What literary device involves describing an event in which the audience knows something the characters do not?

Dramatic irony is a literary device where the audience possesses knowledge that the characters in the story lack. This creates tension and engagement, as readers or viewers are aware of crucial information that the characters are not. For instance, if a character is about to make a choice based on incomplete information, and the audience knows that this choice will lead to negative consequences, the tension builds as viewers anticipate the outcome. This contrast between the character's understanding and the audience's awareness amplifies emotional responses, making the narrative more compelling.

In contrast, situational irony refers to a discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs, whereas a metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unrelated things, and an idiom is a phrase whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal definitions of its components. Thus, dramatic irony specifically highlights the knowledge gap between the audience and characters, making it a powerful storytelling tool.