Nonsense Books · Character
The Broom, Shovel, Poker, and Tongs
A household set of hearth tools who step out together for a walk, turning the humdrum parlor into a small society on the move.
supporting
Also known as Mrs. Broom, the Broom, Miss Shovel, the Shovel, Mr. Poker, Mr. Tongs
First appearance: The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker, and the Tongs
As a supporting figure in Nonsense Books, The Broom, Shovel, Poker, and Tongs is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
The Broom, Shovel, Poker, and Tongs take a drive in the Park, singing songs of love and nonsense.
Mrs. Broom, Miss Shovel, Mr. Poker, and Mr. Tongs leave their posts by the fire to take the air as a group, each with a distinct temperament that surfaces in their chatter. Their excursion mirrors the book's recurring fantasy of domestic objects slipping their duties and discovering the world outside. They matter because they show how easily Lear's imagination converts the most ordinary corner of a house into a cast of characters with opinions and errands of their own.
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Character Web
11 connectionsA slice of how The Broom, Shovel, Poker, and Tongs sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Personified household items
- Anthropomorphic domestic couples
- Whimsical lonely seekers
+6 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
Lady Jingly’s tearful confession that she already has a mate in England delivers the emotional peak of unfulfi…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingIn the story
The Broom, Shovel, Poker, and Tongs appears across 6 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for The Broom, Shovel, Poker, and Tongs unlock in the free preview.
See The Broom, Shovel, Poker, and Tongs in The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker, and the Tongs