What figure of speech occurs when the audience or reader knows something that a character does not know?

• A. Dramatic irony
• B. First person point of view
• C. Free verse
• D. Meter

Answer: (A)

Dramatic irony is when the audience or reader knows something that a character does not. That gap between what we know and what the character believes creates tension and anticipation, because we foresee outcomes that the character can’t yet see. It often heightens suspense or humor as the situation unfolds with this hidden knowledge. For example, in a mystery, the audience may know who the culprit is while the detective remains unaware. The other terms refer to different concepts: first person point of view is about who narrates the story, free verse is poetry without a regular meter, and meter is the rhythmic pattern of poetry.