h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A particular form of dramatic irony must be what is in Denmark referred to as Holbergian irony. It probably isn't known outside denmark which is why I want to aquaint you with it (assuming of course, that you are not in fact a Dane . It is statements in a play that somehow indicate that the characters know that they're in a play. It all (the name too) comes from famous Danish playwright Ludvig Holberg who had a character state: "One doth not die in the middle of first act" to calm somebody else. well, that was just a little queerness for you. Have you read Jonathan Swift ever??

I have read some swift, no Holberg, though. I know the Holberg Suite - does that count?

I dunno, cause I dunno it myself... Holberg is not something I have read outside school but that is more from lack of time than from lack of interest and I think you should try... it must be translated (or so my conception of Danish literature as important (?) tells me )

I've heard it called 'breaking the fourth wall'. The implication is that there is an invisible wall between the audience and the stage, like the two other implied walls on stage right and left, and the real wall of the backdrop.

I thought Shakespeare wrote this way in some of his comedies, but I have only seen them staged and not read them, so this could just be the actors.

hmmm.... seems like we ought to start reading... would make this conversation less complicated

I have a Guide Entry about breaking the fourth wall. I'm not sure how to create a link here but you can get there through my personal space. The entry is called "Breaking the Fourth Wall" (snappy title, eh?) It was my very first Guide post so it's a bit basic...

I've heard of that but haven't known of a name for it before now. I'd like to read some Holberg, and indeed anything about Breaking The Fourth Wall. I'll just go to that conversation now.

Shakespeare used dramatic irony a lot in his plays whether they were comedies or not. an excellent example is in the "Merchant of Venice" when Bassanio and Gratiano wish that their wives would die instead of Antonio, not knowing that the wives are just feet away, disguised as lawyers, having come to save Antonio's life in the first place. They both make witty asides to the audience or to themselves about how this is not a good thing to say.That's irony.

Sounds like it.