Паронимы в английском языке

[LarisKLO]

День добрый! (ну, или кому уже вечер, а кому утро)

Объясните, пожалуйста, когда употребляется слово classic, а когда classical или comic/comical.
С historic(al), periodic(al) и economic(al) вроде всё ясно. А с предыдущими никак не разберусь, уже и в англо-английском консультировалась, и в Lingvo - а они друг другу даже противоречат кое-где. Сама никак не разберусь. :(

Help me please!
Thanks a lot beforehand

[nephew]

Classic, Classical. Classical is the customary
word when reference is made to
the arts and literature of ancient Greece
and Rome (a classical scholar, classical Latin,
classical metres). The works studied, and
also the subject itself and the study ofthe
subject, are called (the) Classics. Classical is
also applied to serious or conventional
music (i.e. that of Beethoven, Mozart,
etc.) as distinct from light or popular
music; and in physics to the concepts
which preceded relativity and quantum
theory.
Classic means 'of acknowledged excellence'
(the classic textbook on the subject),
or 'remarkably typical' (a classic case of
cerebral palsy). Classic races (or the Classics)
in Britain are the five main flat races,
namely the Two Thousand and the One
Thousand Guineas, the Derby, the Oaks,
and the St Léger.
+ http://multitran.ru/c/m/a=4&MessNum=198665&l1=1&l2=2&SearchString=geographical&MessageNumber=198665#mark

[LarisKLO]

Спасибо, в общем и целом, я так и полагала. А что насчёт comic / comical? Никто не пояснит в деталях?

[nephew]

comic, comical There is a traditional distinction between these two adjectives: comic implies an intention to be funny (whether or not the result is in fact funny); comical implies a funny effect or result (whether amusement was intended or not).
The two words tend therefore to combine with different sets of nouns — a comic story, a comic
ask, a comic actor (these all aim at being funny? But might turn out to be not in the least funny), a comical appearance, a comical expression, a comical situation (all of these do cause amusement? Though they might well be perfectly earnest in spirit or outlook).

Since the laughter-provoking effect of comical things is so often intended or even at odds with a very serious background, comical frequently has a strong sense of ‘odd, incongruous, ludicrous’ about it: a comical attempt, a comical excuse.
Comic is often found in literary contexts, as the adjective for comedy (another adjective, comedic, is rather technical and is rarely used). Comic acquires much of its meaning through its contrast with tragic: once again, laughter is not necessarily implied by the word.

Comic is also used as a noun, in various senses. It can mean 'a comedian', though there is now a slightly disparaging or disapproving tone to the word. It can mean 'a comical person', as in That baby of yours is such a comic! And it can mean 'a magazine of cartoon stories': the stories may be adventure stories or science fiction or funny stories, but the magazine is still likely to be called a comic (or, in the United States, a comic book).

The Right Word at the Right Place