IWW
Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: Off the Grid
These exercises were written
by IWW members
and administrators to provide structured practice opportunities for its
members.
You are welcome to use them for practice as well. Please mention that
you found
them at the Internet Writers Workshop
(http://www.internetwritingworkshop.org/).
Prepared by Mary Kline
Formerly entitled "A Robinsonade Desert Island Story"
Posted on Sunday, November 19, 2017
Revised and retitled by Norman Cooper
Posted on Sunday, November 10, 2019
Re-posted on Sunday, November 28, 2021
Posted on Sunday, January 1, 2023
In 400 words or less, describe a situation in which a protagonist is
marooned in a very isolated place such as a deserted island, a wilderness
outpost, a snowed-in cabin, a jungle, a desert, an abandoned mine, or on an
uninhabited planet. They must find a way to survive until rescued or make
plans to escape.
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The Desert Island Story, or Robinsonade, is a literary genre that has long
been a staple of fiction. Although the genre is named for Daniel Defoe’s
Robinson Crusoe, it predates Defoe by centuries. Classic Robinsonades
include: The Odyssey, The Tempest, Gulliver’s Travels, The Wizard of Oz,
Lost in Space, The Swiss Family Robinson, Cast Away, and The Martian.
These elements typically characterize a Robinsonade:
1. The protagonist(s) finds him/herself in the situation by accident, or
without intent. A Robinsonade is not a captivity narrative.
2. The environment is isolated, unfamiliar, and/or challenging. Survival is
the primary short-term goal, but escape remains a realistic possibility in
the mind of the protagonist.
3. The environment is the only consistent antagonist. Active threats may
present themselves, but they are not the primary obstacle facing the
protagonist.
4. The protagonist may find allies, real or imaginary, indigenous to the
new environment or to the protagonist’s native environment.
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When you critique, remember that the Robinsonade is an account of optimism
and resilience in the face of an unfamiliar, potentially lethal challenge.
Consider the four elements above – did the story show you someone who is
caught unawares by a dire situation? Did the protagonist react with
resilience and courage? Did he or she come up with a realistic plan to
escape? Were you intrigued by the adventure?
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Modified by Greg Gunther.
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