Question

verbal or dramatic? irony is when the audience or reader knows and understands less or more? about a situation than the character does.

Answer 1

Irony can be categorized in different forms, and your question refers to two of the main types: verbal irony and dramatic irony.

1. **Verbal Irony**: This occurs when a speaker says one thing but means the opposite. For example, saying "What a beautiful day!" during a storm is an example of verbal irony. In this case, both the speaker and the audience understand the true context of the situation.

2. **Dramatic Irony**: This is when the audience or reader knows more about a situation than the characters in the story do. This creates tension or humor because the audience has insight into what is really happening, while the characters are unaware. A classic example of dramatic irony is in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," where the audience knows that Juliet is not really dead, but Romeo does not.

So to clarify your statement: dramatic irony is when the audience knows more about a situation than the character does.