What literary term could be applied to the nearly two-page diatribe about gloves and galoshes that begins this chapter?

Please provide the chapter you are referring to so I can accurately identify the literary term. Without context, it is impossible to say what literary term could be applied to the diatribe.

Here are some possibilities, depending on the content and tone of the diatribe:

* Digression: A departure from the main topic of discussion.

* Expository passage: A section of writing that explains a topic in detail.

* Satire: Using humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices.

* Stream of consciousness: A literary technique that attempts to represent the flow of thoughts and feelings in a character's mind.

* Soliloquy: A speech delivered by a character alone on stage, revealing their thoughts and feelings.

Please provide the text so I can give you a more specific answer.