan literatures in terms of revealing the world of imagination and the sources they draw from.

Asaf Halet Çelebi, Svetkali Nurcan, Jung, Archetypes, Al-Kahf, Seven sleepers, Dede Korkut.