The literary device you're describing is called irony.
Here's a breakdown:
* Irony is a figure of speech where the intended meaning is the opposite of the literal meaning of the words. It creates a gap between what is said and what is actually meant.
There are three main types of irony:
* Verbal irony: Saying the opposite of what you mean, often for humorous effect.
* Example: "It's great to be stuck in traffic on a beautiful day!"
* Situational irony: When an event occurs that contradicts expectations or is the opposite of what would be considered appropriate.
* Example: A fire station burning down.
* Dramatic irony: When the audience is aware of something that a character in a play or story is not.
* Example: In Romeo and Juliet, the audience knows that Juliet is not actually dead, but Romeo doesn't know this and believes she is.
Let me know if you'd like more examples or want to explore a specific type of irony in more detail!