The Open Window
by Saki

The Open Window: Dramatic Irony 1 key example

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

Key Examples in The Open Window

Dramatic Irony
Explanation and Analysis—Vera's Tricks:

"The Open Window" features several instances in which the story's comic edge comes from the reader knowing more than some of the characters do. Initially, Vera tricks not only Mr. Nuttel but also the reader with her story about the three men who did not survive their fateful hunting trip three years ago. Eventually, however, the reader realizes that Vera has successfully tricked Mr. Nuttel. At whatever point the reader catches onto this, the rest of the story is extra funny because the reader, having been duped, now shifts from Mr. Nuttel's vantage point to Vera's.