Dramatic irony occurs when a character on stage is not aware of something the audience or reader knows to be true. In Act V, Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet, why are the following lines of Romeo dramatically ironic? Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty. Thou art not conquered. Beauty's ensign yet Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, And death's pale flag is not advancèd there. (1 point) Responses

Question

Dramatic irony occurs when a character on stage is not aware of something the audience or reader knows to be true. In Act V, Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet, why are the following lines of Romeo dramatically ironic? Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty. Thou art not conquered. Beauty's ensign yet Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, And death's pale flag is not advancèd there. (1 point) Responses

Death is associated with a pale flag rather than a black one.
Unknown to Romeo, Juliet is not really dead.
Romeo hopes against hope that Juliet may still be alive.
Romeo realizes that the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues will never end.

Answer 1

The lines are dramatically ironic because unknown to Romeo, Juliet is not really dead. Romeo believes Juliet is dead because he is not aware of the Friar's plan to fake her death. Therefore, he is mistaken in thinking that death has not affected her beauty, when in reality she is still alive. This creates tension and suspense for the audience who is aware of the truth.