Analysis
We read the passage from the novel «Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the
Dog)» by a well-know English writer Jerome K. Jerome (1859 –1927). This author
is famous for his art story-telling, his vivid style and his humor which is generally
expressed in laughter-provoking situations often based on misunderstanding. With
sparkling humor he criticized the weak sides of human nature.
In the extract the author tells us the story about 3 men that walk around the village
and then they decide to stay at Shiplake islands for the night because it’s too late to
return home. For the dinner they cook Irish stew with all the ingredients that they
have, even with the water rat that Montmorency catch. After all, they get very
unusual dinner, little rich but nutritious. This story can be logically subdivided into
4 parts.
The first part starts with the words «We got out at Sonning» and ends with the
words «awkward stairs and winding passages ». It can be called «At Sonning».
Three men get out at Sonning and go for a walk. While their stroll they enjoy the
beautiful view and watch residents of the village. The Calm, poetic atmosphere and
colorful narration makes you imagine this place as if you are really there. The main
characters are three men: George, Harris, Jerome, and the dog Montmorency. They
are rich people from the High Society that decided to have a new experience and
go to the country. Jerome K. Jerome brilliantly uses such stylistic devices as
simile [ ˈsɪm.ɪ.li ] «fairy-like nook», metaphor «bursting forth in clouds of dainty
splendor», hyperbola «is smothered in roses», irony «gossip over village politics»,
to create more vivid narration. The main idea of this part is to make us understand
where the story takes place; give us opportunity to feel the beauty and serenity of
the countryside.
The second part begins with the words «we are roamed about sweet Sonning» and
ends with the words «can be done with economy and care» and can be called
«Cleaning the potatoes». It tells us that 3 men decide to spend the night on the
island and cook an Irish stew. So they start peeling potatoes but soon realize that
this is an undertaking. We can see a piece of narration as the author tells about
decision of his characters. In this part the atmosphere is completely different. It is
not poetic but humorous . The Author imposes his perception of the thing
described on the reader with a help of personification using the adjective Sweet
when he tells about the village. To show the irony of the situation the author uses
such stylistic devices as hyperbola and irony «the biggest thing of its kind», simile
«the size of pea-nut», pun «scraping ourselves», hyperbola «half-smothered». It
helps to imagine a full picture of situation. In this part, the author wanted to show
how the characters are not adapted to such simple things like cooking and cleaning
potatoes and how awkwardly [ ˈɔː.kwəd.li ] they do it.
The third part «Nothing was wasted» begins with the words «George said it was
absurd » and ends with the words «who first tried German sausage». In this part,
the main heroes after scrapping the potatoes realize that they should add something
more to the stew. So, they decide to mix all the ingredients that they have with
them and even add a water rat to make it more unusual. The text reaches its climax
in this part. This extract keeps the atmosphere of the previous part and also has the
same general idea. In this part we again can observe the ignorance of the book
characters. To show the absurdity of the situation the author uses personification
and ambiguity «Montmorency, who had evinced [ ɪˈvɪnsd ] great interest in the
proceedings throughout», «thoughtful air», and irony «whatever the rat should go
in or not» and «It’s men such as you that hamper the world’s progress». The
author employs sarcasm with a help of special elevated words as precedent [
ˈpres.ɪ.dənt ], contribution. In this part a reader understand the whole idea of the
extract and enjoy absurdity of the situation.
The last part begins «It was a great success» and ends with the words «a little too
rich, perhaps, for a weak stomach, but nutritious». The name of the fourth part is
«A great success». George, Harris, and Jerome finally cook the Irish stew and it
has an incredible taste, like nothing else on earth. The narration again has a
humorous atmosphere but in some degree it is lyrical again. Through such stylistic
devices as irony «a great success», «fresh and piquant [ ˈpiː.kənt ] », metaphor «It
was a poem», «one’s palate gets so tired», and hyperbola «like nothing else on
earth» Jerome K. Jerome makes readers laugh at the main characters of his book.
The text ends with the help of an understatement «A little too rich» to create the
effect of irony and complete the general atmosphere of the extract.
The novel «Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) » is a great example
of British humor and satire , it seems to me, that the main message of this extract
and the novel is a mocking at upper class, it shows their life with a humorous side.