Keloglan tales, significant works of Turkish folk literature, reflect moral, cultural, and social values through portrayals of daily life. The traditional Turkish folk character, Keloglan, has evolved to become central in contemporary tales, establishing a closer connection to modern contexts. This study compares traditional and contemporary Keloglan tales, identifying similarities and differences while examining the representation of cultural values. Using document analysis, ten traditional and ten contemporary Keloglan tales were analyzed under themes such as character traits, supporting characters, time and setting, violence, patriarchy, gender roles, fantastical elements, and story structures. The findings reveal significant contrasts: traditional tales depict Keloglan with more complex traits, whereas modern tales present him as resourceful, cunning, and innocent. Violence and patriarchal norms dominate traditional tales, while contemporary versions embrace egalitarian gender roles and avoid violent expressions. Modern tales also feature more detailed temporal references and fantastical elements. Traditional tales follow fixed opening and closing patterns, while contemporary tales offer greater diversity in structure. This study highlights the transformation of Keloglan tales over time, providing deeper insights into their evolution and continued cultural relevance.

Fairytale, Keloğlan tales, cultural values, hero.