"Fault" by Ron Koertge

Ron Koertge sets a humorous tone in "Fault," as he uses generalizations and hyperbole to show how the sentiment of a mother's love and care for her child will always persist, even if it is not fully warranted. Koertge's teenage character begins by assuring his mother that all will be well, generalizing and criticizing the archetypal movie structure where the world opens up. He generalizes the characters to carry on the humorous tone even in a sad, departing situation, showing that the worry is unnecessary and all will be fine. The characters and situation are hyperbolized, as Koertge's character must retain the calm and joke along with overt details to illustrate the situation's serenity. The characters are shown as "Dr. Cutie Bug" and a "a pilot who's good looking but not smart enough to take off his leather jacket in the jungle," and they hyperbolically survive the earthquake because they love their mother back and call her once in a while. Koertge uses hyperbole and generalization in the story with such a manner to show that all will be well, and the mother need not worry for the teen's adventure because life is not as generic or hyperbolic as his movie scenario.