| Comedy | Tragedy |
| 1. Comedy is a humorous story with a happy ending. | 1. A tragedy is a serious story with a sad ending. |
| 2. Characters in comedy are ordinary people from day to day life. | 2. Characters in tragedy are royal personages, extraordinary and with divine qualities. |
| 3. Comedy reveals truth in humourous way. | 3. Tragedy reveals truth in realistic way |
4. Comedy gives emotional relief through laughter.
E.g. As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 4. Tragedy brings purgation through arousing pity and fear in the mind of audience.
E.g. Hamlet, King Lear… |
