You wouldn’t think there’s a tool in the writer’s handbook to help you to create either comedy or suspense.

After all, laughter and fear are on opposite ends of the emotional spectrum. Yet, it’s true: there is a literary device that is a surefire way to lighten the tone with some great, unique comedy (just ask Frasier Crane, whose titular show is known for this technique) or to have your reader’s stomach tied up in knots.

I’m speaking of dramatic irony.

Dramatic irony is simply the literary device by which you as the author ensure that the reader (or audience, if we’re talking about a script or screenplay) has information that a character (or characters) does NOT yet have.

With that, the hijinks can begin! My favorite example of using dramatic irony for comedy is the classic Halloween party episode of Frasier.

Niles is hosting a Halloween party for his family and friends. Roz has just found out she is unexpectedly pregnant, but Niles, hearing only part of a conversation about that, thinks it’s Daphne who is pregnant.

The confusion and misunderstandings just escalate from there, in the most inspired multi-layered sitcom script I’ve ever seen. It’s brilliant, and it’s glorious to watch.

Conversely, dramatic irony can also create fabulous tension for thriller or horror writers, or even a fantasy writer needing to up the emotional stakes.

Generally, dramatic irony creates suspense when the reader is aware of a dangerous or threatening reality–perhaps the ulterior motives or treacherous designs of a particular character–that other characters don’t know.

It’s one thing for a character to be a traitor, or nefarious in some way, unbeknownst to everyone (including your reader). It’s another for the reader to understand this while that lovely, likable protagonist of yours is clueless!

The effect of the reading experience in these two scenarios is completely different. One sets up a twist ending (or twist in the middle). The other creates real suspense and darkens the tone.

BUT BE CAREFUL

There is at least one very real danger in using dramatic irony to create suspense.

You don’t want your characters who aren’t in the know to come across as gullible, stupid, or foolish (unless, I suppose, that’s part of who the character is.)

There are ways to hide information from a character that don’t reflect on his intellectual or emotional intelligence. But as soon as your reader knows something your character doesn’t, the reader is going to be asking, “Why doesn’t he know this?”

And there needs to be a good reason that doesn’t reflect too poorly on that hapless fellow about to face a threat he had no idea was coming, if you want your reader to connect with and invest in him.

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