The Brooklyn Follies, by Paul Auster, pp 235-237

Presentat° extract from...
Stages four characters, two are the “main” protagonists : Tom and Honey Chowder, who met in Vermont and had a short, passionate affair, before Tom had to go back to New York. And two “secondary” characters, who act as spectators of the whole scene : the narrator, Nathan, and his grand niece Lucy.
What the examiner needs to know :
- describe shortly last encounter between Tom & Honey (relevant because: a tragicomic disaster or a wonderful romance ?)
- Give a few words about respective personalities of Tom and Honey (relevant regarding the contrast) - + Nathan, who has been the “guardian angel-entremetteur- spectator/auditor – story-teller” (=he “ear-witnessed” their love-making in Vermont) (relevant, regarding the two “secret agents”)

Situation : Honey shows up unexpectedly out of the blue in Tom’s library, with all her luggage and after having quit her job in Vermont. (cf. Lucy, identical situation ; women in this novel are unprdictable : Aurora, the BPM...)
Type of narrative : this is mainly a dialogue in mimesis, which is framed by Nathan and Lucy’s mischievous attendance.

Structure & overall commentary about the scene
At first sight/on paper --> a romantic gesture
BUT as one reads the scene, Honey’s initiative seems doomed, as Tom is far from responding to her enthusiatic invite.
This creates :
1°) a sort of tension (more than suspense)
2°) a typical comedy situation.

We shall examine the elements of comedy and romance withing this scene.

Elements of comedy
- The most striking ingredient : contrast between his/her attitude. Him : matter-of fact, casual, deadpan attitude stands in contrast with her enthusiasm. Creates an anticlimax . (give examples within text) They are on two different levels. Him : mundane, trivial, down to earth. Her : lyrical, excited, eager, determined. cf. comedies with two opposed characters : Laurel/Hardy, etc.
- There are