Definition of Dramatic Irony

Dramatic irony is a literary device where the audience or readers understanding of events or individuals in a work surpasses that of its characters. It is a form of irony that is expressed through a works structure, where an audiences awareness of the situation in which a works characters exist differs substantially from that of the characters, and the words and actions of the characters, therefore, take on a different, often contradictory, meaning for the audience than they have for the works characters.

Dramatic irony is most often associated with the theatre, but examples of it can be found across the literary and performing arts. It is frequently contrasted with verbal irony, which typically operates at the level of words and sentences that are understood by audiences or readers to carry meanings different from the words themselves when interpreted literally.

Examples of Dramatic Irony

Dramatic irony can create contrast, tension, and suspense in writing. It can also be used for comedy by letting readers in on a joke. Here are some examples of dramatic irony:

• In Sophocles Oedipus Rex, the audience knows that Oedipuss acts are tragic mistakes long before he recognizes his own errors.
• In William Shakespeares Othello, the audience knows that Iago is a treacherous character, but Othello trusts him.
• In Romeo and Juliet, the audience knows that the lovers are each alive, but neither of the lovers knows that the other is still alive.

Dramatic irony can serve a wide variety of purposes. Structurally, it is an excellent tool in both tragedy and comedy: it can create suspense or sharpen a storys emotional appeal, but it can also lead to a series of comical misunderstandings. It can make the audience feel as though they are in a privileged position of knowledge or understanding, compared to the characters.