tragikoominen
Tragikoominen, or tragicomic, is a label used in literature, theatre, and film to describe works that fuse elements of tragedy and comedy. It signals tonal ambiguity: serious, even painful subject matter is tempered by humor, irony, or absurdity. The term is commonly used in Finnish criticism but is also standard in international literary discourse.
Characteristics include the juxtaposition of fate and wit, morally ambiguous or resilient characters, use of irony,
Origins and scope: The concept extends from classical tragicomedy but in modern usage refers to works that
Examples: English-language exemplars frequently cited include Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, Joseph Heller's Catch-22, and Kurt