Outlying the Lie: Narrative Exaggeration, Comic Performance, and Folk Intelligence in the Serbian Tale Laž za opkladu
Outlying the Lie: Narrative Exaggeration, Comic Performance, and Folk Intelligence in the Serbian Tale Laž za opkladu

Summary/Abstract: This article explores the Serbian folktale Laž za opkladu (‘A Lie for a Wager’) as a representative of ATU 1920, the internationally attested tale type known as the ‘Contest in Lying.’ Via close analysis of narrative structure, cultural context, and oral performance, the study argues that the tale employs absurd exaggeration as a strategic form of wit and social commentary. Drawing on folkloristic theory and comparative materials from Europe, the Middle East, and North America, it examines how tall tales reflect communal values, subvert authority, and negotiate the boundaries between fiction and belief. Particular attention is given to the role of comic escalation, verbal performance, and storytelling as a culturally sanctioned arena for reversing hierarchies. The tale’s preservation in Vuk Karadžić’s collections affirms its historical and ethnographic value, as its structure continues to resonate in contemporary narrative forms, suggesting rich potential for further research in traditional and digital folklore.

• Details
• Contents