Final answer:
Comedy in the middle of a serious plot is known as tragicomedy, which combines the serious tone of a tragedy with the humorous elements of a comedy to create a complex emotional response.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Comedy in Plays
When comedy surfaces in the midst of a serious plot, it is typically referred to as a tragicomedy. Unlike pure comedies that focus on entertainment and typically end happily, a tragicomedy blends the serious undertones of a tragedy with the lighter, often humorous elements of comedy. Tragicomedy deals with everyday characters navigating significant issues, often leading to a hopeful or happy resolution. The alternating moments of levity within the drama aim to balance intense moments, thereby eliciting a complex, multifaceted emotional response from the audience. Notable examples of tragicomedy in literature include Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' and 'The Merchant of Venice', where the blend of humorous and somber moments is evident.
In Shakespeare's works, you might find the characters engaged in practical dilemmas rather than ethical quandaries, such as figuring out how to achieve their desires without causing harm. This aligns with the ethos of comedy, which often includes situations like misunderstandings, coincidences, and mistaken identities - all designed to provoke laughter rather than serious contemplation or distress. Meanwhile, commedia dell'arte introduced physical humor and exaggeration, known as slapstick comedy, which focuses on physical antics and over-the-top scenarios.
The choice that a student must make in this context is between multiple types of comedy. Option A 'Dark Comedy' refers to humour that often deals with more somber, sometimes morbid subjects, and thus does not fit this context. Option B 'Tragic Comedy' or more correctly 'Tragicomedy' is the correct label. Option C 'Romantic Comedy' involves a love story and comedic obstacles, but not necessarily a serious plot. Option D 'Slapstick Comedy' is characterized by physical humor, which is not necessarily embedded in a serious plot.
Therefore, b) Tragic Comedy is the correct answer.