Situational irony is a literary technique in which an expected outcome does not happen, or its opposite happens instead. It is a form of irony in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected. Situational irony requires ones expectations to be thwarted and is sometimes called an irony of events. It is all about the gap between our expectations and reality, and it can make a memorable and powerful impression when we encounter it.
Some everyday examples of situational irony include:
- A fire station burns down.
- A plumbers house has leaky pipes.
- A traffic jam on the way to a protest against traffic congestion.
- A pilot afraid of heights.
- A marriage counselor filing for divorce.
Situational irony is one of the three main types of irony, along with verbal irony and dramatic irony. It is a form of figurative language, which simply means it is not meant to be taken literally. When writers create an ironic situation in a literary work, it allows the reader to understand the difference between appearance and reality within the confines of the literature. This experience often leads the reader to a better understanding of the work’s central theme or purpose.
