I’m going to analyze an extract from a novel “Three men in a boat” by

Jerome Klapka Jerome, a famous English writer and humorist. Jerome K. Jerome
was born on 2 May 1859 in Walsall, Staffordshire, England. "Three Men in a Boat
(To Say Nothing of the Dog)" is the most famous literary work which was
published in 1889. The plot is centered around three friends who are always getting
into funny situations.
The story opens with three friends roaming about Sweet Sonning. One of
three friends, George by name, suggests to go the river and an Irish stew as they
have plenty of time. While cooking they see Montmorency, their dog, with a dead
water-rat. Then the friends have a discussion. Harris wants to put the dead water-
rat into the stew. But it seems to be an absurd for George. The story ends with their
having supper. The stew seems to be a great success. Though vegetables are not so
soft they like it very much.
The main characters of the story are Harris, George and the narrator. They
all seem to be quite different persons as they behave in different ways. But still it is
clear that they are very good friends. Though the author doesn’t describe the main
characters’ appearance, we could say that we can imagine them easily. George
seems to be a man of thirty, tall, thin and blond haired. George’s behavior makes
me think that he is the eldest of three friends. He is strict, initiative and serious. His
being the initiator of making an Irish stew proves his being the leader of three
friends. And it’s also understandable that George is hard-working. He knows how
to peel potatoes and make an Irish stew unlike Harris and the narrator.
As for Harris, I think that he is the youngest of the friends. I see him short,
plump and red-haired. He looks like a very mischievous little boy. Moreover,
Harris is a bit lazy, curious and risky. I think him to be such a kind of a person
because of the fact that he wants to add a dead water-rat into the stew. And he tries
to prove his view point saying that people should try something new and people,
who don’t want to, are the “hamper of the world’s progress”. In my opinion it’s
very weird desire to try a water-rat, but still the author shows us Harris as an
optimistic and cheerful character.
There is not many details about the narrator. He is believed to be a kind of
average between George and Harris. He is quite restrained.
There’s also one secondary character, Montmorency by name, their dog. The
dog seems to be very big and fluffy. It’s also curious and friendly. But for his
curiosity it wouldn’t go and find a water-rat which becomes the reason of the
dispute.
Jerome K. Jerome shows the characters in such a way that we believe that
they are real friends even they argue. He makes us sympathize with each of the
friends.
 The story is told us by the first-person narrator. In my view point this type of
narration makes readers feel them as participants of actions.
“Three men in a boat” is a humorous story. The author describes three
friends’ adventures making readers laugh. The style of the story is clear-cut and
elegant. In the first paragraph the author writes about the place where the friends
have a rest. He describes the beauty of a little town using many stylistic devices
that is epithets and metaphors. He writes about houses smothering in roses, fairy-
like nook of the river. While saying about the act of peeling potatoes, the author
also uses metaphors and hyperboles. Jerome K. Jerome compares peeled potatoes
with pea-nuts to emphasize Harris and the narrator’s being so inexperienced
cookers. He laughs at their being all in a mess after peeling only four potatoes. The
author’s manner of narrating is very original. He doesn’t use many difficult
constructions, he writes the story with common literary. And it makes the story
easy to read.
While reading the reader feels the atmosphere of merriment, friendship and
joy. The author creates a mood of gladness around the characters. He treats them in
a humorous tone and it gives a pleasure to follow it.
The author writes the story not only to entertain us, but to convey some
ideas. In my view point, the main idea the author wants to convey is the idea of
friendship. Whatever you do, everything seems to be all right if you are not alone
but with friends. George. Harris and the narrator make an Irish stew with odds and
ends but the stew seems a great success for them because they do it together and
everyone presents their contribution to the dinner. Friends make our life colorful
and they support us when we need some help.