What is the definition of dramatic irony?

Dramatic irony is defined as a situation in a narrative where the audience or reader has more information about the circumstances or the true situation than the characters involved. This creates a contrast between what the characters understand and what the audience knows, leading to a deeper emotional engagement with the story.

For instance, in a play or novel, if a character is planning a surprise party but is unaware that the guest of honor knows about it, the audience experiences the tension and humor of the situation because they are aware of the underlying truth that the character is not. This can heighten suspense, create humor, or deepen tragedy, depending on the context of the story.

The other definitions do not capture the essence of dramatic irony: an unexpected outcome pertains more to situational irony, a figure of speech indicating an opposite meaning aligns with verbal irony, and understanding information meaningfully does not pertain specifically to the relationship between characters and the audience.