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Definition of Dramatic Irony
Dramatic irony is a plot device often used in theater, literature, film, and television to highlight the difference between a character's understanding of a given situation, and that of the... read full definition
Dramatic irony is a plot device often used in theater, literature, film, and television to highlight the difference between a character's understanding of a given... read full definition
Dramatic irony is a plot device often used in theater, literature, film, and television to highlight the difference between a... read full definition
Book 4
Explanation and Analysis—Arthur's Strength:
In Volume 1, Book 4, Chapter 9, Arthur (disguised) holds his own in a fight against Accolon, who Morgan le Fay has equipped with Excalibur. The dramatic irony of the scene helps build Arthur's kingly authority:
Then were they wroth both, and gave each other many sore strokes, but always Sir Arthur lost so much blood that it was marvel he stood on his feet, but he was so full of knighthood that knightly he endured the pain. [...] Accolon was so bold because of Excalibur that he waxed passing hardy. But all men that beheld him said they saw never knight fight so well as Arthur did considering the blood that he bled.
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Book 7
Explanation and Analysis—Family Reunion:
There is extended dramatic irony in Book 7 regarding Gareth's identity. The dramatic irony peaks in Volume 1, Book 7, Chapter 33, when Gareth and Gawaine unknowingly fight one another:
Unlock with LitCharts A+[...] Sir Gareth stood there alone; and there he saw an armed knight coming toward him. Then Sir Gareth took the duke’s shield, and mounted upon horseback, and so without bidding they ran together as it had been the thunder. And there that knight hurt Sir Gareth under the side with his spear. And then they alit and drew their swords, and gave great strokes that the bood trailed to the ground. And so they fought two hours.
[...][Linet] cried all on high, ‘Sir Gawain, Sir Gawain, leave thy fighting with thy brother Sir Gareth.’
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Book 8
Explanation and Analysis—Love Potion:
An instance of both dramatic irony and situational irony occurs in Volume 1, Book 8, Chapter 24. The queen has given Dame Bragwaine and Gouvernail a love potion for La Beale Isoud to share with King Mark, but La Beale Isoud and Tristram unwittingly share it:
Unlock with LitCharts A+And then anon Sir Tristram took the sea, and La Beale Isoud; and when they were in their cabin, it happed so that they were thirsty, and they saw a little flacket of gold stand by them, and it seemed by the colour and the taste that it was noble wine.
Then Sir Tristram took the flacket in his hand, and said, ‘Madam Isoud, here is the best drink that ever ye drank, that Dame Bragwaine, your maiden, and Gouvernail, my servant, have kept for themself.’
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Book 12
Explanation and Analysis—Arrayed Like a Knight:
In Volume 2, Book 12, Chapter 4, Launcelot (banished by Guenever from Arthur's court) wanders bedraggled into the city of Corbin. The narrator uses a simile to highlight the dramatic irony of Launcelot's concealed identity:
Unlock with LitCharts A+And when Sir Castor was made knight, that same day he gave many gowns. And then Sir Castor sent for the fool – that was Sir Launcelot. And when he was come afore Sir Castor, he gave Sir Launcelot a robe of scarlet and all that longed unto him. And when Sir Launcelot was so arrayed like a knight, he was the seemliest man in all the court, and none so well made.
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Explanation and Analysis—Strange Bedfellows:
In Volume 2, Book 12, Chapter 8, Brisen tricks Launcelot into sleeping with Elaine of Corbin. Multiple layers of dramatic irony in this incident lead to a rift between Launcelot and Guenever when Guenever catches her lover asleep with another woman:
Unlock with LitCharts A+[Launcelot] leapt out of his bed as he had been a wood man, in his shirt, and the queen met him in the floor; and thus she said:
‘False traitor knight that thou art, look thou never abide in my court, and avoid my chamber, and not so hardy, thou false traitor knight that thou art, that ever thou come in my sight!’
‘Alas,’ said Sir Launcelot; and therewith he took such an heartly sorrow at her words that he fell down to the floor in a swoon. And therewithal Queen Guenever departed.
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Explanation and Analysis—Clueless Arthur:
In Volume 2, Book 12, Chapter 10, Launcelot returns to Arthur's court after his long absence, during which he was mentally unwell. Arthur's explanation for why Launcelot "went out of [his] mind" is laced with dramatic irony:
Unlock with LitCharts A+‘O Jesu,’ said King Arthur, ‘I marvel for what cause ye, Sir Launcelot, went out of your mind. I and many other deem it was for the love of fair Elaine, the daughter of King Pelles, by whom ye are noised that ye have gotten a child, and his name is Galahad, and men say he shall do marvels.’
[...]
And therewithal the king spake no more. But all Sir Launcelot's kin knew for whom he went out of his mind.
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