What is the key characteristic of dramatic irony?

Dramatic irony is characterized by a situation where the audience has information or knowledge that the characters in the story do not possess. This creates a layer of tension and engagement, as viewers or readers anticipate the characters' reactions to events or situations that the characters themselves are unaware of. For instance, in a tragic play, the audience might know that a character is walking into danger, while the character remains oblivious, heightening the emotional impact of the scene. This contrasts with other forms of irony, such as verbal irony, where the meaning of what is said is different from what is meant, or situations involving non-human entities being described with human qualities. Hence, the essence of dramatic irony lies in this juxtaposition of knowledge between the audience and the characters, making the correct answer a key understanding of its nature.