"Ariettes oublièes" was composed by Achille Claude Debussy in his turning point of life, during the years of 1885 to 1887 when he was in the transition from Rome to Paris. He turned away from the tradition composition's style which favored by Prize de Rome's judges and created his own identity in music through the invention of new harmony colour and innovation in melody and motives. During these years, he was frequently in-touched with Symbolist poets and greatly influenced by their thought. These influences show in his music as well as in “Ariettes oublièes”.

This thesis consists of five chapters. First chapter includes research's objectives, methods and problems. Second chapter discusses the development of French poems' style and French Art Songs during nineteenth Century. Third chapter writes on the background of poet Verlaine and composer Debussy, the origin of "Romances sans paroles", the relation of Impressionism and Symbolism in Debussy’s works. Fourth chapter consists of analysis on poems and music in "Ariettes oublièes". The last chapter concludes the previous four chapters and proves the inclination of Debussy’s music towards Symbolism influences rather than the famous label of “Imprressionism Music” for Debussy.