my rivals house Flashcards
“people with many surfaces”
unusual word choice - either the ‘surfaces’ refer to people - so are hard with edges - or the house is empty of people.
“ormolu and gilt, slipper satin”
rival appears ornate looking but is fake- high expectations of sons girlfriends.
“cushions so stiff you can’t sink in”
highlights the lack of comfort and welcome in the house.
“see distortions in”
suggests there is no reality in the house - all is not what it seems.
“shuffle-stocking-soled”
sibilance, ‘shuffle’ has connotations of discomfort - there is a serpentine quality to the mother
“door/floor/must/dust/”
rhyming couplets - highlights the humour of the piece through the unrealistic overprotective nature of the home
“its surface must be protected”
enjambment emphasises that it is material things that matter to the mother. ‘surface’ is repeated - highlighting the superficiality of this woman. ‘protected’ means not using to her, the same way she protects her son by not welcoming the girls he brings home.
“silver sugar-tongs and silver salver”
sibilance again shows the serpentine quality to the mother.
“capped tooth, polished nail/will fight, fight foul”
links to idiom ‘fight tooth and nail’ meaning to fight with every resource - gives an image of a middle aged, well presented woman physically fighting for her son - humorous image.
“survival”
links to the idea of a fight, she wants to survive as someone important to her son, to not be surped by the girlfriend
“squirms beneath her surface”
squirms links to the idea of a snake lurking underneath the mothers out together polite appearance.
“squirms beneath her surface”
squirms links to the idea of a snake lurking underneath the mothers out together polite appearance.
“sip/cup”
‘p’ sounds at the end of lines gives the impression of her polite words being almost spat out.
“the sour potluck of family”
metaphor, negative connotations of food as if poisoned (we cannot choose our family)
“this family that furnishes my rivals place”
metaphor, compares with opening line, now people are like furniture, obliging/ or her belongings are her family.
