The power of laughter and laughter in power : the presence and purpose of Merlin’s laughter in the English medieval romance "Prose Merlin", and the French "Roman de Silence"

The article deals with the figure of Merlin, most famously associated with the Arthurian medieval chivalric romances, who is a prominent representative of the high court as its important contributor due to his supernatural skills. However, amidst his numerous accomplishments as a prophet or royal advisor, his laughter constitutes a mysterious reaction that appears at surprising times. Represented in the two works, the thirteenth-century French Roman de Silence and the fifteenth-century English Prose Merlin, the scenes of Merlin laughing uncontrollably serve particular yet different purposes. This article aims to present, compare, and analyze the significance of Merlin’s laughter arguing that these scenes should not be dismissed as mere entertainment, as its author contends, they contribute significantly to Merlin’s roles within the narratives and his general portrait.