This paper examines the carnival in the narrative prose of August Šenoa and Eugen Kumičić and aims to demonstrate the presence and explain the function of the aforementioned theme in the context ofindividual works of both authors. The first chapter analyses and defines the carnival along with the notion of carnivalization in the context of world literature. The second chapter refers to the notion ofcarnivalization and the development of the carnival in Croatian literature. Subsequently, the central part of the paper ensues, which analyses first Šenoa's and then Kumičić's narrative prose containing the carnival. While in the works of Šenoa the aforementioned theme most frequently functions as a depiction of carnivalization of reality, there are instances where the carnival is used exclusively to create a rising action in the plot. In the works of Kumičić, the carnival specifically depicts the carnivalization of reality.To conclude, both Šenoa and Kumičić introduce the carnival in their works as a symbolic motive through which they present concrete ideas in accordance with their ideologies and their literary poetics, so the carnival in the context of their works acquires a deeper symbolic meaning.