Comic Relief in Macbeth---please copy in your notes or on your Act II packet

def.---a humorous scene, incident, or speech that is included in serious drama to provide a break from emotional intensity. Because it breaks the tension, it allows the audience to think about the plot events before, and prepare for emotional events after. The sharp contrasts provided by comic relief intensify the themes of the work. The drunken porter in Act II, Scene 3 provides this comic relief.

Example from Rush Hour