Glossary

dramatic irony

Subject: 

  • English First Additional Language
  • English Home Language

when the audience knows something that a character in a play does not know, and the character behaves inappropriately because of his or her ignorance. E.g. in Twelfth Night, because of his ignorance, Malvolio acts foolishly, believing that this is appropriate. The audience can see how silly this is and finds it funny or absurd.