Definition
Is dramatic irony a theme, metalanguage technique or character?
Dramatic irony is a metalanguage technique
Fill in the blanks
“A pair of _______ lovers take their life; whose misadventured piteous overthrows doth with their death bury their parents’ strife.”
Star-crossed
The three influential events emphasising dramatic irony featured in our presentation are?
The prologue, Romeo’s meeting with Juliet following the party and the event of Juliet’s ‘supposed’ death.
Where did dramatic irony originate from?
Dramatic irony originated from Greek tragedy.
What does dramatic irony create?
Dramatic irony creates tension, suspense but also humour and mild amusement in other cases.
Fill in the blanks
“Romeo! Humours! Madman! Passion! Lover! (...) I conjure thee by _________, by her high forehead and her scarlet lip, by her fine foot, ________ ________.”
Rosaline's bright eyes
Straight leg and quivering thigh
Why is the prologue so influential?
It reveals that the two lovers’ relationship will often be thwarted by outside forces and the readers are also informed of Romeo and Juliet’s death by suicide, and that their story will end in doom and tragedy.
What other media have we analysed containing dramatic irony
The Truman Show
Give an example of tragedy in Romeo and Juliet created by dramatic irony.
In Romeo and Juliet, dramatic irony creates tragedy such as the misinformation of Juliet’s death. (also open-ended)
“Against tomorrow: my heart is wondrous light, since ____ _______ ___ _ _ _________”
Since this wayward girl is so reclaimed
Why is Juliet's supposed death so influential?
The dramatic irony significantly raises the tension and suspense one may experience in the scene
Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to?
Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to emphasise tension, especially since this play was intended to be performed, not read.
What are the 3 stages of dramatic irony?
Installation, exploitation and resolution.
Dramatic irony is often used by authors and playwrights to?
Dramatic irony is often used by authors and playwrights to emphasise that human knowledge is always partial and often incorrect.
Why is this quote an example of dramatic irony?
“O me!, O me! My child, my only life, Revive look up, or I will die with thee! Help, help! Call help.” Lady Capulet, Act 4, Scene 5
As the characters currently do not know that Juliet is only faking her death but the audience does, this is an example of dramatic irony. This also contains iambic pentameter, signifying that Lady Capulet is also an educated character. However, this iambic pentameter is broken when Lady Capulet calls for help, maybe signifying that she is in immense grief.
Why is Romeo’s meeting with Juliet following the party so influential?
Presumably the most famous and influential scene in Romeo and Juliet, the star-crossed lovers meet and converse once again following the party.
What else does dramatic irony do?
It emphasises the climax and important scenes in the play and leads the audience to be enthralled by the dramatics and fate of the characters.
Give an example of installation of dramatic irony in Romeo and Juliet
The installation is when Juliet is given a distilled liquor created by Friar Laurence, where it puts the user into a two and forty hour sleep giving off the impression of a realistic death. (also open-ended)
“I do remember an apothecary, and hereabouts he dwells, which late I noted in tattered weeds, with overwhelming brows, Culling of simples; meagre were his looks” Romeo, Act 5, Scene 1.
This quotes iambic pentameter is not perfectly 10 syllables. Why so?
he speech doesn’t quite perfectly fit into iambic pentameter which may tell us that Romeo is overcome with grief and his thoughts are erratic.