What is an example of dramatic irony?

Dramatic irony occurs when the audience possesses knowledge that the characters in the narrative do not. This creates a layer of tension and engagement, as viewers or readers anticipate how the characters will react when the truth is revealed or when they finally gain the same understanding. An example of this could be in a play where the audience knows a critical piece of information about a character's fate or intentions, while that character remains oblivious to it, heightening the emotional stakes of the drama.

The other options presented do not exemplify dramatic irony. Interruptions in a character's speech may create tension or surprise but do not rely on the audience's superior knowledge. Arguments over trivial matters may add to character development or highlight their relationships, but again do not involve a disparity in knowledge. The discovery of an object of significance does not create irony but rather serves as a plot point that may be significant to the character's journey, without any inherent contradiction based on differing knowledge between the audience and the character.