Identifying Irony in "The Great Escape"

In the short story "The Great Escape," a group of friends plans a surprise birthday party for their friend, Tim. They meticulously coordinate the details, ensuring that Tim will be completely unaware of the event. On the day of the party, however, Tim shows up at the location early, already equipped with a party hat and balloons. The friends are shocked, as their elaborate plan has been thwarted by Tim's unexpected arrival.

Throughout the story, the author uses various literary devices to convey the surprise and humor of the situation. One poignant moment occurs when Tim joyfully declares, 'I can’t believe you all tried to fool me! Did you really think I wouldn’t figure it out?' This statement serves to highlight the irony of the situation, as the friends’ careful planning ultimately resulted in failure.