Dramatic irony is one of the best-known ironies in languages. As a language student or someone interested in screenwriting, having an understanding of dramatic irony is extremely crucial. In general, dramatic irony is a key type of irony in verbal and situational irony. In storytelling, dramatic irony holds a huge significance and is considered a crucial element. This blog is about understanding what dramatic irony is and discussing the different stages of this technique.
What is dramatic irony?
Dramatic irony is defined as the process when the audience knows about something, such as an event or a situation, but the characters might or might not know about it. This is an integral part of any storytelling session. There is a need to understand various dramatic ironies through different examples. This technique is applicable in several ways and niches, including comedy, suspense, dramas, and thrillers. However, one needs to understand using it in the right way so that its benefits can be achieved well.
Preparation, suspension, and resolution are the three critical stages of dramatic irony. However, dramatic irony can be understood better through simple examples. One of the examples is two characters making a plan to kill their former classmate. They execute him and then hide his body in a wooden box. After this, they also host a party. As an audience, we will know that the body is in a box, but those who will attend the party will not know.
Difference Between Dramatic and Situational Irony
Now, there is a difference between dramatic and situational irony. Dramatic and situational irony include circumstances. However, the key difference between the two is expectations and reality. The expectations vary due to the fact that dramatic and situational irony are considered different. In the case of dramatic irony, it is known in advance that whatever the character expects is not true. This leads to tension. Dramatic irony is a versatile and beneficial storytelling tool that can be used for various disciplines like comedy, suspense, and drama.
In situational irony, things that are expected might not happen. This could result in the fire being brought to a fire station. On the other hand, in verbal irony, words may not be the same as each other. Dramatic irony is about the audience knowing more than what the characters know. Hence, there is a high probability of developing tension and suspense in the case of dramatic irony.
A writer must develop a complicated and multi-layered narrative by ensuring that different characters can know about different types of information. In this, the audience can see how characters interact and also make decisions based on the information. It can develop an interest in your story by letting the reader understand more than the lead character in it. This includes the hero waiting for his wife to arrive, but he was apparently murdered beforehand. Hence, the reader is now filled with expectations.
Therefore, dramatic irony is a crucial literary tool and helps in developing engaging stories.
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