Dramatic irony in literature is an instance in which the audience or reader knows more than the characters in the story. Dramatic irony is often central to the framing of many works of fiction, “The Emperor’s New Clothes” included, and is often used to reveal information about a character’s intentions or to create tension in a scene.

Andersen uses dramatic irony to reveal the true nature of the swindlers and their fabric. The reader is told immediately that the weavers are liars, and that their looms are empty. This serves the narrative by removing any ambiguity about the true nature of the fabric. Had this knowledge been omitted, the reader would be left to wonder whether or not the fabric truly exists, or if the weavers are dishonest figures.

Characterization refers to an author’s choice of details when describing and fleshing out their characters. Like most fairy tales, “The Emperor’s New Clothes” relies primarily on flat characters. Flat characters are often distinguished by a single defining characteristic, and they do not change or develop throughout the