Question

What is an example of dramatic irony?

Answer 1

Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something that the characters do not. A classic example can be found in Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet." In the final scene, Juliet awakens from her potion-induced sleep and finds Romeo dead, believing that he has killed himself out of grief for her supposed death. The audience knows that Juliet is still alive and that Romeo mistakenly thought she was dead. This creates a sense of tension and tragedy, as the audience anticipates the unfolding of events that the characters are unaware of.