Dramatic irony is when the audience are aware of something, but the characters don't. For example, In Shakespeare's *Macbeth, *Duncan is talking about how Macbeth is so great. We know that Macbeth is actually planning to kill Duncan, but Duncan himself doesn't know this.
Dramatic irony occurs when the audience is aware of something the characters are not, creating suspense or humor.
When the audience knows something that the characters do not, it is referred to as dramatic irony. This is a common device used in literature and theater to create suspense or humor. An example of dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows the true intentions of a villain who appears trustworthy to other characters in the story. Shakespeare's characters like Iago from Othello or Richard III are often involved in situations where they say things with an innocuous meaning to others on stage, but the audience understands their sinister intentions. The tension and excitement arise from the audience's anticipation of when and how the truth will come to light within the narrative.
Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something that the characters do not, creating tension and emotional engagement. It often features in literature and can lead to tragic or humorous consequences. Examples include Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet , where the audience’s knowledge heightens the drama of the story.
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