Humorous content deliberately inserted into serious or dramatic works to provide temporary respite from tension, often making the serious elements more effective by contrast. It serves both to entertain and to prevent emotional exhaustion in the audience.
The term combines 'comic' from Greek 'komikos' (relating to comedy) with 'relief' from Latin 'relevare' (to lift up). While the technique is ancient, the specific term emerged in 17th-18th century dramatic criticism to describe how playwrights balanced emotional intensity with lighter moments.
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