Final answer:
The term used to describe a play that mixes serious and comic matter is tragicomedy, which combines elements of both tragedy and comedy, often leading to a complex emotional audience response.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term used to describe a play that mixes serious and comic matter is tragicomedy. Tragicomedy is a genre that blends elements from both tragedy and comedy. It involves everyday characters caught in relevant situations and often culminates in a happy ending. In contrast, a comedy typically deals with lighter themes and aims to entertain, often ending in a celebration such as a wedding, while a tragedy focuses on serious themes, noble characters, and the protagonist's downfall.
Examples of each genre include Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream for comedy and Hamlet for tragedy. Tragicomedy often aims to evoke a complex emotional response from the audience by combining the gravitas of tragedy with the levity of comedy.