The Negative Turkish Identity in the Münchhausen Stories and the Resulting Hazards Concerning Child Literature

Abstract

It is known facts that in German Literature Turks are very often characterized. Turks are usually conveyed negatively in those writings. One of the main reasons for this ground is the wars experienced in the 15th and 16th centuries between the two communities. And these wars determined the identity of Turks and how they are regarded by the Europeans in a significant way. Because of the wars waged between the Turks and Germans, propaganda against the Turks has been carried out. The expressions including negative context written and told in that era against Turks have unfortunately come up to date. In the book is written in the 17th century, Turks are demonstrated to be "liar", "untrustworthy" and "barbarian" and especially the wives of the Sultans are depicted as "unfaithful". For some reason or other a writing of such content was given to the students of Bodenwerder Secondary School as project in the 2009-2010 year. The due project was also supported by the ministry of culture of the State. In a global world of ours and in an era where everybody has knowledge about everything, taking such dusty writing into the actuality of today and imposing them under the name of project is not a correct thing considering "child education." It is obvious that these kinds of writings including Xenophobia will damage the Turkish- German Friendship.