three men in a boat

Much of the story recounts the foibles and missteps of the three friends. The humor is disarming. Through the humor, we can see the three friends begin to relax , from all their maladies, and truly have an adventure. J.’s digressions serve multiple functions. Most importantly, they give Jerome the opportunity to experiment with different types of humor. In both the paraffin oil and the cheese stories, Jerome uses hyperbole – that is, exaggeration – to turn mundane experiences into comedy. The difficulty with packing provides an opportunity for slapstick, while the discussion of weather men is one commonly heard even today.