When a reader or audience perceives something that a character in the story or play does not know

Dramatic irony is a drama technique in which the audience knows something that the character doesn't. Because of this understanding, the words and actions of the characters take on a different meaning. This can create intense suspense or humor, depending on the writer's intention. Take a look at these examples of dramatic irony in plays, films and everyday life.

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What is Situational Irony?
Situational Irony vs. Dramatic and Verbal Irony
The Function of Situational Irony
How Situational Irony is Used in Literature

Dramatic irony is one of the most effective types of irony because it makes the audience feel helpless to change the outcome. There are many examples of dramatic irony in literature, movies, television and fairy tales. Some examples include:

A woman thinks her boyfriend is acting strangely because he's about to propose, but the audience knows that he is planning to run away with another woman, intensifying emotions.
In a scary movie, the character goes into a house they think is empty, but the audience knows the killer is in the house. This increases the suspense.
Sometimes a person is in disguise and the other character talks with him as if he is someone else. Since this is known by the audience, it adds to the humor of the dialogue.
In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the audience knows Juliet is in a drugged sleep, so when Romeo thinks she is dead and kills himself (followed by Juliet doing the same) it increases the audience's shock and sense of helplessness.
In Ibsen's A Doll's House, the audience knows Nora borrowed money forging her father's signature and her husband is unaware. We also know Nora's husband thinks of her as a doll and Nora is unaware.
In Shakespeare's Hamlet, we are aware that Hamlet knows the truth about his father's murder and that Hamlet is not mad. He is simply deceiving others so that he can plan his revenge. He does not reveal his true feelings to the other characters but the audience is fully aware of them.
In Shakespeare's King Lear, we know that Lear's most loyal daughter is Cordelia and he can't see it.
In the Star Wars movies, Luke does not know Darth Vader is his father until Episode V, but the audience knows sooner (if they've seen Episodes I, II and III).
In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the audience knows that Macbeth is planning Duncan's murder while acting loyal to him.
In the TV show Smallville, Clark Kent comments that in the future he does not want to put on a suit and fly around but the audience knows he will.
In the movie There's Something About Mary, the audience knows that Ted is being interrogated about a murder but Ted thinks he is being arrested for picking up a hitchhiker. His words are funny because of his misunderstanding.
In the movie Toy Story, Buzz Lightyear thinks he is a real space ranger but the other toys and the audience knows that he is just a toy.
Hank Schrader in Breaking Bad is a DEA agent looking for crystal-meth producer "Heisenberg". The audience knows that "Heisenberg" is Schrader's brother-in-law, Walter White, while Hank has no idea.
In Beauty and the Beast, the audience knows that the Beast is a prince living under a curse from the start but Belle is unaware of the Beast's true identity.
In Frozen, the audience is aware that Elsa has powers that are hard to control. Her sister Anna does not know about these powers and thinks of Elsa as standoffish and cold. The truth is that Elsa is being distant from Anna to protect her and is scared of hurting her. The audience feels for both girls.

Alfred Hitchcock was well-known for suspense in his films and was referred to as the "Master of Suspense." He was fond of surprises for his characters and meant to shock the audience. Hitchcock said the following in regards to dramatic irony:

"The audience is longing to warn the characters on the screen: 'You shouldn't be talking about such trivial matters. There's a bomb beneath you and it's about to explode!'"

The following are some examples of Hitchcock's use of dramatic irony:

The shower scene in Psycho starts out with the character, Marion, not hearing the killer because the water is running in the shower, but the audience knows he is there. Marion was clueless that she was about to be murdered which increases tension for the audience.
In The Birds, Melanie is seen walking up to the attic that has been closed off. She is unaware that this room is filled with the birds, while the audience knows they're there. She places her hand on the doorknob and hesitates before entering, giving the audience a moment of hope that she won't be attacked by the birds.
In Rope, the audience sees the murder at the beginning of the movie. The audience knows that David has been killed and that his body is hidden in the chest being used as a table. The characters are waiting for David to arrive when the audience knows he will not be arriving. This fact adds to the humor in this movie in an ironic way.
In North by Northwest, George Kaplan is a fictional secret agent and does not really exist. The audience is made aware early in the film that Kaplan is just a decoy. Thornhill is seen searching for Kaplan and has no clue that he is not a real person.

Dramatic irony exists when the audience knows information that the main characters do not. The writer uses this technique intentionally to keep the audience engrossed and engaged while watching what is on the screen or stage. Learn how writers use situational irony in the opposite way — to surprise the audience. You can also check out these literary and everyday examples of verbal irony.

Situational irony is a literary device that creates a situation or outcome that is drastically different from what was expected to occur. Situational irony can also be referred to as irony of circumstance.

What is Situational Irony?

Situational irony occurs when audiences expect one thing to happen, and then something else happens altogether. Situational irony highlights contrasts and contradictions within a story which allows the audience to make distinctions between what seems to be true and what is actually true. This often highlights certain elements of a story’s theme as well.

Kate Chopin’s “Story of the Hour” is a short story that uses situational irony as a major plot device. The wife of a Mr. Brently discovers that her husband has died in a car accident. Rather than grieving, she begins to imagine the life that she will have free of restrictions.

At the end of the story, however, her husband comes home, and Mrs. Brently dies from shock when she sees him. Not only did she not get her life free of restrictions, she did not get any further time alive whatsoever.

Situational Irony vs. Dramatic and Verbal Irony

Dramatic irony is a device commonly found in plays, movies, etc., and occurs when the audience knows more about a situation than the characters do. Dramatic irony is a useful device that advances plot without giving away key information to all of the characters.

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth uses dramatic irony to show that Duncan does not know about the prophecy that Macbeth is going to kill him:

“There’s no art

To find the mind’s construction in the face:

He was a gentleman on whom I built

An absolute trust.”

Verbal irony is when a speaker says something other than what they truly mean. For example, when a character says something with underlying meaning that contrasts with the literal meaning of what was spoken. This device relies heavily on the audience’s intellectual abilities to understand the true meaning.

William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet sees verbal irony as Juliet intends to confuse her mother:

“I will not marry yet; and, when I do, I swear it shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, rather than Paris.

Situational irony deals with inconsistencies in action rather than words. Consider, again, William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and how Romeo works tirelessly to create peace between specific characters and also the dueling families as a whole.

However, his actions ultimately lead to him being banished and then both his and Juliet’s deaths and nobody was ever actually able to reconcile and come together.

The Function of Situational Irony

Situational irony serves to emphasize certain scenes and interactions because they are important to broader aspects of the story such as theme and motifs. Strange and/or unusual events or concepts are elevated in a way that creates unexpected turns in a story, usually at the end.

This type of irony ranges from comical to deeply tragic. In a comical story, situational irony will create and pivot which leads to some sort of improvements for the characters. Tragic situational irony, however, does not generally lead to happy endings for the characters involved with events such as psychological/bodily harm or even death occurring. Skillful combinations of comedic and tragic events can also be found in cases of situational irony.

Situational irony also functions to add variation and embellishments to a story that will stick in a reader’s mind and prompt deeper thinking. Coming across situational irony is a good time to consider theme, motif, key lessons, etc. of the overall story.

How Situational Irony is Used in Literature

In “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry, the wife cuts off her beautiful long hair and sells it so that she can buy her husband a pocket watch chain. At the same time, he is selling his watch so that he can buy her a beautiful decorative comb. Both receive useless gifts but their selfless love is highlighted in this case.

“Messy Room” by Shel Silverstein is a poem about a bedroom that is so messy, that the narrator does not even recognize it. The situational irony occurs when he realizes that he’s been talking about his own room the whole time:

Whosever room this is should be ashamed! His underwear is hanging on the lamp. His raincoat is there in the overstuffed chair, And the chair is becoming quite mucky and damp. His workbook is wedged in the window, His sweater’s been thrown on the floor. His scarf and one ski are beneath the TV, And his pants have been carelessly hung on the door. His books are all jammed in the closet, His vest has been left in the hall. A lizard named Ed is asleep in his bed, And his smelly old sock has been stuck to the wall. Whosever room this is should be ashamed! Donald or Robert or Willie or– Huh? You say it’s mine? Oh, dear,

I knew it looked familiar!