Death lies on her like an untimely frost
Upon the sweetest flower of all the field. (Act 4, Scene 5)
ow Does this example of dramatic irony create tension?
My answer is because the reader know that Juliet is actually sleeping
I think you're correct.
You are partially correct. This specific example of dramatic irony creates tension because the reader or audience knows that Juliet is only in a deep sleep induced by Friar Laurence's potion, but the characters in the play mistakenly believe that she is dead. This discrepancy between what the audience knows and what the characters believe creates a sense of suspense and anticipation regarding the potential consequences and reactions when the truth eventually emerges.
You're on the right track! The example you provided from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is indeed an example of dramatic irony, which occurs when the audience or reader knows something that the characters in the play or story do not. In this case, the audience knows that Juliet is not actually dead, but is only in a deep sleep induced by a potion. However, the other characters, including Juliet's family and Romeo, believe that she is dead.
This creates tension because the audience is aware of the impending tragedy that will unfold when Romeo, believing Juliet to be dead, takes his own life beside her. The audience may feel a sense of anticipation and unease, knowing what is about to happen but unable to intervene.
To fully grasp this dramatic irony and understand the tension it creates, it is important to be familiar with the prior events in the play. Reading or watching the scenes leading up to this moment helps to establish the context and emotional buildup, enhancing the impact of the dramatic irony. It is through this contextual understanding that the tension is heightened and the true meaning and impact of the scene is fully realized.