High School

Read the excerpt from "Romeo and Juliet," Act 1, Scene v.

This is an example of dramatic irony because:

A. The audience is revealed that Romeo has found a suitable partner.
B. The audience is eager to discover Rosaline's opinion of the couple.
C. Romeo and Juliet are shy characters who usually avoid social events.
D. Romeo and Juliet have yet to discover that they are from feuding families.

Answer :

The audience is aware that Romeo and Juliet are from rival families, but the characters themselves are unaware of this, making the scene from Act I, Scene V of Romeo and Juliet an example of dramatic irony. This information heightens the tragedy of their love and creates suspense. D is the correct response.

Dramatic irony occurs in Romeo and Juliet because the audience is aware of crucial information that the characters are unaware of. Romeo and Juliet don't know that their families—the Montagues and the Capulets—are bitter enemies when they meet and fall in love. The fact that the audience is aware of the potential outcomes of their love affair while the characters themselves are still unaware of their family ties creates tension and anticipation. Shakespeare employs dramatic irony to intensify the story's emotional impact and create suspense. The tragic elements of the story are heightened as the audience watches the lovers unwittingly seal their tragic fate due to their familial ties, revealing the futility of their love in the face of societal norms and family loyalty.

answer: D seems like the one that makes the most sense