Which of the following best defines 'Dramatic Irony' in Shakespearean drama?
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Correct answer: The audience knows something that one or more characters do not
Dramatic irony arises when the playwright gives the audience knowledge that is withheld from the characters on stage. This gap creates suspense, tension, or dark humour as the audience anticipates the consequences of a character's ignorance.
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More Dramatic Irony questions
- In 'Romeo and Juliet', what is the primary instance of dramatic irony in the final tomb scene?
- In 'Othello', why is the recurring epithet 'Honest Iago' considered an example of dramatic irony?
- In 'Twelfth Night', dramatic irony is primarily driven by which plot device?
- In 'Macbeth', why is King Duncan's comment on the pleasantness of Macbeth’s castle ('This castle hath a pleasant seat') ironic?
- In 'The Merchant of Venice', what creates dramatic irony during the trial scene regarding Portia?
- Which character in 'Hamlet' is the victim of dramatic irony when he hides behind an arras to eavesdrop and is killed?