Comic Relief

Comic relief is a humorous moment or character introduced into serious or tense narrative to provide temporary respite from dramatic intensity.

Shakespeare's gravediggers in *Hamlet* and the porter in *Macbeth* are classic examples.

The technique gives audiences a break while often deepening themes through contrast: The movie's comic relief felt forced amid the tragedy.

A person who lightens tense situations may also be called comic relief: He's the comic relief in our friend group.