What is the term for : "A literary or rhetorical device in which the opposite of what is expected occurs"?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
Correct Answer
Situational Irony
Explanation
Situational Irony occurs when there is a sharp contrast between what is logically expected to happen and what actually happens in a situation. The outcome must not just be an unexpected surprise; it must be the exact opposite of what makes sense. For example, a fire station burning down is a classic case of situational irony.
Key Points
Term: Situational Irony
Meaning: An outcome that turns out to be the direct opposite of what was expected.
Why other options fail: Antithesis is a contrast of ideas expressed through parallel grammatical structures; Verbal Irony is stating the opposite of what you mean (sarcasm); Paradox is a statement that seems self-contradictory but reveals a deeper truth.