There is an example of situational irony on the very first page of Fahrenheit 451, when the reader meets the main character, Montag. In this opening paragraph, Montag's duties as a fireman and his enjoyment of the job are described to the reader:
With his symbolic helmet numbered 451 on his stolid head, and his eyes all orange flame with the thought of what came next, he flicked the igniter and the house jumped up...
There is an example of situational irony on the very first page of Fahrenheit 451, when the reader meets the main character, Montag. In this opening paragraph, Montag's duties as a fireman and his enjoyment of the job are described to the reader:
With his symbolic helmet numbered 451 on his stolid head, and his eyes all orange flame with the thought of what came next, he flicked the igniter and the house jumped up in a gorging fire that burned the evening sky red and yellow and black.
This situation is ironic because we would expect a fireman to put out fires, not to start them. In the world of Fahrenheit 451, however, firemen are the defenders of censorship and the burners of books. Though ironic to the reader, it is this description which foreshadows the conflict that Montag will experience as he comes to realise that this is a repressive system which does not make him truly happy.
To escape this repression, however, there will be a second example of situational irony: Montag will have to burn his boss, Captain Beatty, as he fights against the book-burning which exists in his world.
For more examples of irony, please see the reference link provided.
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