What is dramatic irony?

It's bitter-sweet taste impact on you from the dramatic retelling or performance or a book

When the audience knows something that a character doesn't.

This is one of my favourite writing techniques! This is where a writer reveals to their readers something which the protagonist and/or other characters are still yet to find out. This technique really engages readers, as they feel like they've truly been let into the story.

Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something the characters do not know.

Dramatic irony is simply when the audience or reader knows something, and a character does not! The point of this technique is to draw the audience into the story, and to create more tension. A fantastic example of dramatic irony is in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', when the naive King Duncan thanks Lady Macbeth for her hospitality inviting him into her home, when the audience knows she is plotting to murder her guest!

When the audience knows something that the character/s on stage do not!

Dramatic irony is when the audience knows what is going on in the play, but the characters on stage do not.

In literature, dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something that the characters don't. For example: In the classic myth of Oedipus, Oedipus leaves his family because it has been foretold that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus doesn't know, however, that he was adopted.

It’s when the audience knows something that one or more characters in a play doesn’t. For example, in A View from the Bridge - Eddie comes home from drinking and doesn’t know that Catherine and Rodolfo are in the bedroom - the audience knows they are there and that Eddie will be angry so suspense is created.

It is a literary technique to keep the audience engaged that is normally applied in films, books or plays. In which the character is unaware of the scenario but the audience is not. A good exmaple of dramatic irony can be seen in William Shakespeare's plays A Midsomer Nights Dream , Othello and Romeo and Juliet.

Dramatic irony is when you, the reader of the novel or spectator of the play, knows something that the characters do not.

eg In Act 1, Scene 3 of Macbeth, the witches greet Macbeth as Thane of Glamis and Thane of Cawdor: "By Sinel's death I know I am Thane of Glamis; But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives."

Macbeth (Act one, Scene three, Line 71-72)

The audience already knows Macbeth has been made Thane of Cawdor by King Duncan because the treacherous Thane of Cawdor has been put to death and Duncan has given the title to Macbeth.

When the audience know something that the characters do not.

A dramatic irony can take place in movies, plays, theatre and sometimes in poetry. We can call dramatic irony a situation where the audience is aware of a factor that the character is not aware of.

As exemple we can use Mcbeth of Shakespeare where Duncan says trusting mcbeth while not being aware of the prophecy of witches fortelling that McBeth is going to be king and kill duncan. The audience is then aware of the prophecy of witches. It is then called a dramatic irony

a dramatic irony has three stage wich are; installation, exploitation and resolution.

To conclude a dramatic irony is useful in stimulationg strong emotions and suspense in the reader awaiting for the character to come to the understandingof the situation

Dramatic Irony is a literary device used particularly in Shakespearean plays. Authors use it to create suspense and tension in the play, seldom times, and also to bring in conflict. Dramatic irony occurs when readers or audiences know more details of the plot than the characters, which gives more power to the readers than the ones taking part in the play. Audiences start speculating the storyline and also start making predictions about the events in the play. For instance, in Act 1 Scene 3 of Macbeth, the witches address Macbeth as the 'Thane of Cawdor'. The readers are aware of this fact already because, in Act 1 Scene 3, Duncan had already decreed Ross to award the title of Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth. 

Definition

In the simplest way, dramatic irony is when the audience of a play knows more information than the fictional characters.

This can happen when a play, like Macbeth, has alternating scenes that feature different characters. This means that the audience will receive information sooner than certain characters within the play itself.

'noun - irony that is inherent in speeches or a situation of a drama and is understood by the audience but not grasped by characters in the play.' Official Definition - Dictionary.com

Example

Using Macbeth as a further example, the first use of dramatic irony within this play is actually found at the beginning of Act 1, Scene 4 . It is when the witches address Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth himself believes this to be a prophecy, but the audience was already informed in Act 1, Scene 3 that King Duncan had announced Macbeth as Thane.

This use of dramatic irony is to ignite Macbeth's faith in the witches' words, believing their 'prophecy' to be the reason for his success. This impacts his behaviour in the future, demonstrating a weakness in his character.

Conclusion

It is a device widely used throughout many plays to create suspense or humour whilst also highlighting the difference between a character's understanding of a situation in contrast to the audience. The use of this device allows the audience to get a deeper look into a character's personality and flaws. It can be used to emphasise or convey emotions in an effective manner. It gives words a new meaning that they otherwise would not have. Dramatic irony is mostly used to develop a situation or event to excite the audience through creating anticipation, fear, excitement and even hope.