diff --git a/interpret.rkt b/interpret.rkt
index 3a83d3b..5b82ca7 100644
--- a/interpret.rkt
+++ b/interpret.rkt
@@ -1,13 +1,42 @@
 #lang racket/gui
+(require "structs.rkt")
 (provide interpret)
 
-; expects all strings to be uppercase
-(define (interpret command)
-  (if (or (string=? command "TYPE HERE...") (string=? command ""))
-      "You need to type something in the box."
-      (let* ([tokens (string-split command)]
-             [verb (first tokens)]
-             [args (rest tokens)])
-        (case verb
-          [else (~a "I don't understand the verb " verb)]))))
+;temporary hard-coded room with items for testing, before implementing procgen
+(define room1 (room
+               (pos 0 0)
+               (dim 10 10)
+               (list (weapon "BIG SWORD"  (pos 5 5) 4 'sword  5)
+                     (armor "LEATHER CAP" (pos 5 9) 1 'helmet 2))))
 
+(define plyr (player "YOU" room1 '() 'human 20 '() 50))
+
+(define (interpret in)
+  (let ([command (string-upcase in)])
+    (if (or (string=? command "TYPE HERE...") (string=? command ""))
+        "You need to type something in the box."
+        (let* ([tokens (string-split command)]
+               [verb (first tokens)]
+               [args (rest tokens)])
+          (case verb
+            [("LOOK") (look args)]
+            [else (~a "I don't understand the verb " verb ".")])))))
+
+(define (look what)
+  (let ([room (obj-pos plyr)])
+    (if (empty? what)
+        (string-join (obj-names (room-contents room)) ", "
+                     #:before-first "In this area, there is "
+                     #:before-last ", and "
+                     #:after-last ".")
+        (let ([what-str (string-join what)])
+          (if (find-obj what-str room)
+              (~a "There is a " what-str " in the area.")
+              (~a "The \""  what-str "\" you're looking for isn't in this area."))))))
+(define (find-obj obj room)
+  (findf
+   (λ (arg) (string=? obj (obj-name arg)))
+   (room-contents room)))
+
+(define (obj-names list)
+  (map obj-name list))
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/structs.rkt b/structs.rkt
index 9bbca62..5208d72 100644
--- a/structs.rkt
+++ b/structs.rkt
@@ -1,10 +1,19 @@
 #lang racket/gui
 (provide (all-defined-out))
 
-(struct item (name size))
+(struct pos (x y))
+;for clarity - an x/y pair that represents a dimension instead of a position
+(struct dim pos ())
+
+(struct obj (name pos))
+
+(struct item obj (size))
 (struct equipment item (type))
 (struct weapon equipment (damage))
 (struct armor equipment (resistance))
 
-(struct entity (name species equipment inventory))
+(struct entity obj (inventory))
+(struct creature entity (species health equipment))
+(struct player creature (capacity))
 
+(struct room (pos size contents))