My Rivals House. Flashcards
“Cushions so stuff you can’t fit in.”
Ambiguity: has more than one meaning.
i ) she is uncomfortable within the situation as she can’t sink into the family.
ii ) she cannot be herself around this family.
“Tables polished clear enough to see distortions in”
The rival is so obsessed with perfection and for everything to stay the same within her home.
Word choice; When Lochhead looks into this table, she is the distortion within the family.
My Rivals House …
…is peopled with many surfaces.
Title acts as the first line as if creates a sense of urgency for Lochhead as if the story she is telling is happening there and then.
The use of the word “peopled” shows how this homes focus is the family.
We take our shoes off at her door,
Shuffle stocking soled, tiptoe - the parquet floor.
As much as Lochhead sees this woman as a rival, she is still being respectful as of she is trying to impress her.
Alliteration; the harsh ‘s’ sound leads us to think of a whisper, to show the way Lochhead is trying not to be heard in her rivals house.
Dust/
cover, drawn shade,
won’t let the surface colour fade.
Enjambment; the use of a run on line to put emphasis on the word “dust”
This statement shows that the mother just doesn’t like change within her home and will do anything to protect her belongings and keep her life just as it is. Just like she doesn’t allow change in her home, she doesn’t want change in her life, referring to Lochhead changing her son.
She glosses over him and me
I am all edges a surface a shell.
Word choice; the use of the word "glosses" leads the reader to believe that she is covering over any imperfections. Metaphor; ▪️edges- awkward and stands out. ▪️surface- blank and open. ▪️shell- empty and fragile.
capped tooth, polished nail
will fight, fight, foul for survival.
Imagery; the use of comparing themselves to fighting animals.
This quote also gives the reader an idea to what the rivals appearance is like as she seems very perfectly false.
Alliteration; the harsh “f” sound puts emphasis on the words to create a sarcastic tone.
Lady of the house.
Queen bee.
Metaphorical;
▪️dangerous like a bee.
▪️could sting at any point.
▪️protecting her family from any intruders.
▪️family will do anything she wants them to.
She dishes up her dreams for breakfast.
Dinner, and her salt tears pepper our soup.
Word choice; shows that this is routine in this home, for the mother to do he work and repay her by sticking to her rules.
PUN; emphasis by saying that if the mothers expectations are not filled then the family will suffer for it.
She won’t
give up.
Enjambment; puts emphasis on the word “won’t” to say that she won’t give up on her son.
Very sinister ending.
