Dramatic irony is a literary device in which the audience or readers know more about a situation, the implications of events, or the true character of a situation than the characters within the story do. This creates tension or humor because the audience is aware of the full context while the characters remain oblivious.
A classic example of dramatic irony is found in Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet." The audience knows that Juliet is alive when Romeo thinks she is dead, leading to tragic consequences. This knowledge heightens the emotional impact of the unfolding drama.