Eduelamuse ootel. Naer aardejuttudes ja jutustamise saateks
Expecting a Fortune: laughter in treasure tales

Summary/Abstract: treasure tales can be interpreted as stories of achievement and failing. Based on the texts collected in the Estonian Folklore archives, the research question is about the role of laughter in treasure tales and in their audience. On the one hand, when someone in the legend makes a mistake, misses an opportunity or gets embarrassed while searching for treasure, the audience may respond with laughter. On the other hand, the laughter heard during the narration of treasure tales is an ambiguous sign as both failure and success may evoke the same reaction. some of the treasure tales can be categorized as funny stories by genre. It means that the narratives tend to be taken as humorous due to genre convention. true, treasure legends can be told for entertainment, but at the same time laughter may conceal a listener's split feelings about this or that legend. In belief legends involving treasure motifs the mythological being sometimes makes its presence known by a peculiar laugh that serves as a warning to the human character. the characters in the treasure tales laugh in the same situations as real people would do. also, like ordinary people who avoid doing certain things for fear of being laughed at the characters in the legends may hide their deeds and thoughts connected to treasure hunting.

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