Engish STAAR ( State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) Practice Test

What term is used when the audience knows more than the characters on stage?

1. Figurative language

2. Dramatic irony

3. Symbolism

4. Metaphor

The correct answer is: Dramatic irony

Dramatic irony is the term used when the audience possesses more knowledge about a situation than the characters involved in the narrative. This creates a contrast between what the characters believe to be true and what the audience knows to be true, often adding a layer of depth to the story and eliciting emotions such as suspense, humor, or empathy. An example of dramatic irony can be seen in a play where a character is unaware of a dangerous situation approaching them, while the audience is fully aware, leading to tension and anticipation. The other terms listed serve different purposes in literature. Figurative language refers to the use of words in a way that deviates from their standard meaning to convey complex ideas and emotions, rather than the audience-character knowledge gap. Symbolism involves the use of symbols to represent larger concepts or ideas, which is not related to audience awareness. A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things directly, which does not encompass the relationship of knowledge between the audience and characters. Through its foundation in knowledge disparity, dramatic irony enhances the overall experience of the narrative for the audience.