When the Bear Wears the Tent: What Makes "A Tent in Agony" by Stephen Crane Great?
Crane uses hyperbole, irony, and setting to write a story that turns fear into farce, highlighting the absurdity of human panic in the face of the unknown.
Photo by Thomas Bormans on Unsplash
Sometimes the most fearful moment is also the most humorous.
A sudden thud in the middle of the night turns out to be an iPad sliding off a table and slamming against the ground.
Or when you hear a sound in a dark room and it turns out to be your dog snoring.
The human psyche loves to generate a sense of fear in the most mundane of situations and circumstances. We let our anxiety get the best of us. Our inner storyteller hears a sound and immediately thinks a slasher will jump out and hack us to bits.
It’s the thin line that carefully binds fear, anxiety, and humor together that is the focus of Stephen Crane’s short tale, “A Tent in Agony.” A wonderful, quick read that is incredibly relatable and does a fantastic job at exploring the comedic side of fear and exaggerated panic.
If you want to read “A Tent in Agony” you can access it HERE.
Summary
In Crane’s story, four men set up camp in a forest while on a fishing trip. When supplies run out, three of them leave for a farmhouse and leave a man alone to watch over the campsite. As night falls, the forest becomes eerie, and the man becomes anxious. Out of the forest, a bear emerges. The man flees into the tent, but the bear follows and becomes entangled in the tent. In its struggle, the bear drags the tent across the ridge. Meanwhile, the man scrambles up a tree in fear. When the other men return, they are shocked to see their tent moving down the hill. By the time they reach the campsite, they find the man calmly smoking by the fire, acting as if nothing happened.
In this post, I’ll examine three elements of his craft: his use of hyperbole, his use of irony, and his use of setting. Let’s dive into how these elements work together and what writers can learn from them.
How does Crane use hyperbole to support the theme?
How does Crane use irony to add depth and humor?
How does Crane use setting to heighten tension and comedy?
How does Crane use hyperbole to support the theme?
Hyperbole is one of Crane’s most effective tools in “A Tent in Agony.” By blowing everyday frustrations out of proportion, Crane intensifies the stakes of a trivial situation and creates a story that is hilarious and relatable.
I picked out seven examples of hyperbole that elevate Crane’s story and give the reader a sense of grandeur to a situation that might otherwise feel mundane.
Example #1
“The little man arose slowly to his feet, his clothes refused to fit his back, his pipe dropped from his mouth, his knees smote each other.”
Crane exaggerates the man’s physical reaction to fear. His clothes do not actually change shape, and his knees don’t literally collide like a cartoon. This extreme reaction amplifies his panic and highlights how irrational fear can overwhelm a person, making them lose all composure. It turns fear into something exaggerated and humorous. It also reinforces the story’s exploration of how people often react disproportionately to perceived danger.
Example #2
“The hand of heaven sometimes falls heavily upon the righteous.”
This sentence suggests divine intervention against the man, as if the entire universe is conspiring to punish him. The phrase makes his bad luck feel epic and biblical. By portraying the character’s plight as a cosmic injustice, Crane mocks the way people exaggerate their misfortunes. It supports the theme of human frailty and show how minor inconveniences can feel like world-ending tragedies when viewed through the lens of self-pity.
Example #3
“The little man quaked and shriveled to a grip and a pair of eyes.”
This makes it sound like the man physically collapsed into nothing but his hands and eyes. Obviously, he remains whole, but the description exaggerates how fear reduces him to pure survival instinct. The absurdity of panic is central to the story. This sentence shows how extreme fear can make a person feel like they’re disappearing and heightens the comedy of the scene while showing how fear distorts reality.
Example #4
“The most appalling, blood-curdling whoops and yells came to where the little man was crying in a treetop and froze his blood.”
The phrase “blood-curdling” is a classic expression and example of hyperbole. It implies a level of terror so intense that it physically affects the body. In reality, his blood remains perfectly warm but the exaggeration emphasizes his horror. Crane satirizes the human tendency to overreact to fear. The man’s terror reaches ridiculous heights and his belief that the sounds he hears are horrifying shows how our minds make things worse when we panic.
Example #5
“The tent began to flounder. It took flopping strides in the direction of the lake.”
A tent cannot literally “flounder” or take “strides.” (Duh!) Crane describes it as if it were a living creature. This hyperbole turns an ordinary event (a bear entangled in a tent) into a disaster of comic proportions. It underscores the absurd nature of panic and shows how chaotic events can take on an outsized sense of urgency when perceived through fear.
Example #6
“The entangled monster failed to extricate himself before he had walloped the tent frenziedly to the edge of the mountain.”
The bear is called an “entangled monster,” and its struggle with the tent is described in dramatic terms. “Walloped” suggests a cartoonish level of force. Crane elevates a mundane event, such as an animal getting stuck, into a scene of epic destruction. This supports the theme by showing how small incidents spiral into major disasters when fear and exaggeration take hold.
Example #7
“As they disappeared, the bear cut loose with a mighty effort. He cast one disheveled and agonized look at the white thing, and then started wildly for the inner recesses of the forest.”
The bear’s reaction is described in extreme emotional terms (“disheveled and agonized”) as if it had survived a war. The phrase “mighty effort” exaggerates its struggle. The reversal of roles (the bear fleeing in terror rather than the man) reinforces the theme that fear is irrational. The bear, initially feared, ends up just as panicked as the man and illustrates, again, the absurdity of human and animal reactions to chaos.
How hyperbole enhances Crane’s story
Stephen Crane masterfully uses hyperbole in “A Tent in Agony” to heighten the comedic and exaggerated nature of fear and chaos. Each instance of hyperbole supports the theme by:
Highlighting the absurdity of panic (the man “quaking and shriveling” in fear).
Mocking the way humans exaggerate their own mishaps (“The hand of heaven sometimes falls heavily upon the righteous”).
Transforming minor inconveniences into epic struggles (the tent “floundering” and the bear giving an “agonized look” before fleeing).
Crane’s use of hyperbole makes the story engaging, humorous, and relatable. It teaches writers how to use exaggeration to intensify tone, character reactions, and comedic storytelling.
A few thoughts to consider when using hyperbole in your writing.
Match hyperbole to the tone and genre
Hyperbole works well in humorous, satirical, and exaggerated storytelling, as seen in “A Tent in Agony.”
In serious or dramatic writing, hyperbole can be effective but should be used sparingly to avoid making a moment feel unintentionally comedic.
Use hyperbole to heighten emotion, not confuse the reader
Exaggeration should clarify how a character feels, not muddle it. If the reader can’t tell whether a phrase is literal or figurative, the hyperbole might be too much.
Keep it consistent with the character’s or narrator’s voice
Characters with dramatic personalities, like a nervous wreck or someone who is cocky, are great for hyperbole.
If a serious or stoic character starts speaking in exaggerated terms, it might feel out of place.
Ensure hyperbole enhances the theme
Writers should use hyperbole to reinforce a central theme rather than as decoration.
In “A Tent in Agony,” hyperbole highlights the craziness of fear and panic, which makes it essential to the story’s meaning.
Balance hyperbole with realism
A story that’s all hyperbole, all the time loses impact. If everything is exaggerated, nothing feels exaggerated.
Mixing hyperbole with relatable, grounded moments makes the exaggeration stand out more when it happens.
Use hyperbole to surprise and entertain
Unexpected or creative hyperbole can make a moment more engaging and memorable.
Overused exaggerations (“I was so hungry I could eat a horse”) lose their impact. Remember, new and fresh descriptions grab attention.
Hyperbole, when used intentionally, can elevate a story’s humor, intensity, or emotion. Writers should ask:
Does this exaggeration make the story stronger, clearer, or more entertaining?
If the answer is yes, the hyperbole is working effectively.
Crane’s use of hyperbole and exaggeration keeps the reader laughing while also reminding them of their own moments of melodrama. Writers can learn from this technique by experimenting with exaggeration to bring humor and emotional fullness to their work.
How does Crane use irony to add depth and humor?
Irony is another key ingredient in Crane’s story. Situational irony, in particular, drives most of the humor in the story. The man, who prides himself on his outdoor skills, finds himself defeated by a tent. Even the bear, a symbol and a source of fear in the wild, is depicted with irony as it plays in the woods while the man spirals into chaos.
Below are five examples of irony used in “A Tent in Agony” and how the use of irony adds depth and humor.
Example #1
“Immediately a little man volunteered to stay and hold the camp while the remaining three should go the Sullivan county miles to a farmhouse for supplies. They gazed at him dismally. ‘There’s only one of you—the devil make a twin,’ they said in parting malediction.”
Situational Irony: The expectation is that the man will simply stay at camp without anything happening. Instead, he ends up in a ridiculous, life-or-death struggle with a bear.
How it adds depth and meaning
The humor comes from the mismatch between his seemingly minor responsibility (staying at the camp) and the chaos that follows.
The depth comes from the foreshadowing in his friends’ farewell (“The devil make a twin”), hinting at the irony that unfolds.
Example #2
“The little man arose slowly to his feet, his clothes refused to fit his back, his pipe dropped from his mouth, his knees smote each other. ‘Hah!’ he bellowed hoarsely in menace.”
Dramatic Irony: The reader knows that the man is terrified, but his words (“Hah!”) suggest an attempt at bravery.
How it adds depth and meaning
The humor comes from the contrast between his intended intimidation and his actual fear. The man’s knees are knocking together, and yet he tries to act tough.
The depth comes from how Crane satirizes human boldness and shows how people try to act courageous even when they are overcome by fear.
Example #3
“He lay down on his back, took the coat on his four paws and began to play uproariously with it.”
Situational Irony: The expectation is that the bear will be terrifying and aggressive. Instead, it plays with the coat like a child with a toy.
How it adds depth and meaning
The humor comes from subverting the reader’s expectation of the bear as a monstrous threat. Instead, it behaves like a playful animal and makes the man’s earlier panic seem more absurd.
The depth comes from how Crane challenges the traditional view of danger and shows that fear is often exaggerated and that nature is not always as hostile as humans imagine.
Example #4
“Three men, clambering up the hill with bundles and baskets, saw their tent approaching. It seemed to them like a white-robed phantom pursued by hornets.”
Dramatic and Situational Irony: The men expect to return to a peaceful camp, but instead they find their tent rolling down the hill like a phantom.
How it adds depth and meaning
The humor comes from how silly the situation has become with the tent, which should be stationary, is now a participant in the chaos.
The depth comes from the personification of the tent, which supports the story’s theme that nature and objects seem to take on a mind of their own in moments of panic.
Example #5
“The three fear-stricken individuals ran to the rebuilt fire. The little man reposed by it calmly smoking. They sprang at him and overwhelmed him with interrogations. He contemplated darkness and took a long, pompous puff. ‘There’s only one of me—and the devil made a twin,’ he said.”
Situational and Verbal Irony: Earlier, the man was terrified, but now, he acts as though nothing has happened. His phrase “There’s only one of me—and the devil made a twin” is an ironic echo of what his friends said earlier.
How it adds depth and meaning
The humor comes from his transformation from a panicked mess to a calm and wise storyteller. His friends expect him to be shaken, but he acts like what happened was no big deal.
The depth lies in how people can and will rewrite their own experiences, such as the man’s exaggerated fear is now rewritten in favor of a confident retelling. This highlights the irony of memory and perception because in the moment, fear is all-consuming, but afterward, people often downplay their terror.
How irony enhances Crane’s story
Crane’s use of irony in “A Tent in Agony” creates a balance of comedy and insight into the human psyche. Each instance of irony adds both humor and depth by:
Undermining expectations: The bear plays instead of attacking, and the tent “flees” like a ghost.
Exaggerating human tendencies: Fear, boldness, and the way we retell stories to sound better after the fact.
Highlighting the silliness of panic: The man’s exaggerated fear conflicts with his later calm retelling.
Irony is one of the key reasons the story is entertaining while also reflecting on human nature and how our fears often feel monumental in the moment but become laughable in hindsight.
A few thoughts to consider when using irony in your writing.
Identify the type of irony you want to use
Irony comes in different forms and knowing which one you want to use in a scene helps you apply it effectively:
Situational Irony: When the outcome is the opposite of what is expected.
Dramatic Irony: When the audience knows something the character does not.
Verbal Irony: When someone says one thing but means the opposite.
Writers should match the type of irony to the goal of their story. Situational irony creates surprises, dramatic irony builds tension, and verbal irony adds wit or sarcasm.
Make the use of irony clear and understandable
Irony works best when the audience recognizes the contrast between what is expected and what actually occurs.
If the irony is too subtle or confusing then readers may miss the joke or misinterpret the meaning.
Irony needs to be framed properly so the reader understands what the expectation was and how it was subverted.
Irony should serve a purpose, not just be cute and clever
An effective use of irony isn’t only about creating a twist, it should reveal character flaws, highlight themes, or enhance the tone of the story.
Writers should ask: Does this use of irony add depth to my story? Or is it just a joke?
A use of irony should deepen the story’s meaning and not be a gimmick.
Consider the tone of your use of irony
Lighthearted irony works well in comedic or satirical writing.
Dark irony works well in tragedies or serious themes.
Subtle irony works in realistic fiction.
The type of irony should fit the mood of the story. Dark irony can feel out of place in a lighthearted story, and vice versa.
Irony should feel natural and not forced
Readers shouldn’t feel like the writer is manipulating events for the purpose of creating irony.
The use of irony should come naturally from the characters, their decisions, their actions, and the world of the story.
If irony feels too staged, it breaks down. Readers should feel like the story naturally led to the ironic twist.
Use Irony to Strengthen Character Development
Irony can reveal a character’s flaws, blind spots, or misguided confidence.
Characters should not realize the irony of their situation right away. The humor or tragedy often comes from their lack of awareness.
Good irony exposes truths about characters and makes them more complex and engaging.
Ask yourself these questions before using (or revising) irony in a story
Does the use of irony create a purposeful contrast between expectation and reality?
Is the irony clear and easy to understand?
Does the irony serve a purpose in the story (theme, character development, humor)?
Does the tone of the irony match the overall tone of the story?
Does the irony feel natural and not forced?
When used effectively, irony adds layers of meaning to a story and make the story funnier, more tragic, or more insightful. Writers who effectively use irony can create moments that stick with readers long after they’ve finished the story.
Crane’s use of irony doesn’t just entertain readers; it deepens the themes of the story. It underscores the futility of human arrogance and the inevitability of failure when we think we’re in control. The humor softens the lesson and makes it easier for readers to reflect on their own missteps. For writers, irony can be a powerful tool to surprise readers and reveal character flaws in an engaging way.
How does Crane use setting to heighten tension and comedy?
Finally, the setting of “A Tent in Agony” plays a crucial role in highlighting the humor and the tension. The setting becomes an antagonist and works against the man at every turn. This hostile environment makes the man’s struggles feel more urgent and his failures more absurd.
Below are seven examples of how the setting heightens the tension and comedy of the story.
Example #1
“Four men once came to a wet place in the roadless forest to fish. They pitched their tent fair upon the brow of a pine-clothed ridge of riven rocks whence a boulder could be made to crash through the brush and whirl past the trees to the lake below.”
How Crane’s use of setting create tension and comedy
Tension: The “roadless forest” emphasizes isolation, shows help is far away, and the protagonist must fend for himself. The rugged terrain adds physical danger and suggests (foreshadows?) the possibility of things going very wrong.
Comedy: The dramatic description of the land as a place where a boulder could “crash through the brush” foreshadows chaos. The setting is already working against the characters and make it a fitting backdrop for the impending disaster.
Example #2
“When it came night and the hemlocks began to sob they had not returned. The little man sat close to his companion, the campfire, and encouraged it with logs.”
How Crane’s use of setting create tension and comedy
Tension: The phrase “the hemlocks began to sob” personifies the trees and makes the forest feel alive and eerie. The darkness and loneliness make the man more vulnerable.
Comedy: His only “companion” is the campfire, which he “encourages” as if it’s a human. This exaggerates his desperation for comfort and makes the scene feel pitiful and amusing.
Example #3
“Suddenly he heard the approach of the unknown, crackling the twigs and rustling the dead leaves.”
How Crane’s use of setting create tension and comedy
Tension: The forest is no longer silent, foreshadowing an unseen threat. The ambiguity of “the unknown” builds suspense and makes the reader wonder whether it’s a dangerous animal or something else.
Comedy: The setting sets up the punchline. After all the build-up, the “terrifying” intruder is just a bear. The contrast between expectation (a monstrous attacker) and reality (a bear minding its own business) makes the moment funny.
Example #4
“The little man, now without the tent, felt a tremendous paw grab his coat tails. He squirmed and wriggled out of his coat like a schoolboy in the hands of an avenger.”
How Crane’s use of setting create tension and comedy
Tension: The tent, meant to provide shelter and protection, fails the man. Instead of being a safe retreat, it becomes a trap, not for the man, but for the bear.
Comedy: The man’s panicked escape (wriggling out of his coat like a schoolboy) contrasts with the serious threat and makes the moment feel like a slapstick routine. The tent, rather than offering security, plays an unintentional role in intensifying the ridiculousness of the moment.
Example #5
“The tent began to flounder. It took flopping strides in the direction of the lake. Marvelous sounds came from within—rips and tears, and great groans and pants.”
How Crane’s use of setting create tension and comedy
Tension: The floundering tent is total chaos. The sounds of ripping and groaning create an image of something massive and uncontrollable. The tent is the beast the bear is supposed to be.
Comedy: The tent is personified as if it’s a living thing that stumbles toward the lake like a monster. The absurdity of a tent coming to life and “running” away makes the scene exaggerated.
Example #6
“Three men, clambering up the hill with bundles and baskets, saw their tent approaching. It seemed to them like a white-robed phantom pursued by hornets.”
How Crane’s use of setting create tension and comedy
Tension: The setting contributes to the mayhem. The men expect to return to a quiet camp, but instead, they see their shelter flying toward them. The scene’s unpredictability keeps the reader engaged.
Comedy: The ghostly image of a tent chasing itself down a hill is ridiculous. Comparing it to a “phantom pursued by hornets” turns the moment into a cartoon.
Example #7
“Below them it struck the base of a great pine tree, where it writhed and struggled.”
How Crane’s use of setting create tension and comedy
Tension: The tent crashing into a tree is the climax of the chaos. This unpredictable setting element forces the bear to struggle more and intensifies the absurd conflict.
Comedy: The word “writhed” suggests the tent and bear are engaged in a wrestling match. It seems like the tent itself has become the bear’s opponent. The bear, once feared, is now the victim of a ridiculous situation.
How setting strengthens the story
Crane uses setting not just as a backdrop but as a character in the chaos, which heightens both tension and comedy by:
Establishing isolation and danger
The wilderness makes the man alone and raises the stakes.
Creating an atmosphere of uncertainty
The dark forest plays on the reader’s fear of the unknown and makes ordinary sounds seem threatening.
Turning the tent into a source of ridiculousness
Instead of providing safety, the tent traps the bear and becomes a force of destruction.
Escalating the climax through the landscape
The rugged terrain and crashing into a tree bring the story to an unexpected and ridiculous conclusion.
By making the setting active, Crane blends humor and suspense and turns a camping mishap into a slapstick survival story.
A few thoughts to consider when using setting in your writing.
Make the setting active, not passive
A good setting is not just background. A good setting interacts with characters, influences the plot, and shapes the story’s tone.
Instead of describing where a story takes place, think about how the setting causes problems, sets the mood, or affects the characters’ emotions.
Use setting to reinforce the tone and mood
A setting should match and enhance the emotional tone of a scene or story.
Ask: Does the setting enhance fear, humor, loneliness, tension, or excitement in the story?
Show, don’t just tell, the setting
Instead of listing details, weave them into the action and emotions of the characters.
Use sensory details to bring the setting to life.
Use setting to reflect a character’s emotions
The environment can mirror or contrast a character’s emotions.
Example: In “A Tent in Agony” the wilderness reflects the man’s vulnerability. He is small and the forest is vast, and his flimsy tent offers no protection.
Example: A lonely character walking through an empty desert emphasizes their isolation.
Example: A grieving character in a noisy, bustling city contrasts their internal pain with external chaos.
Make setting essential to the conflict
A setting should create obstacles, limitations, or opportunities for the characters.
Ask: Would this story still work if it were set somewhere else? If the answer is yes, the setting may need to be stronger.
Example: In “A Tent in Agony” the wilderness is crucial to the story. If the man were in a house there would be no bear, no panicked escape, and no tent rolling down the hill.
Example: In Lord of the Flies, the deserted island forces the boys into survival mode and reveals their true nature.
Example: A courtroom setting in a legal thriller creates built-in conflict because lawyers must argue their case against each other.
Avoid overloading the reader with description
Setting should enhance the story and not slow it down with a bunch of unnecessary details.
Avoid info-dumps and exposition. Weave descriptions into the action.
Use setting symbolically
A setting can represent something deeper and more meaningful and illuminates the story’s themes.
Example: In “A Tent in Agony” the unpredictable and chaotic forest symbolizes how humans are at the mercy of nature and their own irrational fears.
Example: A crumbling house in a novel about a failing marriage could symbolize the relationship falling apart.
Example: A character escaping a dense, dark forest could symbolize overcoming personal struggles.
Ask yourself these questions when writing a setting with purpose
Does the setting actively influence and shape the story, or is it only background?
How does the setting enhance the mood of the scene?
Am I showing the setting through action and sensory details rather than listing descriptions?
Does the setting reflect or contrast my character’s emotions?
Does the setting create conflict or obstacles that move the plot forward?
Is the setting symbolic in any way? How?
When written well, setting isn’t just a place, it’s a force that shapes and influences the story, influences characters, and deepens themes.
The wilderness, with its indifference to human plans, reflects the broader theme of life’s unpredictability. For writers, this shows how a carefully crafted setting can do more than provide a backdrop. An intentionally written setting can shape the story’s tone and influence the story’s conflict.
Your Turn: Readers & Writers Workshop
Tools for Readers: Setting & Tone Map
Goal: To help readers see how setting actively shapes the story, sets the mood, influences character behavior, and reinforces the story’s themes.
How it works:
Step 1: Select a story or passage
Draw or outline the setting of the story or passage
Sketch the physical environment of the story (forest, lake, tent, campfire).
If you don’t want to draw, them list key locations and their descriptions.
Step 2: Identify how the setting affects the mood and tone
Ask: What emotions does this setting create?
Is it tense, eerie, comedic, chaotic?
Does the setting make the character feel safe, trapped, overwhelmed, isolated?
Example from “A Tent in Agony:”
Nighttime forest = Isolation, vulnerability
Flimsy tent = False sense of security, comedic failure of protection
Steep hill = Chaos, slapstick potential
Step 3: Analyze how the setting creates conflict
Ask: How does this setting create problems for the characters?
Example: The tent, instead of offering shelter, traps the bear and becomes a rolling disaster.
Step 4: Connect the setting to the story’s themes
Ask: What larger idea does this setting reinforce?
In “A Tent in Agony,” the untamed wilderness represents how nature and fear are unpredictable, which makes human attempts at control laughable.
How this tool helps readers
Enhances story comprehension: Readers recognize how Crane’s chaotic landscape escalates tension and humor.
Deepens analysis skills: Instead of “seeing” the setting, readers examine how it impacts the plot.
Tools for Writers: World-Building Through Setting Map
Goal: To help writers create settings that are active, immersive, and integral to the story and ensures the setting enhances conflict, mood, and character development.
How it works:
Step 1: Define the Core Setting
Identify the main location(s) where the story takes place.
Ask: What makes this place unique? (Is it a dense forest, a futuristic city, a haunted house?)
Step 2: Map the Physical Layout
Sketch or describe the key locations in the setting.
Label important elements (e.g., campfire, tent, ridge, lake).
Ask: What obstacles exist in this space? (Steep hills, dangerous animals, harsh weather).
Step 3: Determine How the Setting Affects Tone & Mood
Ask: Does this setting create fear, humor, suspense, adventure?
Step 4: Make the Setting an Active Player in the Story
Ask: How does this setting create conflict?
Step 5: Connect the Setting to Theme & Character Development
Ask: What does this setting reveal about the characters?
How This Helps Writers
Prevents generic settings: Writers avoid bland backdrops by ensuring the setting shapes the story’s action.
Enhances tone and atmosphere: The process forces writers to align setting with emotion and theme.
Encourages active storytelling: Writers learn how setting can create problems, reveal character traits, and propel the plot forward.
Writing Prompt to Practice Hyperbole, Irony, and Setting
Imagine a landscape where nature seems to have its own mischievous intentions. After reading and studying “A Tent in Agony” by Stephen Crane, write a 500 to 1,000 word short story that uses hyperbole, irony, and setting as an active force in the narrative.
Imagine a character who embarks on what should be a simple outdoor experience. It could be a camping trip, a solo hike, a fishing expedition, or a backyard barbecue. But something about the environment refuses to cooperate. The landscape is not haunted, not supernatural. But it's absurdly and hilariously unmanageable.
Your protagonist could be anyone, like a seasoned survivalist, a nervous novice, an overconfident planner, but the world around them has other plans. Their attempt to master the situation only makes things worse.
Consider:
- How does the setting itself become an obstacle? Is the weather unreasonably unpredictable? Do inanimate objects (like a tent, a campfire, or even a canoe) seem to have a personal vendetta?
- How does your protagonist react to this escalating disaster? Do they keep up a false sense of bravado? Do they resign themselves to fate?
- What role does irony play? What does your character expect to happen vs. what actually happens?
Include the following devices in your story: Hyperbole: Exaggerate the character’s misfortune in an entertaining way. Does a small gust of wind turn into a hurricane-level disaster? Does a single mosquito swarm like an invading army?
Irony: Challenge and subvert readers' expectations. Maybe the protagonist spends days preparing only for one tiny mistake to unravel everything. Or perhaps they’re terrified of one thing, only to be undone by something completely different.
Setting as Character: Make the environment actively shape the conflict. Whether it’s an untrustworthy tent, a deceptively peaceful lake, or an overly ambitious bonfire, the landscape should feel like an unpredictable force.
Example Scenarios:
- A man, proud of his expensive new camping gear, watches helplessly as nature systematically destroys each item in a series of absurd events.
- A nervous first-time hiker, who’s been terrified of bears, encounters everything but a bear, like swarming squirrels, judgmental deer, an overly aggressive goose.
- A group of friends embarks on a simple fishing trip, only to find that the lake itself seems determined to keep its fish at all costs.
I created a Google Doc of the prompt for you to use as you wish, click HERE. Make sure to make a copy.
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