Which literary device is characterized by the contradiction between expectations and reality?

The literary device characterized by the contradiction between what is expected and what actually occurs is irony. This device often plays a crucial role in literature by highlighting unexpected outcomes or situations, creating a contrast that can be humorous, dramatic, or thought-provoking. For example, if a fire station burns down, the situation is ironic because one would expect a fire station to be the least likely place to catch fire. Irony engages readers by subverting their expectations, prompting them to reflect on the complexities of situations, human behavior, or societal norms.

Other options like paradox, oxymoron, and juxtaposition, while all important literary devices, do not specifically capture the essence of contradiction between expectations and reality in the way irony does. A paradox involves a statement that seems self-contradictory but may reveal a deeper truth. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms, like "bittersweet." Juxtaposition refers to placing two contrasting elements together to highlight their differences or similarities but does not inherently focus on the idea of expectation versus reality. Thus, irony is the most fitting choice for this definition.