Which element of satire uses language that means the opposite what it says literally?

The element of satire that uses language that means the opposite of what it says literally is called irony.

There are different types of irony, but the key characteristic is that the intended meaning is the opposite of the literal meaning. This creates a humorous effect, often with the purpose of criticizing something or someone.

Here are some examples:

* Verbal irony: A character says, "Oh, great, just what I wanted, a surprise fire drill at 3 am." The character is clearly not happy about the fire drill.

* Situational irony: A fire station burns down. The situation is ironic because you wouldn't expect a fire station to be the place that catches fire.

* Dramatic irony: In a play, a character is unaware of a secret that the audience knows. The audience experiences irony because they know something the character doesn't.

Satire often uses irony to expose hypocrisy, foolishness, or other flaws in society or individuals.