Henry was fascinated with the play he reading. The situation seemed contradictory at first yet made sense more thought. Which literary device is author using allegory understatement irony?

Here's why:

* Irony is a literary device where there's a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens, or between what is said and what is meant. The passage describes a situation that seems contradictory at first but makes sense upon further thought. This suggests a situation where the initial impression is misleading, leading to an unexpected understanding.

Let's look at why the other options are less likely:

* Allegory is a story with a symbolic meaning. The passage doesn't describe a story with a deeper, symbolic meaning.

* Understatement is a statement that minimizes the importance of something. The passage doesn't suggest minimizing the significance of the situation.

Therefore, irony is the most fitting literary device in this context.