Comic Relief:

- The use of humor to lighten the mood of a serious or tragic story, especially in plays. The technique is very common in Elizabethan works, and can be an integral part of the plot or simply a brief event designed to break the tension of the scene.
The Gravediggers' scene in William Shakespeare's Hamlet is a frequently cited example of comic relief. (http://gale.cengage.com/free_resources/glossary/glossary_bc.htm)

- A humorous scene or incident that alleviates tension in an otherwise serious work. Often these moments enhance thematic significance of a story in addition to providing humor. (http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/a/c/ach13/Asia/Glossary.htm)

- A bathroom only for comics.