Comedy aims to:

a
Tell historical stories
b
Evoke strong emotions
c
Examine existential themes
d
Entertain and provoke laughter

d) Entertain and provoke laughter

d. Entertain and provoke laughter

The correct answer is d) Entertain and provoke laughter.

Comedy is a form of entertainment that aims to generate laughter and amusement. It typically involves the use of humor, wit, and satire to create a light-hearted or comedic effect. Comedy can take various forms such as stand-up comedy, sitcoms, movies, or plays. It has been a popular genre since ancient times, with comedies being performed in theaters and enjoyed by audiences across cultures.

To determine the correct answer, we can analyze each option:

a) Tell historical stories: While comedy can incorporate historical elements or references, telling historical stories is not the primary objective of comedy. Historical stories are often explored in genres like historical fiction or documentary.

b) Evoke strong emotions: While comedy can certainly elicit emotions, its primary purpose is to entertain and provoke laughter rather than evoke intense or strong emotions like drama or tragedy.

c) Examine existential themes: While there may be comedic works that explore existential themes, this is not a defining characteristic of comedy. Examining existential themes is more commonly associated with genres like philosophical literature or drama.

d) Entertain and provoke laughter: This option best describes the purpose of comedy. Entertaining audiences and eliciting laughter is the main objective of comedy across different forms and styles.

Therefore, the correct answer is d) Entertain and provoke laughter.