Editing Stylistic device (section)

===Situational irony===
This is when the author creates a surprise that is the exact opposite of what the reader would expect, often creating humor or an eerie feeling. For example, in Steinbeck's novel ''The Pearl'', the reader may think that Kino and Juana would become happy and successful after discovering the "Pearl of the World", with all its value. However, their lives change dramatically for the worse after discovering it.

Similarly, in Shakespeare's ''Hamlet'', the title character almost kills King Claudius at one point, but resists because Claudius is praying and therefore may go to heaven. As Hamlet wants Claudius to go to hell, he waits. A few moments later, after Hamlet leaves the stage, Claudius reveals to the audience that he doesn't mean his prayers ("words without thoughts never to heaven go"), so Hamlet should have killed him after all.

A way to remember the name of this term is that it describes an ''ironic situation''.