Final answer:
Guy de Maupassant's use of exaggerated descriptions and comparisons in "An Uncomfortable Bed" contributes to the story's humorous tone, creating a build-up that leads to a comical climax.
Step-by-step explanation:
Words and phrases play a crucial role in setting the humorous tone of a story. In "An Uncomfortable Bed" by Guy de Maupassant, word choices contribute significantly to the story's comedic effect. For instance, when the protagonist prepares for bed, anticipating a prank, he is consumed by a comical sense of paranoia that is conveyed through exaggerated descriptions of his surroundings and his reactions.
The author's choice of words, such as 'irrepressible tremor' and 'utterly causeless alarm,' exaggerate the character's fear and build up to the eventual humorous climax, which is unexpected and yet a consequence of his own vivid imagination. The description of falling from bed and the playful comparison to a tortoise liken the character's dilemma to a slapstick scene, eliciting laughter from the reader.