Question

‘Dramatic Irony’ means…

a) The narrator says the opposite of what he means
b) The story is funny and serious at the same time
c) The audience knows elements of the story which the characters don’t yet know
d) The audience is kept in the dark until the final scene of the story

Answer 1

‘Dramatic Irony’ means that the audience is aware of certain storyline elements that the characters are not, creating tension and anticipation for when the characters will discover the truth.

Step-by-step explanation:

‘Dramatic Irony’ means c) The audience knows elements of the story which the characters don’t yet know. This is a literary device commonly used in theatrical productions as well as other forms of storytelling. The effect of dramatic irony comes from the audience's awareness of a situation or knowledge that the characters in the story are oblivious to. This creates tension and engagement as the audience anticipates the characters’ realization and reaction when they finally encounter the truth.

For example, in Shakespeare’s play Othello, the audience knows that Iago is deceiving Othello, but Othello himself trusts Iago completely. The audience watches the tragic events unfold with the understanding that Iago’s manipulation is driving Othello's actions, which is a prime example of dramatic irony in action.