Comedy

A dramatic form often involving courtship, obstacles and reconciliation, and commonly ending in marriage. A comedy need not be happy for every character.

A dramatic genre with a happy resolution, often involving marriage; Shakespearean comedy can include serious suffering as well as humour.

A Shakespearean comedy is not simply a play that makes people laugh. It normally moves towards a happy resolution, often through marriages that bring people together. Much Ado includes witty arguments, mistaken identities, matchmaking, music and dancing.

A play whose action moves towards reconciliation and a happy ending, often involving marriage; it may still include serious suffering.

Part (b): use the conventions of comedy to explain the reconciliation at Belmont, then consider how Shylock’s exclusion complicates that resolution.

A dramatic genre commonly involving courtship, obstacles, disguise and reconciliation, often ending in marriage rather than the protagonist’s death.

A play whose movement towards reconciliation, marriage and renewed social order shapes its ending; it need not be humorous throughout.

A dramatic genre usually moving towards union, reconciliation and restored order rather than a fatal ending; it need not be funny throughout.

A dramatic genre usually moving towards reunion, marriage or restored social order rather than ending in catastrophe; it need not be consistently funny.

The Tempest, probably written in 1610–1611, belongs to the later part of Shakespeare's career. It can be described as a comedy, a tragicomedy and a late romance. These labels highlight different features rather than cancelling one another out.

A dramatic genre with a generally light-hearted style and a happy resolution, often involving marriages.

A dramatic genre typically involving obstacles, misunderstandings and reconciliation, often ending with marriage rather than death.

A dramatic form in which obstacles and misunderstandings are ultimately resolved, often through marriage and reconciliation; it can include serious suffering.

A dramatic genre commonly involving misunderstanding and disorder, followed by reconciliation or marriage; it need not give every character a happy ending.

A dramatic form traditionally associated with courtship, obstacles overcome and marriage or reconciliation, rather than simply a play that makes audiences laugh.

A dramatic genre often involving courtship, obstacles, disguise and reconciliation, usually ending in marriage or restored harmony; it need not be entirely light-hearted.

In 1598, Francis Meres listed The Merchant of Venice among Shakespeare’s comedies. Its courtships, disguises, marriages and eventual reconciliation fit that genre. Antonio escapes death, and the lovers’ future becomes possible.

A dramatic form often involving courtship, obstacles, mistaken identities and a concluding movement towards marriage and reconciliation; it need not be cheerful throughout.

A dramatic genre in which obstacles are overcome and the ending usually brings reconciliation and marriage; it need not be happy for every character.

A dramatic form that commonly moves through obstacles and misunderstandings towards reconciliation and marriage, though its ending may retain uncomfortable tensions.

A dramatic genre associated with humour, misunderstandings and a resolution that commonly brings lovers together in marriage.

A dramatic genre often involving misunderstandings and conflict that lead towards reconciliation and a happy ending, frequently marriage.

A dramatic genre typically moving through conflict and misunderstanding towards reconciliation and marriage; it can include serious suffering as well as humour.

Claudio, a young count, wishes to marry Leonato's daughter, Hero. His friend Benedick and Hero's cousin Beatrice apparently dislike each other and reject marriage. Their witty arguments provide much of the comedy, while the threat to Claudio and Hero's wedding drives the main conflict.

A dramatic genre traditionally associated with a happy resolution, often involving marriage; it can include suffering as well as laughter.

A dramatic form that typically moves through obstacles and misunderstandings towards reconciliation, marriage or renewed social harmony; it can include serious suffering.

A dramatic form often involving obstacles to love, disguise and reconciliation, and ending in marriage or renewed social harmony; it does not mean that every scene is funny.

A dramatic form often involving courtship, obstacles, mistaken identities and a resolution through marriage or reconciliation; it need not be funny throughout.

A dramatic form in which obstacles and misunderstandings are usually overcome, often ending in marriage or reconciliation; it need not be consistently funny.

A dramatic form commonly involving courtship, misunderstandings and a resolution through marriage or reconciliation; it need not be funny throughout.

A play whose conflicts usually move towards reconciliation, marriage and renewed social order; it need not be consistently funny.

A dramatic genre often organised around courtship, obstacles, misunderstandings and eventual reconciliation or marriage; it need not be funny throughout.

A dramatic form often involving misunderstandings, obstacles to love and a movement towards reconciliation or marriage; it can include serious suffering.

A dramatic genre in which difficulties are generally resolved through reconciliation and marriage; it need not be funny throughout.

Definition

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AQA GCSE English Literature · 8702

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Edexcel GCSE English Literature · 1ET0

OCR GCSE English Literature · J352

Eduqas GCSE English Literature · C720