Comedy
Literary term · say it KOM-uh-dee
Comedy is writing that aims to amuse, or a story that moves from trouble toward a happy ending. In plays especially, misunderstandings and conflicts often give way to marriages, reunions, or a return to peace.
Three common kinds of comedy
Romantic comedy
Obstacles keep lovers apart until discoveries or changes of heart allow them to come together. Humour often comes from mistaken beliefs about love.
In A Midsummer Night's Dream, a love potion tangles the affections of four young lovers. Their confusion is finally resolved, and they marry alongside Theseus and Hippolyta.
In A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
Comedy of manners
Witty conversation and awkward social encounters expose the rules and pretensions of polite society. Courtship, reputation, and class are frequent concerns.
In The Importance of Being Earnest, Lady Bracknell questions Jack about his suitability as a husband. His discovery in a handbag matters more to her than his character.
In The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People by Oscar Wilde
Farce
Unlikely situations, mistaken identities, and frantic action drive the humour. Small misunderstandings quickly grow into large predicaments.
In The Comedy of Errors, Antipholus of Ephesus is locked out of his own home while his unknown twin is dining inside. He mistakes the confusion for deliberate mistreatment.
In The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare
How to spot comedy
- Look for misunderstandings, surprising behaviour, or playful language.
- Notice whether social rules or human weaknesses become amusing.
- Check whether the ending brings reconciliation rather than lasting disaster.
Does a comedy have to be funny?
No, comedy can describe a story's movement toward a happy ending rather than constant jokes. In the traditional dramatic sense, its conflicts tend to end in reconciliation or renewed social order, even when parts of the story are painful or serious.
What is the difference between comedy and satire?
Comedy aims to amuse or moves toward a happy resolution, while satire exposes faults through ridicule. They often overlap: a comic scene may also satirize vanity, greed, or unfair social rules. Satire can be bitter, however, without offering comedy's lighter mood or hopeful ending.
Related terms
Books where you can see Comedy
200,000+ classics to read and hear, and printed books, large print included, at cost.
Try 3 months free
