Orhan Kemal's novel Murtaza was first published in serialized in the Vatan newspaper between 17 January and 29 February 1952, and then published as a book in the same year. Murtaza, which attracted attention as a novel, has also been adapted to cinema and theater. This novel, which has been handled with different aspects in various studies, has been examined in terms of leitmotifs in this article. In the introductory part of the study, based on the term dictionaries general information about the definition of this technique and its use in literary works are given. Then, brief information about the novel Murtaza was given and continued with the main subject leitmotifs. This article aims to show how the leitmotif technique is used in the novel. The leitmotifs in the novel are handled under two main headings in terms of variety and function. Laytmotif types were evaluated under three sub-headings as repetitions related to social values, physical characteristics and appearance, and behavioral patterns. In the novel Murtaza, two basic functions of leitmotifs have been identified: portraying characters and creating atmosphere. In the conclusion part, it has been tried to answer the questions of what purpose the repetitions in the novel serve and what they add to the work. The novel Murtaza is one of the examples in which the leitmotif technique is widely and successfully used in the novel.

Orhan Kemal, Murtaza, leitmotif, motif, novel