Demonstrate how comic relief is used to heighten the tragedy of Hamlet.Examples

The most extensive piece of comic relief in Hamlet is in
Act V Scene 1.

The scene begins with a discussion between
two "clowns" who are digging a grave for Ophelia, who has committed suicide.  The clowns
engage in a convoluted discussion about whether a suicide victim should be granted a
"Christian burial."  Part of the humor is in  the clowns' mispronunciation of legal
terms: "se offendendo" for se-defenden-do [in self-defence], and "argal" for ergo
[therefore].

The clowns continue by posing riddles to each
other.  The answers to the riddles are grave-digging and gallows
maker.

Hamlet and Horatio arrive and engage the
gravedigging clown in humorous conversation.   As they are talking, the gravedigger
unearths a skull which he says is that of Yorick, a man who had been court jester to
Hamlet's father.   This gives Hamlet opportunity to reflect on the nature of death.  He
realizes that all people, no matter how great, will return to dust and that their skulls
will be useless except for "stopping a bung hole"--for plugging a wine
barrel.

Although the scene is full of jokes, it deals with
man's mortality.  It is a perfect introduction to the play's next and final scene, in
which Laertes, Gertrude, Claudius, and Hamlet all meet their
deaths.