My Rival's House: Stanza 1

“My Rival’s House: Stanza 1” Overview

Descriptive Imagery

• The first stanza begins with a vivid description of the rival’s house, painting a picture of grandeur and elegance.

• Lochhead uses positive imagery to describe the house; language such as ‘gleaming’, ‘glossy’, and ‘glass’ contribute to the opulent image of the house.

• The visual imagery used here (‘Almost in a forest,/brightly lit’) subtly introduces the theme of isolation.

Metaphoric Representation

• The rival’s house is also presented metaphorically as a ‘well-run business’ implying a house that is functional, professional and successful.

• It’s also described as a ‘spotlit showcase’ which suggests that everything in the rival’s life is on display and seen in a positive light.

Speaker’s Perspective

• The speaker’s tone suggests feelings of envy and inadequacy in the face of her rival’s seemingly perfect life.

• Lochhead uses the pronoun ‘My’ immediately establishing a personal connection and rivalry, paving the way for a first-person perspective throughout the poem.

• The speaker’s observation (‘Uphill, its seven windows…) gives a feeling of distance, hinting at an emotional disconnection from the rival’s life.

Symbolism

• The ‘seven windows’ can be seen as a symbol of the seven deadly sins, potentially suggesting that the speaker sees her rival’s house as a place of sin.

• Bird symbolism (‘Almost in a forest of bird-noise’) possibly represents freedom and ambition, elements that the speaker may feel are lacking in her life.

With this stanza, key elements to focus on include the descriptive and visual imagery used, the introduction of the speaker’s perspective and feelings, as well as the use of symbol and metaphor.