Abstract

This research has been done for the purpose of searching out the perceptions of the Turkish preservice teachers related to the term of “Literature” by the help of the concept of metaphors. 230 students have been participated to the study who have studied at Mehmet Akif Ersoy University(Turkey),Faculty of Education, Department of Turkish Teaching. Answers to the following questions were sought in the study: (1) Which metaphors are use to explain Turkish Teacher Candıdates perceptions of the concept  “Literature”?  (2)  Under what  categories  are  these metaphors gathered according to their common traits? The datas of research have been obtained by the Turkish preservice teachers completing the sentence of “Literature is like…; “because…”. Phenomenological  design  was  used  in  the  study  and  the  obtained  data  were  analyzed  with  content analysis. The Turkish preservice teachers whose opinions has been taken, has produced totally 108 valid metaphor related to the term of “Literature”. As a result of the concent analysis these metaphors are grouped under 7 conceptual categories in terms of common features. These are; (1) Reflectivite and transmittivit, (2) Importance, value and sensitivity, (3) Difference and diversity, (4) Infinity and depth, (5) Feeling, (6) Lifestyle, (7) Happiness and love. The research is concluded that the metaphors are an effective research tool of determining, uncovering and interpretation of the perceptions that the Turkish preservice teachers have the term of “Literature”.

Key words: Metaphor, Literature, Turkish preservice teachers.