In "The Highwayman," when King George's men have Bess tied up, the
highwayman doesn't know it, but we, the readers, know that a trap is set for him. This is
an example of _____________________________ irony.
a. Verbal Irony
b. Situational Irony
c. Dramatic Irony
c. Dramatic Irony
The correct answer is c. Dramatic Irony. In "The Highwayman," the readers possess knowledge that the titular highwayman does not have. This creates a sense of dramatic irony as the readers are aware of the trap set for him by King George's men while the highwayman remains oblivious.
The correct answer is c. Dramatic Irony.
Dramatic irony is a literary device where the audience or reader has information that the characters in the story do not. In this case, the readers know that Bess is tied up and a trap is set for the highwayman while the highwayman remains unaware. The author intentionally creates this situation to create suspense and build tension in the story.
To determine the type of irony being used in a literary work, you can analyze the actions, dialogue, and situations presented in the text. In this case, the fact that the readers are aware of something that the characters are not points to dramatic irony.
An understanding of literary devices and their definitions can help you identify and analyze such elements in any literary work.