Yaşar Kemal’s Immortal Work Sarı Sıcak has come to life once again with the magical texture of literature.
“People were poor; their hands were calloused, their faces scorched, but they always had hope. The wind blowing from the mountains carried the scent of the plains to the villager’s cracked hands. Those hands knew the soil, the water, but most of all, they taught the meaning of hard-earned sweat.”
Yaşar Kemal, Sarı Sıcak
On Tuesday, December 17th, the ‘Yaşar Kemal, Sarı Sıcak Creative Reading Workshop,’ guided by Çiğdem Odabaşı for our 11th-grade students, took our students to the fertile lands of Anatolia, to the human stories where poverty and resilience intertwine. Organized by the Department of Turkish Language and Literature, the workshop, planned at the auditorium, reshaped the Anatolian stories brought to life by Yaşar Kemal’s unique style, resonating in our students’ minds and hearts. By focusing on the author’s descriptive power, his deep observations of human nature, and his social critiques, our students gained the skill to interpret the text with literary finesse. While tracing the rich narrative in the texts, they deepened their literary analysis skills through activities that stimulated their imagination and strengthened their empathy and aesthetic perspective, transforming art into a life-enriching experience. With this workshop held in the warmth of Sarı Sıcak, we once again demonstrated that literature is a unique journey that enriches the human soul. We thank our esteemed guest, our teachers, and the participating students.
